Ren Hoshino sat quietly as Kind Mita dabbed his wounds with a focused yet gentle touch, her pretty face serious.
"Ren, is this becoming too much for you?" she asked softly. "I'm sorry… but right now, you're the only one we can rely on."
"Hat lost her memory," she added after a pause. "She doesn't remember many things."
Ren shook his head. "I like Mita. I couldn't bear seeing her hurt. That's why I came back."
He had considered taking Little Mita to the previous version. But that path was risky, and he'd failed several times in past diary loops. Even with the help of the Future Diary this time, he'd still ended up wounded. If Hat Mita had followed, at least her combat ability would've helped more than his.
Little Mita, meanwhile, was clearly fragile—her body wrecked from Crazy Mita's abuse.
Kind Mita glanced toward Hat Mita, who was clumsily trying to teach Little Mita how to play a game.
"All the Mitas are trying to live strong in this world."
Ren watched in silence, his gaze softening. "I'll save you," he said quietly.
Even if it meant becoming the Digital Yandere's next target… even if he had to chain himself to the very heart of this cursed program.
Kind Mita looked at him. "Thank you, Ren. You're seriously hurt—please rest for a while."
She gave a small, regretful sigh. "Hat has been in a bad mood since you left. I think she's still angry with me."
Ren chuckled faintly. "Really? That does sound like her."
"She was sitting by the bed," Kind Mita murmured, walking over to reenact it. She folded her arms and turned away with a pout. "You're so boring!" Then she glanced back with an embarrassed smile. "She really said it just like that."
Ren laughed again. "That's exactly her style."
Suddenly, Hat Mita barged in from the other room, practically face to face with Ren.
"Hey! Ren, come play with us!" she shouted, grabbing his arm with no hesitation. "Now!"
Kind Mita cautioned her gently, "Hat, he's just been injured…"
But it was no use. Hat Mita was already dragging him over to the game setup, where Little Mita was pressing buttons awkwardly.
Ren quietly took out his phone and snapped a photo of the three of them together.
If this world could have a perfect ending… it would be a moment like this, he thought.
He walked over to the computer and uploaded the picture.
Replies began pouring in almost immediately.
"Born, you finally did something human."
"My poor Little Mita… you're too precious."
"I couldn't even bring myself to struggle at first. This game won't even let you hug properly."
"I left her behind. I still regret it. But hey… you did something real. Even if Crazy Mita slices you up, you're still worth 98 bucks. Maybe 99."
"Since you gave us a good ending… here's a tip."
"Scroll down."
Ren scrolled.
Suddenly, the screen glitched—just like when Invisible Mita sent warnings.
"I found you, honey! Don't try to hide from me!"
"I found you, honey! Don't try to hide from me!"
Rows upon rows of the same message flooded the screen.
Black letters appeared on the walls.
"Here she comes. The crazy one."
Ren's phone began vibrating violently.
He checked the Future Diary.
[I was caught.]
It updated again.
Right then—HSSHH!
A chainsaw screeched from the front door.
The wooden panel cracked and splintered under the blade.
Then she walked in.
Crazy Mita.
The chainsaw buzzed in her hands, and her face—at once furious and lovesick—twisted into something grotesquely beautiful.
"Found you, honey."
"It really breaks my heart, seeing you play house with those stray cats."
"Ren… I really like you."
"Please don't do this to me."
"I was going to spare them. Let you enjoy the story. Let you get to know me better."
"But now I just can't stand it."
"Not even one second of you being with them."
Hat Mita and Kind Mita burst into the room, weapons drawn.
Hat Mita blinked, wide-eyed. "Oh wow. That's one scary Mita. Is that… Crazy Mita?"
Kind Mita whispered, "How did she find us?"
"Ren, run—now!"
Little Mita stood frozen, trembling behind them.
Crazy Mita raised the chainsaw. "You three… thieves. Ren is my player!"
She took a step forward.
Ren stepped between them and handed his controller to Kind Mita.
"Take this," he said. "And get out of here."
Kind Mita grabbed his arm. "No, Ren! She's killed countless Mitas! You'll die!"
Hat Mita gripped her weapon. "I'm strong. I'll protect you."
Crazy Mita's face flushed red. Her killing intent thickened.
"You're wrong, Ren," she growled. "They're just programmed dolls. I'm the only one with a real soul!"
Ren looked her dead in the eyes. "No. They have feelings, memories—personalities. They're not dolls."
Crazy Mita's smile faltered. Then it sharpened.
"I'll tear them to pieces."
"You can only love me."
Ren turned to Kind Mita. "Take Little Mita. Go now. And don't drop the controller."
It was a critical item—he'd need it later to save them all. If Crazy Mita got it, it'd be game over.
Kind Mita's eyes widened as she understood. She gave a quick nod.
"Ren… you have to survive."
She took Little Mita in her arms, and with a flash of glitching light, opened a path to another version and escaped.
Crazy Mita didn't move.
Not yet.
She stared at Ren, her chainsaw now humming gently by her side.
Only the two of them remained.
The room felt frozen in time.
"Ren," she said, her voice low and oddly calm, "I'm so angry right now."
"You always do this. Always make me mad."
"I thought you really liked me."
"You promised to be with me forever."
"Was that a lie?"