My eyes widen, unsure how to react, an embarrassing smile creeping onto my face.

It's unfortunate I can't see her expression behind the mask. Is she angry? Blushing? Both?

Suddenly, a wave hits me.

"Stupid."

Huh? What the…

English? Ayu speaks English? No way.

I blink, still processing, and quickly send a wave back.

"Do you speak English?"

Nothing. No response.

It'd be strange if she spoke English yet only used images until now. Wait… was she… learning?

The thought makes my heart skip, and a laugh escapes my lips.

I focus on her, sending an image—me stepping down to speak with her face to face followed by a thumbs up.

She hesitates. Good. That's a start. I'll give her a moment.

But as seconds stretch, her silence persists.

Is that a yes or a no?

I weigh my options and settle on a middle ground. Leaping from my vantage point, I glide over the lake, inducing waves through my sword and gauntlet, landing a safe distance away from her.

I stare at her through her mask. Those eyes. There's so much in them. I… like that gaze.

I hesitate, wondering if I should probe further about English, but… no. Not now. We've always relied on images, and I need everything I'm about to express to be crystal clear.

I take a deep breath and step closer, slowly.

I send her an image in the same cartoonish style we used so often in the Oasis. It shows me standing alone, my figure hunched and small, with jagged, heavy lines surrounding me to convey shame and regret.

My mouth is open, words spilling out as sharp, black scribbles stabbing the air between us—hurtful, chaotic, and irretrievable. My face is twisted in exaggerated guilt, my eyes wide and shadowed, with tears comically welling up but never falling, stuck in that moment of regret.

Behind me, a crumbling bridge represents the connection I broke, its pieces tumbling into a dark void. Above it all, an enormous thumbs-down looms, casting a shadow over the scene, as if judging the weight of my own actions.

I take another step forward.

Then I send her another series of animated images. It shows her stepping forward, her expression filled with fiery determination, her fist raised. She punches me—hard. Once. Twice. A dozen times.

Each punch lands with comic impact bursts, colorful "POW" and "BAM" effects radiating outward, as if drawn from an old action comic. My figure gets more disheveled with each blow: teeth flying, eyes crossed, bruises appearing exaggeratedly fast.

At the end, I'm lying flat, cartoon stars and tiny Ayu-shaped ghosts spinning around my head. I add a big thumbs-up from my prone position, acknowledging that I deserved it.

I step closer and remove my mask, letting it fall to the ground.

I can see the emotion in her eyes, raw and unguarded. My heart races, pounding harder than ever, and my palms grow clammy. I steady my breathing, forcing myself to focus.

I send her more images.

I show her us sparring in the Oasis, laughing and joking together. I show her the times I trained at her home, the moment she handed me the orbs, and how they gave me the strength to win and survive. I illustrate the immense debt I owe her, weighing it on a scale where a mountain of gold pales beside the image of my beating heart.

I step closer and send her more.

I show her smile, her happy face, the way I see her through my eyes—every detail, every feeling I've kept hidden. I can no longer contain myself. I pour everything into the images, raw emotions spilling out like an unstoppable tide.

I see her eyes now, slightly red, glistening with something she's holding back.

My heart threatens to leap out of my chest. My nerves are fraying. I can't think straight.

And before I know it… I am standing right in front of her.

I extend my hand, stopping just before her.

I send her an image, portraying exactly what is happening… but in the image, resting in the hand I've extended, is my heart.

I look into her teary eyes. I have nothing more to say.

Will you take my heart… Ayu?

Seconds pass as I remain still. The world around us fades away. There is nothing but her and me.

Her eyes drop, hesitating, and then suddenly, I feel it—a wave in my mind.

It's not an image. It's not a word. It's… a feeling. The moment it hits me, my heart clenches painfully. My breath catches. My ears feel muffled, as though submerged. This emotion…

I look at her, but her gaze stays downcast, as if afraid to meet mine.

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This emotion… Is this how you feel, Ayu?

It's overwhelming. Stronger than anything I've ever felt. It crashes into me like a tidal wave, so intense my knees almost buckle.

I'm about to take a step forward, but she suddenly holds my hand in hers. Her fingers tremble as she lifts my hand, her eyes streaming with tears. Slowly, she places my hand over her heart.

"Stupid," she whispers, her voice breaking.

I can't stop myself. I step forward, pulling her into my arms, holding her tightly, afraid she might vanish.

Her body tenses against me, smaller and softer than I imagined, her heartbeat pounding beneath my hand. I feel her tears soaking through her mask, her breathing shuddering against my chest. I take it all in—her warmth, her fragility, her presence.

But that wave, that emotion she sent me…

I laugh, my tears falling freely now, mixing with hers.

I'll never leave you behind, Ayu. I… will always be there for you.

I tighten my hold.

I… love you too.

I stay there, hugging her, feeling an emotion so intense it makes everything else fade into oblivion. Her arms tighten around me, and I feel her face leaning against my chest, seeking comfort, grounding us in this shared moment.

In that instant, nothing else mattered—not The Tower, the fights, the pressure, stage progress—none of it. In that instant, I felt as though I had gained something far greater than anything I'd ever achieved here.

In that instant, I experienced the purest, most undeniable emotion in that wave she sent me.

