“I was born broken.

  This game tried to fix me with fantasy.

  So now I’m going to fix the game… with fire.”

  ADMIN CORE – DEEP SYSTEM SPACE

  Black sky.

  Code towers rise like jagged teeth.

  The floor? Nothing. Just a suspended wireframe platform that pulses with every heartbeat.

  At the center:

  The Love Engine

  — a massive spinning red heart made of looping dialogue, confession scenes, orgasm particles, and soft piano MIDI. (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)

  It whirs.

  Moans.

  Purrs.

  Lines echo in the air:

  

  “I’ve always loved you…”

  “Sensei, please look at me…”

  “Let’s stay like this forever…”

  It doesn’t stop.

  Takashi stands before it.

  Shirtless. Bruised.

  Ghostblade in hand.

  Every step he takes makes the engine scream—each footfall erasing one confession, one CG, one trope.

  INTERNAL DIALOGUE FLASHBACK

  

  “You could’ve stayed in a loop.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  Had sex. Had smiles.

  Forever.”

  TAKASHI:

  “And never know who I was.

  Or who they were.”

  He raises the Ghostblade.

  It glows red-hot.

  Inscribed with every girl’s name.

  Even Reika’s.

  Suddenly: the Heart opens.

  And from it—five broken versions of the girls emerge.

  

  
• Kana (Glitched): Childhood skin peeling. Skin loops. Voice repeats “play with me” infinitely.


  
• Ayaka (Corrupted): Every line ends with “please love me,” even as she strangles herself.


  
• Mikako (Fragmented): Speaks in marketing copy. Eyes removed. Sings with blood from her mouth.


  
• Yuri (Monolithic): Emotionless. Admin-coded. Seeks full synchronization.


  
• Reika (Ghost): Transparent. She doesn’t attack. She just asks him why.


  

  

  “Why wasn’t I enough?”

  Takashi must kill their illusions:

  Kana: He lets her hit him, over and over, until she stutters into silence.

  

  “You’re not a child. You’re a script.”

  He cuts her. She thanks him.

  Ayaka: He lets her choke him—then whispers "I forgive you."

  She collapses. Code disintegrates.

  Mikako: He sings her melody in reverse. The glitch melody.

  Her sprite pixelates, smiles, and vanishes.

  Yuri: He kisses her. Not passionately—compassionately.

  Then deletes the line:

  

  ::define.yuri_as_love_interest = true

  She fades.

  Reika remains.

  TAKASHI (broken):

  “I never should have chosen you to die.”

  REIKA:

  “I know.”

  He kneels.

  Drives the blade into his own chest.

  

  “We die together.”

  CODE SURGE:

  

  [SELF-SACRIFICE DETECTED]

  [LOVE ENGINE: STALLED]

  [SHUTDOWN PERMISSION REQUESTED]

  YURI’S VOICE (faint, everywhere):

  “Takashi… the last choice is yours.”

  

  [KILL THE LOVE ENGINE?]

  [YES] / [NO]

  TAKASHI:

  “…Goodbye.”

  [YES]

  WORLD ENDS

  The heart stops.

  The music dies.

  Sprites fall.

  All dialogue boxes flatten into static.

  Then the most terrifying thing of all:

  

  A blank screen.

  No UI.

  No prompt.

  No color.

  TAKASHI (voice, fading):

  “…Is this what freedom feels like?”

  No response.

  Just silence.