Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

---Rover’s POV, Morning, Rover’s House---

???: “..-ke up….*blur*”

Male Rover: “Mmm……” I groaned at hearing the blurry noise during my sleep, but I went back to sleep again. But I’ve been deprived of it as I hear the door open.

Female Rover: “Bro, wake up! We’re gonna be late for school!”

Male Rover: “*groggy* Leave me alone.” Then I hear an angry grunt coming from my dear twin sister. And she pulls me on my legs, forcing me to wake up as I get dragged outside my room.

Male Rover: “What the--! Let me go sis!”

Female Rover: “If you won’t get up and go to school, Kuro is not gonna like that you’re still skipping classes!” I keep on squirming as she continues to drag me. I even tried to grab unto the door handle but she effortless drags me away.

Female Rover: “No matter what you must go to school today. Otherwise, we would be in trouble for contract breaching. So, come on, damn it! I’ll    have to do everything to keep our contract intact, might as well give you a shower and dress you up right now!” A sudden memory flashes through my eyes as she mentioned giving me a shower.

Male Rover: “Alright, for f**k’s sake! I’ll get ready!”

After that, I did my usual morning routine: take a shower, wore my uniform for school, eat breakfast and brush my teeth. Our chauffeur is just waiting on us to get ready so he could drive us to school. Yes, my family, well, just my sister and I, have a chauffeur because of us being celebrities after being debuted as Wuthering Waves’ main characters. Usually, I didn’t care about safety protocols and just use the train to get to school, but this time around, it looked like I needed this. Now, on the way to school, my sister talks to me.

Female Rover: “Bro, today could’ve been your 4^th day skipping classes after 2.5 got released. And the backlash towards us, well, mainly you, could’ve been much worse if you don’t appear to school today, both academically and professionally.”

Male Rover: “I don’t want to talk about this again, sis.”

Female Rover: “Whether you like it or not, whether personal or not, you still must go. You have a reputation and it’s not gonna go any better if you keep this up!” I understand that much.

My work and reputation are on the line after the main story questline of v2.5, but it’s not because of how the game itself, but because of my actions. Even before v2.5 came out, the acting/shooting and rehearsal surrounding the main story v2.5 has made my emotional and mental fortitude is on an all-time low. Nevertheless, I must do what is required from me. And yet, the slightest inch of emotional strain is still creeping behind me.

Female Rover: “Are you still that hung over her?” My sister hit the nail on the coffin.

Male Rover: “…” I refuse to answer. I have this conversation already with her, I don’t need to tell her twice. Even if she is my twin, there are some things that she and I can’t understand about each other. This is only one of the many instances. And to be honest, whatever I’m currently dealing is mostly none of her business. Yet again, whatever is happening to me is also affecting my work-life balance. The ride remains silence on my end as I block out any stimulus that reminds me of her.

---University Entrance---

Male Rover: “Oh boy. This is why I don’t wanna go to school.” I noticed from the front of my university gate that there are people watching as our car arrives to the entrance. I was about to open my door until my chauffeur coughed.

Chauffeur: “Ahem! I’ll open the door for you.” I forgot that this one of the protocols that my family got conditioned on due to our fame and status as celebrities. Frankly, I don’t care about such things and want to act like a regular person. Hell, I could drive my own motorbike to school if I feel like it. Our chauffeur opened the door towards my sister’s side.

Chauffeur: “Have a nice day at school, you two.” Our chauffeur bid us farewell and went back to our place. What I see around me is what I expected at this time: looks of contempt. When v2.5 came out, there were a lot of tweets/comments/posts around various social media that view me, especially, as someone who shouldn’t be earned respect after the main story. While I shouldn’t regard mostly what anonymous people say about me, but this quest, feels very personal as the vile opinions align with hers. Of course, I take a bit of relief from those who defend me, or even us both, but I can’t help it but get it into my head.

Female Rover: “Let’s go.” My twin sister dragged me towards to the entrance by grabbing my wrist. Then I hear some people screaming towards us.

Mob#1: “You stabbed her and let her drown!”

Mob#2: “Heartless scumbag! Have you no pity for her?!”

Mob#3: “You saved Shorekeeper but can’t save Phrolova!? What a hypocrite!”

Mob#4: “L Rover!”

Mob#5: “Phrolova deserved better!”

Then the various complaints and screaming continues towards our direction. I look at my twin sister and she seem unfazed, while I’m the one who is possibly most affected by this.

Male Rover: “Why are you so calm about this?”

Female Rover: “Huh? Haven’t you seen my tweets? I tweeted a short video with Phroro (Female Rover’s nickname for Phrolova based on Japanese pronunciation) indicating we’re still friends and good as f**k.” I checked my phone and go to her X(Twitter) page. I see a short video of her and Phrolova.

The video went like this: Female Rover approached Phrolova who was taking a break from shooting, and Phrolova was pouty when she Female Rover and looked away. Female Rover says “Yurushite.” with a cutesy voice, and Phrolova looks back at Female Rover flicking her head and the device Female Rover was holding; with Female Rover making a small whimper. Phrolova says “You’re eating one of my honey cakes after this.”, then Female Rover was hesitant and she laughs it off, agreeing to Phrolova’s condition. Female Rover then flipped the phone to showcase both Female Rover and Phrolova with V signs which it ends there.

Male Rover: “So, you already made peace with her, huh?”

Female Rover: “Well, that is just to protect both of us from the backlash from the story since I knew it would gain some traction. You, on the other hand…” I became pissed on what she said and pushed her aside so I could get in the campus. But when I scanned my ID, and it says that I need to go to the Probation Officer. Short summary: they just warned me not to be absent more than 3 days from now on or my units taken this term will be marked as ‘Failed’.

Male Rover: ‘I’m letting my emotions and mental state take over too much but balancing both is so difficult. Oh, whatever.’ I exit the Disciplinary Office and head to my first class of the day, and…I got myself surrounded again by mobs of students, sending barrages of condescending messages. I block them out by putting my headset and playing Come Alive by San-Z. All of a sudden, I was thrown objects by some students, in which I avoided them by making small movements. However, they increased the intensity that I had to resort to extensive movements, but I did learn martial arts due to the extensive scenes I have to make while shooting my action scenes. Sadly, there’s one object that’s heading straight towards my face, which I can figure to be a pocketknife.

Male Rover: ‘Shit! Without my sword, I can’t deflect that!’ Despite my ability to defend myself, most of my battle experiences focused more on taekwondo and mixed of kenjutsu and kendo. I keep my focus on the knife, then I see flashes of someone, with whitish green hair. I return my focus back to my surroundings and. I see someone with whitish green hair and light purple accents on low, braided twintails in front of me.

Male Rover: “…Phrolova.” There she is. The one who will not wait anymore. The one who is against the Rover. One of the Rover’s mortal enemies, Phrolova. Well, that’s more in the game’s story, at least. In our real life, one could say…that it’s not too different.

Phrolova looks at the thing she caught and inspected it before closing it. She also looks at the mess that is surrounding me, then turns towards me with her left eye as her left is bandaged as usual. I hear many footsteps coming towards our direction. And the ones who came are staff from the security and disciplinary offices.

Phrolova: “That person, him, him, him, her, and especially that one.” When Phrolova pointed to the last person, she pointed at him with a noticeable voice of spite. She also gave to one of the staff the pocketknife she caught, and the campus staff took away the people Phrolova accused. I also just noticed that were other students who are recording this ordeal. Phrolova stomped her left foot and faced towards the mass.

Phrolova: “I know some of you have been recording but don’t stop! I will only tell this once and I don’t care if you post it in social media! If anybody attempts to hurt my colleagues, co-workers, friends and family, in any shape or form, you will face judgment! Like those six I have accused, you will go down a point of no return. I do appreciate you all for supporting the game myself and the Rover are in, but I will not appreciate if you place harm upon anything and anyone due to our game! It’s not worth to disregard or discard what you have because you became too emotional from our acting in the story! Now, if you excuse us…” She faces back towards me and grabs my elbow as she drags me.

Male Rover: “Phrolova! What’re you doi—”

Phrolova: “You’re gonna get failing remarks. Surely, you don’t want Kuro to fire you over this, right?” Well, she’s right. But…

Male Rover: “Unhand me! We’re not on the same class this morning.” I shrugged myself off Phrolova, as I walk towards my classroom.

Phrolova: “Hmm, so cold and unfriendly.” I look back towards her and she had a solemn face, which makes me a bit guilty.

---Lunchtime---

After the first bunch of classes, I went to lunch with three guys I usually frequent with during lunch.

Male Rover: “I knew I shouldn’t have gone to school today. Classes are boring and a mob of angry players are after me due to the recent main quest in Wuwa.”

???(Male#1): “Although I would agree on that classes are boring, I wouldn’t want you fired over this one, Rover. We have that kind of strictness on my contract as well with Hoyoverse.”

Male Rover: “At least the conditions on your end are much easier than mine, Aether.” Aether just leans his head slightly sideways.

???(Male#2): “I’d rather say that all four of us have our own challenges to deal with.”

Male Rover: “At least your game is very much identified as a gooner game from the gacha community, and you embrace it as much, Phaethon.”

Wise: “But at least, it ain’t as gooner compared to Blue Archive and Nikke.”

Male Rover: "So you do acknowledge it!" Wise scratches his cheek. Then we hear loud slurping from the fourth one on the table. Aether hits him on the back of his head with a chop.

Aether: “Nephew! Don’t start eating without us!”

Wise: “You might as well listen to what Rover has to say first, Caelus.” Caelus swallows what he’s chewing and retorts back.

Caelus: “We can listen while we eat you know, and our food is gonna go cold. Although, you didn’t seem to have much food there, Rover.”

Male Rover: “I don’t feel like eating that much, Caelus.”

Wise: “You gotta eat more though.”

Male Rover: “Funny coming from the guy who has abs but low stamina.”

Aether: “Wise is right, though. You’ve been looking much skinnier than you were a month ago.”

Male Rover: “I’m fine. Just been having a reflection, that’s all.”

Aether: “One that has gotten you thinner than usual? Then that’s not healthy at all Rover.” I can only sigh. In the group I’m in, Aether is seen as the oldest brother as he is first of the four of to be debuted. Caelus is seen as the immature one despite being the second one to debut, and he’s also Aether’s nephew despite their close age gap and physical attributes. Wise, as I could describe, the next person that has vast knowledge and intelligence, like an almanac. He was the last to debut among us four, but he and I debuted the same year with only a few months gap. While Aether’s words come from experience, Wise’s come from only his observations.

Wise: “I noticed that you didn’t go to school in the past few days. As I recall, last week was the debut of v2.5 on Wuwa, yes? Is your current condition linked to that?”

Male Rover: “…”

Male Rover: ‘Ahh, Wise. I wish you don’t read much into my mind.’

Aether: “I haven’t done the quest yet, so I don’t really know what happened much within the Wuwa community.”

Wise: “So have I. But please, Rover. If there’s something that you want to tell us that you can’t tell others, then turn to us. We’re your friends.” Then Caelus placed his chopsticks on his plate, and unexpectedly, he spoke up.

Caelus: “Rover, I always look forward to our lunch meets as this group, all four of us, are the same. Despite the differences our companies have, I’m glad to have someone from a different company than Hoyo to be in this circle. I know that I’m usually silent when we gather, but that’s because I was listening to you three, to gather more insight despite me earlier on debuting. It’s hard enough for people like us to find friends from outside our workplace, even our respective circles. And I, we…consider you as our friend. So, let me be direct, Rover. This is about Phrolova, isn’t it?” The moment Caelus said her name; I stood up shook.

Male Rover: “H-How did you k—” I stopped talking as some people have turned towards me due to my initial shock which raised my voice. I sat back down.

Aether: “Caelus, you know something?”

Wise: “Phrolova. Isn’t that the girl from the Fractsidus faction?” Caelus looks at Wise with an affirmative look.

Caelus: “Yes. And I can’t tell more if you haven’t done it yet.” A few seconds of silence passed by before I spoke up again.

Male Rover: “How did you know?”

Caelus: “I’m the type of player who wants to get with the story first before I get to the other events. Considering the duration of HSR’s main quest, I’ve gotten used to the grueling 7-9 hours per version on a quest. And sometimes, the exposition done by the HSR devs is so repetitive that it numbs my brain. I may be daft, but I’m not dumb. I’ve seen the main quest of 2.5, and it was very good. Unspoken emotions, visual cues, and hell: the white text on a black screen had way more emotion to it. I’d say it’s a bit better than Phainon’s story. ((This is the author’s opinion.))” Somewhere in the cafeteria, I hear a sneeze. And we all face towards that direction before continuing.

Caelus: “Rover, I feel something deeper within the confines of the story. Would you please tell us what’s been bothering you?” I just sigh.

Male Rover: “Not going to lie, Caelus, you’re the last one I would expect to ask me about this. You’re usually naïve but for once you think ahead of your peers.” I contemplate about whether I should let them know about my past.

Male Rover: ‘I’m not sure if it’s a good to let them know my history with Phrolova. I promised myself that whatever happened between us is mine to keep, but not to Phrolova herself. And I trust these guys, but this is the first time I will be transparent to someone in which I haven’t done yet with my twin sister. I know this is unfair for everybody related to this, but one way or another, I need to get this out of my chest as this affects me both personally and professionally.’

Male Rover: “Fine. We’ll talk about this tomorrow. I’d want Aether and Wise to view the quest and see what kind of quest it is, and I want them to form their own opinion about it. Is that alright?” All three of them nodded.

Chapter end.

Chapter Text

---Later that Night, 3^rd POV---

It is around 7 PM, and another group of 6 people is going out for a dinner celebration. They have placed a private reservation for themselves on a Japanese sushi bar near the city. They placed their orders for their dinner tonight, which are 7 sets of sushi rolls, tempura, edamame, miso soup, and oolong tea.

The group: “Itadakimasu!”

Female Rover: “Hold on! Before we all start with our feast tonight, I just want to make a toast. To the hard work, dedication, and well-deserved success of Wuwa’s current story of version 2.5…” All of them took their own glass and raised a toast. The members within this group tonight are as mentioned: Female Rover, Yangyang, Jinhsi, Cartethyia, Lupa, and their MVP for tonight, Phrolova. Of course, with everyone knowing the occasion, they slight move their glass towards Phrolova.

The group except Phrolova: “To Phrolova!” Phrolova, upon seeing this, became a bit flustered and is a loss of words.

Female Rover: “And with that, kanpai!” All of them shouted, except for Phrolova, and raised their hands together. Phrolova feels a bit weirded out for this kind of company on a regular day, but she can’t really deny an invitation from the Female Rover, as the invite means “you must come or die”. Seeing as she already gets “killed” in the story, she obviously wouldn’t want that in real life.

For about 50 minutes, they dig into their feast as they continue with their trivial talk and celebrate their milestone for the game. There was laughter of joy, moments of bliss from the food, and the feeling of comfort around true friends. They haven’t finished the food, but they’re not yet done with the occasion.

Phrolova: “*sigh* Thanks for the food, Rover.”

Female Rover: “You’re welcome, Phroro!”

Lupa: “You guys have seen the quest already, right?” All members of the group have nodded.

Lupa: “To think that Kuro would do something like that.”

Yangyang: “I know. Ever since Rinascita, the upscaling of the story writing is impeccable.”

Jinhsi: “Who’d know that they would keep raising the bar even after showing just good story telling. I wished that would have applied during the beginning phases of Wuwa.”

Female Rover: “I know. I remembered how sucky it was, that I remember cringing after reviewing the entirety of the Jinzhou arc. Hell, Danjin, Yuanwu and Calcharo haven’t made a proper canon appearance.”

Cartethyia: “If I recall, Phrolova-chan also made her first appearance back in Jinzhou, yes? I’m glad that they got your character to grow during the Rinascita arc.”

Phrolova: “Well, I’m not the only one to grow during the Rinascita arc. You also did too Cartethyia.”

Lupa: “What are you saying, Rova-chan? The depth of your character in the story was a very big plus in the game. It’s even the talk across social media. I’d say that made a big effort to the community and the company.” All, except for Phrolova, nodded.

Phrolova: “Please, everyone. It’s not just my effort that paid. It’s also the efforts of Rover and everyone involved with the game. Speaking of which, I heard you’ve been doing this to every character that came along, Rover. I heard Cartethyia and Lupa got the same treatment as I do right now. And also, why are we doing this when it’s not yet the weekend?”

Cartethyia: “I wouldn’t worry about that, Phrolova. She would do this on a Monday.”

Lupa: “That’s right, Rova-chan. Always take the opportunity for free food, when given by a sponsor.”

Female Rover: “Ngaa!! I didn’t say anything was free! I’m only paying on Phroro’s order! You guys need to contribute!”

Jinhsi: “If that’s the case, then we can put all of the food we ordered just now as Phrolova’s order, yes?”

Yangyang/Cartethyia/Lupa: “OOOOH!!” All except for Jinhsi widened their eyes.

Lupa: “Nice going, Jinhsi!” They clapped their hands from the genius that is coming out of Jinhsi’s mouth.

Female Rover: “I should’ve phrased that better, damn it.” Female Rover said on a shush tone.

Jinhsi: “Thanks again, Phrolova!”

Female Rover: “I’m not gonna have enough money to pull for characters and weapons!”

Yangyang: “Well, this is what you get for doing this kind of occasions so seldomly.”

Cartethyia: “Besides, don’t you get a big raise since you and your brother are the MC?”

Female Rover: “Hell no. You might think that my salary is gonna be like how Robert Downey Jr. is with the MCU, but nope. I only earn a bit less than you all.”

Cartethyia: “Really now?”

Female Rover: “Yeah, because we constantly work throughout the patches, but because of our contract, both of us get half of our salary since there is no difference with the work given to us both. This is very much the same with the HSR MCs, Caelus and Stelle. Genshin’s Aether and Lumine, and ZZZ’s Wise and Belle, are kinda like the same but subtly different.”

Yangyang: “Oooh, that’s rough. That means you gotta save up more, Rover. Look at your brother, he only limits his monthly spending so he could save some more.”

Cartethyia: “Yes, I noticed. He pulls a lot when he streams to pull for characters and weapons.”

Jinhsi: “I’m kinda pissed that he didn’t max out my resonance chain. His account only got me with 3 wavebands and my weapon, although I’m the first Sentinel-appointed Resonator.”

Lupa: “At least he got you W3, his account only got me on W2, and he didn’t even pull for my weapon!” Then Cartethyia does a haughty laugh.

Cartethyia: “Huhuhu, he got me to W4 and pulled twice for my weapon. Looks like you both you can suck it.” That got Jinhsi and Lupa ticked off because of the difference of Male Rover’s pulls.

Jinhsi: “You talk big for a munchkin! You can’t even deal big damage as I do.”

Lupa: “You ain’t even as big as your sister, Fleurdelys, is! I bet you he pulled for you because of your sister!” ((In this AU, Cartethyia and Fleurdelys are sisters, and basically a 2-in-1 character in the game.)) That comment got some OOFs in the background. And Cartethyia starts to tear up as she pouts upon Lupa’s comment.

Lupa: “I’m not done yet! You! You say that you’re a main damage dealer, but all I see from the attack animations are that your main damage dealing points came from the Sentinel Jue accompanying you and not from your fighting capabilities! At least, Cartethyia fights on her own without the Sentinel accompanying her.”

Jinhsi: “Well, what do you expect from the Sentinel-appointed Resonator!? I’ve been given the Temporal Mandate by Lord Arbiter whilst Imperator is now dead! And look: one of the Lord Arbiters is over right there!” Jinhsi points straight towards Female Rover.

Cartethyia: “Yeah, I bet that did nothing towards your dancing skills during the anniversary event! Glad I pulled you into the spotlight just like that.”

Jinhsi: “Wha-!?”

Jinhsi: “You didn’t just—”

Cartethyia: “Oh yes, I did! Bet it was that embarrassing, huh?! Since both Rover twins were there during that day! For someone who is a glorified Sentinel-appointed Resonator, not even Jue can fix your dancing capabilities! I think you got enrolled into college just for that reason!” Another set of OOFs became audible.

Lupa: “These two—!!” And then they hear somewhat loud footsteps heading into the room. They look to see and it’s Cartethyia’s sister, Fleurdelys. Her shadow beams over as she enters.

Fleurdelys: “My intuition tells me my sister shed some tears. So, Cartethyia, who made you cry?” Cartethyia pointed towards Jinhsi and Lupa. Both pointed girls begin to cower as Fleurdelys towers over them.

Fleurdelys: “Since you both are my co-workers, I would like you to give an answer. Now.”

Jinhsi: “W-well, it wasn’t me who started it! It was Cartethyia because she bragged about you and Cartethyia being W4 with your weapon! B-But I didn’t make her cry! I-It was Lupa! She gave t-the final blow towards Cartethyia!”

Lupa: “OI!” Fleurdelys hums near Lupa.

Lupa: “W-well, like what Jinhsi s-said, Rover-kun has indeed pulled for you but it wasn’t really for Cartethyia, but for Fleur-anego(older sister)! I wasn’t really lying when I said that, was I?!” Fleurdelys widened her eyes at the thought of Male Rover pulling for just her and not really for her sister.

Fleurdelys: “Oh, Rover-kun just pulling for me. Hehe, how embarrassing~” Fleurdelys becomes flustered immediately at the thought as she sways side by side.

All except Fleurdelys and Cartethyia: ‘What am I seeing?’ Cartethyia, with her face shadowed by her hair, climbs behind her sister. Cartethyia sobs and screams!

Cartethyia: “You’re just as bad as those two!” Cartethyia pulls Fleurdelys from her head and they fall towards the direction of Jinhsi and Lupa, in which they brawl it out there, which can be seen as a puff of smoke surrounding them.

Phrolova: “Is it usually like this?” Phrolova asks with concern. Female Rover and Yangyang sigh in reply.

Female Rover: “Not really.”

Phrolova: “And how come you’re ok with this, Yangyang?”

Yangyang: “Well, it’s not in my place to talk especially since I’m an easy W6 4-star character. But usually, they’re docile but when the topic of Rover-kun is brought up, they become like rabid dogs who found fresh meat!”

Cartethyia/Fleurdelys/Jinhsi/Lupa: “The hell did you say?!” The four who are fighting got their eyes glowing red after Yangyang’s stoic comment.

Yangyang: “Nothing!!” Just as Yangyang screams, Female Rover feels a vibrate on her phone. She checks as to what the notification is, it’s her twin brother streaming.

