You’re sweeter than 3.14

After a few days, Rian finally began adapting to the game's rhythm. However, being someone who had dedicated most of her life to juggling multiple small goals, with no coordination other than a list of priorities, organizing an entire second life in just five days was a challenge worthy of a life-or-death battle for someone who could barely keep her mind focused on a single task. That's just the kind of person Rian is. It was hard for them to respond to every chat, every interaction, and every notification the game threw—even during the daily tasks. Rian finally understood why people replaced shampoo bottles with their phones for bathroom entertainment.

Despite everything, they had found pleasure in interacting with more people, even if they were digital. Hannah had been her only friend for a long time until she presented Mario to them about three years ago, relatively late in life. While pleasant, the rest of the social encounters were never significant. A school or work relationship was always involved, and the interactions were minimal. So, suddenly, having a circle of people to talk to felt strangely pleasant.

As Rian made the MC choices—going to the arcade, picking pasta for dinner, meeting certain characters outside of Golden Moon, exchanging gifts based on character's needs, chatting, and sharing opinions in story chats—it felt like living a life apart from the one Rian dragged behind. This could have been seen as a positive change, as they laughed more often, noticeably relaxed, and showed more energy than it was before leaving the house. But the uncomfortable detail was that Rian practically had the face glued to the phone.

While Mario saw this as unhealthy, Hannah defended her friend, pushing Mario aside and telling him to leave Rian alone since they hadn't had any real fun in years. Although Rian appreciated the gesture, she disliked how overbearing Hannah could be when scolding her friend.

"Please, you need to calm down," Rian begged after several minutes of arguing.

"I am CALM!" Hannah yelled, feeling the opposite of what Rian intended.

"You know what? Hannah's right. I'm sorry, Rian," Mario said, giving in to Hannah's behavior, knowing that opposing her would get him nowhere.

"Don't start playing the victim! You're the one who started this!" Hannah shouted again at Mario, who could no longer find a corner to hide from the apartment's evil queen.

Rian put down the phone, slipped it into their pants pocket, and grabbed Hannah's face with both hands, forcing her to look at her instead of at Mario.

"Let's just relax. Inhale for four... and exhale for eight," she instructed her friend in a breathing exercise while motioning with her foot for Mario to step away.

As Hannah began to calm down, Mario rushed to the kitchen to prepare something he knew would be a guaranteed win with her.

"Feeling better now?" Rian asked with almost motherly tenderness.

The petite blonde smiled and hugged, nuzzling against their chest.

"The truth is, I don't really understand why you're so upset, but I just want you to know that Mario didn't do anything wrong. He's just trying to help us in his own way. You get that, right?" she said near her friend's ear, trying to soothe the incomprehensible fury that had grown uncontrollably in that small body.

"I know, but I can't help getting upset when someone asks you to stop being happy," she sniffled, but Rian didn't give her time to cry, gently stroking her hair.

"Happiness is something different for everyone. Even though we are so different, we're friends. Despite our circumstances, we live together," Rian placed the forehead against Hannah's. "My affection for you can only be destroyed if you do something I dislike, even if you think it's for my own good. Remember?" Hannah nodded silently. "And do you think Mario did something that could be seen as bad from my point of view?" The little blonde shook her head. "Then, if I'm not upset, you have nothing to be upset about."

After that little intervention, a subtle scent of green tea with ginger could be smelled warming up. Hannah pouted, knowing Mario had made it for her. It made her happy, but she was reluctant to forgive him.

"You don't have to," Mario said as soon as he heard Hannah's heels approaching as if reading her mind. "I'm not trying to force you to forgive me. I'm fine if you're still mad. I'm not trying to change you," he said as he served the brew over a slice of lemon soaked in honey. "I just don't want us to keep fighting."

Her long nails reached for the cup. Juicy lips in a pearly pink shade blew gently to cool the contents, and after a careful sip… a sigh of relief and serenity. Hannah had found her center of peace in a ceramic vessel. Rian could only laugh at how quickly Mario could enrage Hannah—almost as fast as he could calm her down.

"Our sweet little Pixie flipped the switch," Rian said while ruffling Hannah's hair, but she swatted Rian's hand away without removing her lips from the tea.

Mario felt slightly embarrassed hearing Rian call Hannah by the nickname he had given her a year ago. She also looked uncomfortable, albeit a bit shy.

"Well…" Mario decided to break the awkward silence. "I was thinking… if everything's okay now, how about we go out to eat?" he asked, looking at Rian, his body language showing some nervousness.

Hannah glanced at Mario with one eye and started drumming her fingers on the table. He knew that gesture meant she was trying to get noticed, so he walked around the kitchen island and addressed Rian directly.

"I mean, you've been working really hard lately, and instead of asking you to stop playing the game, maybe it'd be better to encourage you to do something else. What do you think?"

Rian smiled warmly.

"I like the idea," she replied, prompting Mario's joyful expression that quickly turned to regret. Where would you like to eat, Hannah?"

The blonde, nicknamed Pixie for being tiny and mischievous, grinned wickedly.

