---
The moment the doors opened, the noise hit them like a wave.
Bright lights flashed.
Fans screamed their names.
Camera crews followed their every step.
Haniya walked in the center of the team, calm on the outside.
But inside, her heartbeat felt loud.
Beside her, Aarav walked confidently, hands in pockets, eyes fixed ahead—but he kept glancing at her.
Kashvi whispered,
"Look at this crowd… this is insane."
Vivaan smirked,
"Insane? This is perfect. I was made for this spotlight."
Harsh laughed,
"You were made to eat snacks. Sit down, hero."
Haniya chuckled softly.
Aarav noticed that small laugh and relaxed a bit.
They reached their gaming chairs.
The crowd chanted their team name.
Lightsticks waved in the air.
Casters shouted commentary over the speakers.
"AND HERE THEY ARE! The rising underdog squad entering the arena!"
Haniya sat in her chair.
Aarav sat next to her.
Their shoulders brushed for a second.
She felt the warmth. He felt it too.
He whispered without looking at her,
"Nervous?"
She whispered back,
"No. Not today."
He smiled, proud.
---
Drafting Phase
The huge draft screen lit up.
Their coach spoke into their headphones.
"Stay sharp. This team is strong. No mistakes."
Haniya selected her jungler hero—fast, aggressive, deadly.
Aarav locked his fighter on EXP lane.
Kashvi took mid.
Vivaan took roam.
Harsh took gold lane.
Everything felt right.
Before the game loaded, Aarav leaned slightly toward Haniya and murmured,
"Stay close to me in early game."
She raised a brow.
"Worried?"
He whispered,
"Always, when it comes to you."
Her cheeks warmed, but she didn't look away.
---
THE MATCH BEGINS
The announcer yelled—
"GAME ONE… STARTS NOW!"
The crowd exploded.
Early Game
Haniya dashed into the jungle.
Her movements were clean and sharp.
She cleared buffs faster than before.
Vivaan called out,
"Haniya! Enemy jungler heading top!"
"I'm there," she replied.
Aarav held his lane, tanking damage confidently.
"Come fast," he said.
"I want the first kill."
Haniya smirked.
"Then don't die before I reach."
The audience roared when she leaped from the bush, surprising the enemy.
Aarav followed with a heavy strike.
FIRST BLOOD!
The commentator screamed.
Aarav let out a small laugh,
"That's my jungler."
She replied,
"That's my exp laner."
Vivaan yelled dramatically,
"STOP FLIRTING ON THE MIC!"
Everyone laughed on the team channel—even Haniya.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
---
Mid Game Tension
The enemy team fought back hard.
They caught Harsh twice.
They pushed mid tower.
Coach shouted,
"Focus! Stop giving space!"
Kashvi tried to calm everyone.
"Okay okay, breathe. We can turn this."
Haniya rotated mid to help her.
Aarav pushed side lane to create pressure.
But the enemy was strong.
Their synergy was tight.
Their rotations were perfect.
Haniya clenched her jaw.
She felt the weight of the deal again.
She felt the fear of losing—not just the match, but everything.
Aarav sensed her silence.
"Haniya," he whispered through the mic,
"Hey. Look at the screen. Not your thoughts. I'm right here."
Her chest eased slightly.
She whispered,
"Got it."
---
Turning Point
They grouped for Lord.
Both teams reached at the same time.
The arena noise rose.
Casters yelled fast.
"THIS IS IT! A 5v5 CLASH FOR THE LORD!"
Haniya stayed hidden in a bush, watching everything carefully.
Vivaan signaled,
"Go when I stun."
Aarav said,
"I'll enter first."
Harsh added,
"I'm behind you all."
Kashvi breathed deeply,
"This is our moment."
Stun.
Engage.
Chaos.
Haniya dashed in, slicing through their mid-laner.
Aarav jumped in front of her, blocking the enemy assassin.
Vivaan tanked everything.
Kashvi burst-damaged two enemies at once.
Harsh sniped the third.
The crowd went wild.
They secured the Lord.
Aarav shouted happily,
"Yes! That's it! THAT'S IT!"
Haniya breathed out in relief.
---
Final Push
The Lord marched with them.
They moved as one.
Turret after turret fell.
The enemy tried to defend, but Haniya caught their jungler off-guard and eliminated him instantly.
The casters shouted—
"Haniya WITH A GAME CHANGING PICK-OFF!"
Aarav destroyed the inhibitor.
Harsh finished the last tower.
The victory screen exploded across the stage.
VICTORY!
Their entire team jumped from their seats.
Haniya covered her mouth, overwhelmed.
Vivaan lifted her in the air,
"OUR JUNGLE QUEEN!"
Harsh patted her head,
"Nice carry."
Kashvi hugged her,
"You were insane today!"
Aarav didn't say anything at first.
He just looked at her.
A long look.
Warm. Proud. Soft.
She looked back.
Everything around her blurred for a moment—the lights, the screams, the cameras.
She took a step toward him.
He whispered,
"You were fire."
She whispered,
"You too."
Vivaan loudly interrupted,
"Ugh—romance again? We just won a match, not a wedding!"
Haniya rolled her eyes and flicked his forehead,
"Shut up, clown."
The team laughed.
But Aarav wasn't done.
When the cameras turned away, he moved closer to her.
Not too close.
Just enough for her to feel his breath.
In a low voice only she could hear, he said,
"You didn't answer the reporter…"
She didn't look away.
Her heartbeat quickened.
He leaned slightly closer and whispered,
"Are we dating or not?"
She replied softly,
"What do you think?"
His smile widened.
---
Private Victory Moment
Later, when the team walked backstage, everyone was busy celebrating.
Haniya stepped aside to catch her breath.
Aarav followed her quietly.
"Nervous?" he asked.
"No," she said softly. "Not when you're around."
His eyes softened.
He lifted his hand slowly, hesitantly—waiting for her reaction.
She didn't stop him.
He cupped her cheek, warm and gentle.
She stepped forward.
He leaned down.
Their lips met—slow, soft, warm.
A quiet victory kiss.
Not rushed.
Not stolen.
Just theirs.
When he pulled back, they were both smiling.
But inside her chest…
the tension of the deal twisted again.
A perfect moment—
shadowed by something she must eventually face.
But not tonight.
Tonight belonged to them.
---