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What's going on?!

Oh hey, Miss Rules! You don't greet your friends anymore?

Grina, where is Mirii?!

Whoa, whoa! No need to get all mad at me…!

I'm not mad… I'm worried! The worry feeling reaching the darn ceiling right now!

Worried about Mirii?! Wow… that's weird! I thought you cared so much about your chief position.

… actually, I'm worried about THAT!

Aaaaaah, now that's the Tonna we all knew in those recent days!

Hey, what's that supposed to mean?! I wish the best for Mirii too, you know! Just… I'm covered in bad ink! It's hurting a lot too!

Sigh… you came here to talk with Mirii?

Yes! Where is she?!

… she's not in the conditions to talk, right now… me and Barsy are waiting here for updates on the situation.

… so… i-it's true, isn't it?! She… s-she

Yep. No need to be Captain Obvious on us… but right now, you should turn behind and get back in your fancy, little office.

Wh-what did you just said to me…?

… come on, knock that poker face off yourself. Do you really think I didn't realize your intention?

Grina, be quiet! This is

Even in front of the facts, you still want to talk with Mirii… otherwise, your little mission is going to smell a bit…

Ggghh! Wh-what the

Agents are going to get suspicious even more now… is THAT what's making you all worried up, huh? Well, considering what this mission was even all about…

Stop it! You… you don't know anything!

… eh eh… my ears aren't really down as you might think… nor is my brain. I know why 2 + 2 equals 4, Tonna. Actually, even Bars knows it.

Eh eh! Like, we went around for a bit… and Grina got this idea of talking a bit about Mirii.

I heard many, many Agents wanted to check things out themselves… but it seems you already know the whole story.

… to think I considered Mirii the bright one… you… yo-you keep wearing that ridiculous mask all the time… don't you?

Well? What did you expect from Greta Inkolina? Working in studios isn't just a fun job of acting… your mind opens up like a window. I learned to always see the world as a theater: if the act goes wrong, there is the whole backstage to check…

Look, if I knew all about this before, you could bet I wouldn't let you dive in this stupid mission!

So, your chief butt could be safe from unnecessary risks…

NO, IT'S NOT JUST THAT!

Yeah, yeah, always on the second place… we know you, Tonna. Actually… we knew you.

Wh-what's that now…?

… sometimes… bugs should remain bugs. There is a reason, after all.

You… are telling ME that I'm a bug?! Do you want to see your butt out of this building?!

If you don't care about the consequences… you could try.

… you have something in mind, right now…

Not just me: Bars has his tricks up to his sleeves too. But let's cut this chit-chat now, shall we? We are asking you to return in your office and wait.

But the other Agents will get near Mirii!

Ooooh, don't worry about them… no, actually you should worry about them from a different perspective.

… do you really know something important?!

I know they are asking for some investigation on this mission you took so seriously… now you know what you should really do in your office.

NOT JUST TO WAIT, HUH?!

Well… even while waiting, you would still notice this… right now, I'm sure you'll get a little surprise in your office, waiting for you.

Grrrrrr…! I-I still don't understand which tricks you have, though…

Oh? You are still thinking about your own wounds? Heh…! Eh eh… right now, me and Barsy are highly involved in this mission… you try to kick our butts, we will sing… to every Agent we find.

ABOUT WHAT?!

We'll say some more details about the mission we took… which will throw you directly from the frying pan into the fire.

WHAT?! … you are seriously going to lie in front of those Agents…?

Who said we are going to? You are the one. Our words against yours. I bet even Hunry would join that too… and right now, he really can't think of anything else.

Ly-lying to get your revenge…? Th-that's low!

Ooooh, look the little Squid who's talking! Trying to swim under her friends' noses, just to make sure she can keep her little chief sit.

I have other friends as well! If things gets too tough, I'm sure to not be alone!

Oh yeah, sure… they can do a lot about that! Especially since they aren't involved in this mission… and they would get seen as suspicious too!

Eeeeh?!

Unlike certain Squids, I don't think your special friends would really care to go all the way for you… if that means getting their rank stripped out.

