Rakuen sample

[knightofwhat]

Sora's mind was filled with confusion. Why were those girls fighting? -How- were those girls fighting? Why did tha girl say something so cruel? Why did that boy fall unconscious?

Why did everyone look so unhappy? Even Tsuki seemed to have lost her animation when they arrived here.

"Why...?"

Tsuki took a sip of her tea before responding. "The rule of this academy was 'male domination'. That was the desire of the president of the 'Iwahijiri Group', who has controlled this academy for generations, to make a school that ran according to his beliefs."

"But... that doesn't make any sense! Even the boys... they looked scared..."

"That's because of 'Exaclan'. A virtual reality game where boys own girls, and the girls fight for their owners' amusement... but something went wrong. When the weapon is damaged, the owner feels pain. When the weapon breaks... you saw what happens."

"No way..."

"That's just how it is now. Boys are expected to do things that hurt girls, and the rules usually protect them. And girls hurt boys to protect themselves... or sometimes just because they can. Everyone is scared of everyone else, because no one knows who will hurt them next."

Sora slammed her hands down on the table. "People shouldn't have to live like that!"

"It's the best way. No one can escape the system, so it's best to just avoid everyone as much as you can. The less you're noticed, the less you get hurt."

"Tsuki! Weren't you the one who said I should be a 'knight of justice who protects the people'?"

"That's impossible. Sora..."

exaclan:0> ExaclanUsers.FindUserByName("Sora Himoto")

"...you'd have to become a Player to make any impact on the system."

exaclan:0> ExaclanUsers.FindUserByName("Sora Himoto").SetPlayerFlag(true)

"Girls would be scared of you because you'd be part of the class that oppresses them. Boys would be scared of you because as a female Player, you'd be an anomaly. Everyone would be turned against you. And of course, you may not even be able to become a Player at all; the system administrator isn't likely to welcome such a disruption to the existing order. Even with all that, are you going to try and get involved?"

exaclan NOTICE: PlayerFlag change for #<ExaclanUser:0x00023d5 @name="Sora Himoto"> requires user confirmation.

"Of course! I'll become a player somehow, and find a way to help everyone! Because... that's what I promised!"

exaclan NOTICE: PlayerFlag for #<ExaclanUser:0x00023d5 @name="Sora Himoto"> set to TRUE.

exaclan ERROR: #<ExaclanUser:0x00023d5 @name="Sora Himoto"> is a Player and an unowned Weapon. Ownership of #<ExaclanUser:0x00023d5 @name="Sora Himoto"> automatically set to SELF.

And so Sora charged off to set her dubious plan into motion, not realizing that she'd already achieved the first step just by agreeing to do so. But she'd realize when she saw the Player mark on her chest, and the mark of an Owned Weapon on the back of her hand.

When she showered the next day.

Behind her, Tsuki smiled. It wasn't exactly a nice smile.

She'd always known how to push Sora's buttons...

... She just hoped Karin was right, and Sora would be able to do the same thing to the Academy.