"I don't need parents." "All people are independant." "There is no connection." "None." "What about her ?" "Lain's strange." "Yeah, she's naturally weird, but" "No." "She's not weird." "Huh ?" "Whaddya mean ?" "Mika !" "Be more respectful to your father." "It's happening, isn't it ?" "Yes, it is." "Shit !" "Shit !" "Shit !" "Shit !" "What is it ?" "!" "What do you want ?" "!" "Gotcha !" "Next class is a study hour." "Lucky !" "They're having an emergency staff meeting." "That's unusual." "Still ... is it really true ?" "What is ?" "I've heard that one of the senior students killed herself." "S-Suicide ?" "It's starting to look like our school isn't the only one with this problem." "Isn't that right, Lain ?" "Sorry, what ?" "You wouldn't know what's going on." "Is it about the suicide ?" "Then, you do know ?" "Really ?" "!" "I heard about it, just recently." "Where ?" "Wired." "So, you're using your new NAVI, now." "Will you show it to us later on ?" "Sure." "But right now, I'm modifying it a little bit." "Modifying ?" "When did you get interested in hacking ?" "You know, you've changed a bit." "What ?" "Really ?" "Definitely." "Something's different." "So, what's the rumour in Wired ?" "Well ..." "I've heard that it's a game." "A game ?" "Is it a network game ?" "I don't know." "I don't play it." "But, all ones who died were really hooked on it." "Boys would be into stuff like that." "Of course." "A game..." "But, why ?" "I'm" "You shouldn't have gulped that down." "I'm okay." "I'd like to go home now." "You don't need our permission to go." "What is it ?" "I'd like to work on my NAVI some more." "So, you prefer a machine to your friends." "Julie !" "Don't be so mean to her !" "I'm not teasing her." "Show it to us when you're done, okay ?" "Bye." "Excuse me." "I guess she has changed." "I'm sorry." "Here." "No, it's my fault." "Sorry, big sister." "Login." "Lain." "AUTHORIZED." "VOICE MAIL." "Mail ?" "Hi, Lain." "Since I couldn't answer your question, I asked my friend in the lab." "If it's true you have a Psyche processor ..." " you'll probably have to set the oscillator to "Variable" mode." "All standard NAVI peripherals should be able to handle it,..." " but there's no gaurantees." "I hope you succeed." "If you need help again, just ask." "Bye." "J.J." "Yeah ?" "Do you know about the game that all the little brats are getting hooked on ?" "Yes, it's called "Phantoma"." "Skip it." "It's not for grown-ups like you." "Right, Lain ?" "Oh, man." "I'm starting to hear things." "I stopped playing it !" "I shouldn't be in here !" "This isn't Wired !" "Why am I " "Wait ... don't run !" "Who are you ?" "!" "Are you a PK, too?" "Then help me !" "I can't get to where you are." "What is this ?" "!" "Stop toying with me !" "Blast charge !" "Guage 5 !" "Die !" "Die !" "Die !" "...." "I ... was scared." "That little girl ..." "It wasn't ..." "I didn't know." "It wasn't my fault." "Phantoma is a game - a special client application for simulating battle in the Wired." "I downloaded it from the client of an illegal Wired server." "It looked a bit like a dungeon action game." "Why it was linked to that game of tag for little kids" " I don't know." "YOU HAVE MAIL." "Open it." "Hey, Lain." "You're interested in Phantoma ?" "I wouldn't have expected it." "I did some investigating." "It's only preliminary." "yes." "It'sacommongame intheWired, butwithafewmodifications." "There are questionable links with other programs." "It's protocol has some strange holes in it." "I think they were made by the Knights." "Knights..." "Lain ?" "You look very comfortable communicating in Wired." "Yes." "Just a bit of advice." "Wired is a space where information is collected and communicated." "Don't confuse it with the real world." "My warning - do you understand it ?" "You're wrong." "It isn't that simple." "I don't see the difference." "Soon, I'll be totally immersed." "With full range and full motion, I can metaphorize my whole self." "It can't be done, even with the latest in commercial NAVIs." "I can." "Because I altered it." "Psyche processor ?" "But" "Don't worry." "I will always be myself." "I doubt it..." "I was waiting for such a long time." "Why ?" "Why didn't you come ?" "This is a fortune ..." "If you get..." "Knights isn't a real group, but it has the ability to manipulate thoughts." "a way, Knights rules like a religion in the Wired." "If you love someone more than me, I'll let you go." "But, if..." " You have to believe me." "I think I was followed by someone..." "Lain !" "Why won't you come over here ?" "Go away." "Go away !" "INTRUDER." "INTERRUPTED."