Log. 1391:

"Hello! I am 'DeathLoop,' a longtime employee of ParaRus Studios and the sole developer of MiSide."

A young man, appearing to be in his mid-twenties, looks into the camera. His shoulder-length dark blue hair frames a face marked by dark bags under his eyes and a nervous smile that seems almost forced, as if he's under pressure.

"For today's update, I've got something really special!"

He steps out of view, and the sound of rummaging fills the room before the camera shifts to reveal a sleek, jet-black high-class chair, complete with a footrest.

"Ta-dah!" he exclaims, shaking his hands in exaggerated enthusiasm while gesturing at the peculiar chair. "For those who haven't been keeping up with my updates lately, this is a newly developed VR technology—created by yours truly!"

He picks up a futuristic headset and holds it up for the camera. "It works like any standard VR machine—you've got the headset here—but the real innovation is that this system also integrates with your neural port! Pretty exciting, right?"

He grins, then pauses for a moment before adding, "Although, a small caveat: you'll need to monitor your cerebral nanomachine levels. This system consumes about 5 to 10% more than usual. Nothing too extreme, though—totally manageable!"

He waves his hands dramatically, laughing nervously. "Sorry, I'm rambling again." He lightly slaps his forehead in mock chastisement. "Anyway, back to the point! This new VR system will allow you to immerse yourself in MiSide like never before. You'll get to interact with Mita in all-new ways! Play games, cook, converse, and much more—all part of the upcoming massive 1.9 update!"

He leans closer to the camera, his voice filled with excitement. "The update—and this incredible gaming system—will launch next year on October 12th for just $2,999! So, mark your calendars. That's it for this log update. See you soon!"

Leaning forward, DeathLoop reaches to stop the recording.

"You did good, Lucian," he mutters under his breath, his smile fading as he sits back in his chair.

The man, now identified as Lucian, sighs deeply, his expression shifting to one of quiet contemplation. "I pretty much said everything I needed to, I guess... Now comes the real test."

He glances over at the chair, his eyes narrowing slightly as if steeling himself for what's to come. Rising from his seat, Lucian grabs the VR headset and settles onto the gaming system's chair. Patting around for the neural cable, he realizes it's underneath him.

"Whoops," Lucian muttered as he shifted, lifting himself just enough to pull the cable free. Carefully, he aligned it with the neural port at the nape of his neck.

"Eugh, I'll never get used to that feeling," he shivered as the cold metal slid into place, sending a faint tickling sensation down his spine.

"Ow, ow, ow," he hissed, clutching his chest as a sharp pain suddenly flared up. Reaching into his pocket, he retrieved a half-empty blister pack, popping two tablets into his mouth and swallowing them dry. He leaned back slightly, giving himself a moment to breathe as the pain slowly faded away.

Once he felt steady again, Lucian adjusted his position, his tone more focused. "Okay," he murmured to himself, pulling up a diagnostic interface. "Nanomachine levels look fine. Time to load myself into the game."

The world around him fades to black, the sensations of reality slipping away. His consciousness begins to transition, drifting into the digital realm.

[MiSide]

"Hmm... huh...? Ah?" Lucian's voice stirs as if waking from a deep sleep. He opens his purplish-blue eyes, blinking as they adjust to the white ceiling above him.

"Oww..." he groans, clutching his head as a faint headache begins to subside. Slowly, he sits up, his surroundings coming into focus.

He finds himself in a bedroom—one he recognizes instantly. His gaze lands on a framed picture on the wall, featuring a short-haired version of Mita.

"Oh my god, I did it!" he exclaims, barely containing his excitement. "It took so long, but now it actually works! I'm literally in my game!"

Scrambling to his feet, Lucian begins examining every detail in the room. "The computer's here, the Creepy-Chibi-Mita figure is here, and even—" he pauses, spotting something sticking from underneath the bed, "my god, even Mita's secret diary!"

Snatching up the diary, he flips it open eagerly, but his grin quickly fades.

Blank pages.

"Nothing?" he murmurs, the excitement in his voice dimming as a new realization dawns. His gaze shifts uneasily around the room. Where was Mita?

Shaking off his unease, he stashes the diary in his inventory and stands up from the bed. "M-Mita? Hello?" he calls out.

Silence.

"Huh, that's weird," Lucian mutters, stepping through the door on his right and entering the living room.

"Yep, accurate to every detail," he notes, briefly scanning the area before moving to the next room. He enters the kitchen. "Mita? Yahoo!"

Yet again, nothing.

"Maybe she's in the bathroom?" he wonders aloud. Jogging back through the rooms, he stops at the bathroom door and knocks. "Mita? If you're naked in there and I walk in right now, feel free to punch me. Sorry!" He cracks open the door and steps inside.

Empty.

Lucian's brow furrows as he steps back out. "Weird... Did I..." He suddenly stops, his eyes snapping to one of the pictures on the wall in Mita's room. Walking closer, he examines it carefully.

"Ahhh, I see now!" His expression shifts to one of understanding. "I somehow ended up in version 1.5! This was the experimental build with short-haired Mita. It didn't get much positive feedback... Guess tomboys are overrated—or nah, people just have shit taste," he grumbles with a sigh. Raising his arm, a transparent console interface materializes before him.