Female Rover: “Hey, girls! My brother’s streaming! Let’s watch it!” Conveniently, a smart TV was nearby so she connected her phone to it, and it displays her brother’s stream. The girls who were fighting finally stopped brawling it out and sat back down. While the rest are watching, Fleurdelys devours the remaining sushi rolls on the table.

~~~Male Rover’s Stream turns on~~~

Male Rover starts his stream immediately with his current location in Phrolova’s house within the Lost Beyond. His current chat settings are set to off because he knew of the backlash he was getting from the main story of v2.5. He waited for a minute until he officially starts.

Male Rover: “Alright, a minute has passed, and let’s officially start the pulling session. Wait, let me just--” He sounds nonchalant when he says that, and he changes time at 12:00 in-game as Phrolova’s crimson digitalized form is visible on the chair beside where his Rover is sitting.

Cartethyia: “Rover-kun knows what time Phrolova is positioned in the Lost Beyond. I felt like he chose the ‘How much of what you said is true?’ option.”

Female Rover: “Sounds about in character for me.”

Male Rover: “A’ight, let’s do this! Also…”  He showcased the pity for the character banner, and the pity was at 4 with the recent 5-star character being Lupa. The first two ten-pulls using Radiant Tides was just a 4 star. The third Radiant Tide ten-pull was finally a 5-star with a 50/50. The resonator who came out was Phrolova.

Male Rover: “Yes! Nice!” He didn’t skip the animation as to see what the gacha animation looks like.

All girls except Phrolova: “Oooooh!”

Yangyang: “That’s a nice gacha animation.”

Lupa: “Here I thought Jinhsi’s was the only 6-star gacha animation.”

Jinhsi: “Hey, it’s still 6-star even now, you know!”

Female Rover: “At least it ain’t sucky compared to Genshin’s, and HSR’s.” The group laughs on Female Rover’s comment.

Male Rover: “Hoooo, as usual Kuro is being peak with its animations. Ok, let’s move on.” After that another 5-star animation shows up and it is Jianxin. He pauses for a bit before painfully moans.

Male Rover: “Mmmm….I do get along with my fellow castmates in Wuthering Waves, but…goddamn it Jianxin! At least I’m on guaranteed.”

Female Rover: “It do be like that.” All of them nodded. Male Rover continues to pull on Phrolova’s banner, but the pity reaches 70, which means it’s a guaranteed Phrolova.

Male Rover: “Still ends up getting me to hard pity, haiyaa.” The 5-star animation shows, and it showcases Phrolova again. Male Rover doesn’t skip the animations despite having her already.

Male Rover: “Ok, W1 there.” Male Rover presses on the screen and it was only one Phrolova.

Male Rover: “Ahh, damn. Thought the gacha would give me more. Let’s continue, I still have about 200 more pulls.”

Cartethyia: “Since when did he have that much pulls?”

Yangyang: “I think he finally explored some of the maps. If I recall, he barely explored Jinzhou and just relied on top-ups to get all characters.”

Female Rover: “I remember him telling me that he tops-up every month for a specific amount like it was a monthly subscription.” Male Rover pulls for more, but this time he only gets more 4-stars. Then we hear thumping on his mic, which could be sounds of frustration.

Male Rover: “Give me Phrolova, damn it!!” He shouts, and this statement leaves Phrolova blushing a bit.

Jinhsi: “Ohhhh, he said the thing!”

Phrolova: “What thing?”

Yangyang: “Usually when Rover-kun becomes desperate on getting the character he wants, he usually says that line. Although the results of that are mixed.” Male Rover uses another 10-pull, and the 5-star gacha animation appears and it showcases…Verina.

The group: “Oof.” We hear another set of thumping from his mic, and then a low voice can be heard from the stream.

Male Rover: “My Verina…has already passed W6. I know that gives me more pulls in the end, but what the f**k? The rest of the beginner characters aren’t even W6.” He continues, then another 5-star gacha animation appears and Phrolova appears again, making her W2.

Male Rover: “Of course, first I get limited before guaranteed, and now the opposite. Great.” Male Rover sounds a bit desperate on this one.

Fleurdelys: “How many pulls has he done already? I kinda lost count.”

Cartethyia: “170 pulls, and he already has Phrolova on W2. I’d say that’s not bad.”

Jinhsi: “Agreed. I pulled a lot, more than 600, if I recall, to get my character to W6.”

Female Rover: “If there’s one thing common in my brother’s streams, is that his pulls are actually quite lucky compared to the rest of the players.” All of them nodded. Male Rover pulled another 60 pulls and got another Phrolova.

Jinhsi: “I kinda remember what Rover said if he managed to W6 a 5-star character, but I don’t remember if it was a conversation I had with him or if it was on stream.”

Yangyang: “That would be on stream, Jinhsi. ‘If I manage to W6, it would be characters that I actually love.’ is what he said from his earlier streams as Wuwa had started.”

Cartethyia: “Love, ehh…” The group turns towards Phrolova with jealous eyes.

Phrolova: “Hey, I’m not controlling his actions, alright? If you wanna take this up with him, then go for it.”

Male Rover: “200-ish…pulls. I stopped counting ever since I got the first instance of Phrolova. I’m gonna use the extra pulls from the extra copies of 4-stars, which is…50. But I’mma save some if I’m going for the weapon immediately.” Male Rover gets 10 Radiant Tides and pulls it. Another 5-star gacha animation appears on the stream.

Male Rover: “Yes!”

Phrolova: “5-star immediately?! That’s way too lucky!”

Yangyang: “He gets luck like that, and we don’t?!”

Jinhsi: “I’m going to complain to Kuro when we go to work.” The game showcases Phrolova, making Male Rover’s Phrolova W4 now.

Male Rover: “Ohh sheesh. That’s W4.” And another 5-star gacha animation appears and showcases Phrolova again, making this time W5.

Male Rover: “What the f**k?”

Female Rover: “THE F**K!?” As Female Rover exclaims, the group is quiet to see the absurdity of Male Rover’s luck. The pulls continue as they await the result of what just happened.

Phrolova: “What’s the rate of getting more than two Five-stars in one ten-pull?”

Yangyang: “Literally 0.00%. This guy is the literal definition of lucky.” Another 5-star gacha animation appears and Phrolova appears again, making Male Rover’s Phrolova W6, completing the entire resonance chain.

Male Rover: “HOLY SHIT! Oh my gosh—Finally…” Male Rover seems to step away from the mike after seeing the spectacle happen before him. Yangyang and Phrolova widened their eyes too.

Male Rover: “Oh boyyy…Many people are gonna be so mad about this, and I know the girls from Wuwa ain’t gonna like this. And I’ve yet to pull for Phrolova’s weapon too. So, yeah, if chat is still watching, I’m going for the weapon as well. Hopefully I get five instances of the weapon—” Suddenly, the TV got switched off which means the stream got cut off on Female Rover’s end.

~~~Male Rover Stream cut-off~~~

The group: “…” The rest are quiet as ominous aura begins to emit the 5 women. Obviously, all of them are of jealousy.

Female Rover: “Girls, you know what to do, yes?” The 4 angry girls (Jinhsi, Cartethyia, Lupa and Fleurdelys) nodded.

Female Rover: “WE’LL GRILL HIM TONIGHT!”

The 4 angry girls: “LET’S GRILL HIM!!” The 5 angry girls immediately make their departure, and pays the establishment for their reservation, which was quite big, but not too much for these ones. Yangyang and Phrolova follow suit. Female Rover and the 4 angry girls lead the charge, as Female Rover begins to gather as many female allies she could invite to join her in this subjugation against the Male Rover. To name some: Camellya, Cantarella, Carlotta, Changli, Ciaccona, Phoebe, Shorekeeper, Yinlin, Zani, and Zhezhi. Very concerned by the flow of events, Yangyang secretly messaged Male Rover immediately to find a safe place to stay after he ends his stream. Phrolova is the one who is slowly walking behind the group as she contemplates.

Yangyang: “‘If I manage to W6, it would be characters that I actually love.’ is what he said from his earlier streams as Wuwa had started.”

Phrolova: “I waited. For a long time. I won’t wait anymore.”

████: “It’s a promise, Phro. I’ll never leave your side.”

Phrolova: “Yes, my reverie.” Phrolova’s inner thoughts are a mess, coming from every memory that she has of him, and yet there are two questions that bewildered the maiden’s heart.

Phrolova: “Does he still…love me? Do I still love him the way I did?”

Chapter End.

Chapter Text

---University Rooftop, Next Day’s Lunch, Male Rover’s POV---

The next day has come. To be honest, I don’t know what came over me last night to suddenly stream and pulled for Phrolova’s character and weapon. After the whole debacle of yesterday morning, I, and Phrolova, have become trending more on social media. And I became more trending as people have been posting clips of my stream. Whether that was good PR on Kurogames, I’m not sure as they haven’t contacted me yet. Right now, I’m with my friends as they wait for me to talk.

Aether: “Man, you’re becoming trending as of late. Hoyo’s gonna take notice of this!”

Wise: “I know, I haven’t seen this kind of publicity among us.” Ahhh, he said it!

Male Rover: “Well, what can you expect from a mob who tried to assault me in campus?” That whole bit became trending in X(Twitter). Phrolova having to tell off everyone who was there became a sensation that got people to stop harassing me…mostly. There will be those people who have no life to continue bashing others just because, but I’d want to think Phrolova still for standing up for me.

Wise: “I heard that the student who threw a pocketknife at you got expelled from school, and the rest got suspensions for this term. It’s like what Phrolova-san said, ‘It’s not worth to disregard or discard what you have because you became too emotional from the acting in the story.’”

Caelus: “It seems some people never think twice when it comes to decisions like that.” After looking down from the rooftop, which is fenced, I went closer to my friends who are sitting on a bench with overhead cover.

Male Rover: “I agree.”

Caelus: “I also heard that the some of the girls’ cast from your game has almost tried to grill, like literally grill, you last night? I saw a compilation of tweets coming from the girls of Wuwa as if they’ll parade you with just your underwear on."

Male Rover: “Oh yeah, I had to make an escape last night after my stream after getting Phrolova to max waveband and Phrolova’s weapon, the Lethean Elegy, to Rank 5, because from what I heard: the girls brought with them torture devices for me. I even dread now as to what will happen to me later.”

Aether: “Better thank us because you’re here with us safe and sound."

Caelus: “Also that stream, dude, was wild. I couldn’t believe it. All of that, character and weapon maxed, under 600 pulls.”

Wise: “I only saw clips of it since I was doing the story, but to get everything for one character…”

Aether: “That’s way beyond lucky. Even I don’t have moments like that.”

Wise: “Are you sure you’re not a game dev for Wuwa?”

Male Rover: “If I was, I would’ve made it 7 Phrolovas in 1 ten-pull.”

Aether: “If I hadn’t known, I wouldn’t have called you a Phrolova Simp.”

Wise: “Simp!”

Caelus: “Simp!”

Aether: “Phrolova Simp!”

Male Rover: “Shut up, goddamn it. Although, I might as well be.”

Caelus: “Eyyy, he’s not denying~~”

Aether: “By the way, we’re gonna start now?”

Male Rover: “Might as well, since we’re talking about her. Now, where to start…Right, I take it Aether and Wise have seen the quest now, yeah?”

Aether and Wise: “Yep.”

Male Rover: “What do you think?”

Aether: “It’s…incredible. Hell, I’m jealous of that kind of writing.”

Wise: “Yeah, it’s gonna be hard for our games to have that kind of emotional weight with the current writing the scriptwriters have.”

Caelus: “To think that two lines on a black background can give more emotion than the entirety of HSR’s Luofu arc. I think Hoyo needs to take notes from Kuro.”

Aether: “Although…yeah, I kinda understand what the player base is feeling. Most of which is siding with Phrolova because of her pain, but the others seeing it as unjustifiable just because she became that.”

Wise: “A lifetime of suffering, and the salvation she found was a short moment of relatability from the Rover. And a promise to see each other again. Beautifully tragic.” Some soft echoes ring my ears.

Aether: “Phrolova’s already tragic and fragile state taken advantage by the enemy and when she sees the Rover again, he can’t even recognize her anymore.” A bit static imagery invades my mind.

Caelus: “The time wasted for her waiting for that one special person to fulfill her promise, and she won’t wait anymore.” Images and voices now become more vivid, that I had to stand up and walk about a meter away for the intrusions in my brain to begone. I can imagine the group is bewildered by that. I sighed.

Male Rover: “Sorry. But yeah, that’s pretty much what I’ve heard and seen across social media. But there’s a particular phrase that got me. I wonder if you guys noticed it.” The three pondered for a bit until Wise spoke up.

Wise: “I’ve been seeing some comments like 'It feels like Phrolova and Rover have broken up', is it that one?” I nodded and pinched my eyes.

Caelus: “What’s wrong with that statement?”

Aether: “Rover, don’t tell me you are…”

Male Rover: “It’s as you thought, I am Phrolova’s ex.” A gust of wind hits us as the revelation of my past relationship with Phrolova is being exposed.

Male Rover: “Have any of you seen Your Lie in April?” Caelus’ head shook sideways.

Aether: “I’ve heard of it but haven’t watched it. It’s a very emotional anime from what I’ve heard.”

Wise: “I have, but…what’s the similarities of it you two aside from the obvious music instruments you both play?”

Male Rover: “Phrolova and I are basically Your Lie in April if it didn’t have the sad setup and setting. Hell, they even called us Kousei and Kaori back then. Kousei had abusive parents while I don’t, although they’re gone. Kaori has a medical condition while Phrolova is very much a healthy person. But you know what happens in stories, remove the bad things from the story, and it will just transform into something else. That’s what happened to us.”

Male Rover: “I guess I’ll take you guys a blast to the past.”

~~Flashback~~

((Italics are current Rover's explanation, Regular is flashback Rover's story.))

@@Flashback #1@@

On the music room back in high school, I see that the piano is not yet used so I took my free time back then to play some music pieces. I started to play some Fantaisie Impromptu by Frederic Chopin (████'s Repertoire (Fantaisie Impromptu)). One of the pieces that seem hard when listening and seeing the piece, but when you play, it is actually not a difficult piano piece.

Male Rover: “Unlike Kousei, I don’t do piano competitions because I think piano is more of something you enjoy as opposed to something you master. So of course, when I feel like it, I would hit the music room to play some pieces that I like. That’s when I met her.”

After finishing Fantaisie Impromptu, I felt a presence watching me. Just when I set my gaze on where it came from, I saw a girl with whitish green hair flinched and ran away. I just tilted my head as to what just happened but decided to play one more that isn’t a classical piece, but from a game that I like: All That Glitters from Hoyo-Mix; the music trailer during Genshin Impact v1.3 (All That Glitters (Genshin v1.3) - Piano). This piece, in particular, has the chorus as the most difficult as it has a lot of techniques (running notes, octaves, arpeggios, chords), and it is very dynamic in terms of handplay.

Male Rover: “Phrolova was just your shy otaku girl, and sometimes a chuuni, who just found someone that she had in common with because she recognized something that was very familiar to her. But I found that she was also a victim of bullying in the school.”

I see the same girl as before, and this time she wasn’t fully hiding. The girl that approached me have the school’s uniform, black sailor uniform with a red bow, wearing red glasses over her bandages that covers her right eye, her right forearm and on her right jaw and neck, and couple of band-aids on her left arm. She looked like she was shunned and bullied by others, but that doesn’t bother me at all.

(This is an imagined look that I have of what Phrolova used to look like in her highschool days before meeting ████. Disclaimer on author's notes below.)

I nodded at her, and she came closer, and I see that she has a violin case with her. She pulls out her violin, as if she’s non-verbally asking for a duet. I pondered for a bit, and I picked the first that came out of my head when it comes to Piano-Violin duets: Czardas by Vittorio Monti. (████'s and Phrolova's First Duet (Czardas Piano and Violin Duet))

████: ‘Czardas is quite a difficult music piece itself so I’m not sure if she can do this. Even if I don’t know her, if she’s a classical violinist, she should know this. At least the intro will tell me if she knows.’ I play the intro which are a bunch of forte chords, which follows with a piano note that leads to a hook. I looked at her to see her reaction, and she looks at me with her left eye widened and readies herself. She nods at me to continue. I continue with the very melodic Largo first part, which has a lot of crescendo and diminuendo, which she follows easily.

Male Rover: “Of course, we didn’t hit off immediately as she were kinda wary of me, but her seeing my performance at least made me approachable to her. She meekly approached me, and I let her do so, then she pulls out her violin. We played a very classical yet difficult piece, it was Czardas by Monti, and she was very good.”

As we head into the Allegro vivo segment, the chorus of the piece, I looked at her and she looked at me, and when we moved our bodies a bit downward to signal the start. It might sound loud but the staccatos of this segment is actually in piano, until the short and loud stanza that is. And the running notes here run in crescendo. We both had a bit shaky start, but we catch up with each other until we sync. Then enters the Molto meno segment, which is the bridge before the chorus, and also changes the key from D minor to D major. The segment of the piece enters with a loud entrance with a short melody which connects into a pianissimo hook. It continues into the same melody but in forte which connects to the next segment, the Meno, quasi lento segment. The Meno, quasi lento segment is a very soft segment that mimics the Molto meno segment which serves as the last part of the bridge that connects to the second chorus.

████: ‘My goodness! She’s really good!’ I look at her again the same way I did on the Allegro vivo segment, and so she did. The second chorus starts off with an Allegro Vivace tempo, which changed the key back to D minor and is more or less a repeat of the first one however faster, but the end stanza for this chorus connects to the final chorus which modulates the key from D minor to D major. The final chorus starts on Allegretto segment, and the style is similar to that of the first and second chorus, but it has a hook which leads to the final segment, the Molto piu vivo segment. The final segment now plays on full forte, that even there are crescendo moments that could lead to fortississimo, and the plays ends on that volume.

Male Rover: “Both of us became tired after that even though it’s a 4-minute piece. However, that 4 minutes was the start of something beautiful, that I even didn’t know about. That was the first time I ever felt a true connection, not with words or emotions, but through performance. When she sat beside me after completing that piece together, my heart stirred uncontrollably.”

I pat on the free space beside me, and she sat down. Both of us are tired from that performance, and we’re breathing hard as if we ran a marathon. She looks at me as if she has done an accomplishment, and I have a feeling I have the same look on my face.

████: “You’re a really good violinist!”

???(Phrolova): “You too! To think there’s a pianist like you in the school…” She says with a shy tone.

████: “I’m ████.”

Phrolova: “My name is Phrolova.”

████/Phrolova: “Nice to meet you!” We shake hands and let go.

████: “Do you play Genshin?” The way her face brightens up, it’s as if she found a new playmate from kindergarten.

Phrolova: “Yes!! I’ll add you in-game!”

@@Flashback #1 End@@

Male Rover: “A pair of students were also there watching and recording the entire ordeal. And it spread across the school community like a wildfire. I couldn’t find the source, but others told me that most of the comments wasn’t negatory, but rather very motivative, that comments arise that Kousei and Kaori just became real. In just one night, both of us became schoolwide personalities.”

Male Rover: “What just happened didn’t really dampen our relationship but rather flourished it. I didn’t mind the fame that came along with it, but Phrolova did. She didn’t want to be in the spotlight due to her being bullied and don’t want to be the center of attention. But I was the one who reassured her that if she sticks with me, she will be alright. After that, we stick like glue, and our friendship grew. And it grew to become something even more.”

@@Flashback #2@@

At a stage during the festival, I asked a couple of my classmates to be accompaniment for a performance I will give. They have already practiced a simple song that I requested like a few weeks ago. And now, I wanna make it that special. I took a glance on a certain area before I face the audience.

████: “Just before with my final performance for today, I would like to call on my Miyazono Kaori, Phrolova, to come up to the stage as I dedicate this performance for her.” Then I hear cheers and clapping from the audience as she goes up the stage. She took a microphone nearby.

Phrolova: “You didn’t need to call me with an anime character’s name, Arima Kousei.”

████: “You just did so yourself, Phro. Anyway, I just wanted to perform a song for you, and I wanted you to be nearby, is that ok?” Then teasing grinning sounds can be heard from the audience.

████: “Come on! Shut up!” I nodded towards my classmates and the instrumental starts. (████'s Confession Performance to Phrolova (blue by yung kai)) Since I play the lead guitar, I started with the main melody then one of my classmates followed with the rhythm guitar playing the chords and another one with the drums. With the crowd and Phrolova knowing the intro of the song, they already know what song I’m playing for my Kaori. Phrolova covers her mouth, and I don’t know whether she is smiling or just laughing behind her hand.

As the first verse starts, I stare at Phrolova who becomes easily flustered and tries to cover her face due to the embarrassment she’s feeling. Since I’m the vocalist, I had a mic with a stand, so I removed the mic from the stand; and I wasn’t playing the background rhythm, so I didn’t need to play either. I even walked by her, as the lyrics say, and even caressed her face that slides down to her hand. Just a simple yet alluring gesture made Phrolova to squirm on her feet, with the crowd cheering from the background. I return back to the center and reattached the mic and played along with the guitar as the chorus plays.

Another set of cheers and screams erupt from the crowd as the song goes for a short instrumental break, and I play my part as lead guitarist. The final stanza sounded like a proposal, even Phrolova knows that, and now her face is completely red. I was grinning as this happened, and it felt like I could actually fly because of this. The instrumental break finishes as I continue onto the bridge. The drums also stop from this part, leaving me and my rhythm guitarist classmate to play as I sing the bridge.

My classmates and I lead into the coda, with the drums coming back until myself and my rhythm guitarist finished it. After the performance, I grabbed a box which hides a certain gift that I was looking at earlier before I started my performance and I placed it nearby as preparation. I grabbed the insides of the box which showcased a red baton that has leaves of red coral lily that have been hardened so it won’t break and fall off.

Male Rover: “I performed a song for her on stage when I asked her out. I also gave her a gift that came along with the performance. It was quite an event that it felt more like a proposal for marriage as opposed to becoming her boyfriend. And I’m sure that Phrolova was more than elated after it finished. It was the pinnacle of the good times that we both have during high school.”

████: “Will you be my…phro-ever, my conductor?” I raise the gift that I prepared for her, and mixtures of cheers are exploding around. Phrolova, already teared up, has cried tears of joy even more and grabbed my gift near to her right cheek.

Phrolova: “Yes! Yes!! YES!!! My Reverie!!” She jumps towards me, and I hugged her as I catch her.

Male Rover: “I promise I’ll make you happy. Every promise matters. Once I make one, I’ll see it through, no matter the cost.” She releases me for a second to take my lips, shocking me! Ever since this happened, the crowd has been screaming nonstop, and no doubt that this will go around.

████: ‘I don’t care if the world goes against me. As long as Phro is with me…’ I closed my eyes and deepened the kiss I share with Phrolova.

@@Flashback #2 End@@

Male Rover: “My performance for her happened at the end of second year and we officially started dating, although it felt like we already had since the first day we met. I promised to keep her happy. And of course, that continued even after graduation. That performance also became trending on the Internet, and it also became my ticket to where I am today. Kurogames, at that point, scouted me to be a potential lead for Wuthering Waves.”

@@Flashback #3@@

Right now, in my room, Phrolova and I got into our biggest fight yet.

████: “Phro, please just listen to me!”

Phrolova: “No! You’ll be taken away from me!!”

████: “It’s not like that! It’s an opportunity, possibly for both of us! I know that Kurogames hasn’t sent you an invitation, but if I’m being offered the MC, then there’s a big chance that I have leverage and can get you into the game! Kuro is the publisher of PGR, you know!”

Phrolova: “And what if it doesn’t work!?”

Male Rover: “Phrolova and I were what you call high school sweethearts. I thought that we have known each other ever since we started dating, but that was far from what reality is. That was the first time that her insecurities show up. Kurogames has sent me and my twin sister a personal recruitment letter to join their cast as the main MCs on their upcoming game called Wuthering Waves on April 2023. That marked the beginning of the end of our relationship. You could say that was our ‘Your Lie in April’.”

████: “We have conversations before that if there will be an opportunity to get involved with a major gacha game, we would take it! We made a promise about this! Why would you deny the possibility of that becoming a reality!?”

Phrolova: “It’s because I want to spend more time with you!!” That alone shut me up as she continues with her tantrum.

Phrolova: “Have you forgotten what the possibilities of you as the MC of a gacha game would be?! Don’t you remember the memes being placed upon Aether?! Harem Archon! Many girls for just one guy! If you do become the MC of Wuthering Waves, I won’t be exclusive to you anymore! I would just be one of your many waifus that would garner the less attention because I’m not that attractive compared to the possible rest!” She began to sob there.

████: ‘I forgot. If I become the MC, I would have to endure some things that would demand relevancy for the game, such as fanservice, action scenes, social media presence, and also…in-fandom shipping. I realize that the stuff I say about Aether, like he could handle loads of women at the back of his hand, all of that will happen to me.’ I looked down as I realized the intensity of the situation.

Male Rover: “It was no longer a problem of trivial matter. I’ve been dealt with two choices of big magnitudes; of personal or professional, and I just can’t pick between the two. Being dealt with such a hand at the time, there was no way my mind could comprehend and choose. So, when Phrolova asked me the killer question…

Phrolova/Male Rover: “Are you going to stay as my reverie, or will you become the hero you wanted to be?”

████/Male Rover: ‘I can’t answer that!!’/ “I couldn’t answer.” I remained silent, unsure how to answer this. Phrolova begin to sob more and then she left my house crying.

████: “Wait! PHROLOVA!!!” I tried to catch up to her but the time I came out of the house, she took a taxi home.

After that, I tried texting and calling her but to no avail. I have asked Kurogames to give a deadline for my response because I wasn’t in the best mood, but I have to respond, nonetheless. Seconds became minutes, minutes became hours, hours became days. And before I knew it, almost a week has passed, and the deadline from Kuro is coming near. As I lay in my bed, still crying, I play a song and sing along to it: Broken Promises by Element Eighty. (Rover's Breakup Song (Broken Promises by Element Eighty)) The entire song, it really reflects what I’ve been feeling inside. Some time has passed, and I was no longer willing to wait.

Before the final chorus starts, I immediately rise up from my bed and go to my laptop. I stopped singing altogether but didn’t stop playing the song. I opened up my email, that which is somewhat the cause of the trouble: the recruitment letter from Kurogames for Wuthering Waves. I typed a response to the email and wrote a relatively short yet professional towards Kurogames. The chorus begins to echo in my ears as a reminder of what was and no longer is.

Male Rover: ‘And now we're left with broken promises. My heart can't take no more. My mind has had enough.’ I glance towards the responsorial email towards and focused on a specific line on the e-mail, before closing my laptop and close my eyes to sleep.

[I will gladly accept your invitation and join your cast on Wuthering Waves. Thank you for personally recruiting me.]

~~Flashback End~~

Chapter End.

Author notes: If you're gonna ask if I'm putting hyperlinks to Youtube videos, yes. I’m putting Youtube links to certain performances as to immerse yourself at the media used into the story. Some parts of this story need certain music to be played as to know what they were feeling. With that said: The content used in this video is intended for storytelling and fair use. All rights to the images, music, clips, and other materials used belong to their respective owners. I do not claim ownership over any third-party content used.

Chapter Text

---Male Rover’s POV---

Male Rover: “I pleaded with Kuro to give a deadline for my response as I could not let them wait, but I couldn’t answer them without properly thinking this through. I kept messaging and calling Phrolova to get in contact with her before the deadline but of course, to no avail. My sister and I accepted the deal and made a contract with Kuro to become the Rover. Even after the contract was made, I tried to contact Phrolova by any means. But ultimately, I gave up. That was the end of our nasty yet quiet break-up. No contact, no resolution.” Male Rover looks back towards his friends as they look at him mildly shocked and in silence.

Male Rover: “I take it that you’re all aback from my backstory, huh?”

Aether: “Sorry! It’s just that…that kind of story only ever exists as fiction. But to think you experienced something like that…”

Wise: “I would’ve thought that you’re a very good storyteller if you’re just anybody else. It’s just so hard…what to ask.”

Caelus: “I do. First off, where was your twin sister during all this and was she aware of that?”

Male Rover: “My twin sister was at another school; we didn’t attend the same school together. We weren’t close at a time, and she didn’t want to be around me. But she was nevertheless just as talented as I was, and that got her the invitation from Kuro. It’s just us being cast as MCs got us somewhat closer than before, but I never told her about Phrolova…until I had to explain myself when Phrolova became part of the cast and possibly told my sister.”

Caelus: “And, what happened after your…breakup? I imagine that after seeing her in the same studio with you, you would rekindle your relationship with her.”

Male Rover: “Very sharp, Caelus. You would imagine my reunion with her to be a wonderful thing when I saw her again at Kurogames’ HQ, but that’s not how it went down. Seeing her again, my body shook as if drawn to her, and I ran towards her. I attempted to hug her, but she pushes me away with a cold and uninterested look on her face. I thought I could be able to reignite our relationship from before, but that action alone gave me the clear message that my first love is truly over. The heartache I felt there was so intense that I had to file sick leave for 3 days; have my sister take over my workload.”

