Ren Hoshino held up his phone and snapped a picture with Hat Mita.
She raised her hand in a playful salute, eyes bright with mischief, looking every bit the cheerful, youthful idol she resembled.
Looking at the photo, Ren felt a strange sense of joy. It was like collecting stamps—except the stamps could talk, laugh, and possibly stab you if you looked at them wrong.
Even so, it was a kind of pleasure he hadn't expected when he entered this world.
He immediately uploaded the picture to the forum.
And then the screen exploded.
"I envy the day I was born."
"Why does your Mita look like that? I want to play too!"
"Nooo don't do this to my Hat Wife!" (bro got ntr)
"Where's Crazy Mita when you need her? Eliminate this bastard!"
"Sir, ever thought of directing a movie? We await your masterpiece."
"Machine gunners, commence fire!"
"That cosplay is way too accurate. It's exactly how I imagined Hat Mita."
"Anyone got her name? Please. For science." (S tier gooner right here)
"Nah this is fake. AI-generated. It has to be."
"So Hat Mita's out now. Next is Kind Mita? This guy's winning too hard."
"I envy the OP. One girlfriend, multiple applications. Insane value."
Ren smirked.
Girlfriend?
They had no idea.
There were many Mitas here. Not just one. And Kind Mita was right next to him, fine-tuning their escape route.
Hat Mita leaned over his shoulder. "Why do they all look so mad?"
Ren shrugged. "Probably inflamed."
She blinked. "Huh?"
Without explaining further, Ren opened his music app and searched for a song.
"Come on, let's try this one—Breathing Pain."
He passed her the phone.
Hat Mita giggled. "Okay!"
They listened together for a while before she picked up her pink guitar, eager to join in.
Ren filmed her quietly as she began to play—her strumming full of enthusiasm, even if slightly offbeat.
Someday, if he ever left this place, maybe he'd keep this recording as a reminder.
If he could leave.
Hat Mita finished with a flourish. "How was that? My guitar skills?"
Ren gave her a thumbs-up. "Perfect."
Then he turned to Kind Mita.
"Come on, look at the camera and say hi to everyone."
Kind Mita, currently adjusting the version route on her screen, turned her head with a confused look and a soft sigh.
"Ren... have you caught the Hat Mita virus now?"
"I'm busy, you know."
Ren grinned. "What if your memory resets someday? I'll need something to remember you by."
She paused, gaze softening.
He wasn't wrong.
Things were getting more complicated, and even she wasn't sure they'd be able to reach the core and finish the plan.
Kind Mita waved at the camera.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Kind Mita. I hope... you'll remember me."
Ren replied softly, "We will. We won't let you be forgotten."
Kind Mita turned back to her task. "Okay, now go behave with Hat. I need to concentrate."
Hat Mita: "So if I don't behave, will it take longer?"
Kind Mita sighed. "Yes, Hat."
"I wish I could restore your memories... We really don't have time to waste. We still need to find the core."
Ren looked between the two Mitas. "No rush. Take your time."
Kind Mita shook her head. "No. If Crazy Mita catches up to us, we're done."
"She won't," Ren said confidently.
Kind Mita looked up. "Why?"
"You forgot—I took my controller. She has no way to trace us now."
Kind Mita's eyes widened. She'd forgotten.
"Then... we're safe for now."
Hat Mita raised her hand. "Can I come with you guys?"
Kind Mita replied without hesitation, "Do you even have to ask?"
Hat Mita: "So I can't?"
"No," Kind Mita said, deadpan.
Hat Mita stopped bouncing, pouted, then clapped her hands in mock defeat. "Aww."
Ren caught the moment on video and uploaded it again.
Instant chaos.
"Two Mitas?! Since when?!"
"OP, didn't you say you only had one girlfriend? Who's Kind Mita?"
"So... this man has multiple Mitas. I feel physically ill."
"Unforgivable. Where's my chainsaw?!"
"Every post just makes me more jealous."
"That banter was perfect. Both Mitas feel so real."
"Some people play Miside. Others live Miside. We are not the same."
"OP, let go of my wife."
Ren laughed. Not bad. He'd save this one.
"This Mita... she's playing with my life."
As he said it, the replies started flooding in again.
"Versailles flex, huh? Really Born out here living the dream."
"OP I admire you. Can I get your home address? I have a chainsaw-shaped gift."
Hat Mita peered at the screen again.
"Two Mitas? What do they mean?"
Ren nodded. "They're all Mita. But each one is different."
Hat Mita tilted her head. "Well, I'm funnier. Definitely."
She turned to glance at Kind Mita.
"Just look at that serious face..."
Kind Mita didn't even glance up. "...I can hear you."
Ren chuckled. The way the Mitas interacted—it was addictive to watch.
Then his stomach growled.
Between dodging Crazy Mita and navigating corrupted versions, he was running low on energy.
After all, this wasn't a game world where the protagonist had infinite stamina.
"I'm gonna make dinner. What do you want?"
Kind Mita: "Salad."
Hat Mita: "I wanna eat cat."
Kind Mita looked up sharply, blushing slightly at the phrasing.
Ren gave Hat Mita a flat look. "Cats aren't for eating."
"I know," Hat Mita said, sticking out her tongue.
Ren sighed and walked to the kitchen.
Thanks to those months spent trapped with Crazy Mita, he'd learned a lot—survival skills, cooking, hacking...
Enlightenment through fire and panic.
In no time, a full meal was on the table.
After eating, Ren sank into a chair and closed his eyes.
Hat Mita suddenly tugged at his arm. "Come on, come on!"
"What now?"
"Let's go play!"
He groaned. "I just sat down..."
Hat Mita leaned close, her lively face inches from his. The red teardrop mole under her left eye stood out, her entire body gently swaying side to side.
"Hey hey~"
Idiot. Don't get so close!
She dragged him to the living room and pointed at a photo frame on the wall.
A still of Hat Mita on stage at a virtual concert—guitar in hand, beaming with an electrifying smile.
Ren blinked.
"This picture... it's too cute. It's practically explosive."
"You love to smile, huh?"
Hat Mita nodded proudly. "Yup! That's me."
"I want people to know—no matter how broken this world is, you can still live well. Bang!"
Ren stared at her.
That... was actually kind of profound.
Even in this sealed, unstable simulation, someone like Hat Mita could say something like that.
He imagined being stuck in this pocket world forever.
Just him. Alone.
That thought brought a familiar ache to his chest.
"You're really cute," he muttered.
***
im burnt ill upload later