Chapter 5: A New World, A New Name

On the car ride, the man talked to me a lot.

First, we decided my age is roughly 16.

In Japan, 16 means I’d be 17 in Korean age—a high school freshman.

Looking at myself, it’s not hard to believe.

A glance in the car’s mirror shows I look like a girl who should be heading to school.

It really hits me how my eye level’s dropped from over 170 cm.

Take this car, for example.

In my old body, I could’ve rested my arm on the door.

Now? No chance.

I barely lean forward, and I’m already tucked in.

Thankfully, it’s just a slight mental disconnect—I don’t flinch with every move.

Anyway, being this small makes me younger, and they’re creating a new identity for me.

I realized this isn’t the Earth I knew the moment we left the forest with the lab.

My God, drones are flying around downtown, and holograms light up billboards.

The smartphones—or whatever they are—people carry look nothing like what I know.

Up in the sky, a massive airship broadcasts real-time news and weather.

It’s similar to the modern world I knew, but so many things are different.

If I had to guess, it’s like the near future.

Not a medieval fantasy world, which is a relief, but… this is still hard to adjust to.

“Your name’s IA, and… anything you want? I’ll try to make it happen.”

“Nothing, really.”

“Alright. I’ll make up a birthplace then. The rest… the company will handle.”

“Company?”

“Oh, I haven’t properly introduced myself.”

I still don’t know what he does or even his name, since he’s been so one-sided.

Finally realizing this, he rummages in his pocket and hands me a business card.

“This is who I am.”

Master, in charge of Project Vocaloid at Crypton Future Media?

It’s quite different from the business cards I know, but the name and number at the bottom are familiar.

Hmm, Vocaloid?

Is that what I think it is?

“Um, by Vocaloid, do you mean…”

“You know about it?”

Of course I do.

I’m no expert, but even I know the name Hatsune Miku.

To keep me entertained, Master plays a concert video.

On the screen, a girl with green twin-tails sings into a mic.

“Ah…”

I’m briefly stunned by the ultra-high-definition quality, but soon my attention shifts to the song itself.

She’s singing so joyfully, so passionately.

She’s… dazzling.

Like the word “star” was made for her, shining like an actual star.

“Like it?”

“Yeah, it’s… incredible.”

The concert venue isn’t too different from what I remember, but the crowd’s energy is on another level.

That’s gotta be world-class, right?

Come to think of it, Hatsune Miku was already insanely popular, even as a machine or program.

Here, as a real person, how much bigger is she?

Wait, if she’s here, are there others too?

I heard there were quite a few.

“Are there… others?”

“Of course. They’re all at the place we’re heading to.”

Wait, so the place we’re going is their dorm?

The thought makes me pause.

“Am I… going to become a Vocaloid too?”

“Huh? No, no, not right away. You’d have to want it first. Think it over slowly.”

I nod slightly at his words.

Vocaloid…

I should keep it as an option, but first, I need to figure out if I even can.

I don’t even know what Vocaloids are in this world.

“We’re here. Welcome to the Vocaloid House.”

It’s huge… I don’t know how to describe it.

Just huge.

I know nothing about architecture, so I can’t explain the structure, but I never knew a two-story house could be this big.

Wait.

Looking closely, it’s not just one house.

There’s another one just as big right next to it.

“What’s that?”

“Oh, that’s another Vocaloid House. We ran out of space as more people joined, so we built another.”

His casual tone is terrifying.

So who lives there?

“Who’s in that one?”

“There? Yukari, Maki, Akari… mostly the kids active in online streaming.”

Oh, those names sound familiar.

I remember Yuzuki Yukari’s streams—pretty famous.

So one house is for singers, the other for streamers.

“Let’s head in. Don’t worry, they’re all good kids.”

“Okay…”

Meeting so many strangers at once?

For an introvert, this is way too high a hurdle…

But no matter what I say, reality won’t change.