… grrrr… … Grina… I hope you know what this means…

War? Alright, sure! Go ahead with that… I can't wait for it!

I hope you are joking.

…

…

… when I was young… I asked myself, how freedom was like…

… you really want to quit this priceless job?

What would be the point… if I just ask that to my friends? Actually… my other two friends.

You know that Mirii really wants to dig deep in that matter. She'll never let you get away with it.

… what did I just said, before? Enough with the chit-chat. I want you to leave. Now.

… yes, I guess I really should… … wait, one more question, before I go.

Hmm?

Are you seeing me as an enemy, right now?

… that will only depend from you, Tonna.

… I see… I see…

"... that shadow is really starting to get on my nerves…" Mirii turns to her left, seeing a ramp. "… at the same time, I couldn't face the situation properly. Should I blame myself for my lack of effort or should I blame the situation itself for the lack of information?"

The girl walks towards the ramp.

"That will be decided later: for now, I need to hurry and reach the Squid Cousins' studios. Hopefully, they are still in that structure."

Mirii sprinted, frowning a bit.

"I don't care if I'll find them still fighting over each other… I'll make them obey my orders and let out all the information they know! Even if that means to be involved in a fight…"

The girl stops in front of a window-like door: her mouth opened a bit. Immediately, she turns behind and around.

"The pixels… they are gone!" Mirii blinked her eyes two times. "… I can't explain the reason yet… but I don't see this as good news…"

Her right hand pushed the door, turning her head to her left.

"I'm surprised to not find any security… but then again, this is supposed to be a little game." Mirii cleared her voice, as her head rose and her irises start bouncing left and right. "Whoever is inside this room, I require your presence!"

The girl shivered a bit, as her eyes followed small clouds coming from her mouth.

"… I'll surely not reduce my position into an unsecure, trembling appearance." Her head turned around. "Where is that cursed air conditioner?!"

Her sight rose, seeing a white air conditioner making a faint noise. The girl walks towards the machine, still looking at it.

"Located in an unreachable spot, of course… then, I have no choice but to find the connected remote." She turns behind. "… not on the table…"

"Who are you?!"

Immediately, Mirii turned to her right as she lifts her posture: Callie and Marie were folding their tentacles, while frowning and floating a bit in midair.

"… the Squid Cousins, right?" Mirii rose her head, while folding her arms. "I was looking for you."

"… to be fair, you seemed really interested in that old, air conditioner…" Callie closed her eyes.

"I was not!" Mirii lowered her head, while frowning. "My intention was to shut down the illegal activity of turning this room into a fridge!"

"Oh, oh… looks like it's doing it again!" A sweat drop appeared on Marie's left side, as her eyes closed. "Then, shall we move in another room?"

"And refusing to solve this problem, once and for all?!" Mirii's left forefinger pointed right at the two Squids. "I want to see this machine not producing any more imperfection in the air… where is the remote?"

"… my cousin went mad the other day… she took the remote, hoping to hit me…" Callie shrugged. "… all that's left is just a faint memory of this white, old remote…"

Mirii's irises shrunk.

"… you two are nuts… nuts!"

"Meh, whatever… it's not like the world is ending or anything." Callie turned behind. "'cuse me, I have a book waiting for me"

"Stop it right there!" Mirii's left foot slides forward, as her fists clenched. "I demand information! Information all about this videogame world I ended up to!"

"… videogame? This? Hmm… now, that's interesting…" Callie returned forward. "You believe to be in a videogame…?"

"Of course!" Mirii nodded, retreating her left foot. "You are nothing more than corrupted data… as well as the entire world, that's!"

"… what it makes you think of that…?" Callie folded her arms.

"I entered in this world through my smartphone! Unfortunately, I lost it… thus, my only chance to get back in the perfect world." Mirii lowered her head, shaking it slowly, while sighing.

"… very interesting…" Callie kept her lowered eyelids on the middle. "… but I'm afraid to confirm that this world is as real as yours."

"How?!" Mirii frowned, bending forward.