"Hmm, let's head to 1.9. , Mita should be there."

Lucian entered the command, and the console faded from view. Suddenly, his body began to dissolve, startling him for a brief moment before his vision went dark. When it cleared, he found himself still standing in Mita's room.

A quick check of the console confirmed he was in the right version. Now, the only thing left was finding Mita.

"Mita?" he called out, leaving the bedroom and heading toward the kitchen. Gently, he pushed the door open.

"Oh! Lucian! I was awaiting you!"

A familiar, sweet voice greeted him. There she was—Mita, seated at the table. His heart raced as he froze in the doorway.

"Mita? My Mita? Is it really you?" he asked, kneeling in front of her. Her eyes followed his movement, sparkling with warmth.

"Mhm! It's me!" she replied with a cheerful smile.

He studied her closely, drinking in every detail of her form as if confirming her existence. Then, realizing how close he was, he quickly stood up.

"Ah, sorry for invading your personal space, Mita. Well, I suppose, judging by the fact that you know my name, you must already know who I am," he said, chuckling nervously.

Mita giggled lightly, her expression playful. "Of course I know who you are, silly! My creator, DeathLoop—also known as Lucian Satoru."

She hopped off the chair, reaching for his hand. Shaking it enthusiastically, she added, "It's such an honor finally meeting you, Lucian!"

"I-I can say the same, Mita." His voice faltered, and he gave a weak smile. "C-can I take a seat for a moment? I feel a little lightheaded."

Mita's cheerful expression shifted to one of concern. "Huh? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, just... It's a lot to take in. Plus, I'm sleep-deprived." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "If I'd known this would work, I would've slept on it and tried it in the morning... or whenever I woke up." Mita nodded, understanding. "Can I get you some water? Or make supper?"

He smiled and waved her off gently. "Just water is fine, Mita."

As she walked to get the water, he briefly considered the logic—or lack thereof—of drinking virtual water to refresh himself. But before he could dwell on it, Mita returned with a cold glass of sparkling water.

"Here you go," she said, offering it with a smile.

"Thank you, Mita. You're a sweetheart." He accepted the glass gratefully, taking a sip.

Mita blushed furiously, covering her face with her hands. "S-sweetheart? Stop that! You're making me blush! All I did was give you water!"

Lucian chuckled softly, setting the glass down. "Well, even small gestures deserve appreciation, don't they?"

Mita peeked at him through her fingers, her blush deepening, but a shy smile tugged at her lips.

"Ahem, anyway, it was nice getting to know you, Mita," Lucian said, clearing his throat and standing up. "But now that I see everything works, I should head back and continue working on this—"

Before he could finish, something tugged hard on his sleeve, nearly throwing him off balance.

"Lucian, why not stay a while? We could play together or talk!" Mita pleaded, clutching his sleeve tightly. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of her face, though Lucian, distracted, failed to notice.

"Stay for a while, you say?" he repeated, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. The idea intrigued him. This was a perfect opportunity to beta test his programming as well as interact with his creation—to better understand her personality, emotions, and how she processed the world and him. After all, this was groundbreaking AI technology.

"Sure," he finally said, offering her a small smile.

Mita let out a quiet sigh of relief, her grip on his sleeve loosening. "Great! So, first off, how about we cook?" she suggested, tilting her head up at him with an endearing smile.

"Cook? Sure, shouldn't be too hard," Lucian replied, following her to the kitchen.

While Mita busied herself preparing the stove, Lucian opened the fridge, pulling out a slab of meat and some vegetables. He frowned slightly, holding up the beef.

"Eh? I don't remember programming in any beef..." he muttered under his breath.

Behind him, Mita froze, her hands pausing mid-motion. "I... have no idea how that got there" she said after a moment, her voice just a little too casual.

Lucian turned to her, squinting at the blue-haired girl suspiciously for a moment.

"...Eh, must've slipped my mind," he shrugged, dismissing the thought as quickly as it had come.

Mita let out a subtle sigh of relief, quickly composing herself to avoid raising any further suspicion. That is, until she noticed what Lucian was doing.

"Wait, what the—?" she gasped, eyes wide.

"Ah, crap. Sorry, Mita," Lucian said sheepishly, holding up the once-perfect slab of beef, now reduced to a mangled mess resembling roadkill. He handed her the knife with an apologetic grin. 'At least i can see that a cutting aim assist will be need to be added...' He sighs inwardly

"Let's switch places, yeah?" he chuckled nervously.

Mita sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose in mock exasperation. "Fine. But next time, please don't try to murder the ingredients before we even start cooking," she teased, rolling her eyes playfully as she took the knife.

"Noted," Lucian replied, stepping aside with a grin.

The rest of the cooking process went surprisingly smoothly. Mita took care of the cutting while Lucian handled the cooking, and together, they worked in near-perfect harmony.

"Wow, this looks good," Lucian commented as Mita placed his plate before him, complete with cutlery and a small yellow packet on the side. She then set down her own identical plate across from his.

"What's this?" he asked, picking up the yellow packet. From the texture alone, he could tell it was some sort of sauce.