"Um, I don't know. Let me think for a moment," she said, looking at Mario with mischief. "I got it. We haven't had Chinese food in a while. What do you think?"

Rian knew Mario hated that food, but they had asked Hannah, and it would be rude to say no.

"Fine, but only if Mario picks the restaurant," Rian said, hoping to give him a break.

"Thanks," he replied, relieved.

"I'm going to change. I won't take long," said Rian, who hated going out wearing shorts.

And it was during Rian's absence, sparks flared again between Hannah and Mario.

"I won't let this one slide. You did it on purpose," Mario stressed.

"First of all, yes. Second, it's your fault," Hannah answered. "If you wanted to ask her out alone, you shouldn't have done it in front of me, turnip head."

Mario rubbed his forehead in frustration, letting out a muffled scream. Hannah finished her tea and went to wash the cup. When she turned off the faucet, the conversation resumed.

"I won't let you have them. You know that," said the girl, shaking water off her hands and avoiding the towel.

"I know, but I've never been rude to you to deserve you getting in the way," Mario said, frustrated by what he saw as Hannah's dirty play.

He feared making a wrong move and driving Rian away if it looked like he was forcing a choice or making her uncomfortable.

The silence between them grew uncomfortable. Both looked toward Rian's room. Mario got up and knocked gently.

"Rian, are you dressed yet?" he asked politely.

But Hannah ignored the respectful gesture and barged in uninvited. They found Rian standing by the bed, in a crop top and boxers, phone in hand, laughing as she responded to a chat. Just then, the game emitted the sound of a call.

"Wha—!? Oh gods! What do I do!? Is it audio or text!?" Rian babbled, pacing in panic. "Oh no! I can't! I wasn't mentally prepared for this!"

"ANSWER THE CALL, DAMMIT! Think about everything else later!" Hannah shouted, pressing the button. Elliot's profile picture appeared along with a text box.

"You took a while to answer. Is something wrong?" the dialogue read. Options appeared:

[ I was far from my phone ] [ I got nervous ]

[ I forgot how to answer ] [ I didn't hear it ]

The selection froze when Rian screamed and threw clothes at Mario and a pillow at Hannah.

"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU! Get out!" she shouted as accessories, clothes, boots, stationery, and plushies rained down. "I'll put posters of you all over the building as 'the perverts from 512'! I'll make piñatas of you for Halloween parties, bake ugly cakes for your birthdays, and put your faces on Old Year's dolls to burn in the New Year holiday!" she cursed as she finally forced them out and slammed the door.

Now outside, both were covered in Rian's belongings. Mario awkwardly took away some underwear, and Hannah sweated at seeing her makeup imprinted on a white shirt.

"Hey, it doesn't look that bad…" Hannah said nervously. "Don't pray for me, hypocrite!"

"It's been a blessing to know you, Hannah María Alfonsa Josefina de las Camelias, daughter of the heir to the Misnebalam ranch and queen of the Dolls' Island."

"Straight to the Ranch of the Damned with you, Mario Yedid!" she shouted, throwing the blouse at him.

Mario dodged and replied:

"Nope, I'm not from that one," and ran off, pursued by Hannah, who was ready to throw her platform heels at him.

Meanwhile, Rian lay on the bed, sobbing with embarrassment. The call was still active.

"Did you forget how to answer? Hahahaha! Who forgets how to answer a call?" came the following dialogue as red sparkles filled the screen.

[ Apparently, me. Anyone would be nervous if it said 'PRIVATE NUMBER']

"Ah, right. Sorry about that. I'm calling from the lab."

[ Early ] [ Workaholic ] [ Lunch ] [ Decode ]

Rian picked the last one, and the dialogue made her laugh more than the option.

"Decoding the multiverse alteration protocol?" was the reply to Rian's choice.

"Oh!? I've been caught! Altair's gone supernova, abort the mission!"

"Poor Vega…" Rian thought. Then, more options appeared:

[Let's conquer the universe ] [ A sweet dream for a terrible villain ] [ ??? ]

"That's my secret, sergeant. I win with sweetness and stardust."

[ Captain, sir ] [ Because you're in my launch box? ] [ I crave a sweet treat ]

"Hahahaha! Goodness! You're sweeter than 3.14."

[ ??? ] [ Pi ] [ Infinitely ]

After her selection, the game displayed: "To the end of the eternal cosmos and back again."

"Although technically, space keeps expanding, I like your perspective. Anyway, it's time to hang up. What was I going to say? Oh! I forgot; the government agents just flashed me. I'll be back soon."

[ Kiss ] [ Flash ] [ Scream ]

"Smooch!"

And the audio played the sound of small objects falling.

"Ah… that was unexpected," the young man's voice said, laughing nervously.

"It did come back?"

"It seems like not yet. I'll send a message to the group, but I wanted to tell you first. Aaaaah, I guess that's only fair! See you tomorrow!" said the voice before hanging up.

Rian hugged the phone, laughing as she rolled across the sheets and fell off the bed.

"Rian, are you okay?" Mario asked.

"Yeah. I'm fine," Rian replied, with the head on the floor and the feet in the air.