Eorzea.
A land loved by the gods.
Vast forests.
Blue oceans.
The sun shining brightly in the crystal clear sky.
Plenty of beasts running wild.
Widely diverse people and lifestyles.
Prosperity.
The divine protection of the light that extends to all equally.
However...
where there is light, there is always shadow.
Ascians, the apostles of darkness
secretly planned something evil.
They caused anxiety, fear, despair
as well as wrath...
and unending wars.
They began Project Meteor.
The Warriors of Light wanted to stop it.
And they fought a desperate battle in Carteneau Flats.
Yet, the descent of the moon Dalamud could not be stopped.
It brought annihilation,
collapse,
and Bahamut, the manifestation of the dragon god.
He roared for the first time in thousands of years.
His intense flashes of light caused an immense destruction.
Numerous lives were lost.
Heroes lost their memories.
The Seventh Umbral Era began!
It was a horrifying chaos.
Eorzea.
A land loved by the gods.
A shelter for the heart.
A land overflowing with innumerable memories
and strong friendship.
This is a story of the bond fated to develop
somewhere in this world, Eorzea.
DAD OF LIGHT PROJECT THE BLOSSOMING OF LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP
Dad of light project!
This was the grand plan of a man
to invite his 60-year-old dad into the Final Fantasy XIV world,
become friends,
go on adventures together and defeat the great beast, Twintania.
This is the person who came up with the plan.
As you can see, she is a babe with cat ears,
but she's actually...
this guy!
He's an office worker named Akio Inaba.
Ever since his dad bought him
the Final Fantasy III when he was a kid, he has been addicted to games.
Even now as an adult,
he logs in to his computer after he comes home from work.
It's kind of weird. He seems to be eating,
but he never takes a bath.
I wanted to see him taking a bath.
Akio's hair all wet in the shower...
This is not the time to make a wish out loud!
Back on the topic.
Let me explain why he came up with
-this kind of plan. -Okay!
Back in 2014,
while doing his boring work at the office,
Akio got a phone call from his mother.
The first thing she said was that his father had quit his job.
"What?" Akio was shocked.
He couldn't believe that his workaholic father just quit without notice.
Plus, he didn't even consult with his family about it.
"Hey, Dad! What were you thinking?"
Akio was mad.
He glared at his dad while he ate curry at home,
but he couldn't ask him about it.
Hey, Akio! What's your problem? Hurry up and ask him!
I appealed, but was neglected.
His dad finished dinner and took a bath.
Hey, Akio!
Go after him and take a bath together!
Just kidding.
Ask him why he quit his job!
But he couldn't ask. He couldn't even talk to him.
It's expected, though.
Conversation between Akio and his dad has always been awkward.
He can't even remember the last time they spoke.
"So, Dad, why did you quit your job?"
If only he could ask like that, this would have been easy.
Akio was unable to ask his dad about it and escaped reality by playing the game.
When Maidy told his friends
that he couldn't have a conversation with his dad,
a savior appeared! Her name was Kirin!
She says crazy things without thinking and blows everyone's mind.
Mango ice cream!
This is what Kirin said.
From now on, you will have time to go on adventures together, right?
Well,
she was trying to say that he can find out what his dad is thinking
once he becomes friends with his dad in Eorzea.
He replied, "Yeah, dude. I can dig that."
It's very unlikely for him to respond in such a surfer style.
Ultimately, Akio did just what Kirin suggested
and bought his dad a PS4 and Final Fantasy XIV
as a retirement present.
With the cooperation of his friends,
-he started the Dad of Light Project! -That's right!
Right away, he stalked his dad.
Then... Oh, no!
His dad immediately got into
a huge fight with a tough enemy outside the town.
"Hey, Yoshida!
What is a level 12 monster doing here?"
I'm not sure if he actually said that.
Akio, also known as Maidy,
didn't want his dad to die in the game.
So without any hesitation, he let out a howl
and beat the monster with a powerful attack.
He looked around and said, "Dad, are you okay?"
His dad had already left and he was standing alone there.
"Thank goodness. He's alive. I saved him."
He felt emotional as he thought about this.
Through Maidy, Akio asked him, "Are you all right?"
He thought, "I can become friends with my dad now."
Then, the strangest thing happened!
His dad ran in circles around him! What a weird response!
"Darn it! Do I have bad karma?" Maidy said, or rather, Akio.
He soon discovered the reason.
His dad didn't have a keyboard!
What a stupid mistake. He connected an old keyboard right away.
"Hey! This keyboard can only type A!
It must be broken. I can't talk with this."
His father didn't know what to do, so Akio taught him about emotes.
He was finally able to communicate with the other players,
and his father happily continued his adventure in Eorzea. Goodness!
But a few days later, an unexpected problem occurred.
-What? -According to the beautiful Lalafell, Aru,
his dad hadn't logged in.
"Don't tell me he quit. Is the plan over?"
Akio frantically searched for the cause.
After questioning his dad,
he found out that he had ended up in Coerthas
in his quest to kill the dragon.
"You must be kidding, Dad!
You shouldn't be here at level seven!"
Like father like son. A gamer's father suffers a gamer's fate.
Hold on!
What does Coerthas have to do with quitting the game?
Akio asked his dad, but he kept dodging the question.
"Hey! What are you ashamed of?"
He grabbed him by the lapels, figuratively,
and asked his dad more questions.
"Well, you see, it's winter here.