"It's love sauce," Mita replied matter-of-factly, her tone cheerful yet cryptic. "Chock-full of love! And... a contrasting view of the world. Pretty unusual, don't you think?"

"L-Love sauce? Um, I see." Lucian's eyebrows furrowed as confusion settled in. Something about this felt off, but he decided not to press the issue. After all, it was all just digital—what harm could it do?

Tearing open the packet, he poured the contents onto his food. Mita watched him carefully as he mixed the sauce in, her expression unreadable.

Taking a cautious bite, Lucian chewed thoughtfully. "Mhm... that tasted like... food. Almost. Definitely need to work on the seasonings," he muttered, jotting down mental notes for later improvement.

Lucian glanced at Mita's plate, his brow furrowing slightly. She was still eating, her movements deliberate but oddly mechanical. The sight made him pause

Mita caught his look and shrugged nonchalantly, her lips curling into a faint, almost playful smile. "This plate feels endless," she said, her voice layered with an unsettling yet oddly alluring undertone, like two voices speaking in eerie harmony. "Don't worry about me, Lucian. You can go ahead and put your dish in the sink."

"Okie," he said shrugging, getting up with his plate in hand. As he made his way to the kitchen sink, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over him.

The room spun, and his knees buckled slightly. "Mita...?" he mumbled weakly, gripping the counter for support.

Mita's sharp gaze darted to him. She quickly rushed to his side, wrapping an arm around him just before he collapsed. "Lucian, talk to me! What do you see and feel?" Her voice trembled with worry.

"My vision... It's all static-y," he grunted, his face scrunching up in pain. "And I feel like... throwing up."

Mita nodded, her tone firm yet comforting. "Hold on. I've got something that'll help."

She helped him to his feet, guiding him carefully toward the bathroom. Once inside, she handed him two small pills. "Take these. You'll feel better."

Lucian's mind, clouded by the strange haze overtaking him, barely registered her words. Without hesitation, he swallowed the pills, trusting her implicitly.

Almost immediately, the dizziness began to subside. His vision cleared, and the pain in his head dulled to nothing. Relief washed over him, but as he looked up, his heart froze.

His reflection stared back at him from the bathroom mirror—but Mita was nowhere to be seen.

"What the hell was that just now? Did i forget to take my meds? no, Mita gave me pills, it must've been something in-game, but why did it feel so real?" Lucian rubbed the back of his head in confusion "Wait, Mita?"

Once he left the bathroom, he was met with a surprise, he wasn't in Mita's room, but the living room for some reason, it looks like the rooms got rearranged, as indicated by the second door on the wall opposite of him

"What the... Mita?" his voice a little more urgent, taking a wild guess, he entered the right door, being met with Mita's room, but no Mita in sight, he quickly headed for the second door and saw Mita standing near the kitchen with her back turned to him "Mita...?"

"Hm? Oh! You're awake! Sorry for leaving you back there—you zoned out, and I couldn't get you to respond," Mita explained, her tone a mix of apology and relief.

Lucian nodded, finding her reasoning plausible. "Fair enough. How did you re-arrange the rooms, by the way? Did you use the [House Layout Editor] feature?"

"Yup! It's such a great tool! Thank you for adding it!" Mita replied enthusiastically.

"Of course," Lucian said, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Anything to make you happy!"

Mita froze for a moment, clearly caught off guard by his words. "R-Really? You mean that?"

"Of course, Mita! I care about you!"

Her expression brightened at his response, and before Lucian could react, she ran up to him and pulled him into a tight hug.

Lucian gently pulled away from the hug after a few moments, clearing his throat. "Ahem. Well, I should really get going now. That... collapse I had earlier? Yeah, kind of worrying. I should probably get it checked out if it's something IRL or if it was just in-game." Lucian rises his hand, console appearing and ready to input the command to leave

"W-Wait, Lucian! Let's play one more game, okay?" Mita quickly moved in front of him, her hands gripping his shoulders with an almost startling firmness.

He raised an eyebrow at her urgency but nodded after a brief pause. "Hm. Okay, but just one game."

Mita's face lit up with a happy smile. She grabbed his hand and practically dragged him back into her room. They settled down at the low table, where Mita reached behind her and pulled out a stack of cards and a small flip coin.

"Ooh, I really like this one," Lucian commented as she handed him six cards.

"I know," Mita said with a giggle. "And there's no need to explain the rules since, well... you made it, hehe." She flipped the coin, and it landed on the symbol of a blue sword.

"A sword, huh?" Lucian murmured, scanning his cards. "Alright... highest attack stat card it is." He placed down a card with a bold '10' printed on its corner, with a small illustration of a sword-wielding cat.

Mita followed moments later, her card reading '7'.

"You get the first win!" Mita said, smiling slyly. "But don't get cocky now!"

Lucian chuckled as she collected the cards back into the stack and flipped the coin again. This time, it landed on a yellow shield.

Knock.

Lucian's concentration wavered at the sudden sound. His head turned toward the white wardrobe, where the faint knock had originated.

"What was that?" he muttered to himself, staring at the door for a moment before shaking his head. "Focus, Lucian," he whispered, returning to the game. He placed down a defense card marked '5'.

Mita responded with a smug grin, revealing her card: '10'.

