Aoi Shigohama's Story

“When I get home? Well, get a new job I guess...Can’t really teach boxing anymore on the account of well...Everything. Maybe I can do some waitering...Less risk of anything bad happening really.” Tatsuda replied to the question. Well, waitering was not all that bad. “As for a game...I could check it out in the future but just do what you love to do I say...Besides killing people of course.” She chuckled a bit at a little dark humor.

Soon the bus arrived at the apartment complex. The general area was full of apartment buildings 10 to 20 floors high. Their building was 11 floors high and the back side had a view of the river and a riverside park. The looks of the building made it seem it was built around 30 years ago, however it didn't look run down and made a sturdy impression as if it could even withstand a magnitude 9.0 earthquake.

"Looks like we are here." Aoi said. Before getting off the bus, Aoi replied ot Kali's questions: "If all three of us would create the MMO you would need to either learn programming, modelling or find something you can do to contribute. Specifically we cannot just do some standard scripting, but make in game AI more interactive so that the only way you recognize that they are AI is that they have a specific icon over their heads or have their names in a specific color."

As Aoi got off, she notice a sign on the building: "Yotsugi Tech-Center Apartments Building A" About it was a paper written on with what seemingly seemed to be crayons. It read in a colorful fashion: "Welcome Tatsuda-san, Shigohama-san and White-san! -Your new neighbors!"

"I guess the people living here have been told already of our arrival." Aoi said. The door opened and a woman in a kimono was behind it. From the looks of her, she was also a cyborg. Age wise, she appeared no older than 30. She had blue hair.

"I have been expecting you three. My name is Kokoro Kizuri. I live on the sixth floor. You might meet the others later throughout the day." The woman said.

OOC: Reference pic for Kokoro.

“I see, I could try to learn programming, or modeling, when it comes to contribution…what about sketching? I tend to sketch in my free time, so if you would want me to create some kind of enemy or npc I could make a basic sketch, one that we would later turn into MMO asset.”

Kali had to still choose few things she wanted from insurance company, and one or two could be about programming or modelling.
When it seemed they reached their destination, and someone who happened to be a cyborg welcomed them Kali felt confused.

“Why are we actually welcomed so much here, it feels weird to say the least.” she said aloud what she thought, while looking at sign, and colorful greeting from their new neighbors.

Kali could assume it’s a matter of neighbors trying to help trio adjust to this new life, or that there are many others here that are similar to them. Most likely either was wrong or partially wrong in her opinion, and so there was only one way to find out –which is to wait for reaction from that Kokoro.

As the bus stopped at the apartments, and from its appearance it was...possible middle or an upper class apartments. Not bad...As Tatsuda stepped off the bus behind the other two she took note of the sign welcoming the three of them. It was colorful that was for sure, however once one of the apartment doors opened up...Well, to be sure she deffinitly saw a rather beautiful woman step out.

From her Apperance, she seemed to be a cyborg as well. Well, it was a welcoming sight that’s for sure. “Good Morning Kokoro. Please treat us well.” She gave a greeting with a nod of her head and a smile. Well, her new home was an apartment for now. This should prove to be filled with fun.

"Well, most of us are here because we had the same insurance company who generally offers clients new apartments when they end up with cybernetic bodies. We just hear from the company and the hospital when we get new neighbors. Also we find out when they renovate and set up a new apartment in the building." Kokoro said. "But I am sure you will get along with the others well." Kokoro smiled.

"Convenient." Aoi said. "Good to know that we will have an easy start. Why don't we go up to the apartments?"

Well, it was nice to know things were going well. So was a little bit excited to go into the apartments. Who knows, it could be rather comfortable. Of course Tatsuda would kinda miss her old bed at home, it was a mattress with a blanket on it but hey...Most beds were like that in the end of the day.

And the neighbors, who knows how many interesting people lived here. If the people here were cyborgs than no doubt things would be good here. “Yeah, Let’s go check the place out.” She spoke with a nod and smile.

“Well, that answers a lot.” All doubts dispersed, curiosity took its place.

Kali wanted to know how many people were like them, how would their new apartment look like exactly, and many other questions swirled in her mind.

Some of them would surely be answered quickly, while some may stay unanswered for months.
“Kay, I’m really curious to what kind of apartments we will see.”

"You three will be on the tenth floor. There is an elevator down the hallway." Kokoro said. "Doors open with your unique ID chips. You just have to hold your hand on the door and then press down on the knob. If you want to grant others entry without your presence then you can set that up in the home terminal."

"Thank you, Kokoro." Aoi said. "Come on guys, let's check it out."

She boarded the elevator and went up to the tenth floor. Their apartments were all next to each other facing the riverside of the building. Aoi went to the one marked with her name and did the procedure to unlock and open the door.

The apartment seemed pretty big. There was a full kitchen, a living area, a bedroom and a room with handy gadgets like a fabricator. In the bedroom was some tech such as charging cables, an ultra high speed cable for cybernet and maintenance tools. The home terminal was in the living room on the wall and featured additional functions such as changing the positions of furniture and changing decoration. "Neat." Aoi said.