Master strides forward confidently, unlocking various security measures—iris scans, fingerprints—and holds out his hand.

“Come on in.”

“Excuse me…”

The house is intimidatingly grand.

And all the people waiting inside.

The moment I cross the threshold, I turn into a squid.

Somebody save me…

Sticking close behind Master, I step inside and see a rainbow of hair colors.

Not just Hatsune Miku from the video, but pink, blue, light brown, yellow…

Incredible.

Are all these people Vocaloids?

Sadly, I only know Miku’s name, but the others must be just as impressive.

“Come on out.”

Master’s voice pulls me forward as I hesitate.

I step out cautiously, feeling every eye on me.

No, I can’t handle this atmosphere.

I duck back behind Master, but then the yellow-haired twins approach.

Their ribbons and clothes are slightly different, but they’re so alike I’d never tell them apart if they dressed the same.

Wait, that’s not the point.

From their chatter, the girl is Kagamine Rin, the boy is Kagamine Len.

Their sparkling, childlike eyes bombard me with questions.

The stares from the back are already overwhelming, but this close-up interrogation is too much.

“Okay, okay, that’s enough. Let her rest. She’s been through a lot.”

Thankfully, Master notices and steps in, making the twins back off.

But the real trial starts now…

“Meiko, Luka, take care of her. She’s probably exhausted.”

“Sure thing~”

“Got it.”

Two women rise from their seats.

So the short-haired one is Meiko, and the pink-haired one is Luka?

Got it, I’ve got their names.

But something’s off.

As they move, my body starts acting strange.

I’m trembling for no reason, unable to stay still.

Why?

What’s happening?

Oh, a blue-haired guy is messing with the AC.

Is that it?

It is a bit hot outside.

But I’m wearing nothing under this gown.

Lowering the AC like that makes it freezing!

Wait, I don’t actually feel cold.

So that’s not it?

Something else then?

One thing’s clear—every time Meiko approaches, I get a bad feeling.

“We won’t hurt you.”

Seeing me tremble so openly must’ve looked pitiful, because Meiko lowers her gaze and speaks softly.

Calm down.

My heart’s pounding, but calm down.

“What’s your name?”

“IA…”

I manage to say my name properly.

I don’t know why my body’s acting like this.

I feel something ominous, but…

Wait!

Is this a recurrence of past trauma?

Back then, I was grabbed on the subway, accused of being a creep with a hidden camera.

Thankfully, a phone search cleared me, and I even got compensation for the false report, but I almost became a sex offender.

I avoided public places for a while and took taxis to work.

I thought I’d overcome it…

No, stay calm.

What could happen here?

“Will you trust us? We’ll never betray that trust. Here, a promise.”

Her gentle pinky promise makes me take a deep breath.

Who cares about past trauma?

Are these people going to drag me back to a lab as a guinea pig?

Calm down.

I don’t have much choice anyway…

Wait, that thought might not be great.

“You won’t… report me, right?”

“Of course not.”

“You won’t… tease me, right?”

“Absolutely not!”

Her confident answers slowly calm me.

I don’t know if this is really past trauma, but I can’t keep looking pathetic.

Let’s pretend this never happened.

Count primes: 1, 3, 5…

Wait, that’s wrong.

Oops, I zoned out too long.

I glance at Master, and he nods with a stiff face.

Did I space out too much?

I should apologize to Meiko first.

“Sorry…”

I was too dazed in front of people.

After apologizing, I step forward cautiously.

Another wave of stares.

I take a deep breath and bow slowly.

“Nice to meet you. I’m IA. Please take care of me.”

“Yeah! Nice to meet you too!”

“So glad to meet you!”

Thankfully, my worries were unfounded.

Their warm, smiling welcome finally puts me at ease.

Something tickles inside my chest.

As my expression starts to relax—

“Hey, hey, wanna take a bath first? Meiko-nee! Luka-nee!”

“Got it.”

“Let’s go.”

“Huh…?”

Wait, what did I just hear?