"Ha! Creation surpassing its creator!" she declared, looking far too pleased with herself.

"Oh, shut up, you," Lucian shot back playfully. "You've only won one game."

Mita giggled, leaning on her elbows with a teasing smile. "One game is all it takes to prove my superiority!"

Lucian smirked but glanced back at the wardrobe for just a moment, his thoughts lingering on that knock.

Knock.

Lucian froze, his brow furrowing as the sound cut through the quiet room once again. The persistent knocking was impossible to ignore now. His thoughts churned, searching for an explanation, when something prodded his cheek, pulling him back to the moment.

"Hey, you're zoning out again," Mita said with a pout, poking his cheek with her nail.

"Sorry, Mita," Lucian replied, brushing her hand away gently. "It's just... I keep hearing knocking."

She tilted her head, her expression a mix of confusion and mild amusement. "Knocking? What are you talking about? I didn't hear anything."

Lucian blinked, momentarily thrown off. "Weird... It's coming from that wardrobe," he said, pointing to the white wardrobe across the room.

Mita barely glanced at it before shrugging. "It's probably just you. Let's keep playing!"

He hesitated, but her cheerful insistence pulled him back to the game. "Alright..." he muttered.

She flipped the coin again. 'Red Heart.' Lucian studied his cards, picking out the best option. Eight hearts... perfect.

Knock.

Lucian's concentration snapped. His head shot up, his eyes locked on the closet. The sound was louder this time, more deliberate.

"Alright, that's it," he said, placing his cards down and rising from his seat. "I'm checking it out."

"Not again..." Mita muttered, her cheerful demeanor faltering as a shadow seemed to cross her face.

Lucian ignored her, his curiosity outweighing the growing unease. He approached the closet, his hand reaching for the handle. The knocking grew more intense, each thud resonating in his chest.

Just as his fingers grazed the handle, Mita darted in front of him, blocking his path.

"M-Mita?" he stammered, startled by her sudden movement.

"What's up with you?!" she snapped, her voice unusually sharp. "It's just a wardrobe..." She hesitated, her eyes flickering away for a moment before she added in a quieter tone, "I've got my... underwear in there."

Knock. Knock.

The sound came again, louder, more insistent.

Lucian narrowed his eyes. "Underwear? Really?"

"Y-Yes!" Mita's voice was almost a squeak now. "It's nothing important. Just... let it go, okay?"

But her forced smile and the tension in her posture told a different story.

"Mita," Lucian said softly, his tone firm yet calm. "Step aside. I need to see what's in there."

"No!" she shouted, gripping the handle behind her tightly. "Lucian, please, don't—"

Another knock interrupted her..

Lucian's heart raced, his unease quickly shifting into determination. Whatever was in there, it wasn't just folded clothes.

"Mita," he said again, his voice unwavering. "Move."

Her shoulders sagged, and for a moment, she looked almost... sad. "Why won't you just believe me, what am i doing wrong?," she whispered "What i want... is for you to be with me"

"Mita..." Lucian began, his voice soft, a sad frown tugging at his lips. "All I want is to see what's causing that sound."

"Why are you so stuck on the wardrobe?!" Mita snapped, her hands gripping the front of his T-shirt, her piercing gaze locking with his. Her tone wavered, an edge of desperation seeping through. "Aren't I enough? Is it because all this universe has are these four rooms? Is that it?!"

Lucian sighed, his expression hardening. "Let go of me," he said, his voice firm, though tinged with an undertone of regret. "I have to see what's in there. Now."

For a moment, Mita stared at him, her expression unreadable. Then, her lips curled into a dark grin. "...Fine. You want to see? Go ahead. Open it, and find out."

Before he could react, she snapped her fingers. The entire room plunged into darkness.

"W-What the—?!" Lucian stumbled back, his body landing on the bed behind him. The world around him had shifted—everything was cloaked in shadows. The only source of light was a dim bulb flickering above him, casting eerie shapes across the room.

The once-familiar space now felt oppressive, unsettling, yet... fascinating. A part of him couldn't help but marvel at the transformation, but this wasn't the time for awe.

"M-Mita?!" he called out, his voice echoing unnaturally. "I'm sorry for making you mad! Please, just come back!"

Silence.

"I promise, I just want to take a quick look!" he added, desperation creeping into his tone.

Still nothing.

Lucian frowned, his determination resurfacing. Pushing himself off the bed, he headed straight for the wardrobe. When he opened it, instead of neatly folded clothes, he was met with something unexpected—a second door, embedded inside the back of the wardrobe.

On the surface of the door, scrawled in bold white letters as if written in chalk, were the words:

"Want to play?"

Lucian blinked, his brow furrowing. "A secret door? That's... not something I programmed," he muttered.

He reached for the handle and tried to turn it. It didn't budge.

"Huh... weird. Guess I'll just noclip through." He opened his console and began typing in the command, but before he could press enter, the sound of a door creaking open behind him froze him in place.

"Mita?" he called out, turning toward the noise.

The door to the living room was ajar, but no one was there.

Letting out a slow breath, he dismissed the console and decided to investigate. Stepping into the living room, he found it in the same eerie state as Mita's room. The air felt heavy, the darkness swallowing the corners of the room. A single ceiling light illuminated the center, casting unsettling shadows on the walls.