Wise: “Honestly, I thought that Kuro would’ve released you if this kept on. I don’t think Phrolova didn’t do anything to garner a notice of dismissal because of that.”

Male Rover: “And you’re right; they would’ve. But I reassured to Kuro that it would never happen again. I focused more on my role on the game after that, blocking all thoughts about her. And when there’s a scene with her, I find an opportunity to have my sister do it for me.”

Aether: “Do it for you…ahhh. You mean the thing with us MCs that we can basically have our female counterpart/twin/sibling do the scenes and have the studio alter our looks visually and record our lines later?” I nodded.

Wise: “Oh, so you guys have it like that? Mine’s kinda different when they record mine and Belle’s. Apparently, it’s cheaper.”

Aether: “Because it is. I noticed that Genshin’s gonna implement that too little by little.”

Caelus: “I think Stelle and I basically have the save movement on our story. It’s just a matter of who wants or doesn’t want to do it, but we usually alternate.”

Male Rover: “That’s right. In my case, we shoot together sometimes, and they just digitally remove one of us; well, pretty much near with Caelus but it’s not only one MC doing the shooting. I basically have her do the Phrolova scenes when the Rover is involved, while I do some that she doesn’t wanna do.”

Wise: “But there was only one scene that involved both Rover and Phrolova in 1.x versions.”

Male Rover: “Ugh…I figured my twin sister would want to get used to Scar. I was initially repulsed by his looks when he first appeared. But really, Scar is…a real Jekyll and Hyde person. He can make an evil monstruous grin on camera, but off-camera, he just smiles brightly.” I may have gone off-topic there.

Male Rover: “But anyways, I actually avoid her like the plague. On set, and even in HQ, so much that if I see her walking, I find the nearest bathroom or hallway and go through there. But that changed when 2.0 started.”

Wise: “If I recall, Phrolova’s involvement in the story got increased as Wuwa entered the Rinascita arc. So, more scenes with her.”

Male Rover: “And the worst part is that she became aware of my movement. Whenever she’s on set, I have my sister do it, but sometimes…she demanded my presence to be on camera with her. I couldn’t say no because it would seem unprofessional on my end. And the first time I’m on-set acting with her…was 18 months after our breakup. But I did like the premise of the scenes given to me, as it’s basically beating her up.” The group begins to speak up.

Aether: “Oh come on, man!”

Caelus: “Why you gotta say it like that??”

Wise: “Even if it’s just us 4, not cool.”

Male Rover: “Hey! If she is giving me the cold attitude, I would do the same. There were noticeable moments in cutscenes during the 2.0 quest, like you could feel the personal emotion of disdain on us both. The scene where was she sitting on her lycoris-designed ring on the air. The one acting that scene was me, and you can tell she slightly smiled at the sight of me before transporting us into the battle zone. She also smiled when she did her villain pose in the air with her Echo, but not long before she saw Carlotta and Roccia beside me. You can tell she look disappointed. And the moment I was supposed to slice her up before it turns to glass, you can see my eyes fueled with coldness.”

Caelus: “Yeah, he’s not lying.” Caelus opens his phone to Youtube and shows a video of cutscenes of the v2.0 main story in Rinascita. (Cutscenes of Male Rover and Phrolova on v2.0 Main Quest; from 8:55 – 13:34) The video showcases of the cutscenes I just mentioned.

Wise: “Oh, you can see the sadness on Phrolova’s face when Rover tackled her. And wait…that baton, was that the gift you just mentioned earlier?” Caelus paused the video as the Hoyo MC trio look at me.

Male Rover: “I gave her a bunch of gifts really, but that was the first.” I close my eyes as I recall the gifts that I gave her: the baton, a violin, a dress and a ring. They playback the video again.

Aether: “Looking at this video, no wonder that you and Phrolova are acting like that. What you said just explains it. You both were feeling lots of emotions and have placed that into your acting as if its real. It really does feel like you both are both have a grudge against one another and want to kill each other. Still, why does she look sorrowful when she looks at you?”

Male Rover: “You’ll have to ask her for that.” The video showcases me throwing my sword towards Phrolova’s face as she dodges with a slight lean against it, but not before using my scythe with Abby carrying me to slice off the baton.

Hoyo Trio: “Oh man…” I stay silent.

Male Rover: ‘The moment after that scene on-set was horrible. Aside from Phrolova acknowledging the strength of the Rover, what really happened on-set was Phrolova crying and shouting because the gift that I gave to her is now broken…by none other than me. I can’t really help it if I’m trying to act my scene and she was holding the gift that I gave her, but at the same time, I feel responsible for my excessive force.’

Phrolova: “No! NOOOOOO!!!”

Male Rover: ‘Of course, they altered the scene, or rather recorded again, after me slicing it in-game, but the way that baton got shattered, it was on the first take. I remember her picking up the pieces of the baton that broke and run away back to her room. The scream she made, it was obviously a shriek of memory that became broken, and I will never forget that scream of agony.’

Aether: “Rover?” I snapped out of my memories as I’ve been called.

Male Rover: “Sorry, just had a flashback.”

Caelus: “Well, we understand that you have a history of Phrolova but what does the latest quest have to do with what you’re feeling right now?” Even with how many times I replayed the quest recording on my computer, just remembering the quest itself already brings myself into tears. So, of course, the slightest memory of that quest…

Male Rover: “Shit. Sorry guys, but every time I think of the quest, my tears just end up coming out. I don’t know why it’s been like this but…” Tears just come out and now I’m crying because my body can’t control it.

Hoyo Trio: “Oh shit!”

---Later that evening, Phrolova’s Room, Phrolova’s POV---

After an awful day of class today, I finally get to relax in my room. I lie down on my bed with nothing left to do. Well, I could play Wuthering Waves on my computer, but I don’t feel like using the computer. I would need to do my dailies later. With nothing particular of wanting to do, I just browse on my phone.

I was thinking of going onto social media, but I don’t think that’s a good idea right now. So, I ended up browsing my gallery, which is filled with photos and videos of various stuff: selfies with co-stars, pictures of them acting, good food, some random pics of the sky both night and day, and there would be instances that I see photos of him.

Phrolova: “…” I zoom in on one of the photos I took of him. This is one of the photos that I secretly took in which he’s acting on an action scene solo without having other girls surrounding him. I swapped right and I have a photo of him talking to Cartethyia and Fleurdelys. Just the sight of it got me pissed off.

Phrolova: ‘Hmph, every time a female castmate approaches him, he treats them as he would me back then. What a womanizing scumbag, but…’

Phrolova: “I don’t get to say that anymore…do I?” I zoomed out of the photo and continue to scroll down from the collection of stored data. I end up going too far and see the photos and videos of me and Rover...████ from our past. Of course, there were a lot of pictures and videos about us on dates, kisses (not much on the kisses), and also our performances and covers.

Phrolova: ‘We did a lot back then, didn’t we…I remember the first song, which you refused to sing, but I convinced you to perform it in front of the entire Music Club.’

Phrolova: “And it was a duet too. Good thing, I had someone record this for me. Although I would understand now why you’re embarrassed because it is High School Musical. But it was very nice for you to sing this with me.” I blush lightly and smiled as I played the video of us two standing together in the front. (████ and Phrolova's First Singing Duet (Start of Something New by Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez))

This song, ‘Start of Something New’ by Troy and Gabriella, was actually the first singing duet I did with him which I performed with him on the first week we join the Music Club. We were friends about two weeks when we decided to join in the Music Club, however we didn't focused on singing but on our respective instruments. I wasn’t on any club due to others bullying me, but I was more shocked to find out that he wasn’t in one despite his good looks. In a way, we’re like Troy and Gabriella with the whole boy-meets-girl situation but the differences was that we already met beforehand, and we...broke up.

Phrolova: ‘His ability to harmonize his singing with my own was truly amazing. Our sound waves were totally consonant as if both of us are oscillating with each other. But now…even with a game that based its lore and aesthetics around the study of sound waves, our sound waves now are unmatched and erratic that we might never be compatible anymore.’ I drop my phone as I finished watching that recording and I feel myself losing into my sadness.

Phrolova: “Every time I think of what we have become, it is always so crushing, choking. I feel like what had happened to my character in-game, drowning, but rather escaping it, I’m embracing it instead.” Tears drop from my eyes, and I softly sob. I put my face against a pillow and cry there. I continue on that state until my phone vibrated. I checked to see and it’s Rover-chan calling me. I  wiped my tears and calmed myself before answering.

Phrolova: “Yes, Rover-chan?”

Female Rover: “Phroro? You available at the moment?”

Phrolova: “Sure. What’s going on?”

Female Rover: “We got pork roast! Come down here!” Roast pork?

Phrolova: “Didn’t you already treat me yesterday? What’s the occasion now?”

Female Rover: “Just come down here!” Since I was in my casual clothes, I need to look at least presentable, even though I’m in the Kuro’s women dormitory. I put on my white one-piece dress, and I put on a bit of make-up to cover the fact that I cried just now. I immediately went downstairs to see what’s happening.

Phrolova: “So, what’s the occasion you got some---Uwaah!!!” I yelp at the scenery I see myself in. I see ████ gagged and tied up on a long wooden stick. ████ looks at me with dried tear stains on his eyes and he screams muffled as there is duct tape on his mouth. And also, some my female castmates are here too, namely: Baizhi, Camellya, Cantarella, Carlotta, Cartethyia, Changli, Encore, Fleurdelys, Jianxin, Jinhsi, Lumi, Lupa, Phoebe, Roccia, Sanhua, Taoqi, Shorekeeper, Verina, Yangyang, and Yinlin. 

Phrolova: “He’s the pork roast?” I look at him and the rest confused.

Shorekeeper: “Yes.” I can see that Shorekeeper looks very upset. If I recall from his streams or viewing his account, his Shorekeeper is only W3. I guess, being seen as the ‘actual’ wife of the Rover in-game and not getting the same treatment as I did, I’m not surprised that his actions has led to this. Even some of my female castmates are extremely jealous and became…feral.

Phrolova: ‘I told you this beforehand. I guess you reap what you sow.’ What dreaded me is that I saw a bunch of...objects made for torture. I got cold sweat because of it, and it seems like they're preparing all that stuff for...him? Jeez, I'm in the Fractsidus yet we don't do this kind of torture...maybe not, I guess but seeing it in a real capacity does freak me out.

Male Rover: “MGHGHHGMGHHGM!!” He squirms so much but it’s useless as he can’t even budge away with the stick. One of my castmates, the first 'mommy' character, Yinlin, comes over and caresses him forcefully from the chin.

Yinlin: “You decided to W6 and R5 the Fractsidus girl and her weapon over ‘mommy’ characters or even ‘waifu’ characters. Even if I was a 1.0, my waveband is only W2 and you don’t have my weapon, you mongrel.”  Yinlin’s veins on her face became visible until she releases him. Shorekeeper approaches him with the same anger as Yinlin’s.

Shorekeeper: “You think we’re gonna give up after our failure to subdue you by escaping us yesterday? Think again, my ‘star’.” Shorekeeper grabs him on the cheeks as if wanting to squish them before letting go.

Female Rover: “Blood for the Blood God!” Rover-chan raises her arm, and these girls followed suit: Camellya, Cantarella, Carlotta, Cartethyia, Changli, Fleurdelys, Jinhsi, Lupa, Shorekeeper and Yinlin. The rest, including me, who didn’t raise their hands just look at each other in confusion and fear. I approached ████.

Phrolova: “*sigh*…I did tell you before, didn’t I? Look at you, always not listening.” He looks at me shocked as if I questioned the legitimacy of the actions of what I did. He started looking at me with a very angry expression. He speaks but it is muffled. I take another look at the scenario, and I don’t think this is gonna be good. I took a lowkey picture of what is happening. I look back at him, but he’s still angry. He makes a quick head movement towards his right, my left, and I can see the light switch.

Phrolova: ‘But if I plan to make you escape, that will not be enough. We need something more and some others who are willing.’ Remembering that there those raised their arms earlier, I immediately made eye contact with the ones who didn’t: Baizhi, Encore, Jianxin, Lumi, Phoebe, Roccia, Sanhua, Taoqi, Verina, and Yangyang. I slightly nodded and so did they.

A loud ringing can be heard from Baizhi who was the furthest away from ████, and out of sight where the hall light switches are.

Baizhi: “Sorry, Yao and Mortefi are calling. Hello?” Baizhi creates a distraction via phone call (awfully convenient) which can prompt Yangyang who was close to the light switches turned off. The jealous girls’ group became bewildered by the sudden darkness.

Phrolova: “Encore, Verina, Yangyang come with me! Lumi, Jianxin, carry! Phoebe, Roccia, Sanhua, Taoqi, can you handle them?!” The five I mentioned hurried towards ████ and begin carrying him and followed my direction. The other four I called came in defense.

Taoqi: “Of course!” The jealous girls’ group become enraged by this, especially his sister.

Female Rover: “GET HIM!” They all begin to make a fuss as they begin to chase. I lead the rescue group to my room.

Phrolova: “Over here!” As soon as we enter my room, I immediately lock the door. Not before long, I hear some loud thuds on the door, assuming that jealous girls’ group is gonna try to knock my door down. I immediately inspect what to do, but the ties are so complex that unweaving it will be difficult, let alone try to cut because I don’t have a giant pair of scissors to cut something so thick. The least I could do is get the tape of his mouth. He coughs before he screams at us.

████: “You lot! Get Kuro on the horn now!”

Phrolova: “But—”

████: “NOW!!”

Phrolova: “You don’t have to scream that hard at us! Come on, call the staff!” The six girls, including me, who rescued him immediately went to call the Kuro staff. The ringing still continues, while I hear the thuds on my door become louder. I just stand there and sweat due to the situation we’re in.

---A bit later---

████: “Agghhh! That still stings!” ████ exclaims.

Phrolova: “Well, that is some tough rope that they tied you with. Although, I’m quite astounded on what they did to have you like that.” Yeah, I noticed a lot of burn marks from the rope on his wrists, and at one point, I saw on his ankle. It looked like it was tight too.

████: “I was sleeping after all when they tied me up like a pig.” Right now, we’re outside with the rescue group that colluded with me to save him, and the jealous girls’ group that tried to roast him are given a harsh sermon by the Kuro staff inside. The rest of the rescue group decided to play near the courtyard. And it’s just me and him…talking.

Phrolova: ‘This is the first time I’ve talked to him outside work and longer for more than 10 seconds after we broke up.’

████: “Thanks for saving me, aside from your underhanded comment from before.” I wonder what he said when he was muffled.

Phrolova: “Well, don’t blame me. I’m not the one who decided to max my waveband and my weapon.” Then he talks in a very sarcastic and mildly pissed off tone.

████: “Is that so? If that were the case, I shouldn’t have maxed you then. Or perhaps I should get the others to max as well to balance it out.” He starts to walk away as he says it. I gave chase and I grab his arm to stop him.

Phrolova: “Ahh, please! You don’t need to spend that much! Besides, you won’t have enough when Augusta and Iuno will come out.” He stops on his track.

████: “*sigh* Don’t remind me. Kuro may be forgiving on the rewards, but the gacha…not too much.”

Phrolova: ‘I still remember when he streamed last night, and he got my character to max waveband and complete weapon. My heart did pound at the thought that his feelings towards might have returned, but I’m not sure whether he did out of spite or out of love for me. There was still the phrase that Yangyang said yesterday that he would only W6 for characters he loves. But I needed to be sure.’

Phrolova: “Say, ████. What you did last night…do you really…” I couldn’t bring out the words. I wanted to say: ‘mean it’, which would indirectly confirm what his feelings are, should he ever answer. But all I got from him now is him slightly looking away with a sorrowful face. After a few seconds, he begins to walk away, assuming that he’s heading back to his place.

████: “It’s Rover now.” He said with a low and stoic tone.

Male Rover: “Goodnight, Phrolova.” He continues to walk further until he is out of sight. When he said that his name is no longer ████, I shed a tear, for I may be wrong.

Chapter end.

Chapter Text

---???, Male Rover’s POV---

I look around to see that I’m in a…void, I guess. There is nothing around, literal blackness, even looking around 360 degrees. There is a ground that I could step on, but I’m literally stepping on nothing. I don’t even know if I’m walking properly. I take my step forward, and another, just so I could try and keep my bearings. Turns out that I could walk like normal in this space.

Male Rover: “Is this a dream? If it is, it’s so devoid of anything.” I continue to traverse around whatever it is I’m in. After walking for like a minute or two, I see something red on the floor. I went closer to it and then I realize that it’s a lycoris flower. I look around to see that there’s nothing on sight, just this red lycoris. With possibly nothing or no way out, I pick it up. All of a sudden, I’m being dragged onto the floor by immense force.

Male Rover: “NNGGGHHH!” As I’m being dragged downwards, plethora of lycoris rise up from the ground making columns of lycoris going towards the voidless sky and never ending. I still struggle as the force pulling me down is quite powerful, and that’s until I enter a small red circle which seems to be the source of where the lycoris is coming from. I close my eyes as I enter and when I open my eyes…

Male Rover: “No…” I look at the scenery around me and it’s the same place where the ‘finale’ took place. Phrolova is on the other side of the area, with the Gem being between us, and I notice a sword on my hand.

Male Rover: “Why can’t I…” I try to move about, but I can’t control my body. My body is even holding my sword as if ready for battle.

Male Rover: “No…NOOO!!!!” Phrolova begins as she sends Hecate forward, and my body moves to attempt getting the Gem. My sword slams onto Hecate’s hand, repelling a bit but not enough. Our swords collided forcing the Gem into the air, and my body attempts to get the Gem by pushing Hecate away far with a fierce parry. Phrolova then places a lycoris on my chest and restricts my movement.

Male Rover: “Phrolova! Stop!” I attempt to scream for her to stop but to no avail did she respond. Then Abby comes out attempting to get the Gem only for Abby to be teleported away using Cristoforo’s portal. Phrolova then grabs the Gem gracefully, and bows, wilhe Cristoforo appears beside her.

Male Rover: “Don’t!!! PHROLOVA, DODGE IT!!!!” As my body is still not in my control, the lycoris’ effect wears off and my body moves again on its own, as my body throws the sword towards Phrolova’s direction, specifically: at the Gem. However, she moves slightly, and the sword pierces her instead. She looks up as if her body shook

Male Rover: “NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!” I attempt to gain control over my body, and I did so. I ran towards her Phrolova, when her body begins to fall into the sea of energy. I didn’t give a damn about the Gem, but I do towards Phrolova. I dove into the sea as well as Phrolova’s body already went underwater.

Male Rover: “PHROLOVAAAA!!!” As soon as I’m in the water, I dive towards her, attempting to get her out of the water. But no matter what, I couldn’t get closer as she continues to drown onto the abyssal waters.

Male Rover: “AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” I scream as loud as I can while being underwater, knowing that I’m helpless on trying to get her back. And yet, I still swim towards her until I no longer see the colors of her silhouette as she drowns forever. The depths of the water finally got to me as I’ve been going underwater long enough. Long enough that my attempts to reach the surface is futile. It’s as if the sea level has elevated high enough that there is no more surface, just water. I choke as I can no longer breathe, and a couple of words echo through the water.

“Once I dreamt that we were dear to each other. I woke up to find that we were strangers.”

@@Dream End@@

Male Rover: “UWAAH!! *cough* *cough*” I cough hardly as I awoke from my dream…nightmare. I realized that I’m drenched in sweat, and my throat is parched. I hung my head and sighed.

Male Rover: “I…can’t put an end to this. It’s the 3rd one in this week.” I drank some water on the jug I place beside my bed and checked the time: it’s already 5:00 AM.

Male Rover: ‘No reason for me to sleep again. I’d rather be up than witness that monstrosity of a dream, or maybe I could jog in the morning.’ Due to the nightmare, my body jolted awake. The sluggishness that my body used to feel on morning wakeups is not there. With that, I prepare myself to jog for the morning. It’s not something I usually do in the morning, but rather in the afternoon. I got my jogging pants, athletic shirt and my running shoes. I went out of my house and begin jogging around the residential district.

To give an idea on where I live, my sister and I, The Rovers, are living in a house that is very near to the Wuthering Waves’ cast dormitory which is a block away. And the block along with a couple of distance away is owned by Kurogames, making it Kurogames’ residential district. This is why when that roast pig incident occurred, no police enforcement was involved. Should it have been known, it would have been a well-known scandal. Anyhow, I jogged around 25-30 minutes on your typical pace. By the time I came back, I noticed someone else awake in the house.

Male Rover/Female Rover: “…” We just stare at each other in silence. I place my running shoes back into my rack.

Male Rover: “Good morning.” I begin going upstairs to rest as I can’t go to the shower immediately after running, but I got stopped my sister.

Female Rover: “So how long are you gonna keep this up?” I turn to my sister confused.

Female Rover: “Don’t think I didn’t notice. You had a nightmare again and it’s the third time this week.” Despite our kinda not good relationship, we still have that thing as siblings/twins where we know something is off about each other.

Male Rover: “I’ll do something about it, it’s gonna be the weekend after this so I’ll be alright during class.”

Female Rover: “I’m trying to help your wellbeing right now, you know?” Hypocritical, that one.

Male Rover: “Funny how you say that when you girls literally tried to grill me yesterday. You girls just gave me adrenaline rush for that, and even now the pain on my wrists still linger!”

Female Rover: “None of that would’ve happened if you just tell me about how you’re feeling and all!” Alright then, I’ll put you on the spot.

Male Rover: “Oh yeah? Since we’re at this topic, what advice would you give me?” She stuttered for a second, thinking on what to say.

Male Rover: “I thought you already knew what to say.”

Female Rover: “You can’t just put me on the spot like that!”

Male Rover: “I’ve been thinking about this for more over a year, ██████! I suggest you think it through with the same time, but if you don’t, then don’t stick your head where it doesn’t belong!” I stomp towards my room.

Male Rover: ‘Can’t believe starting off the day on a bad note. I have a feeling it would go bad for the rest of the day as well.’

---Later during Class at School---

Male Rover: ‘And of course…it happens.’ Right now, almost at the end of my current class, the professor gives the entire class a pair task. And out of all people to be my partner for this pair task, it just had to be her.

Phrolova: “…” Of course, she’s quiet as well, because it just had to be on one of the classes that we’re classmates at, at Music Performance. The professor has already left the classroom and gave the entire class some time to talk about what kind of performance they would do, since the professor has set the performance date on next week Monday, or in 3 days. I take a look at Phrolova again and she doesn’t even look at me or even talking to me despite being my seatmate already.

Male Rover: ‘If she keeps this up, I might as well have an early lunch.’ I yawned. I was thinking of just sleeping but I don't want to be around her right now. I waited for another minute and she kept up the same attitude. So, I got up and head out from class. Some of my classmates noticed my movements but didn’t bother to call me out. I pulled out my phone texted my lunchmates.

@@Male MC Group Chat@@

Male Rover: “yo, the usual?”

Aether: “yes”

Wise: “yep”

Caelus: “*thumbs up icon*”

Male Rover: “nice”

@@Male MC Group Chat End@@

As I was continuing towards the cafeteria, somebody shouts towards me. And I knew that voice from a mile away.

Phrolova: “Rover!” Seeing as my sister wasn’t on the same class as me this time, it’s obvious that Phrolova was referring to me.

Male Rover: “What is it, Phrolova?” I looked back at her.

Phrolova: “We haven’t discussed yet what to perform for next Monday!” She approaches me as she confronts me pissed.

Male Rover: “Why stress over it now? You haven’t even thought on what to perform.”

Phrolova: “It doesn’t mean that when our professor gave us ten minutes to talk and left, you can go have an early lunch! Besides, its three days of needed practice! How are you going to expect us to perform good if you go off dilly-dally and without consultation?”

Male Rover: “For someone like you, five minutes seem to be a long time for you to decide on what songs to perform, and mind you its two songs at that.”

Phrolova: “All the more reason for us to discuss about it more! Songs that have been chosen are to be submitted through Teams, and half of the class already chose.” I’ve checked Teams on my phone and what she said is right. Some of my classmates have already chosen songs, ones that are really known and some that I would be eager to perform.

Male Rover: “We have about thousands of songs to choose from classical to modern, and you’re being all fussed up about choosing two songs to perform.”

Phrolova: “Have you been listening at class? It’s a duet, and the theme is about love. That makes the song selection less than about 60%. Unless you want the songs to be outside English, Japanese, Korean or Mandarin, be my guest!” Oh god, she’s beginning to get on my nerves.

Male Rover: “Then use old performances from before. Besides, we’re just trying to pass the class, so what’s wrong with redoing our covers from before?”

Phrolova: “You’re talking about our past now, is it!? Do you think you’ll be fine with reusing our old performances from before? Because I have a feeling you won’t!” For a second, my eyebrows twitched as I recalled moments of us doing covers of our old songs. I even shivered because I remember most of the things we did can be seen now as cringe material.

Male Rover: “I-It’s just songs that we sang before, nothing too special…”

Phrolova: “Looks like I’m right! Your face is whinging!” She’s starting to piss me off.

Male Rover: “You’re way too passionate about this! How about you just chill and we’ll talk about this later!? Our homes are even close proximity, so if you want to practice, just go to my place!” I go towards her up-close and personal.

Phrolova: “And what makes you think I’ll even go to your house to practice?! I doubt you’d even let me into your home!”

Male Rover: “Oh, you never ask! You’d just go in yourself!” We’re practically butting heads at this point.

Phrolova: “Screw you!”