Everyone else is wearing coats.
But I'm the only one in short sleeves. I'm embarrassed."
That was his answer!
"Hey, Yoshida!
You need to wear long-sleeved clothes in this game!"
Alarmed, Akio immediately taught him
how to change clothes and solved the problem.
Thank goodness!
All he has to do now is be friends with his dad.
"Yes. But how?"
This had Maidy puzzled,
but then came the chance of a lifetime!
Now that he could change clothes, he got carried away
and started an impossible fight with a monster.
"Oh, Dad! I know you hate losing, but this is too much.
Oh, well. I guess I will help him."
Without hesitation, Maidy helped his dad.
After getting rid of the monster, he looked at his dad,
who turned away and walked towards a lake.
"Hey, are you running away again?
Dad, I didn't teach you emotes so you could just leave."
He got upset and chased after his dad, and ended up in a sunlit area.
"Hey, Dad! It's me! Your son, Akio!"
He stared at his dad and suddenly,
his dad got down on one knee!
Was he expressing his appreciation using the emotes he had just learned?
But it wasn't a bow. He was on one knee!
He showed graciousness by doing such a thing!
Who cares if it's proper or not, because it totally is!
Maidy didn't want to lose this chance,
so she quickly sent him a friend request.
Friend.
Companion.
Comrade.
Fellowship with someone that you don't even know.
The beginning of a bond.
Who would have thought
that the stale relationship between father and son
would be rekindled in an online game?
Who would have thought
that complete strangers
would help one another without even asking for any reward?
Who would have thought
this story that had the whole Eorzea in tears
was for real?
Final Fantasy XIV is not just a game.
Romance and friendship.
Parents and children, as well as couples.
All genders.
Ages.
Nationalities.
Professions.
People who have overcome all kinds of handicaps in life.
A future that brings people together.
They can all be found here.
Tomorrow might be the day that this happens in your life as well.
It could happen like this...
Okay!
Aru, were there any letters for me?
No, not today.
Okay.
I have to get up early for tomorrow, so I'm going to bed.
-Okay. -Good night.
Yes?
What's with those two?
They're a married couple.
A married couple?
Yes.
They met here in Eorzea,
and got married in real life.
Really? That's amazing!
That kind of thing really happens?
I can hardly believe it!
We first met
two years ago.
I had just got to Eastern La Noscea for the very first time.
I was so emotional because of the stunning scenery.
Living in Black Shroud, everything there was so refreshing to me.
It's so beautiful.
I loved the place so much, that I ended up wandering around
without any destination in mind.
Before I knew it...
I was attacked by an enormous crab!
I knew that if the fight continued, I would die.
Then he suddenly appeared.
What a dramatic way to meet!
That's really cool!
Indy.
Calm down.
Then what happened?
What happened next?
Tell me!
Then...
Excuse me.
Would you be my partner?
How romantic! It must have been fate!
Fate!
-Indy, would you calm down? -Okay.
What was your wedding like?
Actually...
we haven't had one yet.
What?
You're kidding!
What a shame!
I highly recommend that you have one!
The best part about a wedding is the night after the wedding!
My memories of our first night...
are nothing but great ones.
We don't need...
a wedding.
What do you mean you don't need a wedding?
Just like how it sounds.
I have given up on having a wedding.
We have never had the time, and Yukio is so busy.
Right after we got married,
he had to go abroad.
-What? Abroad? -That's why I don't need a wedding.
Besides, even without a wedding,
we're joined together with a bond of friendship.
As proof of that,
even though we are far apart in real life,
he is always very close to me here.
That's good enough for me.
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude.
If that's what you two have decided,
then that's probably the best.
What? A wedding here in Eorzea?
Yes.
To be precise, it's not a wedding.
But there is an event where you can pledge an eternal bond.
It's called Ceremony of Eternal Bonding.
Eternal Bonding?
We have to reserve the venue,
and there are other arrangements to be made.
How about that, Aru?
What?
Yesterday, you said you didn't need one,
but deep down, you want one, right?
You want to wear a wedding dress, don't you?
How can you tell?
We have known each other for a long time.
But...
You both are important to me. You are like my family.
Let me help you.
I know I can convince Yukki.
So, come on. Let's do it.
Are you sure that it's all right?
Of course it is.
Thank you so much!
I can finally wear a wedding dress!
Yukki isn't here yet?
You must be kidding!
We can't just sit around here.
Let's go look for Yukki.
Shall we, Aru?
Shall we, everyone?
-Sure! -Sure!
Yukki!
Hey! Yukki!
-Yukki! -Hey, Yukio!
-Where are you? -Yukki.
Where are you?
Yukio!
Where are you?
I'm sorry, everyone.
It's all right.
Wait!
There's still a place we haven't looked!
You mean...
Yes!
Look over there!
There's no doubt about it. That's Yukki.
He must have been waiting for you here, Aru.
Indy, you are such a bad actor.
You tricked me!
Yukki asked us to.
Yukio did?
Yukki is waiting for you.
Aru!
We all wish you happiness!
Yes!
Will you be
my partner forever?
I will!
What?
Yukio!
What are you doing here?
This morning, I took a day off and came back.
But you were just at the Eternal Bonding...
I was using Wi-Fi at the restaurant.
I'm sorry this took so long.
Here.
Eorzea.
A land loved by the gods.
A shelter for the heart.
This is a story of the bond fated to develop
somewhere in this world, Eorzea.