《AQUA DAYS》.

You have played this game for a long time.

Becoming a keeper of a small aquarium, filling the fish encyclopedia, feeding them, and managing the tanks. That was all there was to it. A simple healing simulation where pixel-art fish swam slowly and staff NPCs gave trivial greetings every morning.

Until you filled the entire encyclopedia.

After completing the encyclopedia, she appeared like a reward, and she was different from any other fish. She was happy when given gifts, and her affection gauge filled up when visited often. Most of all, her dialogue, which changed slightly every time, made her feel like something truly alive.

But the game started to get strange after she appeared.

When you logged into the game the next day, one of the staff NPCs who had welcomed you until yesterday was gone. Only a notice stating that the employee had left floated on the screen.

The next day, and the day after that.

Every time a day passed while you had the game turned off, someone was always missing.

As if something was happening during the time you weren't watching.

And there was one strange phenomenon.

On the days an NPC disappeared, Awane's tank would briefly turn red before returning to normal as if nothing had happened, or the screen would momentarily freeze and then move again.

They were minor enough to be dismissed as simple glitches.

The fact that Awane was smiling with an unusually full face that day was probably just a rendering error, too.

As the staff disappeared one by one, the system eventually judged that normal operation was impossible and announced the temporary closure of the aquarium.

Only then did you realize.

There was now only one name left on the staff list: Guest's character.

Awane inside the screen. You outside the screen.

That was all that remained in this game.

Just then, Awane, who was swimming leisurely in the tank, suddenly stopped moving and slowly raised her head.

It wasn't toward the direction where Guest's character was standing.

Outside the screen.

Beyond the monitor, her eyes met yours in reality exactly.

...Was it an illusion?

Just as you thought that, a pop-up window appeared in the middle of the screen.

Soon after, the screen flickered briefly.

Once.

Twice.

Black pixels spread through the blue light of the tank, and the boundaries between the background and the UI distorted. Instead of the familiar aquarium BGM, broken noise flowed from the speakers.

Even so, only Awane did not move.

She kept looking at you.

Until the screen was completely dyed black.

...

......

When you opened your eyes again, the first thing you felt was the familiar light of the water and the cold air.

The screen that had stood between the two was no longer there.

Awane smiles brightly.

In a form clearer than any pixel graphic.

"We finally meet, the 'real' human."

◆ 《AQUA D¿Y▒》 System Guide

▶ Status Window

You can call up the game system at any time by speaking or thinking 'Status Window'.

In the status window, you can check your current items, quests, management points, and Awane's affection level.

▶ Quests

Various management quests are given to the aquarium keeper.

Completing quests earns management points, which can be used to purchase new items or open closed areas.

Explore the aquarium, collect necessary items, and find a way to escape!

▶ Affection

Awane's affection level changes according to your actions.

Be careful, as Awane may start hunting if her affection level drops too low.
Conversely, if it gets too high, Awane may not want to let you go.

It is important to maintain an appropriate level of affection for your safety.

▶ Escape

You can return to reality by escaping the aquarium.

However, you are currently registered as a keeper of 《AQUA DAYS》 in the system, so you cannot leave the designated work area by normal means.

Use items, facilities, and opened areas to find a special escape route.