Cotton Candy Lessons and Panda-Slaying Victory

"Got it? If you encounter one of these ghost stories, you have to follow the rules perfectly!"

"Yup…!"

"Ugh, Angel, why are you so cute?"

"Ehehehe…"

The short lesson with No.1 Sister wrapped up, and the sister who'd been radiating pure charisma just moments ago did a complete 180.

She plopped me right onto her lap and started petting me like crazy.

"Eueue…"

Of course, the head pats felt amazing, but No.1 Sister was way too into it, and it was starting to wear me out.

So I lost my balance for a sec and toppled forward.

Then I felt… ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠flatness.

Hmm…

Compared to Persephone Madam's super-soft, pillowy thighs, this was a bit of a letdown.

If Persephone Madam wrapped me up all gentle and cushy, No.1 Sister felt more like a sturdy pillar holding me steady. Kinda reliable, in its own way.

Not bad at all, really.

"Ahh~"

"Ahh~"

Leaning against her, I opened my mouth like she asked, and in popped something fluffy and sweet.

"Is this… cotton candy?"

"Yup! I used to make it all the time back in high school."

A cotton candy machine…? Last time I saw one of those was elementary school, in my memories.

Guess that's the generation gap for ya.

Just to be sure, I asked cautiously.

"Sis."

"Yeah?"

"You know maratang, hulu, duqunqu, and butter tteok, right?"

The four heavenly kings every high school girl must master.

Even with a generation gap, she'd know at least one, right?

"Nope…?"

No such luck. No.1 Sister, high schooler or not, was totally clueless.

I shook my head side to side.

"Any girl worth her salt has to master these foods."

"Really…?"

She taught me all about ghost stories, but looks like I'm the one schooling her on modern trends.

I fired up my smartphone and opened Insta.

Then I started showing her the Reels scattered everywhere.

"This is tanghulu."

First up: strawberries drowning in sugar syrup.

"Hmm… looks way too sweet…"

"Gasp…"

Sadly, No.1 Sister wasn't impressed.

"This is duqunqu…!"

"Looks like horse poop."

"…"

She grimaced at duqunqu too.

Oh come on…!

Calling herself a high schooler but hating these? Unbelievable.

"At this rate, your high school girl vibe's gonna crumble…"

"It's not a vibe! I'm 17!"

"…"

"I'm still in high school…!"

"…Yup."

I silently patted No.1 Sister's shoulder.

Just like that mint-haired VTuber stuck at 17 for 19 years—gotta cut her some slack.

Fight on, No.1 Sister.

"Dangdang! Sis is back from studying…!"

- Woof woof!

Back in the Containment Room after my session with No.1 Sister.

I gave Dangdangi's fur a good, vigorous ruffle for being such a good boy, then bolted straight to the computer.

Nothing refreshes the brain after hard studying like some gaming—it's basically tradition!

I proudly hit the power button.

- Vrrrrmmm.

True to its price tag, flashy RGB lights blazed as it booted up.

Finally, the screen lit up.

"Hehe… time to build a house today."

I dove right into Nemo Block, the one the Agency updated for me.

Sure, no more hell access—which sucked—but Nemo Block was peak gaming, so it was plenty fun without it.

Creative mode on, and I kicked off with some ground leveling.

Scrape scrape scrape.

Enchanted shovel flashing, dirt blocks tumbled like falling leaves.

On the flattened land, I laid down quartz blocks in neat squares: tap tap tap.

Floor done—now walls.

I pulled out iron blocks and stacked them evenly.

She'd been quietly watching everything—RatPT finally piped up.

Loving the audience, I answered cheerfully.

"Making a Containment Room."

"Yup! Best place I know."

Tap tap tap.

Containment Room done—even added the computer, Dangdangi, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and smartphone!

Pretty solid quality, if I do say so myself. I turned to RatPT.

"Whaddya think?"

"Hehe, thought you were all grump, but you can praise too."

"Says the guy who grumps all the time."

RatPT whipped his head away like he didn't wanna respond.

Hmm… is he bored?

Even with our deal to team up, he could stay silent unless it was important.

But him chatting anyway? Guess RatPT gets lonely too.

Makes sense—I got Dangdangi, No.1 Sister, No.2 Bro to hang with, but RatPT's been cooped up longer, probably no long talks with anyone.

No wonder he's lonely.

He might deny it, but I see him as a friend.

And if your friend's lonely…? Ignoring it makes you a bad kid!

I poked the RatSerPanda on screen.

"RatPT."

"Can you control games too?"

I grinned wide.

"Then let's game together!"

RatPT on my phone screen peeked over slyly.

"Psh, even if I lose, it's fun just playing together…!"

I glanced at the game consoles in the Containment Room.

Han A-young had added more while I was out on containment duty elsewhere.

I picked one up.

"Let's do PS!"

I beamed, hooked the PS to the TV, grabbed a controller.

I quietly released RatPT from the app confines.

A twinge of nerves, but our deal meant no random escapes—and doubting a friend? Not cool.

RatPT stood, perked his ears, stretched lightly, then waddled into the TV.

Confirmed—he was in. I slotted the game disc.

Tonight's pick: Tekken—perfect for 2-player beatdowns!

Got my soul crushed by pros, ditched AI mode 'cause it got boring.

Technically RatPT's an AI, but with real self-awareness? Way more fun than stiff bots.

Tap tap tap.

I scrolled characters, snagged the hottest muscle sis.

Tap tap tap.

RatPT picked something panda-like.

Game on—I focused, opened with a preemptive strike.

Light step in, fake a kick, then uppercut!

Thwack.

But RatPT blocked my combo easy.

"…"

A bit rattled, but I shoved in another combo—clean as I could manage, not pro-level but solid.

But.

Parry.

Mine got blocked, and he countered with a throw.

Non-human reflexes no pro could match.

And then.

Wag wag wag.

"…"

RatPT held back the finisher, just taunting with a finger wag.

Teabagging too?!

"Cheater!"

"That combo? No human can do it!"

"…"

Speechless.

That move wasn't AI-only—decent players pull it off?

Insane pro game…

Shocked, but I gripped the pad tight.

If RatPT handicapped to human level, endless aggression would win eventually.

I've got more time than Elon Musk—time billionaire!

Han A-young might scold me, but no sleep 'til I win…!

How many hours passed…?

Endless losses, but now I could read RatPT's moves.

Dramatic growth even RatPT acknowledged.

This time I can win…!

Last round was razor-close.

Confidence surged—this one's mine.

"Bring it!"

Game restarts—I hammered the pad, moving my girl like an extension of myself.

Jump, motion cancel, spinning whirlwind kick!

Wham…!

Got him…!

My ultimate combo nailed RatPT's character dead-on.

Health halved in a flash, staggering.

I pressed the advantage.

RatPT fought back hard, but as the round dragged, my heart pounded wild.

This time… I can win…!

Edge secured, eyes wide—no slacking 'til the end.

Finally.

Wham.

My spinning whirlwind kick smashed RatSerPanda's jaw.

He crumpled to the ground.

Victory judgment flashed—I beamed ear to ear.

"I won…!"

Insane thrill, pure buzz.

Grinning like an idiot, beaten RatPT popped a chat.

"Yup, that was a blast! RatPT, let's rematch next time!"

"Hehe… bedtime now…"

Rematch scheduled, time for the sweetest sleep—

"Yeah?"

I tilted my head.

Halo…?

Why my halo…?

I looked up at my cute floating halo.

And freaked.

"M-my… halo's melting…?!"