Weeks turned into months, and their connection deepened. What started in a game had grown into a real-life bond full of laughter, trust, and subtle moments of intimacy.
One rainy evening, ＥＭＰＥＲＯＲㅤIV invited Elina to a small rooftop overlooking the city. The lights of Los Angeles stretched endlessly, reflecting off the wet streets below.
"Why here?" she asked, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"Because… it's quiet. And I wanted to be honest," he said, his voice steady but soft.
Elina raised an eyebrow, curious. "Honest about what?"
He took a deep breath. "About us. About how I feel."
She tilted her head, waiting.
"I didn't just enjoy meeting you in the game. I didn't just enjoy our time together in cafés or parks… I love you, Elina. I want you by my side—not just as my teammate, not just as my friend, but as my partner… my future."
Her eyes widened, a mixture of surprise, warmth, and joy lighting up her face. For a moment, the city, the rain, even the world, seemed to fade.
"ＥＭＰＥＲＯＲㅤIV…" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "I… I love you too. I just didn't know if you felt the same."
A smile spread across his face, and he reached for her hand. "Then let's not wait. Be with me—no games, no avatars. Just us."
Tears glimmered in her eyes as she nodded. "Yes… always."
And in that quiet, rainy night, with the city lights below them, they sealed their promise—two hearts that had started in a virtual world now bound in reality.
Their engagement wasn't extravagant—no crowds, no spectacle. It was perfect because it was theirs: honest, intimate, and real.
As they walked back down the streets hand in hand, a sense of certainty settled between them. Whatever challenges lay ahead—rivals, family pressures, or the world itself—they would face them together.