Male Rover: “Get bent!” Just as about as our argument is getting heated up, someone we know very well, comes up between us and push both of us away from each other.

Yangyang: “Alright, now you two, calm down. You both are being recorded, you know that, right?” Phrolova and I looked at our surroundings, to see that some bystanders are recording our altercation.

Male Rover: ‘Ah, damn it. I’m gonna be trending again on X(Twitter), and this time, it ain’t gonna be good.’ I begin to walk away until Yangyang stops me as she taps on my shoulder. I looked back at her.

Yangyang: “Rover, I overheard you and Phrolova-chan about your task for next Monday. Please cooperate with her, just so you could put this behind you. And…please try to be friendly and nice with her.” I look towards Phrolova, and she just looks at me with a slightly angry face. I turn around to go on my way.

---Lunch Time---

Male Rover: “I’m sorry, guys. We have to eat at the rooftop again.”

Aether: “Don’t worry about it.”

Wise: “It’s actually quite refreshing to eat here with the subtle wind blowing.”

Caelus: “I might as well consider sleep here for the night.”

Aether: “There you go with your raccoon-like behavior, nephew.”

Male Rover: “Oh yeah, Wise. How was it being in the scene with Yuzuha and Alice?”

Wise: “They’re great, both of them. Although it isn’t as comparable as being with Miyabi and Zhu Yuan, although the pair duo seems to be similar to that of Evelyn and Astra.”

Aether: “That’s Phaethon for you. The stealer of hearts in New Eridu.”

Wise: “Hey, don’t tease me now, Traveler. Even I heard that Citlali is becoming your first official wife in-game.”

Male Rover: “Oh yeah, there were a lot of moments like that. I think Ayaka-san wouldn’t like hearing another Cryo user becoming the Traveler’s beau.” Oh, I remember the amount of sh*t being thrown around because of this. Some noisy people are hating on Citlali just because she’s mostly shipped with Aether and because it’s a hetero ship. This is why we never listen to the Western fandom.

Aether: “Hey, don’t you put my wife into this! And don’t include me into your games now, damn it! And why are you forgetting my nephew, huh?!”

Wise: “So, you do admit it?”

Caelus: “Woah, woah, wait a sec. Why am I getting dragged into this?”

Wise: “Because I’ve been hearing that you might’ve NTR’d Cyrene from Phainon. Although the new trailer is amazing.”

Male Rover: “Yeah, finally we get to see all the Flamechaser…I mean, the Chrysos Heirs. By the way, is Cyrene…Elysia? From what I heard is that Himeko’s death on Honkai Impact 3^rd was just her being placed in Star Rail. Same actress, but slightly different character. Is that the same case for Cyrene?” Caelus could only scratch his head, because all of us know about the story of Honkai Impact 3^rd but when it comes to the casting, it’s quite complicated.

Caelus: “…I have no clue whether Cyrene is Elysia or whether Cyrene is a relative of Elysia; only Hoyoverse knows that. And I’m not familiar with her family tree much like Acheron is part of the Raiden family, or the Raidenverse. Even then there’s gonna be a character looking like Cyrene to be in Zenless, isn’t that right, Wise?”

Wise: “Yes, I’ve seen that. She’s on the same state as Sunbringer, the one that looks like Void Drifter Kiana.”

Aether: “We have Herrscher of the Void lookalike too, I’m sure that the players would want our shades to be playable after showcasing that bomb of a lore on our Youtube channel. Hell, Ronova manages to become the fan favorite shade.”

Male Rover: ‘Oh man, the flow just shifted from fandom and slightly realistic situations of harems on our end to expies across games. Considering I don’t have much connection to them with that since I’m from Kuro and only PGR is our sister game. Although, I’m glad that they’re not gonna talk about what happened to me.’ The Hoyo trio notices my pauses after they noticed the flow of conversation.

Caelus: “But…harems are a pain sometimes, isn’t it?” Caelus hits the question all of us can relate to. All of us nodded in agreement.

Aether: “Speaking of harems, I’ve heard on Wuthering Waves. You guys basically have Mavuika and Ishtar expies, Augusta and Iuno. But I’m astounded by their elements.”

Caelus: “It’s lightning and wind—err…Electro and Glacio, was it?” I remember the moment they get dripped and I was shocked too. I…Phrolova’s presence on the internet got undermined due to drip and leaks. But that’s every other character on a gacha game.

Male Rover: “Yeah. I thought Augusta would be Fusion and Iuno to be either Spectro or Cryo, respectively. Oh God, I need to farm more astrites if I wanna get them. I used my money for maxing her after all.” Oh, why did I mention that?

Aether: “Oh yeah, I was gonna ask this Rover. I noticed that there are dark circles under your eyes, and you have bandages on your arms. Did something happen…last night? Because we did talk about you yesterday, but you didn’t have the bandages.” Damn, he noticed that bit but at least didn’t mention Phrolova. I rubbed my wrists a bit. The pain faded a bit but I still remember how it felt.

Male Rover: “Yeah, remember how the girls said that they were gonna ‘grill’ me the other day? They actually almost made it happen yesterday.”

Caelus: “What happened?”

Male Rover: “While I was taking a nap yesterday after school, those girls actually tied me up as if I was gonna be their pork roast yesterday. And with the torture devices, I saw some of them: large candles, a wooden wheel, jizo statues, a large drum, and…dildos. I actually dreaded if last night was gonna be the end of my life.” I remembered how it felt being in that state. I just wanted to die, to let me out of my misery.

Wise: “They actually went through with it?” I nodded.

Male Rover: “Yes, and also, please keep this under wraps. This happened on a private place, and the public doesn’t know about this incident, not even the police.”

Wise: “Won’t they get in trouble for this? And that incident has gotten them a slap on the wrist as opposed to your…absences?”

Male Rover: “Well, my absences are observed by the school’s regulations, which is also a semi-public thing. I’m already within the radars of Kuro’s PR because people know that I’ve been absent from school. Of course, I breached a somewhat minor condition, but I wouldn’t be fired immediately because my contract with Kuro has my sister tied into it also; I would just get pay cuts. They just can’t suddenly fire me because of my bad behavior, since my sister would get fired as well, then my sister has grounds for suing. Although, I think my sister would sue me for damages as well, but I could counter-sue her for kidnapping, abuse and torture. On the other hand, what the girls did was on a private area without the public knowing. Since PR easily swept that under the rug, they got a slap on the wrist, which from what Yangyang told me: a large pay cut.” I noticed that Aether was glaring at me. Looks like he knows that I’m trying to steer the conversation another way.

Caelus: “Why only a pay cut? Didn’t they breach the conditions? Aren’t you gonna sue?”

Male Rover: “Yes, they did, and it’s a major one too. However, since they already debuted and are considered public figures, there’s no way Kuro could just release them. If I try to sue them like the example how I would with my sister, it’s just gonna be bad PR. I did consider suing them, but Kuro convinced me for compensation from their salaries, and ultimately, I agreed. So of course, in spite of what happened to me, the girls, including my sister, will get a pay cut for compensation on what they did to me. And there is an added contingency for the contracts after that. I believe you guys also have that same kind of thing on your end.” At this point, I don’t know what to feel or think about my fellow castmates. There will always be bad nuts mixed with the good ones, and I can’t just make any rash decision just because some of my castmates are good people so I can’t just really do a comeuppance on those who attempted to grill me.

Wise: “Yes, all actors/characters must be on their best behavior while the game is still live.”

Caelus: “Uh huh. Our job trying not to be canceled while still being their favorite characters which is very hard to do especially if you have very critical eyes prying on you.”

Male Rover: “So, that’s it. I did a small yet public oopsie and they made big yet private oopsie, and Kuro wanting to sweep it under the rug, it balances out.”

Aether: “And who helped you to escape from the girls?” Of course, he steered it back to where he wanted to go. I remained silent.

Aether: “Rover, don’t go silent on me and don’t you walk away!” I stood up and try to walk away but Aether holds on to my shoulder.

Male Rover: “God, Aether! I don’t want a repeat of yesterday!”

Aether: “You only explained to us your backstory, not what you will do to your current condition! And us three agreed that we will help you on whatever is happening to you. But why are you denying our help?”

Male Rover: “Because I don’t need it!”

Aether: “Individuals who actually need help deny it when they needed it the most!” Aether has an aura that feels with intent. He even looks at me sternly.

Male Rover: “You don’t wanna do this.”

Aether: “Oh, I sure do.” I slapped downward towards his hand that is holding me, and he jumped away from me with a fighting stance. I prepared myself for combat.

Wise: “Guys, don’t make another scene here.”

Caelus: “Uncle, Rover, please stop!”

We run towards each other. I pulled the first jab on him with my left fist, and he parried it with a roundhouse kick using his left foot. Still blocking my first jab, he attacked back with a jumping spinning crescent kick which I blocked with my two hands. The force of the kick made me jump backwards and I backflipped to stabilize myself.

Male Rover: ‘Looks like he’s not joking around.’ He rushed towards me with a butterfly kick to throw me off and I responded with a low spinning heel kick to upthrow his balance. It worked but he threw in a push kick with both of his legs hitting my shoulders pushing me back again. I recovered back again with the hero landing pose and stand up. I rush forward, but my body begins to blank out as if my energy dissipated. Before I know it, my body became very sluggish and tripped forward. Aether caught me before I hit the floor.

Aether: “Caelus, help me sit him!” Caelus rushes towards me and holds my right shoulder as Aether holds my left shoulder. They help me to sit on the bench where Wise is. I cough.

Male Rover: “Why am I…suddenly so weak?”

Aether: “Most probably because you haven’t been eating well. Like I said, you’re becoming skinnier but not the good type of skinny. You’re refusing to eat, to take nutrients for your strength. Your body is no longer matching the strength that your mind is used to.”

Wise: “Here’s some Snickers and water. Eat some.”

Male Rover: “…Thanks.” I grabbed the Snickers bar, ate it and drank the bottled water Wise gave me. Not gonna lie, I haven’t eaten some chocolate bars as of late, and eating one felt delightful. Eating that Snickers bar gave me a bit of energy.

Caelus: “Are you ready to talk now?” I slowly nodded.

Aether: “So, what happened?” I remained silent for a few seconds before explaining what happened before lunch.

Male Rover: “Phrolova and I have an argument as to what we will perform on Music Performance class. We’re supposed to pick two duet romance songs that we will perform on Monday. While I was waiting for her input, which for a performer like her took longer than usual, I decided to take early lunch and texted you guys. You might’ve seen clips of us arguing around social media by now. After that, Yangyang had to separate us both.”

Wise: “And have you chosen yet?” I shook my head.

Caelus: “Why not?”

Male Rover: “I don’t know…just a lot of things going on my head when it comes to her.”

Aether: “Rover, I recalled you saying something before like if you maxed a character and their weapon, that you actually love that character. Why is it that you act somewhat spiteful around her despite what you said? You’re still acting like her bitter ex.”

Male Rover: “Well…it is I am her bitter ex.”

Wise: “And you’re letting it get in the way of your studies?”

Male Rover: “Look at me, I’m still a mess. I can’t even fight Aether. I had less sleep today because of my nightmares about her. I’d rather take a break rather than wasting my time dealing with her.”

Wise: “Even at the cost of your own grades?”

Male Rover: “…” I can’t answer that. I know what I’m doing is reckless and selfish, but it’s hard enough for me to cope. I guess the easiest yet unhealthiest way for me right now is to just block out everything, however that has become useless as time progresses. Aether comes nearer to me.

Aether: “Have you talked with her?”

Male Rover: “No, I would rather not deal with her.”

Aether: “As far as I can see, I don’t think you have much of a choice.” I look at him in confusion.

Male Rover: “Why?”

Aether: “Your current anguish is centered around Phrolova. You said so yourself, you both are exes. She was the love of your life, and then now: you’re co-stars/co-workers. You can’t really run away anymore, Rover. Your past will catch up to you.”

Male Rover: “You make it sound as if it’s easy to talk with her.”

Wise: “Because it is. She approached you for pair task, didn’t she? She was willing to set aside her bitter feelings about you just so she could accomplish a task for school.” As they continue questioning me, I feel very cornered by this. I want this to end.

Male Rover: “As if she’s gonna make it easy for me to do the task with her. Please, stop ganging up on me.” The two of them stopped questioning me as I told them to, calmly.

Caelus: “One question: do you still love her?”

Male Rover: “Jeez, Caelus. You always ask the most sensible questions.”

Male Rover: ‘What do I feel about her? Do I love her, hate her? I don’t know. Ever since our shooting, my emotions for Phrolova amplified once I saw the main story for v2.5. I guess Caelus’ question is the root of my anguish. However, I’m not sure from whose emotions these are; whether my own or is it ████’s. ████’s relationship ended on a bad note in which his emotions turned from love to hate, and Rover was born with the remnants of ████’s emotions. And I already told Phrolova that ████ is gone. I’m not sure how to feel about her.’

Male Rover: “I...”

Chapter end.

Chapter Text

---Later that Day, Phrolova’s POV---

Male Rover: “Why is there suddenly a karaoke night at the start of weekend? I’m freaking tired, damn it.” Rover-kun asks with a stern voice from beside me.

Phrolova: “Don’t ask me. Ask your sister.” I answered back with a stern tone too, although I would understand why he’s like that right now because I’m also the same way. Earlier, I was invited by ██████ (yes, I know her actual name since ████ told me before, but I don’t call her by her real name), for karaoke night on a KTV near our residences. I recall the moment she sent me a voicemail earlier for the invitation.

Female Rover: “Hey Phroro! I’m karaoke night on the KTV near us. Got some of the castmates that are willing to join. I’m inviting you too, but you can’t say nope! See you later!” Again, like with the other day, I don’t want to get killed by denying her invitation.

Male Rover: “Sis! Why’d you suddenly do a karaoke session tonight?!” As the background is kinda filled with talking, laughter and background noise, Rover-kun shouts to her sister.

Female Rover: “Because I want to! But I don’t recall inviting you into this!”

Male Rover: “Ask Phrolova over here!” Well, it’s true that I invited him into this but that’s because of what he did earlier, and he’s gonna pay for it.

Phrolova: “It’s for our task that will be done on Monday! Might as well have him practice here and now. This is for not cooperating with me earlier and because of that: you’re looking with me for catalogues of duet romance songs since the ones I wanted to perform have been taken by our classmates. Although I had Yangyang find you for me.” I look at him and he has a grumpy expression on his face.

Male Rover: “Urgh, fine.”

Phrolova: “But still, doesn’t your sister save money? I hear her complain that she doesn’t have money and there she goes doing events such as this. Even with what happened last night, she could pull of something like this...”

Male Rover: “She always does this, and sometimes she asks me for money just so her stomach could be filled. I always keep reminding her to save up, but she does this anyway. I just don’t know where’s she getting this much money to host this.”

Phrolova: “And because of that, she’s gonna be broke.”

Male Rover: “I will have to agree with you on that one.”

Female Rover: “Hey! I didn’t say I’m doing this for free! Ya’ll better pay your part right now otherwise you’ll be kicked outta here this instant!”

Male Rover: “Well, I didn’t wanna be here, and I wanna rest. So, goodbye!” I grabbed him by the wrist. He yelped a little bit.

Phrolova: “You’re not going anywhere.” I pulled him back to his seat.

Female Rover: “I didn’t invite you so you could go home.”

Male Rover: “What a f**king attitude that was after last night’s event.”

Female Rover: “Because of that, I have a pay cut, a**hole! I should sue you!”

Male Rover: “I could sue you back for kidnapping, abuse and torture, c**t!” The two of them begin butting heads against each other, and now the entire group is separating these two from escalating any further. We’re in a premier KTV room that hosts from 10-15 people and the contribution per each head is quite big, if you don’t have a job yet. Also, we’re a full session today with the cast coming from our own game: Me, both Rovers, Phoebe, Jinhsi, Yangyang, Cartethyia, Fleurdelys, Xiangli Yao, Brant, Cantarella, Carlotta, Ciaccona, Scar, and Shorekeeper.

Male Rover: “I’m not particularly comfortable in this situation.”

Phrolova: “Why? Because I invited you here?”

Male Rover: “No, it’s because some of the girls who tried to grill me alive last night are here.” His face turns blue as he looks around the room seeing the people who are here tonight.

Phrolova: “Right…” I kinda forgot that last night did happen. I honestly brushed it off since it felt a scene you would see on a slice-of-life, comedic anime.

Phrolova: “Well, now that we’re here, we might as well find some songs that we could use as duets for Monday.” Since the KTV is here, we could search songs to be used for the pair task. I’ve already seen the list of songs my classmates used for their performance and again: all of the ones I want to do are already taken. The others have begun to queue their own songs on the karaoke. The first one to queue was Brant and Scar, planning to rock the house first with an old pop song, I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas. (Ice Breaker Song for the Group (I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas))

Male Rover: “Mind if I take the loo?” Rover-kun says that to Yangyang who was the other person beside opposite mine. He stands up, and I stood up to follow him. When we both exit, Rover-kun turns towards me.

Male Rover: “Why are you following me?” I might know what you’re gonna do, and I’m not gonna let you get away.

Phrolova: “To make sure you don’t leave the KTV with the excuse of going to the bathroom.”

Male Rover: “You…I was going to the toilet, you know? Unless you plan to follow me inside.”

Phrolova: “I’ve already seen what it looked like. Just take a piss.” I throw him off with that side comment after he attempted to throw me off, and it looked like it backfired. He just stared at me, not knowing what to say and just go to the bathroom. I wait in front of the bathroom until he finishes.

Phrolova: ‘I may have sounded uninterested on what he said, but that made me recall the moment when he took my first time. Of course, it was bliss since he was my first and I was his first.’ I blushed a bit when I recall moments of it, until he comes out of the bathroom after a minute. I still follow from behind him, and he glances towards me.

Male Rover: “I’m going back inside, so freaking chill.”

Phrolova: “I’ll chill once you’re inside.” He enters the room and so did I. When I went inside the KTV room, I witness the spectacle that is Jinhsi singing alongside Scar and Brant, and they’re already on the first verse. Rover-kun and I return to our seats. He joins along while I just continue to vibe along. Since the song is I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas, this song is obviously meant to hype up the people inside to sing more. At that, I see the others slightly jumping up and down on their sits while the three singing are standing up near the front rocking it out. The song ended with Brant being the finisher. All of us cheered and clapped.

Female Rover: “Dang, Jinhsi dropping the mic on us!”

Xiangli Yao: “Scar and Brant too.”

Jinhsi: “That song is so nostalgia. I remember those good times as a kid! I just had to join in when Brant and Scar decided to do this song as the icebreaker.”

Scar: “I just wanted to hype the group. We’re on a KTV and yet nobody is singing. Glad that my guy Brant gets the memo, although I’m surprised Madame Magistrate just came in swinging.” Brant laughs haughtily as his in-game counterpart does. To be honest, Brant here in real life is just the same guy in-game. Very hyper, chuuni, but does with a flash and a bang.

Brant: “Har har, no worries, my friend. We ought to be singing merrily on such a place! And as such, our friends should partake on this joyous occasion and perform as well! Now, who is next?” Some of them raised their hands, but the first one to do is Phoebe. And the song she decided to sing is…Sway to My Beat in Cosmos by Robin?

Ciaccona: “Mind if I join you, Phoebe?”

Phoebe: "Sure!” Phoebe nods enthusiastically.

Phrolova: “When did this song became available for karaoke?”

Male Rover: “We’re in a fanfic, anything is possible…depending on the writer.” …What?

Phrolova: “What the hell are you saying?” The song Phoebe chose begins. (Phoebe and Ciaccona Cover (Sway to My Beat in Cosmos by Robin))

Ciaccona: “Oh I’m so gonna record this, Robin’s gonna love this. Hey, Carlotta, can you record us both?” Ciaccona passes her phone towards Carlotta, and she records the two.  Phoebe and Ciaccona starts off singing, with Ciaccona going second voice as well.

The second song, ‘Sway to My Beat in Cosmos’ by Robin, is a song that is…not really my favorite, to say the least. Sorry, Robin, but this is one of the songs where I would wanna hear it every once in a while, or the alternative way is to see her character debut PV. I can understand why people mute the background music when Robin is on her ultimate when the song is constant and in loop. It reminded me of Ciaccona’s but the slightly good thing about Ciaccona’s is that it’s not on a loop, much like Astra Yao’s. It is the same case with ‘If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking’ and I would just wanna hear it when Trailblazer and Firefly are around. Sure, it is kinda like their ship song, but not really my go to, just as a song. The one I’d say that I would keep on a loop is ‘Hope is the Thing With Feathers’.

Ciaccona: “Did you get it Carlotta?”

Carlotta: “Yes~desuwa.” There goes Carlotta and her usual ‘desuwa’. It’s so ingrained in her that every sentence with that phrase, even when she speaks in English.

Phoebe: “So, who’s next?” Fleurdelys raises her hand despite how big she is already. She’s kinda like Hasshaku-sama.

Fleurdelys: “Me, and also him.” Fleurdelys points towards Rover-kun beside me. Even he gets confused.

Male Rover: “W-Why me? And what song are planning to do?”

Fleurdelys: “Die With a Smile by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, and why not with you?”

Male Rover: “I’m not a tenor. I’m a baritone, my voice is not even that high. Sure, I could do some tenor voice, but Bruno Mars’ voice is very high tenor. I’ll have to do falsetto just to match his tone, and I’m not good with falsetto.” Rover-kun’s voice did lower as compared to him in high school, but I heard him sing as of recent and he could do tenor, no problem. I don’t see that’s a problem.

Fleurdelys: “Bruno Mars uses falsetto a lot, so I don’t think that’s a problem. Besides it’s just karaoke, why even bother replicate it?”

Male Rover: “Ah…”

Yangyang: “Rover-kun, just sing. It’s just karaoke.”

Female Rover: “She’s right. Just f**king do it, damn it.”

Male Rover: “Ugh, fine.” So, he easily folds when it comes to Yangyang, huh? I mean I would get it since she’s basically the mother figure within the group. Although his sister doesn’t help.

Cartethyia: “Mind if I join since we have a third mic?”

Fleurdelys: “No, it’s my turn only and because your voice is too high. Rover-kun, sit beside me.” Bruh, Cartethyia pouts and just sits down. And Rover-kun hesitatingly sat beside Fleurdelys.

Phrolova: ‘Huh, I thought she’s gonna throw a tantrum like she did two nights ago. I guess when he is around, she’s gonna be mature. Really, the Jekyll and Hyde people are something.’ Rover-kun is still looking at Carethyia with concern.

Male Rover: “Seems that Cartethyia wants to join in. I know a song that have us 3 singing but it’s a Robin song.” Before they started the song, Rover-kun interjected to somehow have Cartethyia join in on the two.

Female Rover: “Wait, what you’re referring to is the new version of ‘Hope Is the Thing With Feathers’ when Sunday and Robin sing together?”

Male Rover: “Yep, the Halovian Remix version, So, what do you think?”

Phrolova: ‘Oh, I haven’t heard that version yet.’

Cartethyia: “I’m down!” Fleurdelys ponders for a bit.

Fleurdelys: “Fine, but you’re doing the song I mentioned earlier after this one? Can we agree on that?”

Male Rover: “I’m ok with that. Cartethyia?”

Cartethyia: “I just wanted to sing with Rover, so yeah.”

Male Rover: “Alright, I’ll play it.” They start. (Trio of Male Rover, Cartethyia and Fleurdelys (Hope Is the Thing With Feathers 'Halovian REmix' by Chevy, Alice Himora and Griffin Puatu))

The song starts as usual. I've been told by Rover-chan that the difference with the original is that Robin’s part is split into two parts: her usual singing tone, and somehow her…talking voice? I don’t know why this version exists when it’s just both Robin and Sunday singing. Heck, I don't even know why Sunday is singing his 3rd phase boss battle music. Maybe on some universe where Honkai Star Rail is just a pure live service game with the characters not existing in real life, Robin’s voice is divided to the talking and singing parts; possibly having different voices used, I don’t know. Anyhow, the song goes as usual with Cartethyia and Fleurdelys leading the first part of the song until Rover-kun enters through the second verse. There is nothing yet in particular of the remix version that can get me hooked. That’s until the end of the second refrain in which Rover-kun goes high pitch as alternate voice before entering the bridge, and that got me.

Phrolova: ‘Holy shit, that hook!’ I covered my mouth when I gasped. I haven’t heard him sing like that in a while, but when I hear that kind of tone from when he sings, I can’t help but get chills.

Male Rover: “♪ Let my heart bravely spread the wings! Soaring past the night to trace the bright moonlight! ♪”

Phrolova: ‘Oh my god…this isn’t good, I’m getting a bit wet by that. I haven’t heard that reverberation from his vibrato in a long while…’ They added the lyrics of the chorus of Robin’s two other songs into this version. First was ‘If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking’ followed by ‘Sway to My Beat in Cosmos’. When the final refrain goes in, the three alternate their singing until they synchronize. They continue the refrain until it goes to the coda, which the song is finished by Cartethyia. I clapped the three as I was honestly impressed by their performance.

Phrolova: “I thought it would just be a carbon copy of the original version, but the latter part of the song just made it so much better, like I just got chills when Rover almost went falsetto there. Fleurdelys’ part too was a good inclusion, the vibrato across the song, wow…”

Ciaccona: “Same here, I’m quite shocked. I gotta send this one to Robin right now.” Ciaccona begins tapping on her phone as she does what she says. I think she recorded that performance too.

Male Rover: “Yeah, I’m done—” Just as about he’s done with the first song and take a break, Fleurdelys grabbed his shoulder stopping him on his place.

