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... I'm not sure who's this Mirii I'm looking through this mirror. Is that a Mirii worthy of the perfection title or a Mirii who pretends to be worthy of the perfection title? I know that the true one knows really well, what the perfection art's rules are… her will to not even think of breaking the most insignificant of those rules is unmatched. That alone is proof to be worthy enough of claiming to be on the path… for the perfect rank.
Alas, no matter what logical arguments I can come up with… this Mirii is impure. She knew about that one, important rule to respect at all costs… and yet, after a promising battle of loyalty, she ended up surrendering in front of an electronic toy. If you can't respect the rules, you are not perfect.
That's the normal logic about the art, anyway. But… her reasons to betray perfection… I cannot judge them childish or pathetic. In fact, I don't even feel like disagreeing with them at all. It involves Hunley, the whole city's reputation… and banning illegal operations. Elements crucial for perfection.
If I ignored those points, my worth would still be 100% accurate. I would still claim to have never touched one of those electronic waste-timers, without the slightest possibility of doubt. Still… if I really proceeded in my war of perfection… I would still feel, as if I renounced it.
Sigh… wh-what's the solution of this terrible predicament?! Am I destined to play… a videogame?! Or… I'm destined to live in a city of pure imperfection? None of those questions can be solved by just saying "Yes"… at least not both of them! I-I really tried… this logical puzzle doesn't allow me to get around it…!
… I'm holding the cursed box of madness. Once I'll open it… it's all over. My worth will be seen as an egoistic attempt to be the queen of them all and that "Perfection Seeker" title I received… unfortunately, it'll become even more relevant than it was before.
… no… th-this is not my destiny! I-I'm supposed to be perfect…! I-I refuse
"What's the deal with the mirror? Does it have any contradictions?"
Ah! … Grina was holding her little box, too. Her grin is really challenging my patience.
"… your attitude is ineffective for cheering others up." Especially with that grin. "I suggest you to try new strategies, the next time you want to attempt such task."
Her grin disappeared, yet her smile still stays. Of course mine wasn't a direct attack… except, it was a wise teaching.
"Let me guess!" Her left forefinger keeps touching her forehead, as if she dares to imply a challenge towards my intelligence! "You are not feeling so good, about playing this game… am I riiiight?" She grinned again!
Nnnnngghhhh! I-I didn't even notice the time I spent in front of that mirror! I-I can't hide, unfortunately… but since a friend of mine noticed this, I do not consider that a major defeat… actually…
"… I was thinking about the mission, yes." Sigh… "It's nothing concerning its difficulty… it's more the fact that I-I'm playing a videogame!" The pain… starts raising on my throat… "Th-that's an act of pure imperfection! Especially considering how this toy is not only illegal… but also harmful for all Inkopolis' citizens!"
Grina's expression changed. She has a more serious look… which means, I'll receive the help I was indirectly asking.
"Well… it's not like you are playing just for the sake of it!" Huh?! "I mean, you are playing because it's part of your Agent duty!" She smiles a bit. "Doesn't that count…?"
… hmpf. Unacceptable. Perfection rules don't have those cheaply made exceptions. If I accept that solution, I'll certainly lose… which is something I'll never let happen on my dignity.
"No: excuses are unacceptable. I'm still playing a videogame, which is a problem in itself…" My throat isn't hurting me anymore… a true sign of perfect choice.
"Then, don't do the mission at all!" Hunley jumped right in front of me!
Oh… Hu-Hunley… ih ih… you are the reason why I can smile.
"Hunley… it's becoming clear that I'm destined to break this important perfection rule, since not even your genius can solve brilliantly this enigma."
My stomach starts hurting… I can confirm it's not related to the delicious lunch I took earlier.
"… if you are sure of that…" Hunley's expression feels like an attack… towards my eyes. "But if you are not feeling good, please say so immediately!"
His irises appeared on fire… or is that just a mindless sensation? Tsk, I'm not even listening to that… it was nothing more than a logical theory! That's all! … I just announced defeat, anyway. What use do I have for delaying the inevitable? I'm ready to be sentenced…
Click.
… I see a pair of glasses, except without any borders on any edge. That gives them the contact lens look, Tonna mentioned earlier… picking it up, I almost not feeling any weight on my right hand. Although, I can imagine putting those, as if I was wearing glasses.
Done. As usual, I was correct: those "contact lens" were nothing more than light glasses. I can still feel that perfect power running through my veins… maybe I just jumped into conclusions, before. Maybe Grina was right: because of the sense of justice I naturally possess, this perfection rules indeed had an exception which I could use.
… sigh… I can't confirm that, yet… I still didn't effectively "play" the game. For now, I must put a hold on this matter… and focus on those two, tiny earpieces located above the glasses.
