In the grand and spacious cathedral, even a normal speaking voice would echo.
The three of them sat in the front pew, and Asuna slowly recounted their experiences in the Land of Love—of course, the more intimate parts couldn't be shared, only a simple description of the scenery and trials they went through.
Sister Martha nodded after listening, glanced at the two of them, then smiled and said:
"To my knowledge, after passing the ten trials, the Land of Love also tests your closeness. Only if your closeness meets the requirements will they grant you the True Love Flower."
"Closeness?" Both asked with surprised expressions. "Where is this value displayed?"
"It's not displayed anywhere, so the verification method is very simple." Her face seemed to flush slightly, and Sister Martha smiled kindly, looking at their palms. "You haven't checked the status of your rings, have you? Something wonderful has already happened."
At her words, Yuu suddenly remembered that at the very end of the description for the mission ring that forced them into a husband-and-wife status, there was indeed a line:
"If both truly love each other, perhaps something wonderful will happen…?"
He and Asuna exchanged glances, then simultaneously opened their inventories to check the ring's item description.
[Item: Hearts Bound Together (Pair)]
[Attribute: Special/Accessory]
[Bonus: (Multiple attributes)]
[Description: My heart for you, your heart for me.]
[Evolved from the True Love Ring, a false bond will eventually bloom into the flower of true love. Swear by this ring for this affection.]
[Wherever you are, no matter how time passes—you are in my heart, and I am in yours.]
[Note: Hold a wedding ceremony with this ring, and the ring will evolve again.]
"The name… changed?" Asuna's eyes widened.
"Not just the name—the bonus attributes are higher than the equipment we're wearing, and it can evolve again…" Scanning the text description, Yuu frowned slightly.
Asuna gradually showed a joyful smile, seemingly very satisfied with the evolved couple's ring, but Yuu's expression briefly turned complex before he closed the interface as if uninterested.
Of course, the subtle shift in his mood went unnoticed by others.
Sister Martha looked at Asuna's smile with affection, then after a moment, shifted her gaze and extended her hand toward Yuu. "Give me the seed of the True Love Flower, and I'll teach you how to use it."
"Seed?" Asuna turned her attention from the ring to her, asking in confusion, "They only gave us a seed? How did you know, Grandma?"
"The Goddess told me." Sister Martha pointed upward, and both immediately understood this referred to the game system itself, part of the mission storyline.
"It's embarrassing to admit, but I only learned now that curing the curse of lost love is just a side effect. The most important function of the True Love Flower is to grant an eternal blessing for the future of those who love each other."
Taking the box from Yuu's hand, Sister Martha spoke as she pulled out a small, ordinary-looking seed from inside.
Then, she grasped both of their hands, placing the seed in their clasped palms, smiling and stepping back.
"In your heart, say the name of the one you love."
Yuu and Asuna froze, instinctively looking at each other.
Soon, Asuna gave him a gentle smile, unhesitatingly lowering her head and closing her eyes, her grip firm and warm.
Yuu closed his eyes too, but at that moment, he couldn't help asking himself—
'Do I really love Asuna?'
He had vowed not to repeat the same mistake again.
He had thought he wouldn't be swayed by mere love.
From the start, he had resolved to use Perfect Acting to play the role of her boyfriend and husband, never letting his act turn into genuine feelings.
Let alone love, when had he…
Fallen for Asuna?
Though devoid of emotion, his memories remained.
Yuu still remembered realizing he liked Haruno after meeting her at the vacation villa.
The reasons were complex—her distortion, her persistence, her loneliness.
And because, for the first time, he wanted to make someone other than his sister happy.
At that moment, the Yuu in that timeline truly fell in love with Haruno.
But now?
His first meeting with Asuna at the artificial lake—she was just a passing stranger.
Their first meeting in the game—she was a skilled swordswoman and a pitiful little sister constantly pushed for introductions by her friend.
After that, Asuna became the system's conquest target, but their relationship didn't change because of it, and Yuu had no intention of actively pursuing the mission.
As teammates, they leveled up in the wild together, strolled through towns together, took on church missions together; forced to become a temporary couple, stayed offline at the same hotel, and went online in the same bed…
She was a good girl—beautiful, well-endowed, long-legged, tough yet gentle, with clear and stirring emotions of joy and sorrow, her eyes brighter than any star in Aincrad.
Even so, Yuu remained unshaken.
Accompanying her to the Land of Love, camping with her in the wild; exchanging messages with her in the real world, advancing and retreating with her in the game…
Even so, Yuu remained unshaken.
Running while carrying her under the night sky, chatting casually with her in narrow alleys, gazing into her teary eyes in a warm bedroom, enjoying subtle and innocent intimacy.
Even so, Yuu still felt he hadn't fallen for Asuna.
Even after leaving the game world and doing so much to win her back, it was only because of the target, sympathy, and various calculated factors—not "because I like her, I did this."
So, until that moment, Asuna's feelings were a one-way street.
His acting had successfully fooled her, but it could no longer fool himself.
Whether dating her or kissing her, Yuu always held an umbrella in the rain, not letting it soak him.
Having once lost the sunlight, now he only wanted the rain to stop, to greet the next sky with a dry body.
But looking back, for some reason, every raindrop carried her figure.
"We're just ordinary teammates. Me, Asuna, even if trampled by a Frenzy Boar or beaten to death by an orc, I wouldn't date a reckless, careless, disrespectful guy like that!"
"Then let's get along well until we divorce!"
"…But I'm willing."
"As an online boyfriend, will you be with me?"
"From now on, I'll get closer to you every day… until, in both the real world and the game, we become the most important person to each other."
"Because you said so, Yuu-kun… no matter what, I'll choose to believe you."
"After all, Yuu-kun is my hero!"
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
In the cathedral.
Fragments of memories flashed through his mind. Yuu didn't open his eyes, a smile unconsciously forming at the corner of his lips.
Somewhat resigned, a little relieved… but no longer uncertain.
"Time really passes so quickly."
So quickly that he didn't even notice everything had changed.
It turned out he had long been standing in the rain, letting its gentle drops embrace him, melting a heart that refused to waver.
Unknowingly, the sound of rain vanished, but its traces remained.
Unknowingly, summer passed, and she was still there in autumn.
Unknowingly…
Unknowingly…
Like Asuna, Yuu had unknowingly fallen in love with his online girlfriend—that was all.
But dating, having a girlfriend, it wasn't that complicated, was it?
Yuu chuckled wryly to himself, then, without hesitation, spoke the name of the one he loved:
Yuuki Asuna.
At that moment, the seed in his palm emitted a strong light and warmth.
Both instinctively released their hands, letting the seed, now a glowing source, slowly float in the air. They watched it rise to the cathedral's ceiling, blooming into a radiant light like the sun.
Reflexively closing their eyes, waiting for their vision to normalize, Yuu couldn't help but peek through the slits when he caught the strange scent of flowers.
"This is…"