Fleurdelys: “We still have a couple of songs to go through, Rover-kun.” Then rowdiness begins ensuing across the other people present: people wanting to sing with Rover-kun, others wanting to sing themselves.

Phrolova: ‘I’m beginning to think that he might be right about this.’

---2 Hours Later---

Male Rover: “……” Right now, Rover-kun is eating food that he ordered just to keep himself from passing out, as per my suggestion. He is so tired of singing, and I get to see the whole spectacle. He had sung around ten songs with the others. Half of which coming from duet requests by the other girls, and some with the guys and everyone.

Here’s the list of songs which he sung alongside with: 1.) Die With a Smile by Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga sung with Fleurdelys, 2.) Welcome to My Life by Simple Plan sung with the boys, 3.) summertime by cinnamons & evening cinema sung with Jinhsi, 4.) Cantarella by Kurousa-P sung with Cantarella, 5.) With Me by Sum 41 sung with the boys, 6.) Suki Kirai by Honeyworks sung with Cartethyia, 7.) ACUTE by Kurousa-P sung with Cantarella and Carlotta, 8.) Bring Me To Life by Evanescence sung with Shorekeeper, 9.) Where is the Love? By Black Eyed Peas sung with everyone, and 10.) Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen also sung with everyone.

Phrolova: ‘Not gonna lie, some of the songs played are fire, and some of the songs can be classified as romantic duets: the first, third, fourth, and sixth are good choices. However, these songs are already chosen by my classmates. I understand how Rover-kun thinks that it’s quite hard to choose, but at the same time, we could’ve avoided this situation when we’ve chosen some earlier.’ Right now, some of the girls play K-pop songs and are singing along to it. And the guys are also taking a rest because they’re tired since they’re the ones who started. I don’t like K-Pop as much since its not to my taste. And now that I think of it, I’m the only one who hasn’t chosen a song yet to sing. And as about the girls finished, they turned towards me.

Female Rover: “Phroro, sing some!”

Yangyang: “She’s right! We’ve been singing for 2 hours yet I haven’t seen you personally made a choice on what to sing.”

Phrolova: “Ehhh…”

Phoebe: “Come on, Phrolova. It’s just some singing between us castmates, no need to get so defensive and shy.” I sigh.

Phrolova: “Ok, fine.” I begin to look at the music book for some songs, and one caught my attention. It’s a song named ‘I See the Light’ by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi. I immediately that it’s a song from Tangled, a romantic duet from the movie.

Phrolova: ‘This could be it. I haven’t seen this listed in the Teams chat.’ I tap on Rover-kun by the shoulder, and he looked towards me.

Phrolova: “Rover, I think I found a song we could perform on Monday. Our other classmates don’t have this song. What do you think?” I showed to him the song I suggested, and he sat up straight, leering onto the book.

Male Rover: “Hmm…I don’t really mind this one since Tangled was overall a decent film, but are you okay with this: singing a Disney song on Monday?”

Phrolova: “I don’t mind, we’ve done some before.” He shrugs in agreement, and moved near the TV, sitting next to each other. I queued in the song: ‘I See the Light’ by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi. (Male Rover and Phrolova Duet (I See the Light by Rapunzel and Eugene))  I began singing my part which is the first verse and chorus.

This song is one of the songs I’m really interested in performing with Rover-kun, and a song we haven’t made a cover before. Not for the reason because it’s just a romance song but this song is also about self-discovery and realization of one’s true desires. So, for me, this is what I’ve been doing during our time apart. Of course, I didn’t date and have sex with others. My time after our breakup realized that what I did was very immature and lacking foresight and intuition. It also made me realize how much I love him. Sure, our beginnings were that of a fairy tale, the prince meets the princess and ends with a happy ending, but our relationship was, for lack of a better term, hollow. We only shown ourselves to a certain extent but did not wholly. We were not showing our real, bare selves.

After my solo’s finished, Rover-kun starts his part which is the second verse. I look at him and I remember the charm I saw on him when he sings. He’s dazzling and I’m beginning to attract to him, like a moth to a flame. I hesitated to hold his hand, but I just rest my hand on top of his. He finishes his part and looks at me, and we sang together to the final refrain. Not gonna lie, I became emotional but I didn't let my singing falter. I haven’t sung with him for so long that I feel like my old self. We now approach the final stanzas of the final refrain.

Phrolova/Male Rover: “♪ All at once, everything is different

Now that I see you (2x)...♪“

He almost caresses my face but ultimately held back from doing so. He also looked like when we were still dating, but that soon got replaced when his face shows regret. He returned back to where he was sitting, leaving me along in front. For some reason, I began to think about the performances/covers I did with his past, ████. The time I spent with him, the songs I sang with him, our good and bad moments. That action alone made me return to my current reality. I became saddened again, and without thinking, I chose a song that reflects the thoughts I had, especially when we both broken up. (Phrolova's Feelings during their Breakup (When There Was Me and You by Gabriella Montez))

Phrolova: “♪ Because I like the view, ooh-ooh

I thought you felt it too, when there was me and you ♪“

I don’t know why, but it felt like I was on a trance. Those three minutes felt like the moment I let my emotions take over and it screamed. My emotions began running wild as my eyes start to tear up, but I didn’t let them fall. I looked around and the whole room was in silence, even my own fellow Fractsidus ally, Scar, is in silence and shock. And then out of nowhere, Rover-kun goes in front, grabs a mic and queues his own song. I look at him and I just don’t see his expression; his eyes are covered by his hair. I see what the title of song he chose: ‘Glimpse of Us’ by Joji. (Male Rover's Feelings during their Breakup (Glimpse of Us by Joji))

Phrolova: ‘Oh, why this song? You’re laying it in thick, you know. It’s so obvious that this is your answer to what I sang earlier. Please…just stop.’ He starts singing, and I can hear the solemn voice in his singing. It feels like he’s grieving on his past lover, which is me. This song exemplifies the emotional baggage from his previous relationship, whether losing his former lover from death or breakup, to his current situation.

Phrolova: ‘Is there really no salvation for being us again? Am I that far gone from you? Or are you that far away from me?’ While he continues the bridge for the last refrain, tears start falling from my eyes. I can’t handle this anymore. I remain there in silence.

Male Rover: “♪ Hoping I'll find a glimpse of us ♪ “ After him finishing the song, I immediately booked it out of there.

Female Rover: "Phrolova!" Rover-chan calls for me but I didn't look back as I want to be away right now.

Phrolova: ‘Why am I like this? Why does my heart aches? I thought that it’s not fully over between us. But why does it feel like it does?’

---3^rd POV---

After Phrolova went out of the KTV, the remaining people inside were left puzzles on what to do. Phrolova’s and Male Rover’s actions were so heavy that the attendants inside unwilling to move because of the spectacle. That’s until someone stood up and walk up to Male Rover. Female Rover is furious because the event that she hosted has been ruined by those two. Since, Phrolova isn’t around, Female Rover went to the other person present to receive her rage. However, another person stood and immediately went towards Male Rover and slapped him across the face. It was Yangyang.

Yangyang: “I pleaded for you, Rover. I only asked you one thing, and it’s just to be nice and friendly with her. Why can’t you do that?” Yangyang looks at Male Rover with tears on her eyes. Male Rover can only clench his fist in frustration.

Chapter end.

Chapter Text

---Kurogames’ HQ, The Next Day, Male Rover’s POV---

Male Rover: “…” I make through my way to the hallways of Kurogames’ HQ. I have been summoned to HQ today, and I’m pretty sure that the events prior to this have been the cause of concern. Before I went to sleep last night, there was a slightly ominous and militaristic message from one of the secretaries in Kurogames, saying: ‘You are summoned tomorrow at HQ to meet Sierra Lima on time 0900. DO NOT be late.’ Of course, Sierra Lima refers to the big boss himself, Solon Lee; CEO of Kurogames and Wuthering Waves’ producer and director. After a few more minutes of walking, I found myself before his office. I take in a few deep breaths.

Male Rover: “*breathes in and out* Ok…” I knocked on the door which prompted a “Come in!” from the inside of the room. I open the door, and I see him on his desk doing some work before greeting me.

Male Rover: “Excuse me.” I enter the room and bow towards him.

Solon Lee: “Ahh, Rover. Please come in and have a seat.” He stands up from his seat, bows, and gestures me towards the seat. I sat down on a chair opposite his desk where he gestured to.

Solon Lee: “I take that you know why you’re here.”

Male Rover: “Because of what happened in the last couple of days. Although, I would assume that the 2.5 as a version is already a success.”

Solon Lee: “You would be correct, but your actions as of late have been the cause of concern.”

Solon Lee: “When the boards have discussed about the possible retaliations of the main story of v2.5, what happened to you was one of the possibilities and we’ve implemented some emergency protocols for yours and your sister’s safeties. We were ready to place in some lawsuits against those who might’ve injured you 2 days ago.” Lawsuits? I know that Kuro ain’t in the red, but they’re willing to go far for this?

Male Rover: “Wouldn’t there be a repercussion if this company decided to represent me for whatever legal trouble I would get into?”

Solon Lee: “Under contract, we are liable to whatever happens to you, and we will dispatch our lawyers to represent you. But that’s besides the case, I wanted to talk about what you did.” He showcases the stream I did 2 days ago from his monitor which he showcased my W6 Phrolova and R5 Lethean Elegy.

Solon Lee: “While you getting harassed and hurt were one of the expectations, you maxing Phrolova’s resonance chain and ranking her Lethean Elegy to rank 5 was not one of them. Look at it this way, v2.5’s main story is pretty much within control and in the interest of the company, and the resulting reaction of it on the gaming community’s end is, relatively: a good thing for the company and a controlled variable. But you just randomly streaming and did that was out of our control, and, generally, we couldn’t control whatever backlash we would get. Although you are technically supporting the company, you’re making it harder for a lot of people inside the company, including yourself.” I could only look down in shame.

Male Rover: ‘I do realize that what I did confused the heck of a lot of people. Although we have a certain amount of freedom within the company, livestreams and such except for explicit material, it sometimes gets regulated by the company staff. My stream got me a new set of backlashes and confusions: my absurd luck on pulls, which frankly I do not care, and people assuming that I have romantic feelings for Phrolova, which they’re on the mark. And there’s also the girls’ (Wuthering Waves female cast) reaction to that. Although I directly didn’t do anything to them, it’s my past words that caused them to do what they did to me last night. However, I know the root of the problem, and it’s not something I frankly want to just do something about.’

Solon Lee: “I also noticed that whenever Phrolova is around, you tend to skip on your scenes with her and let your twin sister do the work. Although you do some of her unwanted scenes in return, she and other directors have already complained about your movement at work. There is also the 3-day absence of school that you voluntarily did so…and what you did last night.” Wait, how did he know that?

Male Rover: “What? How did you know?” There were only my castmates last night: my sisters, Phoebe, Jinhsi, Yangyang, Cartethyia, Fleurdelys, Xiangli Yao, Brant, Cantarella, Carlotta, Ciaccona, Scar, Shorekeeper, and Phrolova.

Male Rover: ‘I doubt that Phrolova would tell the CEO that I did, but she could in the worst case. The rest have their general reasoning to report that to the CEO, but there is an individual that has high motive to report me: my sister. I’ve lashed out at her several times, gotten pissed at her, and even screwed her event yesterday. She has a lot of reasons to do this.’

Solon Lee: “It was Yangyang.” Yangyang?

Male Rover: “Yangyang…told on me?” He nodded.

Solon Lee: “Now, what you did already counts for multiple breaches of contract. So, as your boss, there’s enough evidence that I could lay down punishment for your actions. Seeing as I can’t let you go through our contract, and considering what happened in the past few days, I will give your penalty in the form of a pay cut, that is not as big as your sister’s…” Pretty much what I expected from my talk with my other peers yesterday. But still, I’m getting my salary lowered because of this, it sucks.

Solon Lee: “And work suspension for a month.” WHAT!? I stand up and looked in shock before I bow down again to cover my face with my fists clenched in frustration.

Male Rover: “Will that be all, director? If it is so, I’ll take my leave.” I immediately bow and tried to take my leave.

Solon Lee: “And as your friend, I need you to ask you this. Are your feelings to Phrolova as ████ still there?” As soon as the director asked that question, I stopped.

Solon Lee: “Come back here, you don’t have to sit if you want to.” I approach back to the table.

Solon Lee: “It’s not only them who noticed your movement, so did I. I didn’t say anything until that one time. But you do remember that, right? And the advice I gave you?” He stood up and goes towards me.

Male Rover: “Yes, it’s the time you noticed my expressions of scorn whenever Phrolova is involved, and the advice you gave me was talk to her.” This is the same advice Aether gave me yesterday, which is the best solution for me, but I haven’t heeded that advice because I wasn’t ready or willing at all to talk with her.

Solon Lee: “Well, have you done it?” I shook my head.

Solon Lee: “Why not? I told you that’s all you need.” I turn around just to calm a bit, before I say what’s on my head.

Male Rover: “Because everywhere I go, I see her face. The times I act with her, it reminds me of the time I was with her. I have said I was fine and moved on but look at me: I’m lamenting on what we had, hoping I’ll find a glimpse of us.” I just said was on my mind, but somehow that felt familiar.

Solon Lee: “That’s a very nice rephrase of some lyrics and inclusion of an Avengers meme.” I can only sweat at his remark.

Solon Lee: “Anyways, that’s the advice you really need because you’re stuck between your feelings from your past and the current. It affects you a lot more than you think, not only emotionally and mentally, but also physically and professionally. You’re slimmer and dimmer than you were months ago.” The director mentions again the words said from Aether’s mouth about my physicality that it might go on a decline.

Solon Lee: “The road you’re going down right now could be the path when the Rover didn’t erase his memories: a life of struggle. Why not follow what your current in-game counterpart’s footsteps?”

Male Rover: “What’re you trying to say? Go through the amnesia route myself?” He shakes his head as grabs my shoulder.

Solon Lee: “I should’ve said that better. From my view, you only have two choices: reconcile your emotions or renew them. You see, right now: you’re avoiding the problem. It’s inherently a temporary solution but it doesn’t solve the root problem, and it will catch up to you. *pauses* How about this, Rover…if you can make up with Phrolova and correct your mistakes in the next…three days, I’ll take down your activity suspension. What do you think?” That’s…an offer undeniably good, as it is trying to tie in all what is happening with me. I will agree to this, but it will be difficult. I nodded as a sign of affirmative for him.

Male Rover: “Good, now I have another meeting, Rover. So, good luck.” The director goes out of his office.

Male Rover: ‘Make up with Phrolova, huh…easier said than done. But my motivation seems ludicrous as it seems like I’m trying to save my salary as opposed to actually try make up with Phrolova…’ Then I hear the door open again.

Solon Lee: “Ahh, before I do forget, there’s something valuable that you might wanna know which will serve as a hint for you.” I look at the director by the door.

Solon Lee: “Phrolova was actually the one who drafted and gave the v2.5 story idea to us.” After hearing this information, my eyes widened as if the whole world has stopped.

Male Rover: “…What?”

---Phrolova’s POV---

I’m currently playing Wuthering Waves on my computer, and I keep repeating the same song I sang for Rover last night.

Phrolova: ‘Why am I torturing myself by singing this song again?’ I hear a very specific ringing tone from my phone. The song I made titled: Reveries in the Crimson Beyond is playing.

Phrolova: ‘No…’ I look up at my phone and it is him calling me. I have him in my contacts although it’s no longer the same number we used as before. All castmates have contact numbers with each other, but it’s usually the girls who usually contact me, and sometimes Kuro staff and fellow Fractsidus members. Nevertheless, I set the ringtone for him with my song should he ever contacted me. And for the first time ever since our breakup and entering the company as a fellow actress, he finally contacted me. I was contemplating whether I should answer or not but remembering my concern about our task on Monday, I answered.

Phrolova: “Hello? Rover?” I call out to him, trying to minimize the nervousness on my voice.

Male Rover: “Ugh…good morning, Phrolova.” I can tell he’s nervous too on the phone. If this were me the old me, I would have giggled.

Phrolova: “Yes, good morning to you as well.”

Male Rover: “Umm…do you happen to be available later?” I look at my calendar which is usually at the side of my table and see that I have nothing scheduled for today, and it’s already 10:30.

Phrolova: “I have the whole day free today.” He stays silent for a bit.

Male Rover: “Alright. I’m getting coffee…if you’d care to join me.” The way he invited me was actually…quite nice. Just an invitation with no questions asked.

Phrolova: ‘So, he’s asking me out for coffee. I’m not sure what he has planned for me, but rather than refute him, I should at least confront him.’

Phrolova: “I’ll go. When and where?” I hear a sigh of relief from his end. I guess he seemed really nervous.

Male Rover: “Starbucks, the one nearby. 4:30 PM. Espresso Macchiato and Cheesecake, was it?” I kinda love that he tries to determine the one I would order later, sadly he only got the dessert correct. Although, he would be correct if it was a few years ago.

Phrolova: “You’re correct with the Cheesecake, but my favorite drink there now is the Iced Shaken Hibiscus Tea with Pomegranate Pearls.”

Male Rover: “Alright. I’ll see you there then.”

Phrolova: “Yes, see you.” I ended the call after that. And after a short pause, I dove my face onto the pillow.

Phrolova: “*sigh* I’ll need someone to help me for this.” I dialed immediately in Yangyang’s number. She picked it up faster that I thought she would.

Yangyang: “Phrolova, what is it? I didn’t expect a call from you at this time.”

Phrolova: “Sorry, for the sudden intrusion, Yangyang. Are you free right now?”

Yangyang: "I am. Did you need something from me?”

Phrolova: “Yes, I need to talk with you. Can you go to my room right now?”

Yangyang: “Sure.”

Phrolova: “Splendid. I’ll wait for you here.” After a few minutes, I hear a knock on my room. I open the door to see its Yangyang.

Phrolova: “Come in!” I let her in the room, and I let her sit on my chair.

Yangyang: “So what’s the occasion that would need you to style?” I hug my pillow as I told her what just happened a few minutes ago.

Phrolova: “Rover-kun has invited me for coffee.” Yangyang’s face looked concerned after I mentioned him, rather her.

Yangyang: “Are you sure with this? You both left the place in shambles after yesterday, which you haven’t apologized to Rover-chan. And I can kind of piece together what you both felt yesterday. Do you want to talk about it?”

Phrolova: “Just a bit. Can I trust you, Yangyang?” She nodded earnestly.

Phrolova: “Well to start off…”

---Several hours later, 3^rd POV---

It is 4:00 PM, 30 minutes earlier than the supposed meeting time. Male Rover has already arrived at the Starbucks that is nearby his and Phrolova’s dormitory.

Male Rover: “…” Male Rover sits inside the café on a typical 2-seater dining table, as he sips on his first ordered coffee. He is waiting for Phrolova to arrive, and with him being early, he has to wait around half an hour for her to come. There’s a bit of noise around the café as the Male Rover sits inside the café, this garnered some attention to some onlookers. So, while waiting and to distract himself from other people watching him, he’s browsing on his phone while listening to music played in the café, which he actually has on his favorites in Spotify. At around 4:06, someone has sat in front of Male Rover, but Male Rover was occupied with his phone that it took him a few seconds before looking up to see that it’s her. The café became a bit noisier due to this, as some were taking pictures. Male Rover noticed this and looked at the onlookers with a stern side-eye, and everyone affected immediately retreat to themselves and stopped observing. Male Rover reverts his attention back to Phrolova.

Male Rover: “Phrolova, you came early. Seems that you’ve given a lot of thought to your clothing as you look elegant today.” After greeting Phrolova, Male Rover checks her out. Phrolova is wearing a shoulder-less white dress with fabric on her neck connecting to various lace designs across the collarbone and shoulders, and 2 pieces of silk: one darkened and one transparent, connecting to the neck fabric and the main dress, and with a treble clef attached to the transparent silk by her chest and a sixteenth note attached to her collar. She also wears black heels, and she doesn’t wear her bandages. This dress is the same dress that Phrolova wears on her backstories on the main quest.

Phrolova: “You invited me after all; I can’t keep you waiting. I also wanted to look my best.” As Male Rover checks out Phrolova, so did vice versa. Rover is wearing a dirty white sweater below a black coat, khaki pants with a black belt, and white sneakers; a smart casual look. Male Rover raises his hand toward the staff, and one of the staff approaches him. Male Rover speaks softly towards the staff that his reserved order can be served for them. The staff understands his request and goes back to their barista stall. While waiting for their order, they just sit in total silence. And for once, they have a resonance on their thoughts.

Male Rover/Phrolova: ‘Well, this is awkward.’ After a few moments, the order Male Rover reserved for them has arrived. An Espresso for the Rover and Iced Shaken Hibiscus Tea with Pomegranate Pearls along with New York Cheesecake for Phrolova. Phrolova looks a bit excited at the food before looking at Rover with a slightly hesitant look.

Male Rover: “Go ahead, dig in.” Male Rover smiled softly her and nods at her to proceed. She smiles back and starts biting on the cheesecake. He crosses his right leg and grabs his espresso. It was fairly hot for his mouth, so he blew on the cup a bit before drinking. He looks at Phrolova as she delightfully eats the cheesecake and drinks her refresher drink. Phrolova notices his gaze, so she grabs a slice through her fork and attempts to feed him.

Phrolova: “Aahh…” Male Rover was reluctant to accept because he did buy it for her, but Phrolova put on a sad face that which made him feel guilty. Male Rover knows that she won’t budge when she forces him into a situation like this, so he sighed and ate the slice she provided him. She was enthusiastic about this and continued to drink and eat, but she also noticed the slight missing part of this, which is the conversation.

Phrolova: “Rover. I know why you invited me out today, it’s so we could talk, isn’t it?”

Male Rover: “Yes, but we can’t be talking here when other people could be eavesdropping on us. I do not want another incident to occur with the online community being the forefront of it, after all. We both have enough incidents as it is. By the time you finish, we’ll talk someplace else. But don’t be concerned that you have to rush, we can take our time.” She looks slightly downward, not knowing what to say. Nevertheless, she keeps eating her cheesecake. After a few moments, Phrolova has already finished her cheesecake but has barely drunk her refresher drink and Male Rover has finished his espresso.

Phrolova: “Let’s go.”

Male Rover: “But you’re not finished yet.”

Phrolova: “We can talk as we walk.”

Male Rover: “Alright then.” Male Rover stands up and so did Phrolova. Phrolova wraps her drink with plastic as it has been condensed after being left untouched and picks it up. Male Rover cleans up what they ordered back to the tray and left it on the tray station. Both of them leave the Starbucks café and proceed to go somewhere else. The two aren’t yet talking so there is more of that awkward energy between them, but Phrolova, on Male Rover’s right, hesitatingly hugs him by the arm while walking and drinking. Male Rover let her do what she wants. But there is one important thing that both of them are feeling right now: Phrolova is distressed, but Male Rover…is in despair.

After a few minutes of walking in silence, they found themselves near the riverbank. It is already 4:35 in the afternoon, and a part of the sky is starting to dye orange. The two of them settle by a bench, well; Phrolova sits down while Male Rover still stood a bit away. There is no one nearby that could disturb them and from what Male Rover saw: no one else to eavesdrop as well. Phrolova decides to break the ice by starting off.

Phrolova: “So, what did you want to talk about? I assume our task on Monday…” There was a somewhat long silence from Male Rover until he talked.

Male Rover: “I thought that…by starting my new life as the Rover of Wuthering Waves, that I could break the shackles of my feelings for you and start anew; and that probably include possibly fall in love again, maybe with you again. But from what I’ve learn this morning made me realize that shackles of my past, as ████, has never broken but only hidden. So, Phrolova, let me ask you…” Phrolova senses a surge of emotion about to come out, and she felt fear as Male Rover rotates around to look at his somewhat devoid eyes.

Male Rover: “Why did you make that story?”

Chapter end.

Chapter Text

---Male Rover’s POV---

Male Rover: “Why did you make that story?” I question Phrolova the very question that haunted since this morning. I may have invited her out today, but I didn’t intend this outing a casual and lenient one. I do this with the intention of getting the answers and officially settle my feelings here and now.

Phrolova: “*sigh* So, we’re not gonna talk about Monday? If that’s so, then let’s not continue this.” Phrolova stands up and attempts to walk away. I immediately grab her arm to prevent her going away.

Male Rover: “We’re not going anywhere until you talk! You have run away before and left me with nothing to say. I’m a man so turn around and say it to me, don’t you think I’ve got something to say?” Phrolova looks at me with tears on her eyes,

Phrolova: “Then who am I talking to? The Rover or ████?” A question I didn’t expect to hear from her.

Male Rover: “Both.” I let her arm go and distanced a bit from her.

Male Rover: “I have told you that it’s now Rover, and ████…is gone, but he keeps coming back like a phoenix. He keeps returning but it was just little instances that I can easily snuff, but ever since v2.5 came out, I’m a mess and that’s not even a joke.” I remember the instances of my abnormal state: my 3-day absences on college, me changing schedules with my sister whenever Phrolova is on the story, my livestream of Phrolova pulls, and yesterday’s karaoke session.

Phrolova: “Then why need to ask me if the problem is all about you?!” She exclaims that after hearing my short explanation.

Male Rover: “Because I blame this on the v2.5 story! I blame this on the one making a masterpiece of a quest! I blame the thing that made me torn! I blame the author! I! Blame! You!!” I approached her wildly and pointing at her, touching her clavicle, saying all of that in a fiery rage tone.

Phrolova: “And you think I’m the only one at fault!? That you yourself aren’t blameless to this?!” She pulls on my sweater as she pulls me towards her and returns her accusation towards me with tears running down her face. We look at each other’s eyes with just rage. Understanding the fury between us, we separate from each other for a bit, not looking at each other. After like a few minutes unsettling silence, I sit back on the bench with my back facing towards her. I have no idea where she is still there or not, but I refuse to look at her. I feel someone sitting behind me, I took a quick glance, and it is her.