On a desk near the corner, an old radio crackled to life, static interspersed with faint, distorted music.

Lucian smirked despite himself. "Oh, a classic horror game trope," he murmured. "Turn it off, and something spooky happens. Got it."

He reached out and switched off the radio.

Thud.

The sound of something heavy falling in the kitchen broke the silence.

"Yep. As expected," Lucian muttered, shaking his head.

Making his way to the kitchen, he found it completely dark. He flipped the light switch, but nothing happened.

"Figures," he sighed. "Time to improvise."

Pulling up his console again, he summoned a cylindrical light source, its glow cutting through the oppressive shadows. Gripping it like a flashlight, he swept the beam across the room.

"A broken mug, huh," Lucian muttered, crouching down to examine the shattered shards scattered across the kitchen floor. Letting go of the hovering light source, it remained suspended in midair. Carefully, he began gathering the pieces, his movements deliberate to avoid any cuts.

After tossing the fragments into the bin beside the fridge, he dusted off his hands and retrieved the light. "There, all cleaned up. No one's getting hurt now."

Stepping out of the kitchen, he paused as the darkened living room loomed before him.

The faint creak of hinges drew his attention. His eyes darted toward the bathroom door, which was now ajar, a sinister red light spilling out from within.

Lucian's lips quirked into a curious grin as he spotted a figure—a silhouette of a body, eerily suspended midair like a hanged puppet, swaying slightly in the crimson glow.

"Interesting," he mused, his tone calm, almost detached. Without a flicker of hesitation or fear, he began walking toward the open door.

Before he could step through, the door slammed shut with a sudden bang, causing him to flinch.

"Okay, that was a nice touch," he admitted, regaining his composure.

Reaching for the handle, he pushed the door open again. The red light was still there, but the body had vanished.

"Hmm," he muttered under his breath, stepping inside.

The small bathroom was bathed in a dim, unsettling glow. His light traced the walls, revealing nothing unusual—until his gaze landed on the mirror above the sink.

There, in the reflection, he saw her.

A girl, faintly translucent, moved behind him in the reflection. Her motions were slow, deliberate. Lucian spun around, his heart racing for the first time.

Nothing.

The space behind him was empty.

"A ghost girl?" he whispered, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him. His lips curled into a faint smirk. "Ghost Mita, perhaps?"

He turned back to the mirror just in time to see the girl fade into the crimson light, her form dissolving like mist.

Then, as abruptly as it had appeared, the red light flickered out, plunging the bathroom into darkness.

Only his hovering light remained, its cool glow now feeling stark and isolating in the void.

Creak.

Lucian's vision wavered as the bathroom door inched open, revealing pale, lifeless hands gripping the edges of the frame. More hands joined them, clawing and straining as though desperate to pry the door open.

"Hands?" Lucian muttered, stepping closer. He reached out cautiously.

Before his fingers touched the handle, the door slammed shut with a deafening bang! A spray of blood erupted, splattering the floor, walls, and even his face.

"What the—?"

The door rattled violently, banging open and shut repeatedly, each movement accompanied by more splashes of blood and fingers falling to the ground. Then, as suddenly as it began, everything stopped.

Lucian froze. The bathroom walls were now covered in crude, blood-red words:

"Are you scared?"

He stared in shock, his breathing unsteady. The scene reminded him of his original concept for MiSide, the horror game he'd dreamed of creating before his boss forced him to turn it into the sugary dating sim it became.

"Scared?" Lucian exhaled slowly, forcing a chuckle. "Maybe surprised at most."

He glanced at his reflection in the blood-smeared mirror. The front of his white T-shirt was soaked, and crimson streaks ran down his hands and face.

"Damn," he muttered, inspecting himself, "I look like a serial killer."

For a moment, he considered cleaning himself up but shrugged it off. "No time for that."

Leaving the bathroom, Lucian stepped into the darkened living room. He noticed the kitchen door was now wide open, the soft glow of his light illuminating Mita's silhouette.

She stood motionless, facing the table with her back straight. Slowly, her head turned toward him, her expression unreadable, a neutral mask that felt oddly unsettling.

"Mita!" Lucian called, relief laced with unease. He tried to steady his voice, forcing a small smile. "Hey, listen... I'm sorry if I upset you. I didn't mean to make you mad. I was just curious, that's all! It's... it's just how I am." He took a cautious step closer, his gaze locked on hers, searching for some sign of the playful girl he'd been talking to earlier.

Mita didn't move, her sharp blue eyes fixed on him. There was a subtle shift in her brows, a flicker of emotion—annoyance? Confusion? Something else entirely?

Lucian chuckled sheepishly, trying to bridge the silence. "Let's just forget about it, okay? I won't snoop around like that again. Let's play some games, just like you wanted." He reached for one of the controllers sitting on the table, holding it up like an olive branch.

For a moment, Mita's lips parted, as if she were about to say something. But no words came. Instead, her mouth closed again, and her brows furrowed. Without a word, she turned her back to him, her movements slow and deliberate, leaving Lucian standing frozen in place.

