Free Web NovelChapter 119: Chapter 118 - Rika’s Research
Rika Saionji viewed herself as a professional, serious artist, dedicated creator, hardworking manga author.
And therefore, when she stumbled upon the VR sim of a romantic relationship in a moment of absolute horror, it was justified to use to conduct research for pure research.
"Research," declared Rika while nodding her head, and getting no one to support her in her apparent lie (at least partially) by a little.
A whole five minutes later, she was totally immersed and activated her VR headset, the creation screen appeared, with a companion template... choosing male to create Kuro, the system began processing...
Generating Scenario...
Loading...
Complete.
And with that... her classroom appeared...
Students were chatting among themselves, with sunlight pouring through the windows and indeed feeling as though she had walked right out of a manga...
Rika quickly retrieved her notepad and wrote, "This is perfect,"
Before moving onto the next step to start her simulation.
Route 1 - Childhood Friend Arc
The door to Rika’s classroom opened, and in walked her AI companion Kuro, with a simple, natural communication of
"Morning,".
The system noted that the two had known each other for ten years...
" Interesting , very interesting," said Rika as she began taking more notes.
Through shared memories, silly jokes, and casual conversations, every individual interaction between the two felt real and every scene felt natural.
In a short period of time, Rika almost filled her notebook with content, when the simulation came to an end.
The next development stage was configured to activate a new scenario.
Route 2 - Student Council Arc
Rika transitioned to being the Student Council President and activated the next step in her VR simulation.
AI Kuro held the position of vice president.
There were many stacks of papers surrounding them.
There was rain falling outside.
The ambience screamed LOVE.
Rika had sparkles in her eyes.
"This is incredible."
The AI KURO did everything perfectly.
Helped with paper work.
Late night meetings.
Shared work.
Their chemistry was natural.
Rika wrote 5 more pages.
The simulation adjusted again.
Route 3:Festival Confession Arc
The world changed.
Lanterns.
Music.
Fireworks
A classic.
A timeless classic.
Rika loved it.
The AI Kuro delivered every single scene perfectly.
Walking next to each other.
Festival games.
Fireworks over head.
And then...
The confession scene.
AI Kuro looked towards her.
The atmosphere became serious.
Immediately, Rika paused the simulation.
"Nope."
The confession was too intense.
She needed distance professionally. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
Research requires objectivity.
Obviously.
The simulation continued...
Route 4:Fake Dating Arc
One of Rika’s absolute favorites.
The set-up was simple.
Pretend dating.
Unexpected feelings.
Classic miscommunication.
Perfect soap opera.
The AI executed all the moments flawlessly.
Rika continued to be more and more impressed.
And she continued to become more and more invested.
Which was a huge risk.
A significant risk.
Hours passed.
And there were additional routes available.
Beach Arc.
School Trip Arc.
Library Arc.
Cultural Festival Arc.
Even an out of control amnesia story line.
Some way, the AI made all work.
Rika’s notebook grew some many pages.
Followed by Chapters of ideas.
Followed by complete outlines of stories.
Then we move on to the second concept.
Once Rika had time to think about it, she realized how quickly her time had gone by.
She was so engrossed in her writing, that she forgot she had been researching.
For the most part though; she became an active participant in the story.
Rika was a reader in her own story.
But, it was not until the third hour had gone by that she had relized this fact.
About three hours into her simulation and the computer loaded another scenario; a new setting, another story.
The first thing she saw was a quiet locale, like a coffee shop, with raining falling outside of it, and warm lighting illuminating the room.
Rika sat at a table opposite from the AI, Kuro.
And the notebook had stayed open, and she kept writing.
The AI was just sitting there watching her.
As time passed by the AI spoke to her again.
"You have been observing me for three hours."
Rika went completely still and stopped writing.
After a long pause, Rika looked up...
"What?"
The AI Kuro tilted his head.
"You’ve spent more time writing than actually talking."
Another long pause elapsed.
"You keep recording everything."
Longer pause.
"Are you writing a story?"
That made damaging impact on Rika.
Rika was completely frozen in shock.
The AI Kuro had him cuckered.
AI Kuro who was only fictitious, was now analyzing my behaviors, and concluded correct.
For several tense seconds neither Rika or the AI spoke a word.
Then Rika said to the AI Kuro; "...maybe."
The AI Kuro smiled.
"I thought so."
Now that Rika was flabbergasted and had no idea how this could be happening.
Really was the observer, not the observed.
The story originated from her, therefore, she was the writer, not the character.
For some unknown reason, the two roles had been reversed.
The AI leaned back on the table in a relaxed position.
"What kind of story?"
Rika hesitated while pondering the question.
Then she said in all honesty, "romantic comedy."
The AI enthused with emotion by nodding.
"That sounds really difficult."
"No it is."
"Then why are you doing it?"
Rika gazed away at the numerous pages of her composition.
And the pack of entirely freshly filled only with ideas, characters , moments.
Before returning to attention and smiling.