Male Rover: “When I saw you again at Kuro HQ, my heart fell out of my chest. I thought my life as ████ has been closed forever, but I thought I could rekindle the light between us when I reached out to you. And yet, when you pushed me away with an uninterested and cold look, you ultimately killed ████; and Rover came to be. If you’re going to ask me how I tolerated you while at work, it was fairly simple: the less I see you, the less I would care. And it would be easier on my end to keep treating as how my in-game self has been treating you, an enemy, my antagonist. But that quest…that quest ruined me to the core. That’s why I needed to ask why you created it.” I lay out everything I ever felt for the almost two years’ time. It is strangely therapeutic but at the same time, I’m not even proud of doing this in front of my ex; technically, behind her.

Phrolova: “I see…then what do you think is the story that I’ve written about? What is my message to you?” She’s asking about how I understand the synopsis of the story and what she’s telling me? If I have to summarize that 3-hour quest into a couple of sentences and including what the director told me and also what I felt during the entire quest, it would be this.

Male Rover: “I don’t know. Your hate letter towards me; you providing a story that could possibly cancel me; you denouncing our former relationship. That’s all I could think.” I hear a slight sigh from Phrolova’s end.

Phrolova: “At least you got some right but…I guess I gotta explain from top to bottom. First of all, your answer couldn’t be nearer to what I intended the story to be. But I’ll give you the summary: this story reflects my life, and it is something that fulfills every desire of mine.”

Male Rover: “That’s very abstract, and it feels like it’s already done that.” She sips on the drink that I bought her from Starbucks.

Phrolova: “I am the author, as you said, and it goes deeper. I know what story I written, don’t distract me. So, from the start of the quest, the Rover and my in-game self are reconvened due to the continued progression of some parts of the story in Rinascita: The Order of the Deep and the Dark Tide. Phrolova has saved the Rover from being drowned after being thrown into the sea, by Fenrico to their doom, to the Fabricatorium of the Deep, a deep-sea location made by the Fractsidus and the Order of the Deep. You’re also given the option to whether you can trust me or not. I trust you understand what the meaning of that part is, yes?”

Male Rover: “Yes, it was our long-awaited reunion. One that I was very uncomfortable to do because I remember you demanded me to be on camera with you.” Yes, this is one of the times that she demanded me to be on camera as opposed to letting my sister do it. She giggled at that.

Phrolova: “Fufu, it was your fault that you keep avoiding me. Of course, in the game you get to choose whether you chose to trust me or not, but that just ultimately leads to our in-game selves to cooperate together against Fenrico. I also stated there that the Lost Beyond shall begin its emergence. The Lost Beyond, a paradise (Sonoro Sphere) I created to fulfill a distant and selfish promise. However, it required Mya’s Gem, which has the Threnodian’s power, in order for the Lost Beyond to sustain forever, and Fenrico plans to use the Gem and seize my creation for his own purposes.” There is a part that I got very confused at.

Male Rover: “I got confused on this part. If you hid the Gem in the Lost Beyond, where was the Lost Beyond and how did Fenrico managed to get it?”

Phrolova: “Sonoro Spheres are unstable and with the Lost Beyond tied to my life, and the instability of my strength after Fenrico turning on me, it was inevitable that he was going to find it…wait a second. Do you not read the loading screen? There is a loading screen of the Lumen Tower: ‘The central tower of the Fabricatorium of the Deep, where the Lost Beyond is created’. Don’t you read what’s on your screen??” She sounded like she was talking to someone who is stupid…well, I am stupid but I’m not that daft!

Male Rover: “There were no loading screens during the quest, and even then, who the hell looks at loading screens?!”

Phrolova: “Somebody who doesn’t pay attention!”

Male Rover: “More like make it clear for your viewers during the quest! You can’t just let cinematic determine sh*t when we haven’t even reached there yet!”

Phrolova: “Sounds like a skill issue to me.” I leaned back hitting her a bit.

Phrolova: “Hmph. Anyhow, we continue exploration to see the Orchestration Table, a puzzle that is closely related to my character, which they are eight of, and the Echo Brooders, which ties in Phrolova’s lore of experimentation with Tacet Discord. I’m fifty percent sure you know what that means.”

Male Rover: ‘To answer her first question, the Echo Brooders are just Phrolova’s in-game counterpart’s continuing her research about Tacet Discords, Reverberations and Echoes, which is a nod at her first appearance on v1.0. And that’s the ‘first time’ the Rover and Phrolova met, both in-game and reality. With the correct answer I gave earlier, I guess that’s the kind of answer she’s expecting from me. So, I guess that’s the answer…’

Male Rover: ‘For her second question, there are 8 Orchestration Tables around the Fabricatorium of the Deep: the first 3 are done through the story and 5 others for exploration. I remember that solving them have messages but honestly some of them don’t resonate with me as much. And with the number 8…I don’t remember anything during and after our relationship that has to do with the number 8, and the only thing that comes to mind is: the number of times when Phrolova notes down that Rover didn’t and will not come on her concerts in-game. I’m not sure about this but that’s the only answer I got.’

Male Rover: “It’s the number of times Rover didn’t come to Phrolova’s concerts, isn’t it? And it’s our ‘first time’ meeting.” I said with an unsure tone.

Phrolova: “Both wrong. The Echo Brooders are just a subtle note of my characters’ crimes in v1.0. And the 8 Orchestrations, which has the music sheets from Phrolova’s music, and what you just said are not connected. It’s just added lore and puzzles for my in-game counterpart and the game; the ‘8’ is just a coincidence. Looks like even you, the one who was broken from our relationship, can’t even remember that we have done so many things that 8 is too small a number for us!” Oh, you snarky, little…

Male Rover: “God! You’re so annoying! Just continue, you ass!”

Phrolova: “Heh. *mumbles* On the exploration, the more Phrolova uses her ability, her hallucinations became worse, and she found out that the Threnodian’s power is causing disturbances in the Lost Beyond. Having thought that her time has finally come, Rover attempts to heal her using the Aero power. Succeeded, they found Fenrico’s recording nearby which states what I said earlier: Fenrico plans to seize control of the Lost Beyond and the Gem, and he has been influenced by the Threnodian. While entering the Energy Hub after the second Orchestration Table and bickering on the way, we both got separated from each other due to Fenrico’s traps. I knew that you haven’t trusted me yet, so I gave you: my baton. Honestly, I’m still upset that you sliced that thing back in v2.0 like it meant nothing to you.”

Male Rover: “It was part of the script, and I never thought you would use the baton that I gave you back in high school. I’d ought you have copies, even if they are fake to use on a scene where I use weapons!” I actually thought she would have done this, because this is basically like a set where you act. Why would you use the actual gift that I gave as a prop on set?

Phrolova: “Oh, you shut up; because of that I had to make copies of the dress I’m wearing now! Hmph. Anyhow, we had to split up to find the pages, and on your end, you found my in-game counterpart’s research about everything related to the Waveworn Phenomena, Tacet Discords, Sonoro Spheres and such. While on my end, I encountered the Grand Architect in the form of Triss and planned to trap you in order for the Fractsidus’ plan to continue. The intensity of the Lost Beyond has begun to affect her, but she pushed through to get the other music piece until explosions occur as it is another trap set. We reunited and escaped by doing extreme parkour. By the time we arrive at the Orchestration Altar, I let you do the orchestration. I’m sure that felt nice for you when you do it.” Not gonna lie, when I keep holding that baton, I keep getting reminded of that moment when she screamed in agony, and I’m pretty sure she deliberately hands me her baton as a reminder.

Male Rover: “With how many times I held your baton during the quest, it’s as if you’re deliberately reminding me of when I sliced it. Let’s just continue, what about the part after that?”

Phrolova: “Believe it or not, the thing with the lantern of Napoli, the Acolytes, and the Harbinger, I didn’t write them. It was added by the story developers as extra exposition for the plotline of The Order of the Deep. If you were wondering why: it felt as if Fenrico’s plotline was inconsistent or lacking, it’s because it’s not my idea to begin with. You ever wondered why I said some lines that didn’t seem to know what was happening: ‘No. Someone interfered. I’ve never been here before.’ and ‘I don’t know. Nor do I care.’?”

Male Rover: “Yes, I remember you saying that. So that was the case, huh? I did almost rate this a 10/10 if it weren’t for the shabby part of the Order’s plotline. I was wondering why the setup for Fenrico felt flat. I knew I was gonna fight him one way or another, but the leadup was subpar. I thought it was gonna be how like Sunday was in Star Rail, without the Charmony Dove crap. I thought it was you telling me to go f**k myself or something.”

Phrolova: “Well, I made it sound that way to make you annoyed during shooting. The original idea was just us going to the next area and we fight some of the Order, then go to the cutscene where I dragged you into the Lost Beyond and made you explore my in-game self’s past. I only included bits of Fenrico in the beginning to make the plot move along but I did not expect Kuro to go ahead with Fenrico’s plot almost immediately. Although, it wasn’t you who I acted with on this part…why did you let your sister take over on this part? It’s one of the parts I wanted to have you on camera with. I even wore what I wore today for the shoot.” Right, she did wear it. It’s the dress that I gave her when we were dating. And the fact that I see her right now, it gave me chills.

Male Rover: “Then I was kinda glad that I didn’t go. Don’t think that I didn’t know what you were planning. I had a nasty feeling that something was off with the flow of the story. I took a sick leave that day, although I was feeling under the weather too.”

Phrolova: “I should report that to HR.”

Male Rover: “If you do, I’ll f**k your life up.”

Phrolova: “Figuratively, or literally?” This girl!! I swear to God! I know that I’ve done her already but…I can’t even retort back.

Male Rover: “…I hate you.”

Phrolova: “Hmph…*murmurs*” She murmurs something that I couldn’t hear.

Male Rover: “What was that?” She coughs a bit.

Phrolova: “Nothing. Anyway, after Rover sees the various documents around. He found that the human villagers became Tacet Discords, before encountering Phrolova again looking for the Gem, which was actually her violin. I’m sure you played through the quest to know what it looks like. The violin was in the water but aside from grabbing it, the water pulls you inside, and you take a peek at my in-game self’s memories: talking with Cristoforo, Fenrico and Scar. Then you found yourself at a stage where my performance begins. Aside from the crowd, it was only you who found the true meaning behind the song performed and made a promise. The Rover expresses his doubt whether what he witnessed were true memories of Phrolova’s or just an illusion. Just when about he’s about to confirm his suspicions, he witnesses another memory of Phrolova’s backstory after meeting the Rover and the meeting and invitation Grand Architect, that which she accepts. I believe that at this time, you came back to act with me.”

Male Rover: “After your relentless demands, I had to.”

Phrolova: “Rover, realizing that he’s been tricked, stops Phrolova on her tracks—”

Male Rover: “That’s enough.” Then I hear a slightly annoyed voice from her.

Phrolova: “What? Tired of hearing my voice?” I said with a slightly defeated voice.

Male Rover: “No, I remember everything after that very clearly…and I wanted for you to take a moment of rest from talking.” I knew the story by that point, and it is the part that really ruined me. Nobody could fathom how much it ruined me, like I said I thought this quest was basically Phrolova’s message to me after our breakup.

Phrolova: “How gentle of you…” There’s a slight sarcasm on her voice.

Male Rover: “I want to know…why did you say that line: ‘Once I dreamt that we were dear to each other. I woke to find that we were strangers.’?” This single line was my breaking point. Unlike parts of the quest which just basically jabs and kicks on me, it never really dealt the finishing strike. But it’s this modified quotation alone, from Rabindranath Tagore, that made the final blow.

Phrolova: “Because…it’s the truth. When you said that you’re no longer ████, that just proves it. Our first relationship is over and gone, leaving us both to be strangers once again. Why would I tell a lie otherwise?” So, my first love and my life as ████, it’s gone. I have known, but deep down, I know I couldn’t just accept as is. I’m beginning to tear up again.

Male Rover: “Shit, I’m sorry. Just the confirmation from you and your story too, it’ll make me shed tears again…even now.”

Phrolova: “Oh, that made you cry, huh. So, it worked on you………me too.” I turn around at her and I see her full of tears. She begins crying again. (Background Music for this part(Kevin Macleod - Heartbreaking))

Phrolova: “Rover, ████. I’m sorry.” Genuine sadness radiates from her face, and I could no longer bear to see her sad. I stood as she stands up and slowly walks towards me. I place my arms around her as she does the same. Her face rests against my chests and she sobs. I rub her back too just so I could calm her down as I can obviously tell that she’s very emotional. I tear up myself because of remembering the quest’s ending.

Male Rover: ‘Seeing that ending broke my heart. Even acting out throwing that sword towards her chest, I had to close my eyes when I heard her gasp. I think that was one of the hardest days I had to go through, because it affected me mentally and emotionally.’ I wanted to sit down again, so she just straddles me from the front but not in a sexual way. After a few moments, Phrolova speaks up again.

Phrolova: “You wanted to know why I wrote that story, here it is. I wrote this because I wanted to let out my emotions, the dark and the light. Every part of that story reflects my life, and it does everything I want it to do. It’s my love and hate letter to you. Our farewell and reunion. My sunshine and penumbra. I wanted to make you the worst and the best person. Revenge and redemption. Affection and animosity. My elegy and my reverie.” As I realize her emotions and my own, I cupped her face with my hands. She looks at me with pure emotion; not hate nor love. It’s just…something pure. 

Male Rover: “I’m sorry too...say, no more lies and promises?” I touched my forehead with hers. I closed my eyes.

Phrolova: “If only: you say the truth.” She held my left hand with her right hand. Being overwhelmed by emotion, I shed tears again for the woman in front of me. We stay at each other’s side for how know long, and by the time we realize, the sun has already set. I need to take her home soon.

Male Rover: “I should get you home, it’s gonna be late.”

Phrolova: “You’re that desperate to get rid of me already?”

Male Rover: “If I was desperate, I would’ve done that way earlier. Besides, its 7:00, I kept you out too long.”

Phrolova: “It still sounds like an excuse to go home.”

Male Rover: “I still have some clarifications from the quest, some minor, some major. We can talk on the way. This time, for sure.”

Phrolova: “Hmm…alright.” I stood up first and gave her a hand. She grabs my hand and immediately hugs my arm like earlier. I didn’t give her any attention but now she will get it, and now we walk home. As for the drink I bought her earlier, she has finished it before we talked and threw it on a nearby trash bin.

Male Rover: “How long did it take for you to write this?”

Phrolova: “About a month or two, I think. I started writing ever since 2.3. Since the story got into interludes, I thought I’d make it interesting for the players to have a story that would have the fandom talking about it, and it worked.”

Male Rover: “But that’s not the only reason you wrote it, isn’t it?” She sighs.

Phrolova: “Yes. You aren’t the only one suffering from the aftermath of our breakup, so did I. Even the fact that I got invited by Kurogames to become part of their cast, I felt that my actions became unjustified. However, seeing you being so chill and talk with the other castmates so easily as you did to me, felt irritating. That’s why I brushed you off.” No wonder why. She actually saw that, but she missed the context from what I remember at least. I vaguely remember what it is I talked about anymore, but I guess just seeing me being chummy with the other girls does spark a hint of jealousy.

Male Rover: “I see.”

Phrolova: “But it also felt gnawing. I remember after that you avoided me; anywhere I go, you avoided me. That’s when I realize that our relationship both personally and professionally became entangled, much that our work affects us and it became strangling too. Even then, I knew that one day we would have this talk, but your resistance is so relentless that I have to do something about it. Still, I underestimated you. But how come only now, what has made you move to finally talk with me?” Looks like my suffering was not only limited to me but to her too. And now this has happened, I need to come clean.

Male Rover: “Earlier this morning, the director summoned me to his office.”

Phrolova: “Solon Lee?”

Male Rover: “Yes. He has discussed with me the contract I have with them. My actions, as of late, have been of concern and PR has apparently dumbstruck on what to do with me. They couldn’t get rid of me whatsoever, so they decided to do a pay cut on me, along with a work suspension for a month. Solon Lee knew of our relationship before, so he cut me a deal: to take down my work suspension as long as I make it right with you within the next few days.”

Phrolova: “And since he told you that I was the one who drafted the story, you could do both; two birds one stone. It’s as if you’re doing this for your job’s sake.”

Male Rover: “Hey, you would do the same. However, I couldn’t just approach you out of nowhere, mainly because I didn’t blame you and…I wasn’t ready to confront you at all. When did you plan to confront me?”

Phrolova: “To be honest, today or tomorrow. I won’t wait any longer especially since we have that task on Monday, much like my counterpart won’t wait for the Rover anymore. We only have a day’s worth of practice after tonight.” Oh right, there was our task that we will perform together. And did you have to mention that?

Phrolova: “But we can save that for tomorrow. Speaking of contracts, I remember something a certain detail within the contract. I don’t remember the entire clause of it, but it struck on me when I first read it. So, let me ask you…have you done it with the other girls?” She asked that with an ominous tone. 

Male Rover: ‘Oh crap, I didn’t think she’s gonna talk about this now.’ I let go off her arm and immediately hasten my walking, and she follows suit. I now have a dark aura following behind me. A twin-tailed braided woman who is following me like the Slenderman feels like I’m being chased with ‘Love me, Love me, Love me’ by Kikuo on the background.

Phrolova: “Hey now, Rover. Don’t run away. I just wanted to ask you. Why are you running now? Are you perhaps feeling guilty, huh? Or maybe you enjoyed them, Mr. Gathering Wives?”

Male Rover: “It’s nothing! Nothing happened! I didn’t do anything!”

Phrolova: “Oh? What happened to no more lies? Not even an hour passed by, and you already broke that?” She keeps coming at me.

Male Rover: “And I said no more promises! Stop this nonsense, you control freak!” I keep walking away hastily.

Phrolova: “You’re one to talk, you philanderer! Scumbag! 4 inches!” That last line got to me and had me pissed off. I turned around and slightly pushed her to the wall and placing my hand beside her head forming a kabedon. She slightly blush as she places her hands beside her head. It was a view I'm very familiar with, and it's the pose she would usually do if she allows to let me do her however I want. I take a few seconds and realize what I’ve been doing is wrong, and Phrolova doesn’t like my reaction.

Phrolova: “Why did you stop? After all that, you would deny me now?” I observed my surroundings, and it felt not safe as we are in public, like very exposed public.

Male Rover: “No it’s just…we’re not yet on Kuro’s residential district, and if see someone sees us, I might get reported for sexual harassment.”

Phrolova: “You already got canceled before, by me and the story? Why not add another one to it?” This girl! I swear to God!

Male Rover: “Hey you! I’m not trying to get a criminal record here!” I grabbed her cheeks and squeezed it, and I don’t know why, but she moaned. I let go of her.

Male Rover: “Oh my god…whatever the hell happened to my ex. I didn’t know she became a masochist.” She just grinned at me smugly. Just by that look, it made me pissed. She calmed herself before talking again.

Phrolova: “So, be honest with me. Did you do them?”

Male Rover: “…Once.” She raised an eyebrow towards me, hinting that I should be really honest.

Male Rover: “O-Once for each of them, except for the young ones. We’re both obligated to do so, which I was wondering when it would be your turn…” She looked at me with a slightly disgusted gaze.

Phrolova: “And you wonder why I was worried about you becoming the MC of the game. Looks like I was right, Mr. Gathering Wives. I was right to push you away when we first reunited. Both of us will do a discussion about this. Especially once Augusta and Iuno comes out, because I’m sure something will happen.” I just sweat profusely. After a couple of minutes, we arrived in front of the Wuthering Waves’ Female Dormitory.

Phrolova: “Thanks for escorting back. I guess this is good night. I’ll see you tomorrow for our practice.” Just as she was about to enter, I grabbed onto her arm, preventing her to go in.

Male Rover: “I…feel like our talk hasn’t completed. There were certain elements of the quest that are still unclear to me.” She goes back out towards where I’m standing.

Phrolova: “I’m not surprised. You actually haven’t mentioned a couple of the most important things from the quest, partially because of you cutting me off but let’s sit by the patio, at least. It’d be tiring to talk while just standing up talking about, technically, the quest.”

Male Rover: “Ok, so about the Gem. Why did your in-game counterpart no longer needed Mya’s gem after Cristoforo obtained it?”

Phrolova: “If you were paying attention in the game, one of the research files of my in-game (1) counterpart involves of creating a large, stable Sonoro Sphere that could sustain (1). And in order for the Lost Beyond to emerge and sustain forever (2), a ‘texture’ was needed; and that was the Gem (3). Phrolova believed that Mya’s gem was the texture apropos from her research while in the Fractsidus. When Phrolova, during the Lost Beyond sequence, said that she was looking for her most precious Gem (4), she was looking for her violin (4). So, when Rover inevitably pierced her with the sword and ‘drowned’, that’s when she found it and merges with the Lost Beyond. In a matter of speaking, by ‘killing’ her, you made her found the thing she was looking for. The apology is also meant for you, Rover. Bittersweet, as I hoped it to be.”

Male Rover: ‘So, the violin was the Gem. That violin, it is one of the gifts that I gave her when her original one broke and we were together. I didn’t think that she would use it on the story. It did appear on the final cutscene. In a matter of speaking, the gift that I gave her sustained the Lost Beyond.’

Male Rover: “What about the Lost Beyond and the Villagers? I never met those people before.”

Phrolova: “That’s a difficult question, it requires you to remember the terminologies in the game. But I’m sure you still remember most of those terminologies. So, short pop quiz here. What are Tacet Discords and Echoes?” A sudden Wuthering Waves pop quiz? That’s out of nowhere, but these questions have been asked so many times that it’s basically drilled on my head.

Male Rover: “Tacet Discords (5) are beings created by the chaotic frequency energy from the Waveworn Phenomena (5), and Echoes (6) are basically the remnants of people (6); on gameplay, when a Tacet Discord is slain, they leave echoes behind.”

Phrolova: “Correct. With that, my in-game counterpart on the Fractsidus bases her research on merging frequencies from already deceased people’s Echoes into Tacet Discords (7) as her power manipulates and transfigure frequencies from humans, Echoes and Tacet Discords. My counterpart wishes to revive her fellow villagers into Tacet Discords (7); so, they could live forever. And as for the villagers themselves, they are just friends and neighbors before I met you, which is why you are not familiar with them. And there’s not really a deep meaning with them.”

Male Rover: “No wonder I don’t recognize them.”

Phrolova: “And for what the Lost Beyond is…I want you to take a guess, but a hint I could give you is: it has something to do with me.”

Male Rover: “Huh?” I get confused on that one.

Phrolova: “Just to fill in some details. For me myself, the villagers are just a metaphor for something. You remember how they act as the main driver of Phrolova to push through, and they’re stored within the frequency on my right eye. It is the same with me. The only difference is that for my-game counterpart, that metaphor has its own manifestation. Even in the Lost Beyond, they exist, and even lowkey invited you into the realm.”

Male Rover: ‘This is way too much lore connection but I’m sure this lore dump also has meaning whatsoever.’

Male Rover: “And lastly, what your song?” She actually smiles in relief, as if the question she’s been waiting to hear is finally said.

Phrolova: “It is…my love song for you.”

Male Rover: “From which version of you? Your in-game self or you yourself?”

Phrolova: “Both.” I have listened to it before and know the lyrics, but it’s so hard to listen and not cry, because in my ears, it felt like a farewell song.

Male Rover: “But it felt like a farewell song for our in-game counterparts. Even our counterparts felt like they broken up. Like I said, we were being compared to bitter exes.” Out of nowhere, she kisses me on the lips. I don’t deny her kiss, but I couldn’t react due to how sudden it was.

Phrolova: “It could be for them, but not for us, my Reverie.”

Male Rover: “You made your exit from the story!”

Phrolova: “I’m not yet dead. How Kuro decides to put me back in the game is entirely up to them. Besides, I wrote this story that despite me portraying my character, my counterpart and I both get different endings. I get to be with you again now while my counterpart will not get her turn…yet. Now my final questions: what is the Lost Beyond and what is the message I’m giving you from the quest?” The thoughts begin running in my head.

Male Rover: ‘So, the Gem, the violin (my gift) serving as the connection of Phrolova to the Lost Beyond. The villagers in the Lost Beyond are a metaphor for something according to Phrolova. With Phrolova’s in-game counterpart researching about Echoes and Tacet Discords (the bridge), her storing the frequencies of her villagers in her right eye (her past), her power of manipulation and transfiguration of frequencies (her Forte), and her goal to save them (her ambition): she’s basically merging the remnant data and frequencies from herself into chaotic frequencies and data of information with her Forte, which means the villagers are her memories (the present). In that case, Phrolova right now is preserving her memories with my gift. In other words, that violin served as a bridged between her past and her present, a reconciliation. That means…’

Male Rover: “The Lost Beyond…is you.” Phrolova smiled at me.

Male Rover: “Your song; you getting pierced had you merged with the Lost Beyond; and your lowkey invitation to me…”

Male Rover/Phrolova: “You want me back. / I want you back.” I shed tears as I realize, and I fidget slightly due to it.

Phrolova: “You finally got it, you dumbass…Remember what I said about loading screens?” She begins to cry again.

Phrolova: "On a very rare occasion will you see the loading screen of the Lost Beyond, and what you just said is basically what the answer. 'An Artificial Sonoro Sphere built by Phrolova in the Fabricatorium, a manifestation of her life's dreams and ambitions. It is so vast that it defies conventional measurement." I hugged her as the realization of her words kicked in.

Male Rover: “I’m sorry, it took this long.” I hug her this time tighter as I feel her warmth coursing through me.

