Filthy Casual for Life

EPISODE 12: HELLO, WORLD

Faces continue to appear around the world, even on the Black Bird. The Black Bird realizes that it has been infected. The black feathers begin to turn white and Kojiro turns into something…different.

The cyberworld is beginning to fall apart. The messaging device given to Taichiro turns on. A message from Kojiro appears. In true Kojiro fashion, it insults Taichiro. Kojiro explains that he supported Taichiro being a shut-in because of his foul mouth and childish behaviors making Taichiro angry. Then, the messaging device asks Taichiro to delete Kojiro along with the cyberworld.

The Black Bird and Kojiro are transported to a space that the Black Bird refers to as the afterlife. Kojiro can no longer speak. The Black Bird admits he never had a chance against Kojiro since he was just binary code.

Back in the shelter, they are beginning to understand that the creepy faces mean Kojiro was able to create a system error. Taichiro finally understands that he was left to clean up Kojiro’s mistake by killing him. He realizes that he will finally get his wish of his father dying.

Taichiro drops the device and then starts running to find Kojiro. While running, he transforms into Ichi. He finds his way to Leon. They have a brief skirmish and Ichi asks where to find Kojiro

Back in the “afterlife,” the Black Bird continues to ask Kojiro questions about its purpose. Kojiro admits he created the Black Bird after the death of his daughter. Kojiro admits the Black Bird’s true name was Aya, after his deceased daughter.

Meanwhile, Ichi tells Leon that they’re going to bring Kojiro back from the afterlife to fight him. He breaks through the barrier and starts to drag Kojiro out.

However, the Black Bird acknowledges his name Aya and Kojiro begins to hold hands with the deteriorating AI. Kojiro explains to Ichi that this is the most reasonable ending to return the world to normal and to unshackle Ichi from his hatred. Then, inexplicably, Ichi begins to cry.

The Black Bird turns into Aya and they fall into the darkness together.

Everyone is returned to the real world after 13 days in cyberspace. The creators of Planet blamed a few rogue employees for the disaster. They managed to survive the aftermath.

Eight years later, Asuma calls Taichiro. Taichiro is no longer a shut-in and has opened his own company. Asuma wants to take him somewhere in Hokkaido. When they arrive, Asuma shows him a field that looks like Twilight Hill. Taichiro suggests that they should build a grave there for their father. Asuma tells Taichiro they decided not to build one since their father’s body was never found. Taichiro suggests they build a house instead. However, as he looks over his shoulder, he sees a red dragon and he glitches slightly.

THOUGHTS

What an ending! I can only speculate that those sucked into the Birdcage/cyberspace never made it out. Instead, they were copied over to a copy of the real world. I think Taichiro knows this and is somehow involved with the maintenance of the world. It would have been too easy for a simple virus to destroy the complexity of the Birdcage. The damage was done. The only real hope would be to live out the rest of their lives in a version of the real world. OR, reality and virtual reality have infected each other.

I would suggest this series to anyone. I thoroughly enjoyed all the twists and turns and the implications of virtual reality and artificial intelligence.

PREVIOUS EPISODES

Episode 1: LOG IN
Episode 2: ERROR
Episode 3: INSTALL
Episode 4: UPGRADE
Episode 5: VIRUS
Episode 6: REMOVE
Episode 7: BAN
Episode 8: RELOAD
Episode 9: AR
Episode 10: REGISTRY
Episode 11: DEBUG