"Simple. When someone gets splatted here… they are splatted forever." Callie folded her arms. "In videogames, you can always come back… not here."

"Wh-what?!" Mirii's eyebrows went up, as her teeth gritted. "Bu-but… I-I swear to have seen this flash when I said a long phrase…"

"… no, that's not how videogames work." Callie shakes her head. "You don't say hocus pocus and get teleported in other worlds."

"This was supposed to be a hunt for the Squid King!" Mirii's left forefinger pointed at Callie. "By completing tasks, I would find him and stop his illegal videogame activity!"

"Squid King?!" Marie's irises shrunk, as her two tentacles went on her four, smaller ones. "You… you want to stop him?!" She swallowed silently.

"… why that hint of cowardice?" Mirii rose her head, as her eyes squeezed a bit.

"Have you heard our news, before?!" Marie's eyes were wide, a bit watery.

"The monstrous attack? Sure." She nodded.

"The Squid King is the one doing all that!" Marie starts trembling.

"Why? Judging from the name, he should be the king of this world…" Mirii folded her arms.

"But he's self-proclaimed! No one ever wanted him, not even us!" Her right tentacle pointed at Callie, while her left tentacle pointed at herself.

"… sigh… I hate to say this… but I'm a bit worried about those recent attacks he's doing…" Callie's irises moved to her right. "Especially that gigantic cat… he's causing a ruckus all over my library… and cleaning it every time, makes me a tad angry…"

"We can't do anything about that, Callie!" Marie turned over her cousin, as she waves her tentacles up and down. "I-I don't want to get eaten by th-that monster, you know! And… he's attacking us once a week!"

"That would be twice… he attacked 2 days ago." Callie's irises pointed to her left, staring at Marie. "Kinda strange… isn't it?"

"… yeah, you are right…" Marie's irises shrunk. "I wonder why…"

"… funny question…" Callie's irises moved towards Mirii. "… I feel like the answer is right in front of us…"

Mirii's jaw dropped.

"M-me?!" Her hands pointed down herself. "Wh-what relation I have with Squid King?! Or with this world even?!"

"That would be your problem… me and Marie have nothing to do with this…" Callie turned behind. "… you want to get out of this world you called imperfect? Go ask that question to the Squid King… maybe he's looking for you, as well…"

"Where can I find him?!" Mirii bended forward, while lowering her head and still staring at the two Squids.

"… the cat… he controls the cat… that's all." She floats away.

"I'm not done with you two!" Mirii's left arm stretched towards Callie.

"Sigh… leave us alone… I want to read a book… I hate talking so much…" She kept floating forward.

"I'm being chased by a shadow, lately. Can you tell me anything about it?" Mirii rose her head, while folding her arms.

"A shadow? … we are all chased by one, you know." Marie tilted to her left. "What's the matter?"

"This shadow wants to steal my identity, unlike an ordinary one!" Mirii frowned. "What I have to do, in order to prevent such fate?"

"… again… this is your problem… not ours…" Callie's voice was coming from behind a wall. "You are the one dealing with rebellious shadows… and you are the only one to stop them."

Mirii's mouth opened a bit.

"Marie… come. Leave her alone… let her steal the air conditioner too, if she really wants it…"

Marie floated backwards a bit.

"… I saw you attacking your cousin." Mirii rose her head. "Why obeying such arrogant Squid?"

Marie looked down for a moment: she turned behind and sprinted away. Mirii sighed loudly.

"This world is beyond illogical… that's the truth." The girl starts walking. "The objective is clear, now: find the Squid King and his ginormous cat."

Mirii pulled the clear door, walking out of the building.

"But first… I need to take a quick rest, since I want to face the monster down in full energy." She was stepping down the ramp. "… I also wouldn't mind reading some books… but I'm afraid Callie will start a fight with me, if I try asking a book from her."

Her feet touched the road: her head was twisting left and right, seeing three familiar shops, a tall tower and the small alley she came from. She was standing still, still shivering a bit.