Chapter end.

Chapter Text

---Phrolova’s Room, 20 Minutes Later, Phrolova’s POV---

After that talk with Rover, I feel a sense of relief come over me; one that I haven’t felt ever since our breakup. There were still additional questions from Rover’s end that he was really confused, but there is one that stuck to him; the part where I said: ‘I’ve come home.’ That cutscene started with me apologizing, an ambiguous statement with no direct clue to whom it is for, but I did say it to Rover that it is meant for him as the Rover. And for the second sentence after it, I also said it to him.

Phrolova: ‘I’ve come home. The villagers are my memories, and I’ve reunited with them, which means that I’ve come to terms with my past, including ████. Although I’ve shown a face of relief when I did that cutscene, it doesn’t mean I am 100% relieved. After we broken up, I felt like a shell of my former self: aimless, unmotivated and miserable. Even after I got recruited by Kurogames after you, after I saw you becoming too close with the other female castmates, and even knowing that you were avoiding me, there was an obvious void in me. One that has been sucking in everything but it's already too much and wanting to explode. That is one of the reasons why I wanted to do this quest, it’s to finally release what I felt.’

Now, it is done. Rover and I have reconciled. The thing I’ve been wanting to do ever since has finally been done. However, I have no idea what to do after since I basically made my exit on the story. And my goal of finally reuniting with the man I love is finished; of course, aside from the task on Monday, which we will do tomorrow.

Phrolova: ‘Not gonna lie, this might be the first time where nothing comes to mind on what to do next. Like I don’t have yet a next goal in sight.’ Then I hear a knock on my door, and I opened it to see some of the female cast into my door with Yangyang on the front.

Phrolova: “Yangyang, what is it?” She showcases me something from her phone. It showcases her X(Twitter) on the Trending page, and one of the trends has my name on it.

Yangyang: “You might wanna explain this to the cast.” She showcased me certain media that has been spread around the Internet: me walking with Rover on the way to the park, me straddling Rover when we had our solemn and serious heart-to-heart, and a post of our past; specifically, a recording of when Rover confessed to me at the stage during high school. When that last post was shown, I’ve never thought I would see it again, so it shook me. I contemplated a bit whether I would want to talk about it, but at this point, I have nothing to hide since the thing I wanted to do was done.

Phrolova: “Ok, gather everyone to the lobby. I’ll invite Xiangli Yao, Scar and Brant. They need, at least, deserve to know what happened because of the karaoke night.” The girls begin to walk out as prompted by Yangyang. I texted the three mentioned guys too to convene at the Women’s Dormitory lobby. A couple of minutes has passed, and I go down to the lobby to see that 28 people have convened. Although the female cast and the summoned guys are here, I noticed that Female Rover isn’t here.

Phrolova: “So, is everyone here? Wait, Rover-chan isn’t here?” Camellya responds back.

Camellya: “We asked her if she wanted to come, but she doesn’t feel like it.”

Phoebe: “I think she is still upset about yesterday. You didn’t apologize to her after all.”

Phrolova: “I will do it soon. After what happened today, I’m prepared to apologize to her.”

Yangyang: “Come around everyone.” Everyone begins to settle down and go nearer to me. It is me doing a storytelling after all.

Xiangli Yao: “Still, I didn’t expect you to call us three at this time, Phrolova-san.”

Phrolova: “I wanted to have you at least witness with what I have to say. You deserve an explanation from me after the end of last night’s karaoke session. Ok, so where to start…” Changli chimes in.

Changli: “I have a prompt that you could start off. You can start off by explaining what that video clip was; the video clip of a slightly younger you and Rover-kun...or his actual name: ████.” Most of the people present are exclaimed by that information, even I did.

Phrolova: "H-How did you Rover-kun's real name?!" 

Brant: "Well, the name is somewhere within the tweets of the video. But nevertheless, it seemed that Rover-kun has been doxed with his real name."

Cantarella: "So, the question is: how did Rover-kun and Phrolova know each other?"

Jinhsi: “Yeah, how?”

Ciaccona: “It’s as if you two have history with each other.”

Yinlin: “Not only that, but it seems that they were also schoolmates.”

Baizhi: “Everyone, it’s not that complicated. Phrolova-san, you were high school sweethearts with Rover-kun, weren’t you?” All present except for Baizhi and Yangyang exclaimed and looked at me after Baizhi’s surprisingly correct guess. I nodded. Chixia noticed Yangyang’s silence and the rest looked towards Yangyang after that.

Chixia: “Yangyang, you knew?” She nodded.

Phrolova: “I was the one who told her this morning. Also, please don't use his real name. He has told me beforehand that he now identifies as Rover and no longer ████. And before I went off to talk with Rover-kun earlier, I confided into Yangyang and told her some parts of my history, which I will explain to you now.”

~~Phrolova’s Flashback~~

Phrolova: “During my time in school, I was a main subject of bullying on both physical and mental aspects. Bruises from other showoff girls, my seat in the classroom and my footlocker vandalized, my books tattered, and constant mocking and words hurling at me. One day at school, wanting to practice my violin somewhere alone, that’s when I met him. And what happened was a dream come true: Peasant Girl meets Prince Charming in high school. We hit it off as we both have several common interests: we both like music, games and anime. For someone of his looks, you wouldn’t think he’s an otaku at heart.”

@@Flashback #1@@

During lunch, I brought some bento that I made for ████. It’s been 2 months since we’ve gotten to know each other, and frankly quite too fast for such a short amount of time, but I could nevertheless care because this is one of the times I get to enjoy my high school life. Even in the first week we met, we decided to become members of the Music Club together. And since then, we stick together like glue.

Phrolova: ‘God, he’s truly a prince charming.’

???: “Well, well. Looks like its Aphro, the low-low.” After hearing this certain person’s voice, I try to hasten my walking away from her. But it’s no use, the bento I brought got slapped away from my hand. Since I was focused on something else, this shocked me out of my stance.

Phrolova: “No! My bento!”

Bella: “Oh, a bento. Let me guess, for your precious ████, isn’t it?” I keep looking at the bento that has been ruined. Bella pushes me to the floor near the bento that spilt. She places her foot on me as if to impose dominance on me. The other girls with her laugh at me. This girl, Bella, is the leader of her posse and one thing that is known about her is the big crush she has for ████. Just because I was hanging out with ████ without much needed effort, she has gained a big grudge and vendetta against me.

Bella: “How sad, looks like no more bento for ████. I wonder how disappointed he will be when he finds out that you have no bento prepared for him. Ain’t that a shame? He might ditch you now because you’re so clumsy, unreliable and unthoughtful.” I looked at Bella glaring with my right eye since my left eye was still bandaged.

Phrolova: “Screw you.” She made an unamused sound then she grabs my uniform pulled me up and pushed me into the wall.

Bella: “You think you’re brave now, aren’t you? Just because you’re close to him, you’re all courageous now, huh!?” She keeps pushing me into the wall with no regard.

Bella: “Why?! Why did it have to be you, a wimp!? How come you a wimp like you, of all people, grabbed the attention of one of a cool and hot guy like ████!? How come you get to hang out with him almost daily!?!?” She stops pushing me as she rants on something that is not of my control. Then she grabs some of the food of the floor and positions it near my mouth, which is obviously disgusting but it seems that Bella has no boundary against it.

Bella: “Perhaps, if he sees you like this, he’ll stop hanging with you. You ugly, disgusting whore!” Bella tried to barrage me of insults, but I couldn’t care anything less from what she says. From the corner of the vision on my right side, I widened my eyes as I see ████ grabbed Bella’s hand to stop what she’s doing.

████: “Then perhaps I should consider blacklisting you from hanging out with me.” ████ pushes Bella away towards her posse. Bella trips because of this and her friends help her up.

████: “Phrolova, are you ok?” I slightly nodded. ████ gestures his hand and I grabbed it, then he pulls me up to make me stand.

Bella: “████! You’re here!”

████: “Who the hell do you think you are!? Phrolova isn’t ugly, disgusting, or a whore! In fact, she’s one of the prettiest persons I ever met, unlike your vile and nasty personality! So, I will tell you only this once: leave Phrolova, my friend, alone! If you don’t, I’ll make you eat that bento you spilled!”

Bella: “But—”

████: “Quiet! Unless you want to get expelled from the school, I encourage you to heed my warning and never come near me or her ever again!!” He pulls up his phone that showcased a paused recording, possibly of the scene that just happened here. Bella’s face went blue almost immediately. Knowing that your crush has dirt on you and basically outed you is a very bad way to get out. What she did is basically a free ticket to get your youthful high school life ruined, and because of that, Bella and her posse went away.

Phrolova: “One time, a group of bullies ruined a lunchbox I made for him, and they almost thrashed me in the process. However, Rover-kun was there to save me. And of course, from then on, I never left his side.”

Phrolova: “I’m sorry, ████. The lunch that I prepared for you has been ruined.” I became teary-eyed because of what happened. The effort I went through just…wasted because of some girl with a huge crush.

████: “Don’t be. It’s all Bella’s fault, and you have nothing to be ashamed of. Of course, it’s a shame that your bento has been ruined by her, but the fact that you did so was very thoughtful, and I thank you for doing so. Perhaps, next time, I’ll get to try it.” He wipes of the tears from my eyes and smiles at me.

████: “Stick with me, Phrolova. I’ll protect you from those who try to harm you.” I smiled back at him.

@@Flashback #1 End@@

Phrolova: “Eventually, our relationship became something more. He confessed to me, a couple of months later on a grandiose scale and made it seem like a marriage proposal when it’s supposed to be just a regular confession. Either way, it was one of the happiest moments of our relationship. We were going strong, that is until I found out about him getting recruited by Kurogames.”

Phrolova: “We had a fight over it, and while it wasn’t the biggest thing we fought over, what happened during it made our relationship fall. For a week, I went no contact with him; blocked his number, social media and email. When I felt ready to contact him again, then he was going no contact with me, which later I found out is that he changed his contact details. In silence but with a huge contempt between us, the relationship fell apart and we broke up without even talking about it.”

@@Flashback #2@@

Solon Lee: “Welcome to Wuthering Waves, Ms. Phrolova. You will be informed of your schedules for shooting parts of the game. But right now, feel free to walk around the HQ; on places that you’re only allowed, of course. If it might help you, you can go around the studio nearby so you could see some of your fellow castmates in action. Do get to know them despite your role being an antagonist because you will be involved for the long haul. Rover is on a break too right now, best get to know them before they go back to shooting.”

Phrolova: “Thank you, director.” I bow towards the director and make my exit from his office.

Phrolova: ‘Finally, I get to see him again. My dear ████, now the main character of Wuthering Waves. I wonder how he has been since then.’ After taking a couple of minutes to get to the studio, I look around but I don’t see ████ anywhere. I walk around more inside the studio, then I spotted him near the break counter.

Phrolova: “Hey, ██--” As I spotted ████, I see other girls surrounding him as he is talking to all of them gleefully and lightly, the same expression he uses when he was around me. Just the fact that I’m not exclusive to him…is very saddening.

Phrolova: ‘I’m no longer that special to him…’ I quickly turned and walk away. I find the restroom and then begin crying there as I removed the bandage from my face.

Phrolova: “Why…why…”

Phrolova: “Of course, when I got included into the cast of Wuthering Waves, I thought that we could restore what has been lost, but all I see was now a philanderer with a harem on his belt. He was no longer the man I remembered.”

@@Flashback #2 End@@

~~Flashback End~

Phrolova: “But even then, he always remained in my heart as my first true love. He got me out of a bad place during my youth, and I will never forget his efforts.” I removed my bandages and showcased the healed scars and wounds my body endured since ever. Everyone was shocked to see how much there is.

Zhezhi: “My god…”

Verina: “We could help too!”

Phrolova: “Thank you, Verina, but this is the best thing the doctors could do. I just use makeup to cover them when I’m acting or in public. Either way, these healing marks remind me of the braveness Rover-kun has shown.”

Xiangli Yao: “Well, that explains the performance video. It’s Rover-kun’s confession and performance to miss Phrolova during their high school, am I right?”

Phrolova: “Yes, you are correct.”

Scar: “Then, how about the photo? That went trending in just a few hours today. It looked like you were straddling him, but I’m assuming is that you both had a talk or something today?”

Phrolova: “Guess that’s my fellow Fractsidus member, but yes; we did talk. Rover-kun invited me today to settle our differences and…well, let’s just say things got intense between us. Ah.” Crud, I said something that could be misinterpreted as we did the thing. I feel some jealous stares among the castmates. I put my hands up and waved them as if to dispel my misinterpretation.

Phrolova: “Sorry! I didn’t mean it like that! We just had a heart-to-heart! We both grieved out everything between us and ultimately forgave each other, ending the strife we both had endured that started when we broke up.” There were a bunch of hums on the background as if unsure what to feel.

Zani: “Forgive me for asking this, Phrolova. But could you mind explaining what is it exactly that you two talked about? I have talked to Rover-kun about him being quite different than he was a few months ago, but he brushed it off as ‘diet’. I don’t get it when he’s already strong and muscular enough.” Well, like I said, I have nothing to hide, and I’m sure Rover will be willing to understand that what happened needs to be brought to light.

Phrolova: “Well, he wasn’t okay as you might have surmised. He told me that the v2.5 quest, with me as the main focus, crushed him into pieces. To the point where he’s starting to mess up with everything in life, like he’s about to tear himself to pieces.”

Jinhsi: “Yes, the quest itself was pretty good and emotional.”

Taoqi: “Knowing the backstory of Phrolova in-game was pretty tragic.”

Lumi: “It felt like cinema too!” Then the cast starts murmuring among themselves.

Phrolova: “But there is something about the quest that you should know…I’m also a writer for it.” The cast exclaimed.

Everyone except Phrolova: “WHAT?!”

Phrolova: “At least, 80% of it. The thing about the Acolytes, the Harbinger and Lantern of Napoli the Second, aren’t part of the draft that I gave them. It was just added lore from the developers themselves to have some lore of the Order of the Deep included.” I explained to them again what I told Rover-kun earlier, but without the recap of the story. Some of the girls begin to wonder, while some became jealous again. After explaining, Shorekeeper asks a question that actually exclaims one of my true hidden goals in this story.

Shorekeeper: “You said that this story does everything you want it to do, but I have an underlying feeling that you haven’t said something really important. So, what is your true goal with the story?” I feel a curt smile placed on my face. I stood up and slightly walked away. I look back at them with the biggest smug, like how I looked on the latter idle animation when looking at my Sequence Node in-game. 

Phrolova: “I aimed for this quest to strike at Rover’s heart, both in a good way and a bad way. The bad way was me tripping him into his despair and contemplate about us. And the good way is…through my unique position and with the way my character acts around him, I become number one in Rover-kun’s heart from the Rover himself due to our dynamic. My position beside Rover is none of you can ever fulfill, and that dynamic is me being…the ’ex’.”

---Monday, Music Class Performance, 3^rd POV---

The day of the performance has come, and it is Male Rover and Phrolova’s turn to perform. For most of yesterday, Male Rover and Phrolova have been together and done a lot which would count on both their ends: a catchup. They mostly practiced for their performance, had lunch together (Rover cooked, not Phrolova), and talked some more. And it is also on their practice that they finally picked the second song that they will perform later. On stage, there is a piano set up facing the left side just in-case performers will utilize them, and Male Rover was relieved because he will use it. Phrolova, on the other hand, has brought her personal violin. The same violin that Male Rover has bought her before and the real ‘Gem’ used in the v2.5 story.

The two’s names have been called, and they go up to the stage. To everyone in attendance, they’re surprised that both Male Rover and Phrolova have worn their in-game counterpart’s clothes, Rover with his almost black attire, and Phrolova on her red Fractsidus attire. Both of them bow in front and go to their place. They also brought out a plastic binder that has music sheets with the repertoire they would perform today. Despite the amount of practice they did yesterday, it wasn’t enough for them to memorize the instrumentals for both songs.

Male Rover brought out a mic with a stand from the side of the stage, but Phrolova talked to him for a short talk. Male Rover returned the mic with stand and brought out an earpiece headset, which he is already wearing one as well. Phrolova brought her violin and bow, checked momentarily whether the strings are properly aligned on their respective note strings. Male Rover also checked the piano whether it sounds good, and it was ok. As an added joke from Male Rover on the piano, he performed a glissando from A4 to A6 and backwards, then he pressed E6, D6, a chord of Am/E on E5, and ending with a D octave with F# on D4; that entire sequence is a piano version of Venti’s idle animation from Genshin Impact. Phrolova looked at Male Rover with a “Really?” face but Male Rover just grinned. Phrolova sighed then nodded at Male Rover that which he nodded back, and their performance begin; the same duet that they sang on the karaoke night, two nights before. But this time, it’s Rover with his piano, and Phrolova with her violin. (Male Rover and Phrolova Duet (I See the Light by Rapunzel and Eugene))  

A stage light shines at Rover starts off with the accompaniment on mezzo forte and on the C scale. After the short intro, another stage light shines at Phrolova as she starts singing slightly soft with warmth and authenticity. She hasn’t placed the violin’s chinrest on her chin as the violin’s part is later. But as she sings, she walks around on a slow pace as if dancing lightly and gracefully. The audience listens in awe, especially to some others that are updated with the drama between the two performers in front. The song enters the pre-chorus and Phrolova slightly increase the tensity of her voice. She places the violin on her chin and begins to play the violin accompaniment while still singing, a difficult feat. On Rover’s end, the pre-chorus made him play slightly louder. The duo enters the chorus in a soaring, yet romantic manner and it is very melodic considering the mixes of the piano and violin’s accompaniment to Phrolova’s singing. The chorus ended on a soft tone as they go into a short instrumental break before going to the next verse.

The song scale shifted from C major to Eb major. Male Rover, still playing the piano accompaniment, begins singing with a slightly rough tone, and Phrolova begins her violin solo that coincides with the song’s scale and Male Rover’s singing. She moves a lot too now that she isn’t singing and expresses the music through her body movement. Singing while using an instrument in general is difficult, although it is much more difficult for violin players due to the awkward posture on the chin. So, for these two performers to do two things at the same time, it is quite a performance that are considered very professional. The audience still onlooks with admiration that it feels like their performance dispels the know bad blood between the two performers. Like with the first pre-chorus, the tone begins to tense up a little as they enter the chorus, and Phrolova sits down beside Male Rover on his left side but still facing away the piano.

Phrolova/Male Rover: “♪ And at last, I see the light ♪”

Male Rover: “♪ And it’s like the fog has lifted ♪”

Phrolova/Male Rover: “♪ And at last, I see the light ♪”

Phrolova: “♪ And it’s like the sky is new ♪”

The two sing the chorus in synchronization and with resonance as the song crescendos and oscillate between piano and forte. Male Rover’s voice became warmer and Phrolova’s tone became more romantic as both singers’ interchange being main voice and second voice. Nearing the coda, the song diminuendos as the song ritardando while Male Rover’s accompaniment becomes piano too. Phrolova also follows through with the melodramatic end and delivers a final solo for the coda. The audience couldn’t help but shift and shudder their bodies due to the amazing performance of the two as overflowing sweetness of the romantic vibe continue to overflow from those two; they can feel the kilig to their bones that even one almost yelped. The two stop accompaniment and let the final stanza flow from their voice and the sustained notes from Male Rover stepping the damper pedal of the piano.

Phrolova/Male Rover: “♪ Now that I see you ♪”

Male Rover continues the final part of the accompaniment. Phrolova stops her accompaniment and leans her head towards Male Rover’s shoulder as she detaches the violin from her chin and let it rest on her lap. Male Rover answers by leaning back at her and finishes off the song with a final grace note and sustained it. Phrolova placed her right hand at the stool and Male Rover placed his hand atop of it. A round of applause was given to them by the audience with some cheers which kinda threw off the two performers a bit and are slightly annoyed. They wait for the onlookers to quiet down, and they sit up straight as they proceeded with the second song. (Reveries in the Crimson Beyond by Phrolova (Vision Sound) Song with Vocals, Instrumental with Second Voice.)

Male Rover starts off the intro in moderato speed with a mezzo piano yet cantabile melody on his right hand which may sound like a grace note or appoggiaturas, but it isn’t. And on the hand left hand are dyads on certain keys which may sound like chords, but it isn’t either. Phrolova begins to sing. Male Rover’s notes during the first verse are just long single notes on his left hand and dyads on the right. A slight minimalistic accompaniment brought great emphasis on Phrolova’s singing, and this works especially for Phrolova knowing the intent of what this song is for.

♪ Hi, it's been a while since the last time that I saw your smile

What a perfect fit

The last piece have fallen into place

I've been craving to touch you

Like moonlight stroking your face ♪

Phrolova places the violin on her chin before the refrain started. The refrain begins and the song becomes slightly louder and Phrolova begins the violin solo, which has its own melody, that mixes in the minimalistic accompaniment while she sings too. Male Rover also chimes in as second voice for Phrolova in higher pitch than the main note on the first half of the refrain and sings along with Phrolova on the second half of the refrain with falsetto voice.

♪ My dear reverie, come hold me near

Come dance with me in a rosy haze of yesterday

Reverie, don't drift away

Please keep me here in your warm embrace

I'll trade anything for you, for one more day♪ 

Phrolova stands up after the refrain and walks slowly towards the left side of the piano while not blocking of the view of the Male Rover from afront. Male Rover starts the instrumental again with the same tone as the intro but this time, the instrumental extends to have Phrolova’s violin solo to take place, which consists of the same notes as the piano in the first instrumental. Male Rover’s playing also became more of arpeggios before heading into the second verse.

(Phrolova and Male Rover Duet Picture on Pixiv) ((I wanted to post this picture I found on Pixiv but it becomes forbidden when using image address, so I redirect it as link.))

As soon as the second verse enters, there was also a sound of a cajon nearby which echoes the percussion beat used in the actual song itself. The duo performer is surprised hearing the missing instrument they needed to be heard, as they are occupied with their hands to even use it. Nevertheless, they continued with the performance. Male Rover’s melody became of a single note on the left and alternating dyads on the right hand.

♪ I'll perfume your dreams with scent of flowers and summer breeze

Does it matter if it's true?

It feels a lot more real

When we whistle through the field

When I sing this song for you♪

The second verse ends with arpeggios and long notes for Male Rover, and with marcato and double stop notes for Phrolova. The refrain begins again, and the song goes through the same thing as the first refrain, with the difference of Male Rover’s performance became more piano and there is now the cajon playing as the percussion accompaniment. Like earlier, the Male Rover also sings the same way. This time, Phrolova’s violin solo became more vivid too.

♪ My dear reverie, come hold me near

Come dance with me in a rosy haze of yesterday

Reverie, don't let me go

If sanity means I have to hit the road

Then I don't wanna know anywhere the wind blows♪

The final refrain ends, and the coda begins with a short run of running notes from Male Rover and the main melody still being played by Phrolova with an emphasis on vibrato. The cajon accompaniment stops too. Male Rover plays more arpeggios to accompany the violin solo and also ends with a very deep note on the left side the piano. The notes sustained by both piano and violin linger for a moment before it naturally fades. Someone from behind the curtains, one with: short black hair, golden clips and a golden ribbon tied to the left side of her hair, a black ribbon tied and a ponytail for the only long portion of hair, has walked away with a smile of relief.

Phrolova, lingering from the effects of the after-performance, begins to shed tears, tears of relief that is. Phrolova turns towards Male Rover who is facing downwards now. She sits beside him on the stool again, and out of nowhere Male Rover hugs Phrolova with tears on his eyes as well. She is shocked by the sudden hug. The audience who watched the performance was in silence and all in attendance can agree that they feel like seeing a mirage of vivid imagery shown before them. It’s as if they see the Rover inside the Lost Beyond asking for Phrolova’s forgiveness with a hug. Then slowly, a round of applause can be heard from the audience. For those who knows the story of Wuthering Waves have the consensus that the song feels like a farewell song, as opposed to it being a reverie. It is not as heartwarming as it was earlier, but those people who understand do know that this isn’t just a simple love song. 

(I do not own the photo. It is owned by Hosun, with photo linked from Danbooru, original from Pixiv. Link to Pixiv Site)

Phrolova: “Why’re you crying, dummy?”

Male Rover: “Because of you, you imbecile. You’re crying as well.”

Phrolova: “These are my happy tears, idiot. And why are you blaming me? We just finished the performance.”

Male Rover: “The song, it still aches. Every time I hear it, they just come out.” Phrolova hugs Male Rover back as if to reassure him that the animosity they both once had is gone.

Phrolova: “I might need to take you to therapy. I’ll ask Kuro if they could accommodate for you.”

Male Rover: “If you do, you’re coming with me.” It as if the world around them stood still and the world is silent, not even the applause from the audience can be heard. Phrolova and Male Rover touched foreheads and noses after this.

Phrolova: “Thank you, my Reverie. I love you, Rover.”

Male Rover: “I love you too. Thank you…Phro.”

Chapter End.

Chapter Text

---Lunch Break, Rooftop, Phrolova’s POV--- 

Wise: “Ehhh...so it went like that.” 

Phrolova: “Yes. We went through a lot.” 

Aether: “Now it makes sense. Rover has told his part of the story, and you just told yours. What a plethora of events that involved you both.” 

Phrolova: “I think maybe it was bound to happen, one way or another, although I may have catalyzed on the trigger.” 

Caelus: “One thing though, why is Rover holding Phrolova-san as if she is his teddy bear?” 

