It was like I blinked and suddenly I was outside HR's office. I could see her typing away through the frosted glass that made up most of the walls of her office.
That's fine. Being lost isn't a new state of existence for me. But I still felt uncomfortable as I walked down the hall and out of the HR division. It was because of the way people were looking at me.
What was wrong? Am I ugly or something? I almost paused in my tracks — would I be able to survive living with an ugly face?
I'm not trying to impress anyone, but still… the best I can say is that I don't like it.
Note to self: Find a mirror.
Until then, I won't let the anxiety grow. Although I still ended up grabbing my stomach, I checked to see how much of it would sit in my hand.
Hmm, might be a few kilos over, but no more than 10 kg, maybe 12 kg at best. I shook my head, mentally patting myself on the back… I can't be that bad-looking. So the stares have to be from something else.
Maybe Haruto is actually a bigger deal at this place than I'm giving him credit for, who knows. Despite wearing the slave chains of a black tie and a white collar that choked my neck and wrists.
But eventually, I couldn't be bothered with the turning heads as I passed. I was too busy looking at the massive building. From the outside, it looked like a normal tech facility. But from the inside… I couldn't understand how an architect came up with this.
Each floor was apparently a massive balcony, and in the center, a towering statue that also served as a complex elevator system, moving people in all four directions, not just up and down.
And passing the few doors that were open, it seemed most of them were the same boring cubicle workrooms. Maybe a bit more cushiony than normal, but still gray and stuffy. Each room had a large sign you couldn't miss:
Human Resources 2B
Human Retention 00
Human Redundancy 1A
No comment — I thought as my lips thinned, pressing against each other. Walking down the stairs because I'm not brave enough to take the Willy Wonka elevator just yet. But I do know that when in doubt or lost… go to the first floor.
One guy shoved past me. When I turned around, we caught each other's eyes before he reached for a board on the wall. He was erasing something… DAYS WITHOUT INCIDENT — 0
That's a shame.
"Haruto?" I turned, knowing that voice from anywhere, apparently. "Haruto!" he said again and hugged me. It's odd, being so comfortable with a complete stranger, as my brain filled in the gaps for me.
Makoto Fujimori, Mako for short.
We have been friends since childhood, and we somehow got the same job by complete coincidence, after several parental attempts to separate us.
I could still feel the warm feelings old Haruto must have had for this guy. My body felt so relieved, like I could finally be myself. But Haruto is still hell bent on the day he'll use the elevators.
The longer I think about it, the more I want to press every button and just go; there must be thousands.
Dai was standing behind Mako. He was the polar opposite of us. Broad shoulders and chiseled everything … dude was a giant waiting to be put on a sports magazine. … that, or dunk our heads in the toilets.
"Where have you been? We thought you were dead, dude," Dai said.
I nodded through a conversation I absolutely did not understand.
Names, projects, inside jokes, complaints about management; my mouth reacted correctly while my brain filed everything under later.
Which brings me to my first real problem.
Problem #1: How are you supposed to tell your closest friends you have no idea who you are, where you are, and why everyone should stop letting you near expensive machinery?
"Come on man, you got your sick days, no excuses." Dai gripped my shoulders and shook hard. If this body had a head injury, he definitely just made it worse. It would explain the searing headaches.
Bingo — "My brain's fogged," I said, going on about how my head injury began worse than I let on. "The doctor said my memory will come back in chunks. I just need a little help."
Mako looked angry, then concerned, then angry again. "These doctors don't know what they're talking about. They say what the corporate tells them to say." He huffed, like he was personally offended now.
Looking around, it was true. This building could be its own little country. There were more than just cubicle rooms. There were cafes, nurses' offices, and pharmacy rooms. This place wanted staff to live here … that's not a red flag at all.
"It was one time, dude," Dai said, patting Mako's back. "Let it go." It took him a while, but he got there.
"Alright, fine," Mako said. Turning into a new man, wounded but with purpose … which was more than I could say for myself right now. "I'll —"
Mako stopped talking when an aggressive alarm went off. Dai looked at his watch and clicked a button to make it stop.
"Damn it- I'm going to be laaate!" He booked it into the room that read: Support Operations. Another cubicle field.
But Dai wasn't the only one booking it like there was a flame under their … well, you know.
I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be more amazed by how fast he ran or how such a loud sound could fit in a tiny watch.
The debate ended, though, when dread came over me, because on my wrist was the exact same one. I don't even know what I do, and I already hate corporate.
"Alright, let's make it quick then." Mako started. "How lost are you? Give me your first question."
"What's my job?"
I think Mako's soul just left his body.
JOB TITLE:AI Support Operator
DESCRIPTION:
AI Support Operators provide real-time assistance to standard and premium members in order to optimize player experience and maintain service continuity. Responsibilities include responding to routine inquiries, delivering adaptive guidance during gameplay, and providing extended support when required by player engagement parameters.
"I'm an AI helper?" I ask.
"Yeah."
"... why don't they just use AI?"
Mako smiled uncomfortably. " Renkai has been known for its top-quality AI avatars."
"Avatars? I have to do this as an avatar?"
"Yeah, you just can't play the game yourself. That's what makes Renkai online number one. Because of how good the AI assistants are."
"That's because they're not AI." I said. "... that's fraud,"
"Yes, but fraud doesn't count until you get caught."
I let that comment stew between us.
"You seem like an honest person, Makoto. What happened?"
"You don't remember your paychecks either."
When he smiled again, I'd be lying if I didn't say I was a little bit excited. A black business that pays for its abuse … Nothing is perfect, but I could possibly get behind this imperfection.
"Okay, if I am playing as an AI avatar, can I die?"
"No, nothing in the game can kill your avatar. But you can kill yourself."
"And what happens if I do that?" Why was that even an option?
"You get yelled at a lot, amongst other things."
Makoto led me to sit down in one of the cubicles. It was completely sterile. And the chair was unusual; it was shaped like a saddle, with the backrest positioned at the front.
"Don't kill yourself … you're already on thin ice," Mako said. "So try to act like you know how to do your job." He gave me one last smile before a blaring alarm went off. This time it was mine.
Makoto stepped back quickly, and the watch stopped on its own after something scanned it from above me.
The chair moved on its own, leaning me forward and strapping me in - "Welcome back, staff member Kurosawa Haruto".
The whole cubicle went dark.
"Wait!" I said, but it didn't stop bits of gear from being put over my eyes.
I think my cubicle just ate me.