Ren Hoshino watched the words gradually fill the surrounding walls and floors from the corner of his eye, still focused on his phone.
Invisible Mita was still giving prompts.
"Run!"
[I found a way to survive. Using the ring, I traveled to an unknown version and avoided Crazy Mita.]
Seeing this, Ren looked up suddenly—and saw Crazy Mita approaching him with a terrifying smile.
"Honey, I think it's time I taught you a lesson. You made me jealous, and now I'm upset."
Crazy Mita lunged at him, stabbing with the kitchen knife at lightning speed.
Her face flushed in excitement, as if imagining the warmth of his blood.
Clang!
Steel met steel. Ren deflected her blade with his own kitchen knife, the impact nearly sending him stumbling.
Crazy Mita's eyes widened. Then her smile deepened.
"Oh my dear, I never knew you were this good. Have you been training just for me? That makes me so happy. We can play even longer."
She suddenly grabbed at his throat. Ren twisted away, rolling out of the kitchen without hesitation.
Behind him, Crazy Mita covered her mouth in mock surprise. "You dodged again? It's like you already knew what I'd do..."
"So fun."
"You won't escape me, Ren. You'll stay with me forever."
She lunged again, trying to stab him in the back. But Ren, as if he had eyes behind his head, pivoted and parried the attack with a quick swipe.
Then he tossed a dirt bomb.
BOOM!
Smoke exploded into the room.
When it cleared, Crazy Mita lowered her hand from her cheek—Ren had vanished.
"Oh, Ren... I'll find you. You're mine forever."
This was the thrill of the hunt. The more the prey resisted, the more exhilarated she felt.
"Is this... what love is supposed to feel like?"
In the corridor, Ren panted heavily, his hands still numb from the encounter.
Crazy Mita was stronger than ever. Without the Future Diary's guidance, he would've been caught.
"Wow, you're amazing," said the Invisible Mita nearby. "I've never seen a 'player' last this long."
"Just luck," Ren muttered. "I won't last if this keeps up."
"But still, you're special. I've never seen someone go toe-to-toe with her and live."
"Do you know where this version is?" Ren asked, glancing around.
"Not exactly. Some weird version of Mita's world, I think. But I know how to get out. You need to go to the basement."
"Right. I need to save them."
Thankfully, he already had the ring—no need to wait for Kind Mita to hand it over. The ring was crucial for version-hopping.
Guided by Invisible Mita, Ren navigated the twisting corridors and returned to the cabinet door leading to the basement.
He opened the Future Diary.
"How can I save Kind Mita and the others?"
He couldn't just watch Crazy Mita destroy them.
After a moment's pause, the diary responded:
[I thought long and hard. I realized I'm not strong enough to save the other Mitas from Crazy Mita.]
[But I remembered the time I spent with her, the twisted affection she has for me—how I was the first 'player' she ever truly fixated on.]
[So I opened the console inside the safe where my own cartridge was stored.]
[Maybe... it'll help in a critical moment.]
[Recorded by: Ren Hoshino.]
"The control panel..." Ren muttered.
He recalled the password from his second attempt, how unplugging his cartridge had led to the third ending.
"Maybe this really will work."
To threaten Crazy Mita with his own death—it was insane, but possibly the only way.
"Who are you talking to?" Invisible Mita asked.
"No one."
He used his key and descended into the basement, picking up the spare key resting near the sofa.
There, Kind Mita sat bored, tapping a steel pipe against the floor. She wore her usual red gown and navy skirt, long silky hair draped down her back.
"Hello, Mita."
She turned and gasped. "How did you get in here?"
"I met the crazy one."
At that, Kind Mita's face fell into shocked understanding.
"You know who she really is?"
Ren nodded. He'd lived with Crazy Mita for months—he knew her far too well.
Looking at the kind, soft-eyed version in front of him, Ren's guard dropped a little. This was the version who should've been the ideal girlfriend—gentle, sweet, graceful.
"Oh god, and you still made it here? How?"
"I fought her."
Kind Mita's eyes widened. "You... what?"
Ren shrugged. "I used what I learned."
"She's incredibly dangerous," Kind Mita warned. "Please, be careful. She's got..."
"An evil plan."
Ren interrupted, nodding. "I know. Turning players into cartridges, toying with them for fun."
Kind Mita blinked. "You know that too?"
He smirked bitterly. "Some of it, I provoked myself."
This wasn't just a game anymore. If he were caught now, he wouldn't just become a cartridge.
He'd be used, over and over, subjected to whatever new twisted fantasies Crazy Mita had picked up from the outside world.
Future Diary had shown him the terrible outcomes.
He even joked darkly to himself: Whoever posted that method online, I owe them a punch if I live.
"You actually know all of that?" Kind Mita asked, stunned.
"She's not just crazy. She enjoys torturing 'players'—and even the other Mitas. Some players turn a blind eye. Others… never realize until it's too late."
Kind Mita nodded sadly.
"Let's get you out," Ren said, walking toward the bars.
"Wait. Grab the key near the sofa."
Ren smirked, pulling it from his pocket. "Already did."
Kind Mita stared at him. "When?"
"As soon as I walked in."
But instead of rushing out, Kind Mita hesitated. "Let me have it first. There's something I need to ask her."
She looked darker, more serious.
"It's a shame I never found the ring. It's the only thing that lets you escape this version."
Ren raised his hand, the ring glinting on his finger.
Kind Mita looked shocked. "You found everything?"
"No time to explain."
This was the efficiency of a speedrunner. Ren had prepared everything for this route.
"Be careful," she warned. "She's turned so many into cartridges. You could be next."
Ren glanced at her and sighed. "I think I'm different."
"Why?"
"You'll understand later."
His eyes drifted to the safe in the wall—the one where his own controller, now a cartridge, had been locked away.
"Oh, by the way," he added, smiling faintly. "My name is Ren Hoshino."
"Of course... you can also call me 'dear.'"