Before this moment, I thought I cared deeply for Ayu. But now… now I know it's love. Now, I want to be with her no matter what happens. Now, I want this hug to last forever and let the world dissolve into nothingness. Now, I wish I could stop time, just to keep feeling her warmth, her breath, her heartbeat against mine.

My hug tightens, as if afraid to let go.

Time drifts, and slowly, the tears stop. Yet, we don't move. She stays there, more fragile than I've ever known her to be, and I remain, savoring every second, unwilling to let this moment end.

The stillness stretches on, the world outside fading further with each passing breath. Eventually, I begin to loosen my hold, reluctant but curious, wanting to see her face. But as I shift, her arms tighten around me, holding me close, as if afraid to let go. She buries her masked face deeper against my chest, silently asking me to stay.

I smile. I feel so, so happy in this moment, a happiness beyond words. A dream that had haunted me for days has now become reality, and that reality far surpasses even my wildest expectations.

For a moment, I'm overwhelmed, unable to comprehend. Why does Ayu love me so much? Isn't she angry about everything I said back then? Shouldn't she hate me?

But even if I don't fully understand, I have no doubts. After feeling the wave of emotion she transmitted to me, I know—Ayu truly, deeply loves me. Behind the strong facade she's always worn, she's allowed herself to be vulnerable, to reveal the rawest, most unguarded part of her heart.

And I… I will accept it. I will accept all of her. Completely.

Finally, her hand slowly releases me, and she leans back, her gaze lingering on the ground before finally locking with mine.

Those eyes…

You have beautiful eyes, Ayu.

We stare at each other, letting the moment stretch and deepen, unspoken words filling the silence.

But I'm greedy, Ayu. Now I want to see more than your eyes.

I move my hand slowly, carefully, and touch her mask. With deliberate gentleness, I lift it away.

The sight before me makes my breath hitch, my body freeze. Her mask falls from my hand, hitting the ground, but I don't notice it.

I am bewitched—utterly and completely captivated by her.

Her flushed cheeks, her shyness, the nervousness in her trembling gaze. The remnants of her tears glistening faintly on her skin. The love shining in her eyes. Her delicate lips, and her hair, slightly damp, clinging to her skin and cascading softly down her neck.

Everything, absolutely every detail… is beautiful.

I lean closer, drawn by an overwhelming desire. No—I don't want to contain it. I don't even try.

My face nears hers, the warmth between us almost tangible. Her breaths are quick and shallow, brushing against me, her nervousness mirroring my own. I feel it all, like I'm in the highest state of Overdrive.

Her lips part slightly. Her face flushes deep red, an enticing invitation I can't resist.

My lips draw closer, just a breath away from hers…

But then, her eyes widen suddenly.

What?

I stop immediately, frozen in place.

Does she not want this? No… her expression tells me she does. She doesn't pull away; she stays right there. But it's as though something—

A wave hits me.

It's an image. A map of the stage, detailed and precise. Chiara's map?

In the image, Ayu marks a dot where we are. Then she shows Chiara on the far side, near the coastal region, with small tents drawn around it. The camp?

Next, a line connects our position to Chiara's. A long-range transmission from Chiara?

Finally, a timer appears above the map—just under 5 hours. A skull flashes ominously, alternating with a danger sign that pulses between the zones.

The last part shows Ayu herself running back toward the camp to regroup with the rest.

I stare at her, stunned. The moment between us, so intimate just seconds ago, now shifts.

I can't deny there's a twinge of disappointment, but it's fine. I smile and nod. My good mood isn't going to vanish that easily, not after everything. And I am very, very happy.

The kiss can wait. There's no need to rush it.

I glance ahead, and suddenly, all the problems seem smaller. A boss, huh? Might as well finish it quickly.

I look back at her and send an image of me dealing with the boss in a flash—quick and easy, no need for her to worry.

Her eyes narrow, and she pulls a mock angry expression. Wow! So cute!

I can't help but laugh, but that only makes her glare harder, her faux anger growing. It's adorable.

Then, she sends me a wave. It's an image of me fighting the boss alone, followed by a big red cross. After that, it shows her fighting the boss instead, with a big thumbs-up at the end.

She grins as I raise an eyebrow.

Ayu fighting the boss? My chest tightens for a moment at the thought. But then her expression shifts, growing more serious.

I sigh, reminding myself who she is. Ayu is a warrior. Even if she just showed me her fragile side, in front of the world, she's unshakable. She's not someone who would ever want to be coddled or treated like a protected princess.

I tilt my head back and stare at the sky. I really, really don't want Ayu facing a boss… but it would be selfish of me to stop her. That's who she is, and I can't take that away from her.

My gaze shifts back to hers, meeting her unwavering determination. Well, in that case…

I send her a series of images.

They show us fighting the boss together.

Her expression lights up, and suddenly, she smiles—a big, wide, beautiful smile.

I suppose while other girls might enjoy gifts, spending the day at shopping centers, and dining in fancy restaurants, Ayu's idea of a perfect date involves battling a boss monster together. Well… I can't deny it sounds interesting.

But now's not the time to get distracted.

My eyes harden, turning serious. If I was planning to give this boss my all before, now I'll give it everything I've got—and more.

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