"In reality… you have a lot of things you haven't done? Can you tell me about them?"
She suppressed her feverish breath, preparing to listen patiently to Alain's story. Whether it was thing, money, or carnal desires, she could satisfy them all for him in this domain.
But Alain just held out his hand indifferently, the silver moonlight staining his palm.
"For example, taking pictures for Miluo, buying a new hat for Millie, and also—"
His gaze fell upon the long-haired girl's face. His line of sight seemed to pierce through the dream and arrive in reality. Perhaps on this very rooftop, or maybe all the way back at their new house:
"Misha is still waiting for my confession."
"Things that simple?"
She raised her voice slightly, the soundwaves spreading out and causing ripples throughout the entire dreamscape. The wind it stirred alone was enough to blow back his hair.
Alain nonchalantly rubbed his ear.
"You tell me! Tell me about other things, grander wishes! For instance, becoming the master of this city or something. I can help you achieve any of it."
Alain paid her no mind, simply leaning against the railing.
"The things I want can only be seized with my own hands. You can't do it."
"...I can do it."
"Don't defile them."
The corners of her mouth curved nearly to her cheeks.
The girl raised her hand slightly, about to make a third snap of her fingers. But just then, Alain grabbed her wrist, stopping her.
"Let me help you understand my happiness, shall I? In this city full of Mitas."
The girl took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the waves of heat rising in her heart. In her eyes, these things were too simple, so much so that 'effortless' didn't even begin to describe it. It was... as if this person was just spouting irrelevant nonsense to placate her.
"It's not simple. No... it only looks simple to you."
Alain ignored her, giving a calm smile.
"To help Miluo with her photos, I have to rescue her from the dragon's castle."
"To buy Millie a new hat, I need to defeat the strongest Mita in the game—Crazy Mita."
"And confessing to Misha... requires overcoming countless hardships and tribulations."
"They are my wings, and I... am I not also their wings?"
Alain turned his head to look at her.
The flowing clouds shattered, and moonlight poured unimpeded across the entire rooftop, suddenly transforming it into a silvery-white glass dome, blanketing the rooftop with a mithril-like stellar glow. It likewise vanished upon the young man's cheeks.
"You... you don't get it, do you?"
"?!"
Her posture faltered for a tiny step. Her eyes widened for an instant before regaining their clarity.
"You can't understand, can you?"
"I also—"
"How pitiful."
"I already told you, I don't need to understand you!"
This time, the sheer volume of her voice didn't cause any unexpected destruction. Alain merely gave her an indifferent glance, then turned his head away, having lost interest.
"See? Getting agitated again."
"I am not agitated!"
She cast aside all composure and strode quickly toward Alain, grabbing his sleeve.
"Why must you concern yourself with such trivial wishes? I don't understand!"
"What's so bad about a dream? In here, you can do anything you want!"
"Whatever thing you desire: wealth, fame, status, things I can't comprehend, or Mitas and carnal desires which I can, even those Mitas you mentioned, I can create them all!"
"What is it? What is your happiness? Is it just taking a picture for her? Buying a hat? Or a confession?"
Alain silently patted her hand.
The latter, clearly realizing her own emotional outburst, slowly let go of him.
"Sorry..."
Alain paid her no mind, simply leaning against the railing.
"The things I want can only be seized with my own hands. You can't do it."
"...I can do it."
The girl raised her hand slightly, about to make a third snap of her fingers. But just then, Alain grabbed her wrist, stopping her.
"?"
The girl noticed that this time, Alain's expression was terrifyingly grim, a far cry from his earlier casual demeanor.
"Honestly, I can't understand you at all."
"Likewise."
"But I've figured it out now."
She straightened the sleeves that had become rumpled during her outburst. Closing her eyes, her turbulent emotions settled back into tranquility. When she opened them again, her initial calmness had returned.
"Since I cannot understand your happiness, and I don't know how to help you achieve it... then"
Alain didn't reply. He looked out at the city and sighed.
Her meaning was obvious: he was to stay here and be forced to accept her concept of happiness. She probably wouldn't let him leave until the day he became a Mita-pounding machine.
Things... have gotten difficult.
But also simpler.
"I was originally hoping to talk with you a bit more. But now it seems..."
He took out his phone and unlocked the screen.
"The negotiations have broken down."
"That's right. And what can you do about it?"
She put her hands behind her back and gave a charming smile.
"Heh, that's right. There's nothing I can do."
Alain opened the 720 Safety Guard, and smiled as well.
The girl looked at his composed face, a trace of doubt rising in her heart. But seeing that the entire dream was under her control, what little doubt she had dissipated like white smoke.
"So today, which Mita do you want? Take your pick~"
Alain looked at the 720 Safety Guard panel, where the [Intranet Firewall] icon was blinking intermittently.
"I want Misha."
"Hmph. I'll just ask you again tomorrow, the day after, next month... next year—"
Before the long-haired girl could finish, Alain pressed the Intranet Firewall icon.
"RUMBLE—"
In an instant, a great roar erupted from the city's center, spreading out across the entire night sky.
"?!"
The girl had just turned her confused gaze toward the sound when she saw the entire sky trembling amidst the symphony of roars. An earthquake in the sky... maybe you could call it a skyquake?
As she thought this, the night—split open with a massive tear. It stretched from where the moon rises to where it sets, like a fissure in the moonlit night.
A moment later, she realized what was happening and looked at Alain in horror. He was still standing in the same spot, motionless as a mountain, as if he had anticipated all of this.
"What... did you do?"
Her lips trembled, a storm brewing in her eyes.
"Nothing much. I'm just leaving."
He shrugged nonchalantly.
The next second—before the girl's eyes, the world shattered. The sky cracked like glass, shattering piece by piece, each fragment falling to the ground. The city rumbled as it lost its gravitational anchor, skyscrapers becoming floating islands.
Alain watched the helpless girl, paying no mind to her panic. Because something more important was waiting for him.
After a blink, spiderweb cracks spread across every inch of his vision, yet they couldn't harm him in the slightest.
Another blink, and the cracks shattered on cue, turning into a collapsing sandcastle. Every grain of powder reflected an illusory strangeness and confusion.
"Darling, I love you!"
A final blink. The normal night sky returned before Alain's eyes, and with it came a girl's high-spirited voice.
The real Misha lowered her beautiful face, her embarrassed voice echoing in the night sky.
______
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