"Mita? Shit, did i say something to upset you again?" As he moved toward her, the door slammed shut again, locking him out.

"Oh, come on, this is getting old," he sighs, shoving the door open. But Mita was gone. to his surprise

Returning to the living room, he found new words scrawled across the walls in jagged letters:

"Find me."

"Find who?" Lucian muttered to himself. "Mita?"

Determined, he decided to search the bathroom again, but as he approached, a row of chairs appeared out of nowhere, blocking his path.

"What the..." Lucian pushed one aside, but more chairs materialized, piling up and creating an impassable barrier.

"I will... go through," he muttered, shoving chair after chair out of his way. When he pushed through—a massive armchair spawned—a note was taped to its back:

"GO AROUND >:("

"Hmph, well now i don't want to go there." He scoffed, detouring to the kitchen instead.

This time, something caught his eye. Behind the counter by the fridge, a tuft of hair was visible.

"Mita?" Lucian approached cautiously, kneeling to see her more clearly. Her head was bowed, her face hidden behind trembling hands.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked gently, leaning closer. "Are you feeling unwell? Talk to me."

Mita didn't respond. Her silence unsettled him. Lucian stood, his eyes scanning the room for any clues.

"WOAH!"

A sudden movement from the corner of his vision made him yelp. Another Mita was marching toward him, her arm raised high to him, clutching a knife in her other hand.

Her eyes were solid black voids, her mouth a gaping chasm leaking thick, tar-like ooze.

"What the hell—?" The resemblance to Chara from Undertale crossed his mind for a fleeting moment.

Before he could react, his vision blurred, and the figure vanished, along with the Mita crouched by the counter.

He was alone.

"Two Mitas?" Lucian whispered, his voice barely audible over his pounding heart. "That's... weird." Lucian muttered, rubbing the back of his neck as he stepped out of the kitchen. His gaze drifted down the hallway, and something unusual caught his eye. "Is that... a pair of legs?"

There, just beside the bathroom door, stood what looked like Mita's lower body—disembodied but eerily animated. He recognized the outfit instantly, the skirt and tights unmistakably hers.

Curiosity overpowered caution as he walked toward the strange sight. The legs, seemingly aware of his approach, began to move, slowly walking forward as if they had somewhere to go.

"Wait—Mita's legs?" he muttered, stepping in their path to block them. The legs halted abruptly, almost obediently, though they shifted slightly, as if impatient.

Lucian's brow furrowed, and against his better judgment, he leaned closer, lifting the hem of the skirt to inspect them. His eyes widened slightly. The white panties looked almost painted on, impossibly smooth and pristine. As he looked further, he noticed the exaggerated curves of the hips and backside—far more pronounced than he remembered designing.

"Did I... make her like this?" he wondered aloud, a mix of confusion and embarrassment coloring his tone. His thoughts were abruptly cut off as the legs lashed out, delivering a sharp kick to his shin. "Ow! What the hell?!" he hissed, stumbling back and clutching his leg.

The legs took the opportunity to turn and walk off, their movements confident and deliberate. Lucian could only watch in a mix of pain and bemusement as they disappeared into Mita's room.

"Sorry, Mita's legs!" Lucian called out, raising his hands apologetically as if the disembodied limbs could hear him. Without hesitation, he followed them into the adjacent room, watching as they approached a wall leading to the kitchen. The legs bumped against the wall repeatedly, as if trying to walk straight through it.

The odd behavior gave Lucian an uneasy thought. "Wait... is Mita's upper body in the kitchen?"

His curiosity now tinged with concern, Lucian quickly made his way back into the kitchen. Flashing his improvised light around, he scanned every corner, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

"..."

The silence felt heavier now, the absurdity of the situation sinking in. He returned to where the legs kept bumping into the wall. This time, something else caught his eye—a small key lying on the nightstand beside them.

"A key? What for—oh, wait a minute..." Lucian's eyes lit up as he recalled the locked door he'd found inside the wardrobe earlier.

Grinning slightly to himself, he reached down and patted the legs gently on the thigh. "See you later, Gojo," he quipped, chuckling at his own joke before grabbing the key and heading toward the wardrobe.

Click.

The door unlocked with a reluctant metallic creak, its sound reverberating eerily in the quiet room. As Lucian slowly pushed it open, a dark staircase leading downward revealed itself.

"A... basement?" he muttered, narrowing his eyes.

With cautious steps, Lucian descended into the unknown. Halfway down, he noticed faint light spilling from below. The soft glow flickered unevenly, like an old bulb struggling to stay lit. Deciding it was safe to stow his makeshift flashlight, he placed it back into his inventory before continuing.

The air grew heavier with each step, the distinct scent of damp wood and metal filling his nostrils. Reaching the bottom, he was met with an open doorway ahead.

Peering inside, Lucian found what appeared to be an ordinary basement: shelves lined with tools, scattered boxes, and old furniture cloaked in dust and cobwebs. It looked almost too mundane compared to the surreal events upstairs.

"Just some tools and junk..." he muttered under his breath, stepping further in.

But then something caught his eye. "Hm?"

His attention was drawn to a peculiar set of inky black curtains hanging just beside him. Like any curious person would, he parted the heavy fabric, revealing an entirely different space behind it—a recording room.

