the world glitches into a bright, grassy softball field surrounded by empty bleachers. sunshine beams down, though it feels artificial. everyone is dressed in mismatched jerseys and caps — except one unlucky bunny in a frilly maid dress. a big scoreboard flashes: “suggestion six — a competitive game of softball!”

caine (cheerfully blowing a whistle that appears from nowhere): “let’s play ball! oh — and before we begin, we have a very special guest to sing america’s national anthem!” (he throws his hands up grandly as the crowd — or rather, everyone present — looks around in confusion.)

(a lone microphone appears at center field in a sparkle of light. a strange digital figure steps up — they take a deep breath and open their mouth…)

“oh, sa—” (before they can finish, they glitch wildly and vanish into pixel dust. silence falls, then caine claps his hands like nothing happened.)

caine (smiling wide): “amazing performance — let’s get started!” (the baseballs and bats shimmer into view as everyone tries to process what just happened.)

jax (groaning as the maid outfit is forced onto him, ears drooping dramatically): “you all suck, you know that? i swear i’m gonna make you pay for this.” (he tugs at the ruffled skirt with a bitter sigh, hands on his hips.) “at least tell me i look cute.”

pomni (biting her lip to keep from laughing too loudly): “uh… you look, um, very… festive?”

ragatha (smiling kindly): “hey, you wear it better than most of us could.”

zooble (leaning on a bat, unimpressed): “honestly? kinda suits you.”

gangle (peeking through her ribbon hands): “i can’t even look… it’s too much…”

kinger (adjusting his tiny helmet as he hovers nervously near home plate): “sooo… are we playing yet? i forgot the rules again.”

(the game finally begins — the first pitch flies as jax swings wildly, maid skirt twirling. laughter and groans fill the air as everyone cheers or teases.)

jax (sprinting toward first base, ears bobbing comically): “you’re all gonna regret this when i hit a home run!”

(the scoreboard flickers, the grass glimmers under an artificial sun — and the ridiculous game is on.)