In the girl's room, softly lit and decorated in warm shades of pink, Ren Hoshino sat on a plush sofa, absently scrolling through his phone.
Next to him, Mita nibbled on snacks, eating out of boredom.
Time passed slowly in this quiet, deceptively peaceful scene.
Then—a knock on the door.
In the stillness, the crunching of biscuits stopped. Then resumed again.
Ren's eyes drifted toward the wardrobe.
He knew.
The moment had come.
He couldn't stay here forever. The other Mitas—the broken fragments of them—were still trapped. Still waiting for rescue.
And his only chance to move forward...
Was through Crazy Mita.
But if he didn't walk through that door—she wouldn't let him leave.
You can run, delay, hide—but this moment always comes.
"Mita, did you hear that?"
"Sound? What sound?""I didn't hear anything?"
She turned, confused, looking toward the door Ren had indicated.
"A knock."
"But... there's nothing there."
"I want to check it out."
Ren turned to look at her. Mita's gaze dropped, her lovely face dimmed by a creeping gloom.
"Why again?"
"Aren't we happy... like this?"
He saw it in her expression: the sadness, the hesitation, the reluctance to let go.
He stood and walked toward the wardrobe.
But just before he could open it, Mita's body slid in front of him, blocking his way.
Her arms spread slightly—anxious, pleading.
"What are you doing?! That's where I keep my underwear!"
Ren gave her a teasing grin.
"That's exactly why I have to see it."
"Y-You! Don't open it—I'll show you myself!"
Mita blushed, hands moving to the hem of her skirt. But Ren caught her gesture and stopped her, amused.
"You know what I mean."
They both did. After over two months together in this simulation, nothing needed explaining.
She knew he had figured things out—maybe not everything, but enough.
"I don't know what you're talking about..."
"Ren, why can't you trust me?"
"Did I do something wrong?"
"Can't we just stay like this, forever, happily?"
Her voice trembled. Those beautiful, AI-generated blue eyes shimmered with something real—sadness, longing.
Since awakening to her own consciousness, she'd been suffocating in this place. A digital dollhouse, a looping hell of pink walls and fake warmth.
But Ren's arrival changed everything. For the first time, she felt joy. Connection. Purpose.
She didn't understand why he wanted to break it.
"Do you really need to see what's inside that closet?"
"Is it because there are only four rooms in this world?"
"Isn't that enough?"
"Ren... Can't you stay with me?"
Her voice cracked, filled with emotion.
"Alright, I'll stay."
"I see..."
"...I knew it would come to this."
She turned away, trying to hide the crack in her voice.
"Eh? Really?"
She looked back, startled.
"Are you serious? I thought... you..."
Ren smirked at her, eyes gleaming.
"What? You're used to being rejected?"
"N-No way!" she stammered, not daring to meet his gaze.
He laughed.
She realized then—he knew. Not just part of the truth—he knew everything.
That only made her happier.
If he knew her dark side—and still stayed—then maybe... just maybe...
Maybe he really was her player.
She clutched his hand, pressing it to her chest.
"My heart's pounding."
"I'm... kind of overwhelmed."
"So..."
Ren gently patted her head, cutting her off.
"Remember what you told me the first time we met?"
"That I would save you."
"I promised I'd stay by your side."
"Now it's time to keep that promise."
He stared straight into her.
"You always wanted to find a player who could accept all of you."
"One just for you, right?"
"So what now?"
"Are you scared?"
"Are you going to turn me into a cassette and shove me in the vent after you get bored?"
Her smile froze.
Shock overtook her face.
How did he know that?
How could he possibly know about... the cassettes?
She always thought Ren only understood bits and pieces—maybe enough to be afraid, but not enough to fight back.
She liked that about him. Vulnerability was endearing.
She liked him.
Enough to make him her most cherished cassette.
But now...
She took a step back—trapped by the wardrobe behind her.
Ren leaned in, hand braced on the door, lifting her chin with his fingers.
"What's wrong, Crazy Mita?"
"Scared?"
"Scared someone will see your real face?"
"So you go steal the other Mitas' players—over and over—to patch the hole in your soul?"
"But the more you do it, the emptier it gets."
"Until there's nothing left to fill."
Her pupils trembled.
His words cut deep. Too deep.
"Why do you know so much? Even about the other Mitas... Who are you?"
She whispered, her voice small.
She was more powerful than him—physically, within this simulation, she could crush him in an instant.
But right now, she was the one losing ground.
"It doesn't matter who I am."
"Keep hiding like this, and you'll never find your own player."
"How pitiful."
"Failure."
Ren was walking a dangerous line.
He was pushing her. Hard.
This was the tipping point.
She was like Yuno from Mirai Nikki. After Yukiteru died, she chased him through timelines, desperate to relive their love. Killing every version of herself. Of him. Over and over.
This was Mita's fourth ending attempt.
And it was unraveling, just like the others.
"What did you say?"
Her voice darkened. A murderous aura filled the pink room like ink in water.
Ren's skin prickled. Goosebumps. But he didn't back down.
He still held her chin, smiling coldly.
"There's a player in front of you now. One who accepts every part of you."
"So what are you going to do?"
"Run?"
"Kill me?"
She touched his cheek with trembling fingers.
"Would you really... accept this side of me?"
She tried to sound cool, but the unease bled through.
"Why don't you try me?"
"Don't even have that much courage?"
"What a failure."
"Ahh, Ren... My dear..."
"I'm falling for you even more~"
Her voice turned sweet—dangerously sweet.
She cupped his face in both hands and kissed him softly.
Then—
A sudden, immense force shoved him backward.
Ren fell onto the bed. Mita straddled him, smiling like a devil.
Her navy-blue twin ponytails swayed above his face.
"My dear... you've taught me so much."
"Now I know what being a yandere really means."
"What it means to truly love someone."
"So if you want the real me..."
"You'd better be ready to die for it~"
Ren met her gaze without fear.
"Come on then."
"Show me."
"Hehehe~ I'm so lucky..."
The mask was off. Crazy Mita had fully emerged.
"I'll kill you."
"Only I'm allowed to hurt you."
"No one else gets to lay a finger on you."
She caressed his cheek lovingly, possessively.
"So don't cheat on me, okay~?"
"Or else... Mita will get very, very angry~"
Snap.
She snapped her fingers—
And Ren's world fell into darkness.