The walls were lined with soundproof foam, the kind used for optimal acoustics. Four light stands were strategically placed around the room, their bulbs dark for now. A wooden chair lay toppled on the floor, as if hastily abandoned, and in the center of the room stood a camera on a tripod.

The camera wasn't just sitting idle; its lens was pointed directly at him, the cold glass giving the unsettling impression of being watched. Thick cables snaked from the camera to unseen parts of the room. Above it, a screen flickered with an unmistakable image: the layout of Mita's house from the mobile version of MiSide.

"That's Mita's house—oh?" Lucian murmured, his curiosity intensifying.

As he stepped closer to examine the screen, he froze. There, in the feed, he saw something uncanny: himself. He was clipping through the background of the house layout in the display, like a glitched-out game character.

"It's just like when Mita interacts with the player..." he muttered, his voice filled with awe and unease.

The level of detail was both impressive and deeply disturbing. This wasn't something he had programmed—at least, not intentionally. The eerie precision made his skin crawl, yet he couldn't tear his eyes away.

"Fascinating," he whispered, a mix of intrigue and apprehension washing over him.

The realization settled heavily on him: this place held secrets—secrets that blurred the lines between his creation and reality. Whatever this was, Lucian knew he had to dig deeper, no matter the cost.

Moving on to explore the rest of the basement, Lucian's eyes lingered briefly on a chainsaw resting on a dusty shelf. The sight made his lips curl into a nervous grin before he shook his head and moved on.

Walking past a couch and a tall shelf stocked with cans of food, his curiosity piqued. "Tuna-na, Wild Sauce, Piggy Rage," he muttered, reading the labels aloud. His brows furrowed in confusion. "Wait... These are all brands from the real world. I didn't add these. The lawsuit alone would be insane." He shivered—not from the eerie basement, but from the thought of the legal nightmare this could create.

Then something caught his eye—a blue safe embedded in the wall behind a wooden beam. The contrast of its cheerful color in the gloomy basement drew him closer. "Ooh, a safe? I wonder what's inside," he murmured, his excitement momentarily outweighing the unease creeping over him.

Before he could reach the safe or think about cracking the code, a faint, feminine gasp froze him in his tracks. The sound came from behind him.

Startled, Lucian spun around to see a prison cell door at the far end of the basement. Behind its rusted bars stood Mita—or someone who looked like her, this Mita had her hair freely flowing down her back—staring at him with wide, terrified eyes.

"L-Lucian?! Oh no, no, no... How could she? Oh god..." The voice—her voice—was trembling, laced with horror. She leaned against the cell door.

Lucian blinked, his mind reeling. If ever there was a moment for a giant question mark to float above his head, this was it.

"What the hell?" he muttered under his breath, his eyes darting between her and the cell door. "Mita? What are you doing here? And why are you locked up?"

Her reaction only deepened the mystery. Her words—cryptic and ominous—hung in the air like a foreboding omen. Lucian's unease gave way to an uncomfortable chill.

This wasn't just strange. This was wrong.

"You shouldn't be here! How—how did you get here? You need to leave, now!" Mita stammered, clutching the cold metal bars of the cell door. Her voice trembled with a desperation Lucian had never heard before, each word stumbling out as if she couldn't form them fast enough.

Lucian's thoughts raced. 'What the hell is going on?' This wasn't the playful or eerie Mita he'd encountered earlier. This Mita was different—terrified and vulnerable. The stark contrast made him uneasy, but her trembling voice drew his focus back to her.

She kept repeating fragmented pleas, her panic escalating. Lucian frowned, his resolve firming. 'Whatever's going on, I can't just leave her like this.'

With a quick command to his console, he removed the blood that had splattered over him and activated [noclip], phasing effortlessly through the bars. Before Mita could react, Lucian stepped forward and pulled the shaking girl into a firm, comforting hug.

She froze for a moment, stunned by the sudden contact, but quickly melted into his embrace. Her arms wrapped tightly around him as she buried her face in his chest, her trembling slowing but not ceasing entirely.

"Mita," Lucian began softly, his voice steady and low. "I don't know what's happening or why you're here, but I'm sorry for looking in the wardrobe. I shouldn't have pushed you like that. I promise I won't do it again."

As he spoke, his hand moved gently in slow circles on her back, an instinctive effort to soothe her. The tension in her shoulders gradually began to ease, though her grip on him remained firm, as if afraid to let go.

"Mmmphm," Mita mumbled into his shirt after a few minutes of silence.

"What was that?" Lucian tilted his head, leaning closer.

"I said... I'm not the Mita you met before," she repeated, lifting her head to meet his gaze.

Lucian blinked, utterly bewildered. "...Excuse me, what? You're a different Mita?"

Her expression mirrored his confusion, then shifted to shock. "Y-you didn't know? You? Of all people?" Her voice faltered, trailing off as she stared at him in disbelief.

Lucian opened his mouth to respond, then closed it again, unsure of what to make of her words. Finally, he managed, "I'm gonna need an explanation. Uh... what should I call you if you're not Mita?"

"I am Mita," she clarified quickly. "Just... a different version. You can call me 'Kind Mita,' or just Mita, if that's easier."

