We Were Somewhere Else

Another loser met someone at Hope's Peak, and he kissed her. Turns out, it was that guy I hooked up with ages ago, some wannabe Z-lister. And all our outfits were terrible, overdone and unbearable. Did you see the photos—?

In the relentless rhythm of modern life, stress was an ever-present companion, its weight pressing down upon those caught in the whirlwind of obligation and expectation. Miu Iruma, genius inventor with a flair for the dramatic, was never one for the breakneck speeds. Despite her fiery personality, she preferred to do things like sleep in and build machines she wanted to, not just what her teachers or potential sponsors wanted.

Finally fed to the gills with the grind (not the fun grind), Miu made a bold decision to reject reality in favor of fantasy. The Neo World Program. To Miu, this digital oasis offered not just a chance to chill, but a canvas for her to unleash her wildest imagination. In virtual reality, Miu could truly shine. Even the laws of physics no longer applied!

"And come on, Kee-boy! YOU'RE comin' with me!" She grinned wolfishly as she took the robot by the cold, metal hand and led him to the Neo World Program machine. In they went, paying no more heed to the outside world.

—No, I didn't, but thanks, though.

ooo

I'm so in love that I might stop breathing, drew a map on your bedroom ceiling.

"Woah..." Kiibo blinked in surprise.

"Pretty sweet, right?!" Hands on hips, voluptuous chest puffed out, Miu admired Kiibo admiring her work. They were outside the academy, but rather than the gates or rest of the city, the open world sprawled out before them, different in every direction. There were cities, towns, hotels, halls, carnivals, boardwalks, bedrooms, and so much more. A thousand worlds, a thousand maps, for them to explore, build, and create upon, together. They could easily spend eternity in the Neo World Program and still have so much left to see and try.

No, I didn't see the news 'cause we were somewhere else!

They stumbled down pretend alleyways with fake wine, pixilated champagne, and a breathtaking view.

"C'mon, Kiibo, here! Try this!" The glass bottle materialized in Miu's hands as she summoned the item into existence with just a thought (though it wasn't as impressive as it sounded since she had administrative powers and access to all the hacks, cheat codes, and item menus).

"Miu, you know I cannot consume human beverages."

"Yeah, in the real world!" said Miu with a dismissive scoff as she shoved the glass bottle into metal hands.

Kiibo's eyes widened, then they sparked once. For a moment, he only stared at the bottle as if uncertain what to do with it. Then he shrugged and popped off the cap and brought it to his "lips". They couldn't open, per se, but liquid wasn't actually flowing. It was all pixels, no-clipping right through his mouth, into his stomach. His eyes widened as he felt something—flavor?—while he drank.

Miu cackled in delight. "Badass, right?! I even figured out how to program and code flavor into there! AhahaHA!"

"Oh, Miu..."Kiibo was certain that no finer wine or champagne could've been found anywhere in all the world—real or virtual. He finally lowered the bottle to meet Miu's electric eyes, and he was breath taken by the view. In his mind, from the internet, flashed an image of the City of Love. How funny, the name sounded so similar to the word "paradise".

Like we were in Paris... Like we were somewhere else... Far away from the world, safe from reality. And in time, Miu opened up her open world (like her legs) to the rest of her peers.