Once on tenth floor, and in front of the door with her name Kali waited for unknown reason. When Aoi opened doors to apartment, she opened hers. Apartment seemed small at first, but it was just first impression, living room combined with kitchen, bedroom that would soon be changed into a private cozy space with lots of stuff that may be perceived as needless.

What made her happy was writing-desk inside bedroom.

Some would think it’s weird place to have writing-desk, but it’s easier to go from bed to it, and creativity sometimes means you need to lie on bed with closed eyes, thinking about what you want to create.

Kali still had to change this room a lot, she had to buy laptop, and sketching tablet.
And...
There were still two other rooms she had to see sooner or later, but first she wanted to check upon the other two, who came with her.

“Aoi, Tatsuda, Aoi, Tatsuda…Aoi.” With that weird choice of hers she went to see Aoi’s apartment first.
Before going into Aoi’s apartment, Kali decided to ask for permission to enter.
“Hey Aoi, can I enter?” She stood in hall, waiting for response.

As they arrived at the 10’th floor of the apartments, she searched for her nameplate on the door. Wow...Her very own apartment, and everything was pretty high tech...Once she entered her own room however, Oh boy this beat her own home pretty straight forward.

A nice, spacious apartment filled with all manners of things. Now all she needed was a basketball hoop and ball and everything would be fine. And it seemed to be pretty secure...They certainly had a great apartment. She decided to get well suited to her new apartment.

"Hey Aoi, can I enter?" Kali's voice said. Aoi went to the door and opened it for her. "So do you like your new apartment?" Aoi asked. "I was thinking about using the fabricator for a while so that I have multiple sets of clothes. And I can maybe change the set up later to fit my taste more. But how would you guys like to go around the area later, maybe find a restaurant or a bar?"

“Umm, sure, better to see what is around this neighborhood now than later.”
Though what about Tatsuda... – was a question in Kali’s mind.
“Hey Tatsuda, would you come sightseeing with us?” She yelled, considering Tatsuda seemed to still be inside her apartment.

As Tatsuda was getting accustomed to her new apartment, she heard Kali call out to her about sightseeing. She went over to her door and called out. “Sure, sounds like fun.” She replied.

They went down to the ground floor and out of the building. The breeze was fresh and luckily their sensors were good enough to feel the wind adequately. While the buildings were tall, the atmosphere of the neighborhood was friendly, with not so much traffic, some pedestrians and birds chirping. The chimes of crosswalks and train crossings could be heard nearby.

"So let's check out the neighborhood and shops. And maybe in the evening, we can head over to the bar district in Tateishi." Aoi said.

Stepping out of her room to join the others, Tatsuda listened to Aoi’s Plans to explore the neighborhood, the shops and then head over to Tateishi and go to the bar district. Drinks, fun and all manners of other things. And a good way to learn the layout. “Count me in, if there’s drinks then count me in as well!” She spoke with a happy grin before nodding.

“Umm, so any particular shops we’ll search for first? Ones with batteries?” Kali knew it was kind of stupid joke or rather reference, but still too tempting, even if it would suck she had to try and see how they could react.

Kali also wanted to check few things in electronics shop, so it would be great for her to know where such shop is.

“Really though, could we search for one place with pc's, laptops and so on?”

"I'd say we should just stroll around at first and get to know the area and probably map a map in our heads of the area. Then if we need anything specific we might come across it on the way or just have to look for it. I would love to go for some food if we find a place. While I dont think we can really feel hunger or fullness and rather can just taste, we still need the nutrients to keep our brains healthy." Aoi said.

"I would love to find a curry place though or a Mister Donut."

Well...That’s one question solved. They can still taste food and drinks, but they won’t feel full or hungry. Of course when Kali mentioned batteries Tatsuda let out a small laugh. “Careful not to spill water on yourself as well...But Yeah, jokes aside it sounds like a good idea to map out the area. Let’s take all the sights in.” She nodded in response.

Well, she was not the smartest person ever but since the brain can still take in nutrients from things they eat...Can she still get drunk?...That’s probably possible still. Well, never hurt to try it.

“Water, right…” When Kali heard about curry, she couldn’t help but imagine herself eating it.

“Spicy, warm…curry, let’s go for curry dish!” She yelled like a child, it wasn’t her favorite dish, but one she liked much.

She thought where place with such curry could be, and something came to her mind.
“Umm, we could use map now, right?”

"I could use the internet to download a map into my memory. But it is more adventurous and fun just to discover for ourselves. I see a typical roof for a shopping arcade down the road. Let's try over there." Aoi said. She began walking towards the direction of where she thought a shopping arcade was. "I hope there is a selection of sides. Then I can order spicy curry with Hirekatsu and Tonkatsu with crispy breading and maybe a mango lassi if they have it. What kind of curry do you guys like?"