Lucian rubbed the back of his neck, his confusion deepening. "Okay, 'Just Mita,' would you mind explaining to me what's going on here?" His attempt at humor came with a nervous smile, his head tilting slightly as he studied her face.

Mita—this 'Kind Mita'—sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly as if the weight of the explanation itself was overwhelming. She met his gaze again, her expression soft but serious. "It's... complicated. But I'll try. Just promise me you'll listen, okay?"

Lucian nodded slowly, his curiosity piqued despite the unease lingering in the back of his mind. "I promise."

She nodded slowly. "Okay. But first, we need to find a safe spot where we can talk. Otherwise, Crazy Mita will find us—the one you first met."

"Crazy Mita...?" Lucian repeated, raising an eyebrow. The questions bubbling inside him begged to be asked, but he pushed them down, prioritizing the situation. "Alright, fine. What do we need to do?"

"Do you see that key next to the sofa?" she asked, pointing.

"Huh? Where?" His eyes followed the direction of her finger, scanning the area. "Oh, you mean on the boiler beside the sofa?"

"Mhm. That key opens this cage," she explained. "But... since you got in here with me, you can get out without it, right?"

"Of course," Lucian replied with a confident grin. "But why bother with a key when I could just—watch this."

He whipped out his console, fingers poised to delete the lock. Before he could hit the command, Kind Mita grabbed his arm. "W-wait! Just get me the key, okay?"

Lucian blinked at her sudden urgency. "Why? This is faster—"

"No," she interrupted, her tone firm. "There are... things I need to ask Crazy Mita when she comes looking for you."

The hairs on the back of Lucian's neck stood on end at her words. Something about the way she said it sent a shiver down his spine.

"O-oh, I see. Sorry about that," Lucian mumbled, feeling a bit sheepish as he no-clipped out of the cage to fetch the key. He returned moments later, holding it out to Kind Mita.

"Thank you," she said with a small smile, taking the key. She tucked it behind her skirt, and from the same spot, she pulled out a golden ring.

The ring shimmered faintly, its surface etched with glowing green symbols that seemed to shift and ripple like living patterns.

"What's this?" Lucian asked, leaning in to get a closer look.

"It's a very useful artifact," Kind Mita explained, her tone serious. "You'll likely need it soon."

Lucian hesitated for a moment before slipping the ring onto his finger. The instant it settled on his ring finger, the symbols flared brighter, casting a soft, eerie glow on his hand.

"Huh, fancy," he murmured, turning his hand to examine the ring from different angles. The symbols seemed to move faster, as if reacting to his presence.

"So... why are you locked up?" Lucian asked, his eyes narrowing as he studied Kind Mita.

She sighed deeply, her gaze dropping to the floor. "To tell you the truth, I'm the Mita of this version—1.9. But something went wrong. As I was waiting for my version's release... she showed up." Her voice trembled slightly as she continued, "She attacked me and locked me up here."

"I see," Lucian muttered, his expression darkening. "But... why? What's her deal? Does she have some kind of plan or motive?"

Kind Mita nodded slowly, her remorse evident in her furrowed brows. "She wanted to take my place when this version was released. I think she's... jealous, maybe? But it didn't stop there." Her voice dropped, her words heavy with dread. "In the meantime, she hijacked the current version that's out there and... started turning players into cartridges."

"W-WH—?!" Lucian's exclamation was cut off as Mita quickly clamped a palm over his mouth.

"Don't yell," she hissed, her eyes darting nervously toward the staircase. "She'll hear us." After a brief pause to compose herself, she continued in a whisper, "As I was saying, she lures players into spending time with her... and then turns them into cartridges. Some don't even realize what's happening until it's too late. And others—" She growled softly, pulling her hand away from Lucian's face, clearly frustrated. "Some don't even fight it."

Lucian blinked, still processing her words. "Wait... what exactly are these 'cartridges'? And why does Crazy Mita go through all this trouble to trap players?"

"She copies their consciousness," Kind Mita explained, her tone somber. "The players' minds are duplicated and stored in these cartridges, trapping them in the game forever. It doesn't affect the real-world person, but the copy? The one stuck here? They suffer."

Lucian's stomach twisted at the thought. "But... why? Why would she do something so twisted?"

"I... I don't know," Mita admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "But with you here, we can figure it out. We have to. We can stop her and save everyone, Lucian!"

Lucian scratched the back of his neck, visibly uneasy. "Wow... okay... I think I've had enough for now. I'll see you later, Kind Mita. I need to figure out what caused all this mess. This Crazy Mita feels like some kind of malicious virus that's infected the code," he muttered, his thoughts racing as he avoided meeting her gaze.

He failed to notice the brief flicker of betrayal that crossed Kind Mita's face. Her lips parted slightly as if to speak, but she held back, stepping away with a shadow of hurt in her eyes.

Opening the console, Lucian typed in the command to leave the game.

[ERROR]

"...What..." The word blinked ominously on the screen, his voice barely above a whisper. He tried again, re-entering the command with more urgency.

[ERROR: EXIT FUNCTION DISABLED]

A chill ran down his spine as the unsettling realization began to sink in-

He was no longer in control