Real Drive

In 2061, fifty years after humanity embraced the Network society, the dream of a utopia built on shared consciousness had faded. Instead, new issues emerged-personal data leaks, manipulated information spreading unchecked-yet people remained dependent on the Network, unable to disconnect. A more secure version of the Network was eventually developed: the Meta Real Network, or "the Metal." It stored personal memories within protected virtual spaces known as bubble shells, becoming an inseparable part of daily life. But within the Metal’s safety, people began unleashing their instincts, losing themselves in floods of information and unchecked desires. Meanwhile, the real world still enforced its rules, creating a growing tension between the two realms. This friction gave rise to strange, unimaginable distortions. Those who ventured into the depths of the Metal to study these anomalies were known as cyber divers. Among them was Masamichi Haru, a diver tasked with investigating the blurred line between Reality and the Metal. This is his story.