RWBY/Sword Art Online (Discontinued)

Chapter 73: Tetsuhiro Shigemura

The next day, Kazuto and Penny pay a visit to the Toto Institute of Technology to see a presentation for the Augma hosted by Tetsuhiro Shigemura, the developer of the Augma.

Shigemura: The most glaring flaw in the Full-Dive VR device, is the actual full-dive function itself. To be precise, the risks of cutting off one's physical senses in order to play a VR game are incalculable. Needless to say, applications of the full-dive tech aren't nearly limited to games. There's also communication, browsing, digital production, and more. In truth, they can be done with sight, hearing, and even limited tactile information. So instead of a rather dangerous full-dive device, one should choose a safe AR device instead.

Shigemura looks at the time on his watch as the presentation almost ends.

Shigemura: Any questions?

Kazuto and Penny both raise their hands.

Shigemura: Ok, you over there.

Kazuto stands up.

Kazuto: I have a feeling that AR devices contain dangers that aren't in full-dive machines like the AmuSphere. What do you think about that?

Shigemura: As in traffic accidents while wearing such devices?

Kazuto: That's not the case. Can the Augma run a scan through the brain, taking away memories of the user?

Shigemura: I will answer that question next time. That's all for today.

After everyone leaves, Kazuto and Penny visit Shigemura's office.

Kazuto: Let me cut to the chase. Do you happen to know a rank 2 player in Ordinal Scale named Eiji?

Shigemura: I'm not sure.

Penny: He is in your class, right?

Shigemura: I have lots of students in my class.

Penny: Then aren't you aware that SAO survivors are suffering from memory loss when using the Augma? Does the Augma have a hidden function that scans the user's memories while it's being worn?

Shigemura: I thought that Seijirou Kikuoka of the Ministry of Eternal Affairs told me you both just wanted to audit my seminar.

Penny: Pretty soon, they will know about this through security.

Kazuto: When they find out, they will ban the Augma from the public, just like they did with the NerveGear. So, do you really want to follow the same path as your student, Akihiko Kayaba?

Shigemura: I don't really know what both are talking about. Even if memory scanning was possible, how would that be a problem for the survivors losing their memories? There is this saying, blessed are the thoughtful, for they get the better even of their blunders. Wouldn't you both agree that the survivors wish to forget the terrible things that happened inside that game?

Penny: You may be right about that. But I'm sure they just want to forget the bad things, and not the good things.

Shigemura: Next time, you should both get an official appointment. Of course, that doesn't guarantee my schedule will be open for you.

Kazuto and Penny begin to leave.

Kazuto: You build robots here too, right?

Shigemura: We do, indeed.

Just as they go out the door, Kazuto catches a glimpse at a picture of Shigemura's daughter, looking just like Yuna from OS. When they head outside, Kazuto calls Kikuoka.

Kikuoka: It's true that Professor Shigemura has a daughter. Well, he had one. She died two years ago.

Penny: Yuna Shigemura, right? She looks just like Yuna the AR idol. But what exactly is he trying to do?