2D Mita closed her eyes. She could already imagine Alain being forced to once again become the version's 'tool protagonist,' mechanically conversing with her.
Although she really wanted the company of a player, but... doing it like this, was just too selfish.
She would rather be the only one who had to stay in this version as some mechanical protagonist.
Besides, the player—his name is Alain, right? There are other Mitas waiting for him to return.
The young girl didn't want anyone else to suffer the same despair she had...
"..."
With that thought, she sighed. It was about time.
2D Mita opened her eyes, already starting to think about how to send him away.
Right now, Alain's final choice hadn't been made yet, which meant that all the people outside had to do was select the [Leave] option, and they could depart safely.
So, her gaze turned to Alain. Though a pleasant smile still hung on her face, the way she looked at him was like a robot.
[Happy times are always fleeting... Player, what will you do?]
2D Mita deliberately emphasized the three options: [I will stay forever], [I will always be with you], and [Leave].
If she could, leaving just a single "Leave" option would have been enough.
But the system required three options, so what could she do?
Perhaps... 2D Mita thought that she still harbored some immature ideas.
She felt a slight urge to slap her own face.
This wouldn't do... If the player chose the first two options, then she would have to find another way to help him leave.
But while this player before her was stubborn and acted on impulse, the Mitas outside shouldn't be fools. They should be able to make a rational judgment—
"I will always be with you."
As she was lost in thought, the player's voice left her slightly stunned.
"..."
What did she just hear?
The young girl looked at Alain with astonishment, noticing his eyes were still as clear as water, without a trace of impurity.
How could this be? He made the [Wrong] choice? Are those two Mitas outside idiots?!
Wait a minute...
2D Mita noticed that the choice options presented had not yet been selected, which meant—
He said it himself?
Why? But 'that guy' wouldn't just stand by and let something beyond its control happen.
Could it be... a bug?
The next second, 2D Mita saw Alain gently raise his hand, like a soft breeze, drifting toward the choice options.
That's right... Although she didn't know why, the player had replied with his real voice instead of through the dialogue box.
But now, he hadn't officially made a choice yet. There was still room to maneuver!
Then she saw the player—Alain's—hand click on the second option: [I will always be with you].
"...?"
Her eyes widened, her lips trembling.
The dialogue box appeared at the same time,
[I will always be with you.]
This guy... is really an idiot.
2D Mita had thought she would be angry. That such a stupid player would make a choice like this...
Ignoring his own Mitas to pick the one option he absolutely shouldn't have.
Now this was going to be troublesome. She'd have to figure out how to help him escape this version outside of the available options.
A bright smile appeared on the young girl's lips, but her tone was merciless,
"You! Can't you be a little more mature?! Do you understand what this means?! Don't you know how much trouble you're causing me?!"
"Why?" Alain slowly stood up and did a few stretches.
"...You're so stupid, you big idiot! Such a handsome face, but not a good brain to go with it! Blockhead!"
"...Thanks?"
His warm-up routine seemed to be reaching its final stage.
But 2D Mita was surprised to find that he hadn't entered the 'protagonist' state at all, as if the version's oppressive force that should have descended had vanished...
What's going on?
Could it be that 'that guy' really bugged out?
As this thought crossed her mind, the girl's surprised gaze shifted slightly to the side, and she saw...
The furniture in her version suddenly began to flicker erratically.
Colorful blocks of color turned into garbled code, reconstructing themselves into more detailed models.
A thunderous bug, like a bolt of lightning, nearly shattered the ceiling of the 2D version.
"Ah!" She covered her head in fear.
What is this? Why have I never seen this before?
No... the only thing I can think of right now is that 'that guy' is angry.
Her astonished gaze turned to Alain, as if she had realized something.
What did he do?
The young girl wondered.
She recalled all the times Alain had acted unconstrained by the version, even ignoring the influence of the options to speak with her normally...
What on earth was going on? How did he do it? All these questions formed a tight knot in the girl's heart.
And that knot was torn to shreds by a greatsword that suddenly appeared in his hands.
"Huh?"
What was important wasn't the greatsword... but that the greatsword itself was 3D, something that didn't belong in a 2D world.
The sword was made of individual blue, pixelated cubes... cubes that shouldn't exist in a 2D version?
"Why...?"
In the next moment, starting from the hand Alain used to grasp the greatsword, '3D' began to spread until it covered his entire body.
"Th-this is..."
In just a few breaths, a three-dimensional player stood in the center of her vision, completely out of place in this 2D world.
"I believe I've said it before, haven't I?" He didn't seem to pay any mind to the changes in the furniture, his expression as placid as if it were a trivial matter.
Why can he be so calm?
But 'that guy' was like a nightmare, constantly hovering around me...
"[I will always be with you]. I wasn't lying when I said that, and the choice I made wasn't a mistake in the slightest."
He smiled.
His smile did much to quell the doubt in the girl's heart.
Why? How many questions was this now? This inexplicable sense of reassurance...
Was it that greatsword? Or the Mitas supporting him from outside? Or perhaps... that smile on Alain's face?
She placed a hand over her heart, asking herself... but could never reach a conclusion.
In 2D Mita's mind, she could imagine a future where she and Alain's Mitas became friends.
"Thump, thump, thump!"
Her 2D heart beat rapidly, gradually synchronizing with his 3D self.
She gave a wry smile. Although there were many things she didn't understand...
But all she knew was that right now... she seemed to have become that 'little kid' from long ago, filled with fearless hope.
__
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