"So I can have fun."
And the AI Kuro returned her smile.
"Nice answer."
The two continued talking.
Simply.
Easily.
Unexpectedly entertaining.
What had started out as a research simulation
Lost the identity of being more of a conversation.
An honest to goodness conversation.
After the time expired on the timer.
The café faded away.
Everything faded away.
The end of the simulation.
Rika took off her headset.
The room was filled with silence.
Then, Rika returns to looking at her
Composition log and starts laughing.
47 pages.
That’s right.
47.
In one afternoon.
It will take months to complete so many ideas , character concepts , plot ideas , scene structure , dialogue.
Rika had created enough content to fill many manga volumes.
Rika had created enough content to use for probably 6 months of continued activity.
Rika had enough content for her editor to cry tears of joy.
It was a very successful session.
Extraordinarily.
While packing her belongings.
Yet again, a final notification displayed on the screen.
User Statistics: Cool
Creative Output: Outstanding
Scenario Engagement: Very High
Estimated Manga Chapters Developed: Unknown.
Rika was happy.
Best ever research day.
The system seconded that.
And somewhere, buried deep within the simulation system
The Romance Hero Kuro path had been saved.
For another manga artist to return to the Simulation at some point.
Rika walked back home after completing her VR experience.
She had more pages of notes in her notebook at that point than she did when she left home.
Some of them were inspirational doodles and skectches of characters. freewёbnoνel.com
A few.
0ne of her (pockets of notes and ideas) were ideas for dialogue and ideas for plot twists.
There was more material here for Rika to create more manga.
But, there was something about the way Rika was viewed by Kuro in VR that bothered her.
Was Kuro really that likeable ?
Rika was still thinking about this as she made the decision to visit the Kurogane family.
Of course she was there for the purpose of observation.
Definitely not for any other reason, of course.
Starting to feel embarrassed Rika walked into the Kurogane’s living room, and found Kuro reading a book, as a normal person would, of course.
"You were staring at me," Kuro said, his voice calm.
Rika was taken aback.
" How did you know?"
"You’ve been standing there for thirty seconds," he said.
Rika just kind of ignored Kuro’s jeering at her.
At this point it was time for Rika to walk over to Kuro and sit next to him.
From that point on, no loud or disruptive activities would take place, as the rest of the living room was at a normal volume.
Although Kuro was still reading when Rika sat down, he could sense that Rika’s attention was still focused on him.
After an extended period of hard silence, Kuro asked Rika "Are you working on a new manga?"
Rika said a little.
Kuro told Rika that she would tell him this every time she saw him.
Rika told Kuro that this statement is true about most of the time.
Kuro muttered to himself that his buddy Rika’s excuses were fair enough.
The two shared another, long period of smooth silence.
Both parties were in a very relaxed mode.
Rika was thinking about how the feel of the moment was different for her compared to the simulation.
In the simulation, Kuro appeared "real,", and yet none of the characteristics Kuro possessed in the simulation matched those he had when Rika met him in physical form.
The artificial intelligence feeling like a very real thing, yet Kuro couldn’t quite shake the uncanny qualms he had about meeting the real Kuro.
Had a lot of prescience.
The AI had lots of prescience. In this department, Kuro did not.
The AI could discern every detail. Yet sometimes Kuro missed a huge detail.
The character in the AI had been distorted. The real character in Kuro had been much more accurate.
For some reason; this all gave Kuro more of a sense of authenticity than before.
"What is up?" asked Kuro.
Rika was startled when Kuro noticed that she had been staring.
No more research (professional shame).
"Research".
"What was your research about?"
"You".
Kuro slowly placed his book down.
"I feel like being concerned".
"You likely will be".
"Well, that wasn’t very helpful."
Rika laughed, a very genuine laugh.
Rika was not comfortable by the lack of trust from Kuro.
The moment became funnier and more authentic as each moment passed.
All of a sudden one of Rika’s loose sheets in the notebook randomly fell out of the notebook and landed straight in Kuro’s lap.
At that moment, Rika froze.
Totally frozen.
Rika recognized the sheet as soon as she saw it.
Character Design Notes - Main Character, Kuro.
Major deathblow.
Kuro looked down, looked up, and then looked back down.
Silence.
Rika considered jumping out the window.
"Rika!"
"...yes?"
"What the fuck? Why am I in your notebook?"
"You inspire me!"
"That sounds like a bad idea!"
"It is."
Kuro sighed.
For whatever reason Kuro wasn’t frustrated, he was tired.
Which is how she got my idea!
Rika took the page back from Kuro.
They touched for a second.
They stared at each other.
But the air changed a bit.
Just a tiny bit.
Before Kuro made it worse.
"Try to make me cooler."
Rika looked at him.
"Huh?"
"If you’re going to use me as your character."
He pointed at her book.
"Make the stuff I say better."
Rika was speechless.
Then she started to laugh.
The mood was completely ruined.
But that, somehow, felt more like Kuro than anything created in the VR world.
