Heimburger - Yamamoto: Intermission 5 / Story 5 (152-189)

Throughout The Stories of Ibis, Yamamoto's descriptions of virtual worlds have always seemed to be alluded to as hedonistic forms of escape, so I was surprised to find the message of this story portray the virtual realm as a protective cage for future consciousness. The saddest part of the chapter arose from Saika's realization and subsequent curiosity of her virtual relationship with reality as a realm outside the one she has always known. Saeko may have lied to protect Saika's awareness, but in the same way a parent would lie to their child that "everything is going to be okay." The situation could be seen as reminiscent of how a parent may choose to send their child to a safer location even if they must stay behind in a disease-stricken or war-torn country. The child knows they will grow up in a safer environment but realizes it comes at the cost of real lives that will become disconnected from their actual futures. In a way, the story is a grim explanation of the nature of living in virtual existence and the curse of having your consciousness tied to virtual reality. Saeko was able to sacrifice her time and effort because they were meaningful things to give due to the finiteness of life in the real world, but Saika can never really sacrifice or give anything in return since her existence is permanent. The only thing she can continue to do is exist and carry on the consciousness of others in the real world. This story emphasizes the importance of reality by showing the perspective of someone peering in from the virtual world. It also acts as a reminder of why living in a world for the purposes of escape can devalue existing, especially when death and losing don't mean anything substantial.

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