Ayu stared at her screen long after Luv's final message faded into silence.
Tell me your city. I'll come.
Her hands hovered above the keyboard, trembling slightly. He had answered without hesitation, as if her safety mattered more than anything else. As if standing by her side was the only choice he could make.
She pressed her palms together, feeling the warmth of her own skin. Her chest was tight—not with fear this time, but with something else. Relief.
For years, she had carried her struggles alone. People had smiled to her face, then vanished when she needed them most. They had taken her kindness and thrown it aside. She had taught herself not to expect anyone to stay.
And yet, Luv had stayed.
Her eyes drifted to the faint reflection of her face on the dark laptop screen. "You really are different," she whispered.
She sent him her city's name, then sat back in her chair. The decision had been made. Soon, they would meet in person.
The thought filled her with equal parts joy and terror. What if he wasn't what she imagined? What if she wasn't what he imagined? What if this bond they had built in words couldn't survive reality?
She shook her head firmly, pushing those doubts away. "No. If anyone can understand me, it's him. If anyone… it's Luv."
That night, she couldn't sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, her mind spun. She pictured the way he might look—his quiet strength, his calm presence, the weight of his gaze. She imagined walking beside him, facing enemies together, carving their place in the world.
She also imagined the danger. The dark web wasn't a game. Whoever had threatened her wasn't bluffing. If they could hack her so quickly, they could find her, corner her. She was already marked.
Her lips pressed into a thin line. So be it. If this is the path I've chosen, I won't turn back now.
She rose before dawn, unable to rest any longer. Her morning routine felt different—sharper, heavier. She braided her black hair, pulled on her jacket, and slipped a small knife into her bag. Not because she thought she could fight off an army with it, but because it reminded her of her resolve.
By the time the sun rose, painting her room with pale gold, she was already standing by the window, eyes fixed on the horizon.
"He's coming," she murmured to herself. Her heart raced. "Tomorrow, everything changes."
For the first time in years, she wasn't walking alone.