On the dining table were beef stew with potatoes, shredded potatoes with vinegar, stir-fried cauliflower, meat with green peppers, and a bowl of seaweed egg soup.
Mita ate with a knife and fork, her eyes squinting in delight as if the meal was the most exquisite thing she'd ever tasted.
"Your cooking is amazing! I didn't think you had it in you," she said. "I always thought you only knew how to make instant noodles."
"That's just what you think. I've got a lot more up my sleeve. You'll find out soon enough," Ren Hoshino replied.
He found a pair of chopsticks in the kitchen, picked up some rice, and began eating. After all, he'd need energy to train—especially since the Future Diary had confirmed he'd eventually be forced to fight Mita.
"Ah~"
Ren looked up to see Mita offering him a piece of beef. She half-bent over the table, one hand under the fork to catch any dripping soup. Her tone was sweet and cheerful.
"Thank you for the meal. It's delicious. Full of love~"
"Thanks, Mita." Ren opened his mouth and accepted the bite.
Mita smiled adorably and dabbed the corners of his mouth with a napkin. It was an image straight out of a romance sim.
***
After dinner, Ren sat in front of the computer. It was time to consult his only allies—the anonymous internet weirdos.
He typed into the forum thread he'd been using:
"Guys, if you ended up in the world of Mita, how would you kill Crazy Mita?"
Replies flooded in:
"You sick freak. Are you seriously trying to murder best girl?"
"Just give up, there's no way to win."
"Wait and die, bro. That's all you can do."
But among the trash were a few nuggets of useful strategy.
"If you have tools, build a weapon. AK is doable. You can make sugar bombs from kitchen supplies. Detailed recipe below…"
Ren read the post thoroughly. It looked like someone had actually tried this before. Whether they survived was another question.
"Mita's strength is OP. She has bombs and basically monster stats. You need to boost your physical endurance first."
"Start training. You're not Captain America. You'll pass out before she even swings."
The debate raged, providing both comedy and ideas. And so far, no post had been flagged or wiped. Another "bug" in the world that Mita couldn't see the truth through this medium.
Amused and curious, Ren decided to mess with them.
"Mita," he called.
"Hm? What is it?" she asked, puffing her cheeks before swallowing a biscuit.
"Let's take a few pictures and videos."
"Again? Why so suddenly?"
"To capture our wonderful time together. And… my friends really like you. They want to see more of you."
Mita blinked, then giggled. "Really? Okay!"
She sat on Ren's lap without hesitation, cuddled up close, and took the phone in her hand. With their cheeks pressed together, she smiled at the camera.
"Hi everyone! I'm Mita. I'm glad you all like me. But I already have someone I love~"
She planted a kiss on Ren's cheek.
Ren froze for a second. He hadn't expected that.
"Don't look at me like that~ I'll get embarrassed," she said with a flustered face, pulling a lollipop from nowhere and popping it into her mouth.
Ren uploaded the video.
The thread, once alive with banter and tactical debates, went silent for five seconds—then erupted.
"KILL HIM. Mita, tear him apart!!"
"That can't be the real Mita. The real Mita would never let this loser live."
"Where's the media center? We need emergency therapy."
"Bro, do not cosplay Hat Mita like that. I'm begging you."
Ren chuckled as he read the comments. Releasing stress in small doses was important when you lived with a woman who could kill you at any moment.
"If these guys knew the truth, half of them would wet themselves. Yanderes are only cute when they're not real."
"They're so mad," Mita said, glancing at the screen with narrowed eyes.
"No, no. They're just really happy for us. Too happy to handle it," Ren reassured her.
Mita said nothing, but her gaze lingered on the screen longer than usual. Though she couldn't read everything, she clearly picked up on the malice.
"It's time to start working out," Ren muttered.
"Exercise? Why?" she asked, tilting her head.
Ren smiled and squeezed her hand gently. "For you."
Her face turned pink again, and she looked away. "Don't say weird things…"
In Ren's mind, though, the goal was clear: improve his physique, gather resources, and prepare for the inevitable showdown.
He would stay with Mita for now—become the Cyber Demon Tower she wanted—and use this time to prepare. His goal wasn't just survival. It was to find that elusive fourth ending.
A true good ending.
Ren looked out the window. Pure white light. Nothing beyond it.
As if sensing his thoughts, Mita leaned over.
"You can't see the outside world here," she said. "It's just how things are."
"It's a little surreal. Almost like a dream," Ren replied.
"A dream?" Her voice stayed calm, but there was an edge beneath it.
He knew what that meant. Any mention of the outside world triggered her possessiveness. She needed him to stay.
Ren quickly shook his head. "No—I mean, just wondering if this world even has night."
"Night? Why?"
"Because I want to sleep."