All I need to do is to wear them... there. Hmm… it feels like I did nothing. I don't feel any "presence" around my ears and eyes… why such choice?
"So, like are you all ready to open up the game?" Bars was showing his smartphone, which was previously confiscated… that's unfortunate: the last thing this individual needs is more videogame sessions!
"Ready to rumble!" Her grin never stops annoying my eyes… but she shows her smartphone in the same way as Bars does.
"I'm ready." My voice perfectly shows disproval… since I do not want to even imply any chances of enthusiasm.
"Alright! You just press the game downloaded during lunch and…"
The game is right here. Sigh… forgive me, mother.
Pin!
The sound came from the smartphone… and now it's showing a collection of buildings, with trails of different-colored ink all over the place! This mess… it just screams imperfection. There is no way this game has any educational elements…!
… AH! WH-WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THE ROOM?!
"What the?!" Grina jumped too. "The room is disintegrating?!"
"Whoooaaaaa…" … IS BARS SMILING?! "… like, we are entering inside a digital world!"
A DIGITAL WORLD?! NO! NOT ON MY WATCH! I WANT THE PERFECT WORLD!
…
… HUH?! I'm touching the sides of my eyes with my fingers, but I can't feel the presence of the glasses! At all!
"Wow… just look at the room!" … Grina is looking around, as if this blank room of pixels has anything even remotely interesting! "Are we in Squid Jump world?"
… she appears a bit blocky too. … wait… wh-what about me?! The mirror is still there, thank turfness! … AAAAAAAAAHHH!
"Girl, like what's happening?!"
… th-that pile of pixels… is that… ME?!
"Heh! I guess she's scared because of the game's incredible technology!" Shut up, Grina!
… that question I made before… about the Mirii I'm watching from the mirror… no… no, that's definitively not her. She's a genuine Inkling… not a mountain of blocks, pretending to be perfection. I'm a genuine Inkling… my eyes are deceiving my appearance!
"So, this is the game huh?"
Turned behind, seeing my two friends looking at each other… … WAIT!
"Where is Hunley?!" The room has just us three and all the elements contained inside the room.
"Mirii, I'm here!"
His voice! It was coming from the left… but there is no one there! Are my ears deceiving too?!
"Hunry is invisible? Weird…" It's not just weird… IT'S A DISASTER!
"I think the game doesn't let us see others, but at least we can hear voices!" Bars laughs… as if this idiot is really enjoying this virtual world of emptiness!
"There is nothing to laugh at, Bars!" Especially when we lost our true, perfect ourselves! "I demand a return inside the perfect world!"
How I'm going to return, anyway?! Think, Mirii… logic is the only weapon I have, if this world of pixels would allow me to. … the smartphone is showing different options. "Exit"? …
Pin!
… the pixels… are turning into reality! The room is finally a perfect reality! That would mean… yes! My perfect reflection doesn't lie! This is the true Mirii I'm! I'm still worthy of living in this world!
"Are you fine, Mirii?!"
Hunley! I can see him! That means I never lost perfection! I'm still worthy of my perfect claims!
"I'm fine indeed, Hunley…" Phew! "It's such magnificent news, that I'm able to return into this perfect world, with the push of a button… the Exit button, to be precise."
"Sweet! At least the game doesn't lock us inside its world!"
Grina talked… she's looking in my direction, but I'm sure she's not seeing me. Hmpf, she really needs to consider the severity of this situation… because all the progress offered in this "game" are anything but real.
"Well, this room has been a nice playground for this new, fresh game! Can't wait to try it outside! Think of all the possibility…!" She starts grinning… "… and all the action and fun we can squeeze out of this! Maybe we can get to fight a digital monster or something!"
"Isn't the game based on just walking around?" Which is something you can get without a smartphone.
"Tonna said that the game is full of clues, which may lead us to this Squid King we need to splat." Her eyes are fully immersed in her imaginations, I'm afraid… no wonder this game is considered illegal. "What if the user throws exciting hazards for us to overcome?!"
… I have no words. That question isn't worthy for a beginner following the beginning rank!
"If the user wants to stop us, those hazards might be simple censuring tactics. I would do that, if I want to achieve perfect security."
"And WE are gonna crack them wide open!" Her grin is ridiculously wide… and her mind is in serious need for some educational book to read. "Come on, gang! We have fun coming right ahead!"
She jumps towards the door… sigh… to think she declared war on this game… and now she's praising it just because it's an useless virtual reality! Terrible… perfection nowadays is seriously underrated. It seems the city's fate is resting on my and Hunley's hands.
We are going to dominate whoever claims to be the champion without any opposing resistance, since they are too busy claiming virtual progress… and let perfection triumphantly return, once and for all.