Chapter 8: In Real Time

Ren didn’t log in the next night.

Miyu waited longer than she’d like to admit, watching for his name to appear in the guild list. It never did. The game felt emptier than usual—no casual duels outside the main city, no soft lute in the grove, no cryptic one-word replies from OblivionHeart.

Instead, Shin Yuuto filled the void.

He was bold, energetic, always flirting just enough to confuse her—but never enough to be disrespectful. Tonight, he whispered:

CrimsonShin: Miyu, if he makes you wait this long again, let me take you to dinner instead.

HanaLune: You’re shameless.

CrimsonShin: I’m honest. You deserve someone who shows up.

He added a winking emoji, followed by a line of virtual roses from the game’s gifting system. They bloomed at her avatar’s feet.

HanaLune: Flattery won’t fix my rotation timing.

CrimsonShin: Then let me make you laugh until you forget you were sad.

She didn’t respond. But part of her couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like—to fall for someone who didn’t come with emotional armor. Someone who didn’t hesitate.

Meanwhile, Ren sat alone in his apartment with his guitar in his lap, not playing.

He kept opening Miyu’s last message—“I just know I’m still here.”—and closing it again. It looped in his head, just like the chorus of a song he hadn’t finished writing.

Outside, the city buzzed. His phone buzzed too—Rika sent another picture, them at the café last week. No caption. Just a memory, weaponized.

He didn’t reply.

Instead, he opened his direct messages and stared at Miyu’s name.

OblivionHeart: Still in the grove?

A few seconds passed.

HanaLune: Always.

That night, their avatars sat in the grove again, under the glowing canopy of stars and blossoms. No words needed. Just being there, together.

And this time, she brought her song with her. He strummed along. Awkwardly at first. Then slowly, in sync.

Their duet wasn’t perfect. But it was honest.

And it felt like the start of something real.