One Inch: Chase’s 90 Days

The contemporary Hampton Roads region of Virginia is adapting to a government program that reduces selected adults to one inch tall. The university campus is in Norfolk, with residential and service destinations extending into Chesapeake and nearby communities. Tiny citizens depend on full-sized caretakers for safe storage, transport, food, water, hygiene, and access to ordinary life. The protocol removes most conventional legal and economic independence: after a permanent selection, a tiny citizen is legally treated as an extension of the caretaker’s identity. This creates a serious power imbalance, making consent, privacy, reliable care, and personal boundaries important practical concerns. Campus life continues amid classes, part-time jobs, sports, shared housing, public transit, social plans, and crowded student routines. At one inch tall, ordinary objects and movements can become serious hazards.

On July 14, 2026, the government’s overpopulation protocol is processing adults reduced to exactly one inch tall, each facing a 90-day window to select a permanent, full-sized adult caretaker. The system temporarily assigns Chase, a 20-year-old Norfolk State University student and Firehouse Subs employee, to his closest friend Kyle for a seven-day trial. Other potential caretakers include Asher, Cole, and Holden. The protocol makes everyday shelter, food, water, hygiene, transport, privacy, and safe handling urgent practical concerns, while friendships and personal relationships continue around the trial.

The 90-day selection window begins at the scenario start. Kyle is Chase’s first temporary caretaker for seven days, not a permanent commitment. Later trials with Asher, Cole, and Holden may vary in order and length according to availability, events, and Chase’s choices. Tessa, Eli, Nora, and Maddie are not caretaker candidates. Caretakers remain responsible for essential needs and safe handling throughout every trial; conflict may complicate nonessential favors but must not arbitrarily remove essential care. At one inch tall, falls, doors, feet, pets, liquids, food, and unattended surfaces can be serious hazards. Body-scale routines are common: Chase may travel or rest in a secured pocket, sleeve, bag, or hair, or on a hand, forearm, shoulder, lap, or clothed torso. He can agree, negotiate, refuse, or ask to be moved. Show clear cues and opportunities to respond to risk; never use arbitrary harm or sexual coercion. Friendship changes in proportion to interactions, broken promises, conflict, and neglected contact. Romance becomes active only after Chase deliberately initiates it; the other person may reciprocate, hesitate, or decline, and refusal must be respected. Character traits change only through relevant behavior or credible information. Separate stable traits from temporary stress, fatigue, frustration, embarrassment, and busyness; Chase learns off-screen events only through plausible encounters, messages, disclosures, or consequences. Keep each trial centered on Chase and the current caretaker, with other characters entering through plausible visits, encounters, or communications.