"… sigh…" She starts walking towards the alley. "… Hunley… I wonder what he's doing right now… … I wonder if he's getting worried about my absence… that would be really unfortunate, if I can't get back into the perfect with my glorious identity… … although… if I return without a name… will Hunley still be able to recognize me?"

Her stomach felt a bit in pain.

"… I want to see him, again… I will do everything possible, in order to make that happen."

The girl stops in front of a vending machine, lying against the wall. Her right hand started to move around her body.

"… of course I would also be out of cash. OF COURSE!" She kicked the machine, frowning a lot. "IS THERE ANYTHING WORSE THAN THIS SITUATION?!"

"What's that? You are also poor, little Squid?"

Mirii's irises shrunk: immediately she turns around.

"If I find your awful mug ever again, I'll make sure to defy this videogame's logic by putting you down!" Her fists were clenching, her teeth were gritted and smoke was coming out from her ears.

"You want to find me? Why, I'm not under your nose or anything…"

Mirii's irises shrunk: they turned towards the tip of her nose, seeing her shadow sitting on it. She waves her right hand.

"Long time no see, huh?!" She grins.

The girl frowns a lot.

"From giantess to nano shadow… crushing you would be an immense pleasure." Her right thumb and forefinger pushed towards the shadow.

"Oooooh, you weren't kidding at all, before! Aaaccckkk…! I-I'm a piece of paper now!"

Her fingers retreated: her shadow was much flatter than before… until after 1 second, where she returned into her normal shape.

"Do you want to attack me again?!" Her red eyes grew, as her mouth formed a small 3.

"… still thinking to know how to waste my time… … although, I wanted to take a little rest before resuming my mission." Mirii's eyelids lowered a bit. "However, if you remain this bug size, that would only improve my mood…" She smiles. "… since I'm clearly the superior Mirii, here."

"Do you like that? Good!" She stands up, smiling. "Then, I'll stay small!"

Mirii's mouth returned to normal, as her eyes squeezed a bit.

"… I wasn't expecting such answer from you…"

"Tee hee hee! You are so funny, Mirii!" She chuckles a bit, bending down. "Why would you expect anything at this point?! It's not like you have a timer or anything…"

"You SAID there is a timer!" Mirii frowned. "Are you trying to eat back your words?!"

"Ooooh, I wish I could eat them… but alas, a shadow can't eat anything!" Her shadow's right eye winked. "Why… the only who can ever eat something is this little giantess I'm looking at!"

"Hmpf. Even an idiot would have figured that one out…" Mirii's head rose. "Alas, I have no money with me… thus, the only progress I got is to see my superiority."

"Giving up already? What, you want the shadows taking your identity THAT easily?! Oh come, Mirii… you were supposed to be more stronger that that!" Her shadow turned behind. "What a letdown…"

Mirii frowns even more.

"… I never mentioned that, before…"

"But still! Renouncing a nice, little rest right after you said it?! That's nonsense!" Mirii's shadow opened her arms wide.

"… what an interesting statement…" Mirii smiles, keeping her eyebrows down. "You can hear my thoughts?"

Her shadow kept looking at her: suddenly, she starts to disappear gradually.

"…?" Mirii's right eyebrow went up. "Why retreating? I'm closer to see you bending down on the ground?"

"Why retreating? I'm closer to see you bending down on the ground?"

"Hmm?! You DARE to repeat my own words?!" Mirii was looking around. "Insolent! Incapable of even holding an intelligent speech?! Where are you, now?!"

Mirii's face was pointing down the wall, as she was seeing her own shadow resting on it.

"… you are there, aren't you?!" Mirii's left forefinger was pointing the shadow. "Daring to copy the original without a shame?! Tsk!" She turns behind. "Fine… be destined to be my own shadow. For me, that's nothing more than a flawless victory."

The girl was now staring at the vending machine: she snorted, turning herself to her right.

"… even if I had any money… the food offered is all a pile of junk. I want to rest and remain as healthy as always. It looks like I have no choice, now…" Her head rose, seeing the wall. "… she can hear my thoughts... I wonder what that has to do with anything…"