In the sea of bellflowers, Liuying once glimpsed a vision: Anming kneeling with a ring, proposing under petals that fell like stars.
On Grammel, Anming had taught her to become truly human—to feel affection, to understand love, to grow a heart. Without him, she would've remained A07 the cyborg, numb and alone, fading unnoticed like a decommissioned machine.
No one mourns obsolete androids.
But Anming was different.
He taught her love's warmth. To cherish someone was happiness itself. The moment "A07" learned to love, she became human.
"My heart was once empty," Liuying whispered, tracing Anming's cheek, "filled only with cold protocols. You planted the seed called 'love.'"
"Glowbug…" Anming clasped her hand. "This story belongs to both of us. Neither could write it alone."
Holding her, he finally accepted the truth: those simulated summers together weren't illusions. Every shared night, every whispered reassurance, every oak cake roll eaten at their little table—all real.
Love was real. Their past was real.
Anming exhaled, decades of midnight anxieties dissolving. Time erases many things: cakes stale, strawberries rot, plastic wrap degrades.
Love doesn't expire.
The moment I fell for him has no expiration date.
Liuying remembered crashing through darkness, Anming pulling her from endless wounded nights. "Don't die." Those words saved her then—and still did.
"Mhm… our story," Liuying smiled, interlacing their fingers. She'd never let go again.
Bronya cleared her throat.
The couple blinked, remembering their audience.
"This is Liuying. My wife."
"Hello…" Liuying waved, unashamedly clinging to Anming. The girl who once blushed at hand-holding now clung freely. For him, she'd burn oceans.
Bronya, cheeks pink, stared resolutely at the horizon. First sword saints, now mecha kisses. Beloborg wasn't prepared.
Trailblazer Group Chat
Kafka's Dog:
[Resurrected Lao Ming!]
[Pom-Pom Middle Finger.jpg]
Cutest Galaxy Girl:
[Anming! Home crisis! Return ASAP!]
Anming sighed at the photo: March pouting, Stelle flashing handcuffs like tourist souvenirs, Dan Heng radiating exhaustion.
"These three," he showed Bronya. "Please escort them to Qliphoth Fort too."
Bronya nodded. "Guard Captain Gepard will handle it. Now… about your 'cake shop' inquiry?"