The priest throws a knife at the guy but then...
Tadashi jumps in between and takes the knife to his heart.
(Note: A lot of the NPCs are AIs with actual conscience and 'life'. Players aren't allowed to tell NPCs that they are in a game.)
A sharp pain strikes him.
He thought this was just a game.
Was this his final breath?
Was he going to die?
"What is this feeling?"
"My blood feels like it isn't pumping."
"This feeling's too painful."
Tadashi is screaming in agony as he falls to the ground.
The girl who was observing him from afar chuckled yet again while blushing.
"Where am I?"
Tadashi sees himself standing in a black void.
[You have died. You are locked out of AI Online for 5 hours.]
[You gave alms to a con artist. -10 reputation.]
[You saved someone's life using yours. +100 reputation.]
[Title received, 'Misunderstood hero']
[This brings your total to 80.]
[Something awaits you at AI Online. Log in after 5 hours.]
"Oh that's nice."
Tadashi is left speechless and dazzled as he realizes that he had just saved someone's life.
Tadashi awakens and finds himself in a pod. (The VR game capsule)
He feels quite refreshed as while his mind was working, his body was resting.
Tadashi's mom asks, "What happened? Was the game boring? Why're you back so early?"
"Early? It's been like a day."
"You do know that I can read a clock right?"
Tadashi goes and checks the clock.
"It's been 10 minutes!?"
"Yeah."
Tadashi goes on to his computer and goes to Boogle to research.
An article states,
Perfect — that's exactly the kind of in-world article that can make "AI Online" feel alive and believable. Here's a realistic, tech-magazine-style piece you could slot into your story (maybe Tadashi reads it before logging in for the first time, or it appears as a pop-up news feed inside the game hub):
---Artificial Revolution underway: "AI Online" Redefines Reality Itself
In what experts are calling a once-in-a-century breakthrough, AI Online, the long-awaited virtual reality experience by Aurora Systems, has officially launched worldwide. Unlike traditional VR or neural-sync devices, AI Online uses direct brainwave synchronization through its patented NeuroLink Interface, allowing players to experience the game as if they were truly inside it.
Instead of pressing buttons or wearing motion sensors, users' neuronal signals are directly mapped to in-game movements, meaning every step, every blink, and every heartbeat is their own. Players describe the sensation as "living another life" rather than playing a game.
But what truly sets AI Online apart is its manipulation of subjective time. Researchers have long noted that dreams often feel much longer than the few minutes they occupy in real life. Aurora Systems' neuroscientists have harnessed that same mechanism. By subtly accelerating cognitive processing speed during immersion, ten minutes in the real world can feel like hours—or even a full day—inside the game.
This means players can live entire adventures, learn skills, and build in-game relationships during a single short session, without disrupting their daily schedules. The technology has already sparked massive discussion in online forums, with users debating whether such extended perception could blur the lines between virtual life and reality.
Aurora Systems' spokesperson, Dr. Reina Sato, reassures players:
> "Your mind will always know it's in a safe simulation. But we wanted to give people the gift of time—the ability to live more, feel more, and experience more than life normally allows."
Whether a miracle of technology or the dawn of a new kind of addiction, one thing is certain:
AI Online doesn't just let you play—it lets you exist.
(We have asked the officials of AI Online to have their AI neural networks, write this article. Everything apart from the quote, is AI powered.)
"So, that's why it felt so long?"
"Well, I deserve some peace now."
A day later...
Tadashi goes to his coaching centre in one of his family cars with his chauffeur.
Tadashi in the car:
("Now that I think about it, they did tell me I had some reward which I get for being the 1 millionth player, right? Did I miss it or something?)
Tadashi goes to his class and.whike the teacher is teaching, he keeps thinking about what else there is to be done in AI Online.
The teacher says, "Ok class is over! Make sure to do the work I gave you before the next class."
The other children are packing up their bags and talking.
"Hey did you hear about the game, AI Online?"
"Yeah, my mom says it's too expensive but my dad got it for me."
"Oh cool, I also have one. Let's play together sometime."
"Did you hear about the 'Misunderstood hero'?"
"Which hero?"
"There's this beginner guy who joined, commited a bunch of crimes and then sacrificed his life to save an npc for some reason."
"Why would he do that?'
"I don't know but there's a rumour that he's a criminal in real life who's kinda crazy and loves to break laws and started playing this game because he can commit crimes without real life jail. And he also sacrificd himself to gain NPCs' trust so that he can break laws easier. But I hear that there'll soon be an award ceremony held in his name."
"That's crazy dude. Didn't know there would be an era where criminals are playing games."
Meanwhile Tadashi was eavesdropping.
("Umm wonder who that could be....")
("...")
("...")
("Oh shit this is bad.")
("I don't want a rumour of me being a criminal circulating. What if the Prefectural Police gets involved? Will I be able to cover it with money? Can I explain my situation? Will they listen? Should I kill myself? Wait but... an award? What for? My heroic act of bravery? And why are they calling me a misunderstood hero? This is very weird. I've never had any students talk about me. It was just teachers and no one else.)
("I should join back and set things straight.")
Tadashi returns to his house and is just about to go into his capsule when his mom comes to him and shows him a video.
"Tadashi! Is this you, punching this guy? And is this you, picking up a little girl (I don't know why though), what about this 'get down mr president' moment?"
"Where'd you get these videos, mom?"
"Why? They're on kutube of course"
"What? Who posted those on there?"
"Well, it says 'AI Online Official'?"
"What is happening?"
"I don't care about what's happening, you tell me if this is you in the video."
"I didn't mean to do that mom!"