Otome Dream

Ch. 1: A Maiden's Dream

In 20xx, electronics industries have become so advanced, that technologies such as Holograms, Virtual Reality Console, Full Motion Engine, High Artificial Intelligence are now common things and exist in every electronic device. However, one of the most progressing industries is the GAMING field.

In 2006, a game company N released a game console that could detect player movements, and since then the game industry began to develop rapidly. 10 years later, in 2016, a rival game company S released a game console that could be combined with VR (Virtual Reality) technology, making the players feel like they were entering the game world they were playing. There's also a console that can only be played with solar energy, invites players to play outside, hoping them to get sunlight at least once in a while before they lock themselves in their room again.

Yes, the existence of these games makes many young players become addicted so they stay up late and forget about sleeping. To solve this problem, a large game company named Sonamy released a new console, combined with most advanced technologies called DREAM MACHINE (DM). As the name implies, this console can only be played while sleeping.

Thanks to its unique system, attractive advertising, and also affordable prices, Dream Machine is immediately in demand and won the best console throughout the year. Almost all gamers have it, no matter male or female. To meet the market of female consumers, Sonamy is now creating a game specifically intended for female players, entitled OTOME DREAM. (Otome means "maiden", this genre is popular among women where they can choose romance among many men)

︵‿︵‿︵‿:*:･ﾟ'★,｡･:*:･ﾟ'☆‿︵‿︵‿︵

???: [Are you currently in high school? When is your birthday?]
???: [Can you tell me your height and weight? Don't worry, I'll keep it a secret!]
???: [Do you have a boyfriend?]
???: [Huh?! No...? But, you did have one, or having someone in your mind, right?]
???: [...... Oh, I see. Well, if you have a boyfriend, what kind of guy do you like? Please type the description in the bottom line as long as you want.]

Tap tap tap... my fingers quickly typing the touch screen, writing descriptions of the guy I like. Well, I like smart people. And maybe a slightly serious attitude will add to his charm. He better don't joke too much, I guess? And, what else...?

My name is Aikawa Miki. I'm just an ordinary 16-year-old high school girl. My grades are standard and my sports skills are standard. It's just that I really like playing games.

Even now, I'm in a small game store that I often pass after school. My brother asked me to find a rare key chain with a character from his favorite game, so sometimes I like to enter any game store to look for it. Even if I didn't find that rare item, looking at the store shelves displaying the latest games is enough to make me happy.

But this afternoon, I saw something different. There's a small pink tent in the corner of the shop, which only one person can enter. OTOME DREAM with large letters printed on the walls of the tent. When I opened the screen door and peered inside, I saw a machine with a large screen (imagine a touch screen ATM), and suddenly from the screen, a voice greeted me. I recognized that voice immediately because it is the voice of my favorite voice actor, Papillon.

Without thinking twice, I went inside the tent and sat on a chair. Lights automatically turn on and the inside of the tent becomes dimly lit. I put my school bag and luggage on the shelf next to me. On the screen I saw a handsome young man with dark blue hair and eyes like turquoise. Yes, that is Criss, main character of Otome Dream game. He is a cartoon character whose voice is voiced by Papillon.

Criss: [Good afternoon! Hello, my name is Criss. Will you tell me your name?]

I answered Criss's question, or rather, I answered this machine equipped with HAI (High Artificial Intelligence). Apparently, this is a survey with prizes as a promotion for the Otome Dream game which will be released in 9 months. This is a game that I and millions of other players have been waiting for. On the day of the game's release, I imagined a long queue at the game store, and maybe I'll need help of my father or mother to get this game and...