MiSide: Taming Crazy Mita

Tsundere Mita hugged her chest and turned her head away.

"Idiot."

"Why are you taking pictures for no reason?"

"You're not going to do anything weird with my photo, are you?"

Ren Hoshino stared at the image and smiled softly.

"Mita… it's beautiful."

"I'll treasure it forever."

Her arrogant expression froze, and her voice grew hesitant.

"It's just one photo."

"Does that really make you that happy?"

"What a pervert."

Ren replied without shame, "You're so beautiful. Of course I'm happy."

"Besides, I'm only lustful when it comes to you."

Tsundere Mita kicked toward his calf.

Ren saw it coming but didn't dodge. The kick was light—more bark than bite. Yet Ren instantly squatted down, gripping his leg with an exaggerated wince.

"Ow… It hurts."

Her expression turned panicked. That proud attitude of hers crumbled instantly.

"W-Wait, are you okay?"

But the moment she saw his pained face twist into a teasing grin, her hands balled into frustrated fists. She slapped his back in a pout.

"You… how could you do this to me?!"

She felt utterly transparent around him.

And yet… that very transparency made her feel something unfamiliar.

Not anger. But joy.

Because no one had ever played with her like this.

No one had gotten this close—not since she'd ended up trapped in this artificial world. No other "player" had wandered into her space.

But she also knew… it couldn't last.

"Ren Hoshino… are you really not leaving?"

"Are you actually planning to stay in this boring world?"

Her voice lowered, cautious and laced with something like fear.

Ren stood up and smiled.

"Of course I'll leave."

Her eyes darkened.

"I see…"

"No one ever stays."

She reached for the ring on her finger—the key, the only way out—and made to return it to him.

Ren shook his head.

"I'm not leaving now. I'm in no rush."

"I want to stay a little longer."

"…with you."

She narrowed her eyes. "Are you pitying me?"

Ren smiled. "No. I just think it's fun… being around you."

"Especially when I tease you."

"And besides… even if I leave, I'll come back."

"I'll come back to play with you again."

"Stop trying to act all noble!"

"Who even wants you to play with them?!"

"I'm fine here by myself!"

Ren stepped closer, until they were nearly face-to-face.

"I think this place is pretty great, too."

"Especially with the beautiful Mita in it."

"Idiot! Don't get so close!"

"You weirdo! You pervert!"

Ren burst out laughing.

He turned to the computer and sat down at the desk, intending to transfer the photo.

But after a moment, he stopped.

Better not let that crazy woman know about this just yet…

"What are you doing?" Tsundere Mita asked, cross-legged on the bed with a suspicious look in her navy-blue eyes.

"Nothing," Ren replied.

She crawled closer like a curious kitten.

"I get it. You want to show our photo to the others, don't you?"

"You're proud you get to be seen next to such a beautiful girl, huh?"

Ren nodded without hesitation. "Yup."

"…."

She stared at him, speechless.

How was she supposed to handle someone this straightforward?

"Pervert! Play tic-tac-toe with me!"

"If you beat me… I'll give you the ring!"

She panted like a mischievous puppy, her usual arrogance melting into childlike energy.

Ren smiled. "I'd be happy to play games with you."

He gently pressed her shoulders, then wrapped his arms around her waist.

"The ring doesn't matter that much."

"What I want… is to spend time with you."

Tsundere Mita froze.

She could feel the warmth of his hand through her clothes. Her face turned red. She wanted to pull away—but her body had gone strangely limp.

She glared at him, humiliated.

She regretted provoking him now.

Why didn't this guy take the bait? He turned every one of her attacks into teasing.

He knew the ring was the only key to escape this boring world.

So why wasn't he in a hurry to leave?

Could it be… he really wanted to stay?

No. That's impossible.

This world is nothing but a dull, lifeless simulation.

She shook the thought from her mind.

She couldn't understand Ren Hoshino's motives at all.

"Don't touch me, pervert!"

Ren only smiled at her outburst.

He understood her.

No matter how sharp or rude Tsundere Mita acted, it was all just armor.

To someone else, she might come off as cold or insufferable.

But Ren could see it clearly: she just didn't want to be alone.

She wasn't like Crazy Mita, who would stop at nothing to trap the player.

Tsundere Mita knew players would leave.

And when they did, she would let them go. Slowly. Reluctantly.

She loved fiercely, but quietly—restrained, hidden beneath her pride.

She said nothing more and ran to the bed, pulled out a pen and a tic-tac-toe board, and sat with her legs tucked under her like a duck.

One hand pressed the hem of her skirt down modestly.

Sunlight poured in through the window, casting a peaceful glow across the room.

Ren thought for a moment.

Then he joined her, sitting across from her on the bed.

Time was short. The crazy one would arrive soon.

"I'll let you go first," she said. "I'm in a good mood today."

Ren nodded, glancing at her delicate white hand holding her skirt, and the smooth white legs wrapped in long socks just barely visible beneath.

She caught him staring.

"What are you looking at?!"

"Pervert! Pervert!"

"I'm just admiring the view," Ren said innocently.

"These red socks are cute. But black stockings would be even better."

"Do you have a leg fetish or something?!"

"You like looking at socks on girls' legs?!"

She snapped at him, face red with a mix of outrage and embarrassment.

Ren shook his head. "Not a fetishist."

"You say that, but you're obviously ogling people's legs!"

His eyes didn't waver.

"I wasn't ogling. I was admiring."

"And I told you—I'm not a fetishist."

"I'm just normally lustful."

"YOU BASTARD!"

Ren chuckled.

These Mitas really do love their games.

He picked up the pen and made the first move: a bold X in the center of the board.

Just then, his phone vibrated.

The Future Diary had updated.