4 What Bright wants

[Timeskip, Year ■■]

"How is it going? Tell me the progress."

Bright entered the room where several game developers gathered in a circle. They were all facing their holograms, typing several complicated codes. Their centre shows a blue hologram portal undertaking construction.

However, this portal never formed completely. Like it was malfunctioning it would always collapse halfway through.

Programmer 0069 fixed his glass and said with a stutter.

"T-the merging was unsuccessful. It s-seems the game is rejecting the system." He said.

"Forcing through will c-completely wipe out all the game's data. I-I'm afraid that even the common data w-would be erased---" 0069 explained several jargons, which passed through one of Bright's ears to another.

Programmers like 0069 were suddenly placed in a tight spot. They were hired by this important figure all of a sudden to create a portal for a certain game.

Normally, they would decline. Normally, they would rest. Given that this day should be for their rest, for them to finally sleep after a week of nonstop foreplaying the keyboard--but their dream rest was taken away unjustly. Just like their candies when they were 5 years old.

They couldn't even blame this important figure! Couldn't even vent their frustration.

Who to blame? No one! Then, blame the dead. Blame the time! Yeah, might as well blame this generation. If not for this Era, they'd be able to sleep at least once every day, consistently!

It's the geniuses' fault. Must they advance technology at every chance they'd get?

One genius turned their jobs into a hell that farts money. Though that genius also made a different and innovative approach to gaming. His invention pulled into existence the Hologram Portals.

These Hologram Portals reign over all other means of gaming. These so-called Hologram Portals enables player to enter certain game spaces. The rise of this convenience caused several devices, such as the old mobiles and computers, to gradually decline. Even the highly praised VR-gears was thrown away without a second thought.

Why? Inside a hologram, the portal was a different space. One can enter the space physically and mentally and experience all aspects of a game, but like it was magic, a gamer would never get hurt nor worry about dying inside. No matter what you do, be it fighting a war against thousands of soldiers or cutting your limbs just to test it out, nothing would truly happen to your body.

This was because everything inside of that space was fabricated. Every experience is fabricated. However, the sensations and the level of realism can fool one into thinking that it is indeed reality. It was so realistic that the thread #Hologram portal theory: Space or a Secret different world? was retweeted over a billion times.

It was because an even more advanced technology was used to achieve such a feat. A ridiculously advanced technology---

"What did you say?"

The monologue of Programmer 0069 was cut short when Bright spoke again. Instinctively, 0069 stiffened like a naked man trapped for 5 hours inside a large freezer.

"T-that t-the merging was, was, u-u-unsuccessful?"

"..."

The important figure who allowed them the privilege of saying his name, Bright, only stared at him with an expressionless face. Since the important figure Bright towers over 0069, the pressure as his eyes looks down was greater than anything else 0069 experienced. Even greater than the heaviness he felt on his shoulder when he typed nonstop for a day.

"It s-seems the game is rejecting the system." 0069 glanced to look at Bright again and paled.

'Still No?!'

"T-then, was it, w-was it..."

"Forcing through will c-completely wipe out all the game's data. I-I'm afraid even the common data w-would be erased---" Before 0069 could finish, he looked up--only to end up biting his tongue so hard it almost bled.

Bright whose expression was previously passive turned ominous as if what 0069 said was a major offence. As if 0069 was at fault for even saying it again.

"You dare?" Rage mixed in between syllables and 0069 flinched and cowered like a rat. Shivering and wronged.

'You asked me what I said! I only repeated!' He cried in his heart.

'Important figures are truly nutcases!'

"N-no we're not, d-don't worry we would never. Never ever! Spare me!" 0069's strong reaction made the other busy Programmer curious.

They peeked. They regretted.

They shouldn't have bothered. Programmer 0069 is a dead man! Offending an important figure like that!

They all turned their heads away and abandoned the unfortunate Programmer 0069. Fortunately, Bright wasn't in the mood to take the pitiful man's head.

He sighed and frowned. Frowned and sighed again. Irritated. All plans of developing a Hologram Portal for School Simulator Game: Date a Tsundere required data deletion.

Every data has to be rewritten and made anew. The advanced technology wouldn't support it otherwise. However, this is not something favourable for Bright. That would only mean his efforts would be in vain, the rewritten Mio wouldn't give the same feeling that the original Mio provides him.

"Cease the project. Don't lay your hands on Mio," he ordered. In the end, it was another failure.

He's already 36. 16 years since Mio and him became a couple. He remained unchanging, Mio remained unchanging too--something he was happy about. However, this situation was unpleasant. Changes in the individual were unwelcome, but changes in their circumstances were urgently needed.

He needs to see his Mio. Day by day, he yearns for it. Every night, it gets harder to keep his sanity intact.

'If not for him...' Memories of his father emerged in his head. The unwanted traces of the past made Bright even more irritated. With a grumpy face, he left the facility and headed home.

Upon arrival, he did not waste another second. He went to his room. Arranged his consoles and entered Mio's world.

His Mio was remodelled multiple times. Just so he could achieve human-like intelligence. He was made that way and designed to cater to Bright. In every way possible.

After he entered, he opened his eyes into a familiar room. It was a house of woods. Large windows decorated with flowers and scenery of the forest outside. Their house, no, their home. His sanatorium.

Bright easily spotted where Mio was, in the big sofa near the window. He went to where the other was and raised his hands to touch him. To his dismay, the outcome was the same as it was yesterday.

"Mio", Bright called out.

He parted Mio's wavy hair. Mio opened his eyes. It fluttered. The lashes quivered. It was a normal action projected so elegant it seems unreal, and it is. Bright was greeted by the familiar colour of the sky. It could be an ocean. Whatever you think is more beautiful.

Bright placed the flock of fallen hair behind Mio's ears. He kissed the half-awake person.

'Still as beautiful as ever`

He's the only one who can see this beautiful person. Only one in this world. He made sure of that several years ago.

"Why?" Mio asked a little muddle-headed. He had yet to process the situation. During this time, he's at his most docile behaviour.

Bright smiled and caressed Mio's cheeks. Replying with just a low hum.