Full Dive: This Ultimate Next-Gen Full Dive RPG Is Even Shittier Than Real Life!

In the early 21st century,

VRMMO experiences took the gaming industry by storm,

flooding the marketplace with virtual worlds.

From intergalactic vistas to subterranean hellscapes,

developers ran wild.

Soon, there emerged one revolutionary piece of software.

Powered by R-Evo, a lightning fast, general purpose AI,

NPCs became indistinguishable from real people.

Individual branches in the story tree

numbered upwards of ten to the power of 52.

All five senses were reproduced in the player's nervous system.

Critics hailed the game as the last word in realism,

its release a tour-de-force.

The gaming community, however, was not so enthusiastic.

Games, they felt, should offer an escape from everyday life.

Real world problems have no place in recreation.

Exhausted and perplexed, humankind concluded

unanimously that, for all the high-tech dazzle,

VRMMO games just aren't fun.

From that point forward, creators decamped

from virtual reality, bringing the phenomenon's

golden age to an untimely close.

Ha! Nice try, scrub!

Guess whose power gauge just refilled!

Ten years after the abortive VR revolution,

ten years after this game's release, our story begins.

Sorry, I'm still on the fence.

Your last year's right around the corner.

At least decide between college

and going straight into the workforce.

Tell you what: let's shelve all that for now

and have ourselves an actual talk.

Maybe open up about the track meet?

Uh, well, I'd really rather not.

If you want to move forward, you've got to address

what happened your freshman year.

There's bound to be a connection

with why you're spinnin' your wheels.

Don't be ashamed, Hiroshi!

Pain is just an opportunity for us to discover our strength!

I can't with this guy...

Huh?

He's giving me life advice from a book title? Seriously?

Things have been rough. I know how you feel.

In your shoes, I probably couldn't even leave the house.

But you? You come to school every day!

That's real strength, kid.

You've got what it takes.

Okay...

You may not think it by lookin' at me,

but I've been through my share of crap.

And in all my years of teaching I've never seen--

Mr. Yasuoka, please--

I want you to accept what happened!

If you can't come to grips with it, I'll accept it for you!

Accept it and move on! It's the only way!

You're better than this! Do you hear me?

I believe in you. Okay? And always remember:

Strength is just an opportunity to find our pain!

He said that completely backwards.

What a prick...

Hiro!

Takafumi.

How'd it go? Do you feel better?

I don't know about "better,"

but I'm definitely feeling down for a gaming session.

Nothing wrong with that as long as you're,

you know, physically active, too.

I'll go to the gym with you, if you want.

I'm good, thanks.

Not much of a point to it anymore.

Look, man. Games aren't gonna fix--

Tournament's coming up for you, right?

School 'em, 'kay?

Yeah. Can you believe it's been two years?

Uh... My bad.

No worries.

See you tomorrow?

'Course.

The real world... sucks ass.

Hey-hey, it's Hiroshi!

Tanishiro, Mishina, hi.

Crazy coincidence running into you

like this, my dude!

Glad I could help.

Heh. Me, too.

Hey, you know we're always good for it!

Yeah, what he said!

And I'll definitely pay you back this time, probably.

Anyone givin' my man a hard time at school,

just say the word.

We'll knock 'em flat on their ass.

If you'd just punch your own lights out,

that'd be great.

Thanks, 'preciate you.

Later, bitch! I mean... bestie!

M-bye!

See what I mean?

To be fair, things could be worse.

Yeah, I pre-ordered the new FQ ?

One second.

At long last, it's out. Finalizing Quest !

This is gonna be beyond epic!

That'll be 13,000 yen.

Right.

How am I a thousand short?

I made sure I had enough!

I gave them the wrong bill!

Um, I seem to be just a tiny bit short.

Oof. That's unfortunate.

So then...

I'd say... you're screwed.

That tracks.

They had the lowest price online.

No way I'll find it cheaper somewhere else.

Yeah. Not a chance.

You're kidding me!

Oh. It's the one from three years ago.

I mean, come on: look at this place.

I knew it was a long shot.

Hey, um, excuse me.

I have kind of an inventory question?

Sure. How can I help?

Mm?

Um. Sorry, thank you. I've never been here.

I was wondering if you had FQ 22 ?

Did you say FQ 22 ?

Yeah. The latest installment of Finalizing Quest.

Just came out.

Is there a reason you're laughing?

That franchise is dead. Seriously.

How many are they gonna churn out?

C'mon, we're living in the twenty-first century.

The game's already at 22?

That's more FQ 's than years in AD!

Think it's time to change the title or what?

So, I'm guessing you don't have any in stock.

What are you, a leming?

You're only buying the game out of habit.

It's like getting into a new manga.

You start buying 'em 'cause they're good,

but then the devs run out of ideas and you keep

coughing up your cash to satisfy the voice

in your head saying, "Hey, I've already got 20 on my shelf,

why stop now?" Ugh! It's stupid!

Yeah, makes sense.

When I played the first FQ back in elementary school,

it blew my mind. I've been hooked ever since--

just with steadily diminishing returns,

so I guess she has a point.

I thought you worked here!

Why would you try to convince a customer they have

shitty taste in games? Jeez!

Sorry. Truth hurts.

Ugh! Just answer the question, please?

You have it in stock or not?

Stop pretending like that would make a difference.

It does if I'm buying!

You know what? Never mind.

Hey, chill.

I got what you need.

How much is it?

Ten thousand.

Yen?

Yep.

Before tax?

After... What do you say?

Um. I say take my money!

Gladly!

Just give me a second. Should be right around here.

Jackpot.

Here you go.

Pleasure doing business with ya.

Finally! Wait. What the hell is this?

Uh?

Wait, give me my money back! Now!

Try the game, nerd.

It's way better than FQ. I guarantee.

We're talking full-dive VR.

An RPG that's the absolute ultimate in realism.

Yeah, that's great. Who gives a damn?

You tricked me. Come on!

Trust me, you'll love it. It's very immersive.

Did I mention it's for mature audiences only?

You mean mature like adults?

Says right on the label.

It's rated Double Z? I've only seen One Z.

Does that say 20 and up?

Relax. It's not restricted

against guys your age.

That's just a guideline for retailers. You're good.

But I wanted FQ ...

Look, no offense, but that kind of stuff is for kids.

Don't you want something more advanced?

Heh. Go on. Take it.

Hey. Wait, I... huh?

I'm Reona Kisaragi. Reona to my friends.

Who're you?

H-Hiroshi Yuki.

Yeah, well. Just FYI: