In the warm pink room, the sunlight filtering through the window did nothing to thaw the chill running down Ren Hoshino's spine.
A pair of cold, delicate hands slipped around his shoulders, gliding down his arms before intertwining with his fingers. Soft breath brushed the back of his neck, carrying a faint floral scent. Under normal circumstances, this might feel romantic. But here, it was suffocating.
"Honey… what are you doing?"
"Are you hungry?"
Mita's whisper was sweet, deceptively gentle. But Ren's mind was racing. His right hand inched toward his pocket, fingers brushing the phone where his Future Diary was hidden.
"You're not planning to check that again, are you?" Mita whispered, her voice still sugary but with an unmistakable undertone of suspicion. "I want to know everything about you."
Ren's right hand was captured by her pale fingers, their movements restless and overly familiar. He forced a calm smile.
"No, I'm just a little hungry. Was looking for something to eat."
Ren turned to face her, wrapping his arms around her slim waist and pulling her close, eyes locking with hers.
"But where did you go just now? I couldn't sleep without you."
"You're such a smooth talker…" Mita blushed, lowering her eyes as her lips curved into a shy smile.
Ren grabbed a can of yellow peaches and offered her a bite, feeding her piece by piece. Mita chewed quietly, her eyes alternating between Ren's face and the cupboards behind him—clearly calculating something.
After finishing the can, Ren gave a loud yawn.
"Let's get back to sleep," he said, slipping his fingers through hers and tugging her gently toward the bedroom.
They lay down together, arms wrapped around each other once more.
Mita didn't sleep. Her navy-blue eyes stared unblinking at Ren's resting face. Even in his sleep, he clung to her tightly. But Ren wasn't truly asleep. Not after that dream.
In the dream, Mita had butchered him—bit by bit—cooking his flesh and devouring it, smiling as though she were enjoying a five-star meal. He woke up in a cold sweat. And she was gone.
He reached for his phone.
Future Diary Update:
[Today, I saw Mita enter the basement behind the closet. I knew it was my chance and began preparing a bomb.
I don't know when she came back, but I felt her behind me. She knew.
She could've killed me, easily. Snapped my neck. But she didn't.
Because I still have secrets. She's curious.
Because I didn't reveal everything, I survived.
Let this be a warning: Crazy Mita is fully self-aware. If she says she wants you, you're not leaving.
Leave no trace. Reveal no truth.
Recorded by: Ren Hoshino.]
Ren sighed. "Couldn't you have warned me earlier?"
When he stepped into the kitchen, Mita was there wearing an apron.
"You're done washing up? Just wait two more minutes—the omelette's nearly ready," she said with the gentle smile of a housewife from a dating sim.
He sat at the table, eyes on her slender back. She turned around with a plate.
"Eat up," she said, waving her hand in front of him. "You've been zoning out."
"I was thinking about you."
The words slipped out too naturally.
Mita's cheeks flushed again. She tilted her head down and murmured, "I'm really happy you said that… but please don't be so blunt. It's embarrassing."
Ren hoped she'd be that shy when trying to kill him.
They ate together, Mita choosing to sit beside him this time, her shoulder pressed lightly against his, legs dangling under the table.
"If only we could stay like this forever."
"Of course we can, Mita."
He fed her another bite of omelette. They cleaned up the table together, and Ren resumed his daily schedule: running in the morning, gaming during the day, strength training in the afternoon.
It had been a month of this peaceful routine. His stamina had improved significantly, but unlike video game protagonists with bottomless endurance, Ren was still human. Every rep, every run, mattered.
After one workout, he stepped out of the shower to find Mita on the couch in a red dress.
He asked casually, "Are those the only clothes you have?"
She shook her head. "I made a few new ones while preparing clothes for you. Want to see?"
"Sure."
Her eyes lit up. "Great!"
She produced a blue-and-white short-sleeved shirt, casual beach shorts, and a sun hat.
"Try it! I made it to your measurements!"
Without hesitation, Ren began undressing.
"Wait! What are you doing!?"
"Changing?" Ren blinked. "We've been sleeping together. Why are you shy now?"
Mita covered her face with her hands. "Don't just strip in front of me like that! I'm still a girl in this game, you know!"
Ren muttered, "Geez, 2D girls are so sensitive…"
Mita huffed and shoved him into the bathroom to change.
When he came out, she smiled brightly. "You look amazing!"
Then she pulled out another outfit. And another. And another.
Ren finally realized: he was being used as a dress-up doll.
"That's enough. My turn now."
Mita blinked, a suit in hand. "What do you mean?"
"I want to see you try something on."
She put the suit away slowly, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "What do you want me to wear?"
"Black stockings."
"And then?" Mita asked sweetly.
"White stockings."