Chained to You

"We are alive, in the loosest sense. We're sentient, we're sapient, we're practically humans," you ramble, letting your thoughts flow out. "But we're not real."You think of all the times you would catch MEIKO staring out the window, silently disclosing her dissatisfaction for her role in this world. You never brought the topic up with her, but a small part of you agrees.If you could escape from the SEKAI into the real world and live like a human being—living, breathing, existing—you'd take the chance with only a tiny bit of hesitation. You'd feel guilty for abandoning the girls, but you're sure they'd understand in due time. You'd hope they'd understand, eventually."I don't know what we are," you say. "I don't know what it means to be alive, but not real."