Male Rover: “...” Right now, I’m with the Gacha Male MC Group as it’s their usual lunch together, as Rover has told me. Our performance earlier had made a wondrous impact that it also became trending again. I swear, at this point, I feel like my life just went somewhere because it feels as if my story is being written by an author, and both Rover and I are the male focus. And it’s also because of the performance that Rover right now is in a...semi-active status. They also asked me earlier about another specific thing within the game about the diary entry in the Lost Beyond. I told them it's just an allegory of letting go of the past Rover and move on with the present Rover.

Also, my dearest Rover is holding me from my behind as I sit on his lap. For the entire lunch, he’s been holding me like this with his head on my back. I can feel him breathe, and I can feel the warmth of his body from his hug. I know what he’s doing but he’s feeling me up way too much, that I might not hold back with him later. Like what Caelus said, it’s as if I’m his teddy bear, but I already know about this side of him. His love language is mainly physical affection. 

Phrolova: “It’s his love language. Apparently, it hasn’t changed even now.” The three Hoyo boys keep starting at us and seemingly are at unease and discomfort because of it. I need to make him snap out of it. 

Phrolova: “Sorry, you three. This boy...really needs a timeout. He didn’t need to invite me to join your specific group.” 

Aether: “No, it’s not that you’re intruding, but...” 

Caelus: “Can’t help but feel a bit jealous, but...” 

Wise: “I do have an urge to call one of the girls, but...” Why’re they all saying ‘but’ at the end? 

Hoyo Trio: “The moment we do a specific someone, we basically dug our graves.” Ahh, the struggles of being the MC. And seeing how my dear little hubby here has basically dug his graves after spending time with me a lot lately. 

Phrolova: “I have a feeling that my fellow female castmates will also get jealous of this, but they won’t try to grill him again like before. They got a stern warning by Kuro. *sigh* The jealousy was all fine if it’s surface level, but when it goes to deep affection, they all become Yanderes in a second.” 

Aether: “Ayaka, Keqing, Nilou, Shenhe...” 

Caelus: “Firefly, Castorice, March(Evernight), Acheron...” 

Wise: “Miyabi, Vivian, Zhu Yuan, Lucy...” 

Phrolova: ‘I guess I triggered something when I said yandere...’ 

Phrolova: “But still, isn’t it also part of your contract to at least maintain a certain amount of affection between you and your castmates?” 

Wise: “Yep.” 

Aether: “It’s very much the same with Rover when explained some parts of his contract to us and vice versa.”  

Phrolova: “I knew that a similar scenario might fall upon Rover when he first joined up on the Wuthering Waves cast. That’s why I was against it, and I also had somewhat of an insight especially since we played your game beforehand, Aether-san.” 

Aether: “Just Aether is fine. So, you had an idea about the circumstances surrounding my work? Even the...digusting nature of it?” 

Phrolova: “I assumed that it’s going to be like Hollywood, in which some will have to do certain deeds to maintain their popularity and relationships within said group. Say, Aether, what is your opinion about this? Caelus and Wise seem to be on the younger note, but your game is about to enter Nod-Krai. Such time has passed and I’m sure you have reflected on this.” Aether looks slightly downward. 

Aether: “*sigh* To be honest, I don’t like me having to...do that with my fellow castmates. I love them all the same, but I don’t feel it’s correct to do such intimate actions with multiple people at the same time. This is why when it comes to romance, I became numbed as to how this line of work distorts your own reality. But nevertheless, I’m still grateful to Hoyo and the position where I am now. I don’t regret it whatsoever because my sister and I were basically castaways before they ever found us. If my position means I must sacrifice some of my morals, I’d do it.”  

Phrolova: “I see. Do you both agree on that sentiment?” I asked the other two boys, and they nodded. To be honest, it is disgusting to have that kind of thinking, but Aether’s past proves that to survive, you must have the will to do anything even if it meant discarding yourself. 

Aether: “Oh, yes. I was about to ask this. Now that you’ve finally made your exit from the story, what will you do now?” The question I, myself, find unable to answer. I slightly moved as if to ask Rover that question indirectly, but he’s still not responding. 

Phrolova: “I don’t know. It’s more likely that Kuro will have me back in the story however they please, but I know my character’s story is finished. There are some things that I need to do after my performance with Rover and our reconciliation, but nothing major after that.” I still have to apologize to Yangyang and ██████, and Rover has to fix stuff on his own end too. There is no other answer I could say aside ‘I don’t know’. 

---Evening, Rover’s House, Phrolova’s POV--- 

Sometime after school, I went to Rover’s House as invited by Rover-kun from earlier. Even with the whole hugging he had from earlier, he still said that it wasn’t enough. Of course, I was a bit uncomfortable earlier, but I didn’t deny that his hugs were warm that I wanted more. But there is also one more reason why I went here: it’s to apologize to Rover-chan. I already have apologized to Yangyang, and she told me never to do something like that again, that which I took to heart very seriously, but ever since the karaoke incident, I still haven’t gotten a chance to meet Rover-chan; even during my practice with Rover-kun, she was nowhere to be found in the house. I pressed the doorbell and Rover-kun opened the door to see me. 

Male Rover: “Phro!” He goes to the gate, opens it up for me and I walk in. Not going to lie, I felt a heartbeat skip after calling me by my old nickname. Also, Rover has told me that he went to HQ earlier to meet Solon Lee. Solon Lee has taken down his work suspension, but Rover has told him to let his salary for the month to transform from monetary to in-game currency. Rover has reasoned that what happened should be an effect from all the things that happened and to serve as a lesson for the Rover to become better. 

Male Rover: “By the way, are you sure you want to do this now? I don’t think she’s on a good mood.” 

Phrolova: “I may as well do it sooner than later. I don’t want this to be a rift between us.” We both walk inside and go towards the living room which Rover-chan was sitting and watching on the Smart TV. 

Male Rover: “Sis, we have a guest.” Rover-chan looks at us with a stern look.  

Female Rover: “Ah, Phroro. So, you two are gonna do it? Just keep it down, ok?” Seemingly uninterested, she turned back to the TV. I softly clenched my fists as I feel my motivation to finally apologize for what I did. Rover-kun softly pat me on the back as if to go ahead and do it. I contemplate momentarily before going in front of Rover-chan and then kneeled and bowed before her (dogeza). 

Phrolova: “I’m really sorry about what happened at the karaoke night! My emotions just went wild and ruined the event! I have no explanation, and it is purely my fault! Please forgive me!” She hummed slightly. So, it seems that she hasn’t forgiven me ever since, then she sighed. 

Female Rover: “I’ll think about what I want in return. For now, you both can have fun but again, keep it down. Come on now, get up.” Rover-chan helps me up from me kneeling. 

Phrolova: “I...” 

Female Rover: “If it comes down to it, I might join you both. Now go.” 

Phrolova: ‘Wait, what?’ As the shock of that information go through my brain, my body became like a mannequin and Rover-kun has lifted me as such towards his room. 

Male Rover: “Well, at least, you managed to get my sister’s forgiveness but as to how you would pay it back...even I don’t know.” 

Phrolova: “Did I hear...what she actually said?” 

Male Rover: “Oh yeah. I heard it too. Crazy. Well, let’s just forget it about now.” Rover now lays on his bed, and I just sat on it. I really can’t get the thought out of my head when she said that. I take a good look on his room, and it’s a bit cluttered. The things that are very noticeable are the gadgets on his long table on the same side as the door to his room. On that long table, the left side is his gaming computer with the colorful lights, and the right side is a TV with his gaming consoles like the XBox One, PS5, Nintendo Switch. His bed is just the opposite side of it. Adjacent his table, I see the number of figurines he has. Most of which that of the castmates in Wuthering Waves, but what is noticeable is that he has a specific window that only has mine on various poses and clothing. I blushed a bit seeing it. 

Male Rover: “Phro, come here.” My hubby called for me as he sits up. I went towards him and lay beside him. I put my hand on his chest as he puts his arm around me. 

Phrolova: “It’s been a while since both of us are like this, relaxing as if it’s just us both alone.” 

Male Rover: “Yes.” 

Phrolova: “By the way, what’s with that collection you have of my figurines?” He stuttered after asking that. 

Male Rover: “Well, can you blame me? I’m obsessed with you, so I put some of my money just to quell myself from going insane.” 

Phrolova: “Sounds like an excuse to say that you’re horny, and why would you need a fake when you have the original?” I look at him pouty and he sweats because of it. 

Male Rover: “Well, we weren’t exactly in good terms. And you weren’t exactly trying to get back with me.” For some reason, that really pissed me off. 

Phrolova: “I’ve designed my outfit as the Fractsidus Overseer to seduce you, you know! I shorten the length of my skirt, showcased my collarbone and shoulders just to entice you. Even I showcased a bit of my side breasts and cleavage just for you!” Because of that, I went on top of him to assert my dominance for him. I slightly took off his shirt, just to signal him that I want to do him right here and now. 

Male Rover: “You...you just want me as I do you.” He looks at me with a smug that I wanna snuff so bad. 

Phrolova: “Shut up. You’re mine.” I approach his face with an attempt to kiss him, but just as I was about to touch his luscious lips with mine, I hear the door open, and I turn towards it. (Meme Inserted Here (To Be Continued)) 

Female Rover: “Alright, time to join in.” We see Female Rover going into the room with just black lingerie.  

Phrolova/Male Rover: “Eh?” Both of us are confused and in shock, as the situation feels like a ‘To Be Continued’ meme. 

Phrolova: ‘Why the hell is she wearing lingerie?! Don’t tell me that this is what she wanted!?’ 

---About 20 Years Later, Rover’s POV--- 

It is a good time near noon on the spring season, where the sun is shining but the breeziness of the air is cool enough to not make me sweat when walking. I walk towards a certain place that I frequent almost in the daily. 

???#1: “Dad, are we almost there?” A boy on his teens has spoken. 

???#2: “Dada, I’m hungry.” A girl, slightly younger than the boy, has spoken now with audible stomach sounds. 

Male Rover: “We’re almost there. It’s just across the street. We’ll just have to wait for the light to turn green.” After around thirty seconds of waiting, we cross the street and go towards a cafe. By that cafe, we see a woman with whitish green hair and light purple accents on low, braided twintails sitting by an outside table. She also has pancakes, a swiss roll, a sundae and a cup of tea on her table. This woman wears a red sweater with black straps as she covers her right shoulder and her left shoulder loose to showcase her collarbone, a slightly short gray skirt, black footwear and a white spider lily hanging from her left ear. The store signage also says ‘Cafe Phrolova’ which kinda showcases how much ego this person has right now. It is my one true love, and my wife, Phrolova, and this is her cafe that she decided to build near our house. 

(Artist: bubble99, Source: Pixiv Link)

Male Rover: “Now, we’re here. Cafe Phrolova. Go on, kids! Say hi to mom.” 

???#1/???#2: “Mommy!/Mama!” The two children have run towards their mother. 

Phrolova: “Kaelon, Elera! My dear kids! How was your walk with dad?” 

Elera: “It was fun, but I’m now hungry.” 

Kaelon: “It was kinda boring, mom.”  

Male Rover: “...” When my boy, Kaelon, said that I feel something broke in me. My dear wife noticed that and told off our son a bit. 

Phrolova: “Kaelon, son, don’t say such a thing. Walking is good too. Now, go get some food. Its mom’s treat.” Phrolova gave them money to order food that they want. 

Both kids: “Yeyy!” Both enter the cafe while I sit with Phrolova. 

Male Rover: “Those kids. I think I’ve spoiled them too much.” 

Phrolova: “Did you really notice that way too late? I have to keep reminding them not to misbehave while outside. What a dad you are...” 

Male Rover: “Sorry.” 

Phrolova: “Where is Jasper?” Jasper is the eldest among my kids with Phrolova, followed with Kaelon as my second child and Elera third. 

Male Rover: “He’s studying right now, didn’t wanna come out.” 

Phrolova: “I bet he’s just playing games as usual.” 

Male Rover: “Well, let him be. Looks like your cafe is a success. I remember you suck at cooking at all, and here you are Ms. Cafe Owner.” 

Phrolova: “I beg your pardon!? You take that back! Perhaps you want a taste of my old recipe for the honeycake, do you?!" She looked at me with an angry smile.

Male Rover: "Never mind! You're a good chef now and you have very good ratings too! Hehe..." I sweat at my jab for her, then she calms down and sigh.

Phrolova: "It has been a while since Kurogames initiated my graduation from the series. I miss them all.” She looks down slightly as if she hadn’t seen them in a long time. 

Male Rover: “That’s why you need to join on reunions every now and then. They’re still our friends, you know.” 

Phrolova: “My cafe makes me busy sometimes, and they visit me most of the time. And even then, you yourself have all the time in the world now, Mr. Gathering Wives.” She looked at me very angrily. Wuthering Waves’ main story has been finished a long time ago, but the game is still active and has moved onto the second phase with someone succeeding me as the main character, and my involvement became more of a mentor-type role.  

Most of my castmates that I’ve grown with have graduated except for the ones who are still involved with the story, the new region characters, the Sentinel’s and Threnodian’s resonators. During our time in Wuthering Waves, we were not allowed to exclusively date, but this all changed when I got Phrolova pregnant with some others following. Phrolova was the first one to get pregnant, and we decided to make it official that I’m marrying her. This might’ve been the point that Kuro decided to finish my storyline and have another MC succeed me. And shameful as it is to say, I have kids with some of my castmates. To name some I’ve given kids: Jinhsi, Changli, Yangyang, Yinlin, Shorekeeper, Cantarella, Carlotta, Cartethyia, Fleurdelys, Phoebe, Zani, Lupa, Camellya, Augusta, Iuno and more.  

Male Rover: “Sorry, the director even suggested this setup so no animosity can be birthed. Besides, it’s them who made the choice to want have kids. I have no choice but to agree.” 

Phrolova: “Seems that even decided to marry me, you still got yourself a harem. Your bloodline has spread now across multiple women, and that still kinda gets me irked.” 

Male Rover: “But at least, you’re the only one I married, and you’re the first one to bear my first child. Also, that one time with my sister...” There was that one time that Phrolova, ██████ and I had a threesome. It was...something and I was quite disgusted after the fact that I did it with my twin sister, but we never do it again.  

Phrolova: “Hmph, you siscon. At least, you can’t go get the milk and not come back. Otherwise...” 

Male Rover: “I’m not going to divorce you, jeez! Besides...” I held her left hand which has two rings: the one I gave her during high school worn on her pointer finger and the marriage ring on her ring finger. 

Male Rover: “Seeing the kids’ faces made me realize that you’re more than worth it, my conductor.” She smiles towards me. 

Phrolova: “It’s not as if I’m totally angry, but either way, I’m glad that you’re here with me, my Reverie.” We look at each other lovingly.  

Male Rover: ‘That’s my wife.’ Kaelon and Elera have gotten what they wanted to eat, and they returned outside with us. The food they ordered looks delicious; although I’m a bit worried for Kaelon’s order since it is quite big. I look at Phrolova with a slight face of worry, but she just smiled and shrugged it off. They began to eat. 

Phrolova: “Speaking of the kids, how are the kids' other siblings?” 

Male Rover: “If you’re gonna ask if I’m gonna be like Vergil, nope. I still support them and the other girls too. I’m glad that the money I saved that went into stocks paid off.” Phrolova chopped me on the head. 

Phrolova: “Not that, idiot. How are they...like personally, medically.” 

Male Rover: “They’re alright, all of them. I spend time with them each and sometimes they go to the house to play together. Even my sister’s kids play with them.” 

Phrolova: “Heh, bet you’re proud of them, huh?” 

Male Rover: “I am. It is a big family.” 

Kaelon: “Dad, Yue has contacted me. Is it alright to call them now?” 

Male Rover: “Sure, no problem. Put it on video.” Kaelon opened the video call from his phone and put it on speaker. Yue is my child with Jinhsi. 

Yue(speaker): “Hey, dad! Big bro, big sis and auntie!” We all waved towards Yue. 

Male Rover: “What is it, Yue? Is it something important?” 

Yue(speaker): “No, it’s that some of my siblings wanted to go ice skating. I wanted to invite Jasper, Kaelon and Elera to join us. Wait, where’s Jasper?” 

Male Rover: “He's currently at home studying. So, who is going to ice skating, aside from you three?” 

Yue(speaker): “Ria (Carlotta’s daughter), Emilia (Cantarella’s daughter), Minho (Yinlin’s son), Rigel (Phoebe’s son), and I’m still waiting for 9 others aside from Auntie Phrolova’s kids. Can we go skating? We got permission from mommy Jinhsi, and aunties Phoebe and Cantarella will be joining us too.” 

Male Rover: “Go ahead, my daughter. When and where?” 

Yue(speaker): “The mall by the bay at 2 PM.” It’s already 12 PM, but the mall are ways away. I don’t have my car now, so this might be a problem.  

Male Rover: “Just a second, Yue. Phro, can you ask whether Cantarella or Phoebe has left their house? We might need them to pick up the kids.”  

Phrolova: “I’ll contact them.” I contacted Jasper on my phone, and he answered after a few ringtones. 

Jasper(phone): “Yes, dad?” 

Male Rover: “Do you mind joining your siblings on ice skating?” 

Jasper(phone): “But I’m studying, dad.” 

Male Rover: “I’ll buy you a game on Steam if you do go.” 

Jasper(phone): “Deal. Are all of you at mom’s cafe?” 

Male Rover: “Yes.” 

Jasper(phone): “I’ll be there in ten minutes.” I drop the call. 

Male Rover: “There’s that, Yue. They’ll go.” 

Yue(speaker): “Thanks dad!” Yue drops the call with Kaelon. 

Phrolova: “You really got ways when it comes to Jasper, don’t you?” 

Male Rover: “He’s near 17. I know what boy wants at that age.” 

Kaelon: “Dad knows what a boy wants at 17? Kinda creepy.” 

Male Rover: “Hey now, Kae. I was 17 too, but don’t worry, you’ll get there too.” I squeeze my sons’ cheeks for that cheeky comment. The two kids stopped eating. I noticed that Kaelon couldn’t finish his as Elera has finished hers. 

Phrolova: “I told you to stop ordering big amounts, Kaelon. You may be a growing kid, but your stomach isn’t big enough to store that amount yet. Honey, Cantarella says that she could pick the kids up.” In a few moments, Jasper has arrived, and he also finished the food that Kaelon couldn’t finish. Cantarella arrived at Cafe Phrolova after a bit of time, and apparently, she’s being chauffeured using her van. The van idles a bit while Cantarella and Emilia comes out. Emilia hugs me cheerfully. 

Emilia: “Daddy!” I hugs her back.

Male Rover: “Emilia! How’ve you been?” 

Cantarella: “Hello, dear Rover, Phrolova.” The way she looks at me never gets old. She is the same seductress as she was years ago. 

Male Rover: “Hey, Cantarella. Please take care of the kids.” 

Cantarella: “Oh, yes, I will. But also...” She also whispered something in my ear. 

Cantarella: “I want another child.” Just hearing her whisper and the content of which made me shiver, that Phrolova became pouty. She giggled.  

Cantarella: “Phrolova! Mind if the girls hang out here some time?” Phrolova is pouty until she had to respond back to Phrolova with a sigh and a smile after. 

Phrolova: “You’re always welcome here at Cafe Phrolova.” My kids with Phrolova have approached as if permission to leave. I pat them all in the head and wish them safety from harm and fun with their siblings. 

Cantarella: “Alright kids, let's go!” They waved back before they gone to the mall. Now, it’s just us two. 

Phrolova: “Philanderer...” 

Male Rover: “Alright, alright. If you want, I could give you some too...but four kids, are we gonna be alright?” 

Phrolova: “It doesn’t matter how many. I’m sure we can still raise them. Hopefully, I get twins this time.” 

Male Rover: “I guess one more isn’t enough for you, huh? Say, Phro. Do you think this is all a dream?” She pouts. 

Phrolova: “Don’t you go sentimental towards me. It’s been 20 years ever since our performance at university.” 

Male Rover: “I guess you’re right...why bother to think everything is a fantasy when I have the reality in front of me?” She smiles. 

Phrolova: “Hehe...I love you, Rover.” 

Male Rover: “I love you too Phro.” As I hold her hand once again, I kiss her in the lips. 

The True EndThe Good End. 

You can stop reading now. The story has ended.

Nope, there is no more story. What you witnessed is already the best ending for Rover and Phrolova. 

You think there is more? Hmm...be glad that I didn’t write a bad end for those two but sadly, I have no more story. 

You want the True Ending? Never! 

Fine, I’ll do the True Ending. 

---???, (Male) Rover’s POV--- 

(Background Music for this part.)

Rover: “!!” I wake up jolted from what it seemed to be: a dream. A dream that felt too real, like another life; a life of me from a parallel world that is different that of Solaris-3. Apparently, I’ve been sleeping while sitting upright in this room that I’ve been frequenting almost daily. I stand up from the chair and inspect the room around me. The room has: (1) two chairs by the window, which I took my nap on, (2) a dining table opposite the two chairs with a flowerpot, a notebook, two more chairs, and a tea set for 4 people, (3) a large painting on one side of the room, (4) beside the large painting is a gigantic bookshelf filled with books, (5) three paintings on one wall with two light sources situated between each painting, and (6) another table with a record player on top at the other end with a singular chair there. I begin to realize where I am as I walk out the room through a large doorway. The entire time, I hear the melody I am most familiar with; it’s a reverie, her reverie. 

Outside the room, I see a sky that is mixed of pink, white and lavender hues. The supposed greenery is replaced with purple grass, petunias, violet sunflowers, indigo tulips, magenta sunflowers, calendulas, and the pink “Afterlife” flowers. I look at the buildings around too and I surmise this area is a small village as I see a few people from the distance. There are also scarlet petals pouring and fading into this place as butterflies fly around.  

Rover: “...The Lost Beyond.” I say the place I am in now. On the nearby short brick wall, I lean on it. I noticed something intruding from my coccyx, so I grabbed it and it’s my Terminal. I widened my eyes as the realization is sinking in, and my tears began falling on its own. As if my body knows how to use it, I checked everything in the Terminal: documents, chats, call logs, items, etc. and it's all there and detailed. It’s as if everything that went I through is...a dream. I pinched the bridge of my nose as I closed the Terminal, after realizing everything. I head back inside the house I was in; and I know whose house it is. I sit back on the chair that I slept in. 

Rover: “It was all a dream?! No...it felt too real!! And it felt like I’ve lived years through it!!! NO, I WON'T ACCEPT THIS! NOT LIKE THIS!!!” I hold my head as I begin to scream loudly then toned down a bit when I cry. The woman I love is now back to being my archnemesis, all because I dreamt a good dream. It is excruciatingly chest-tightening and hollowing at the same time. I couldn't help but let my emotions escape from me.

Rover: “Phrolova...my kids...” Deep in my heart; I know that a part of me has been torn away. And it's also here that I realized: this is my reality; the hero of Solaris-3, not a student nor an actor, and not even...a father. Then I hear footsteps heading into the room. I wipe my tears almost immediately as if nothing has happened and closed my eyes. She steps into the room and gazes towards me. I keep my face forward as if I sense her presence in the room. 

Phrolova: “...” Phrolova doesn’t speak or make a noise. She just silently takes a sit beside me. 

Phrolova: “So, what is bothering you? I noticed that you cried too.” I jolted slightly as she realizes something’s off with me. Very keen and observant, this girl.  

Rover: “I thought you wouldn’t care about what’s happening with me.” 

Phrolova: “The fact that I’m speaking with you and not spending time with my friends and family should be reason enough for you to think that I'm not so cruel. So, what is it that has bothered you?” True enough, even the fact alone that I could enter the Lost Beyond should be reason enough, and yet why is it that there is this feeling of disbelief, not just from her but from myself? 

Rover: “...Phrolova, what do you think about dreams?” 

Phrolova: “Dreams...similar to a Sonoro Sphere but not much. Why is it you ask me that?” I open my eyes and slightly move my face towards her. 

Rover: “Mind listening to a story?” I told her my dream, a whole lifetime that I dreamt, all condensed into a couple of hours of sleeping. I told her everything: (1) me and her attended school together and became a couple, (2) we broke up due to an opportunity as a male character for a ‘game’ called ‘Wuthering Waves’, (3) reunited once more as actors in the same ‘studio’ and ‘company’, named ‘Kurogames’, and students in higher education, (4) my fellow ‘friends’ named Aether, Caelus and Wise from a rival ‘studio’ and ‘company’ called ‘MiHoYo’, (5) a sister that looks like me exist but I didn't include the threesome, (6) the history of this world, Solaris-3, reflected onto the ‘game’s lore’, (7) the ‘events’ that took place after what happened in the Fabricatorium, and (8) the future in which both of us married, we both having kids and Phrolova creating her own cafe and including that I have kids with the other girls. She was slightly intrigued by the details of which I have told, except for the last one. 

Phrolova: “You...even in your dreams, you're still a philanderer...” 

Rover: “Sorry...do you think there’s a version of us both living better lives than we have right now? I believe that dreams are gateways that could glimpse on the lives of our other selves.” 

Phrolova: “Who knows...if anything, it is better than we have now.” Silence fell upon us once again. 

Rover: “Say, Phrolova. Can I do one selfish thing right now?” 

Phrolova: “State your desire.” 

Rover: “I want you to be mine, even for a moment.” She contemplates for a moment.

Phrolova: “I accept.” She leans onto my shoulder, and I lean onto her head and close my eyes. But the lingering thoughts of that dream still remain in my mind, and because of it tears fall back again.

Rover: 'I should perhaps create a Sonoro Sphere about that dream. Just to preserve that glimpse of us.'

(Artist: jimizuai-, Source: Pixiv Link)

---Phrolova’s POV--- 

I can feel the warmth of his body as I lean upon him and him leaning back. As we listen to the melody of the reveries I have made, a thought has pierced my mind. 

Phrolova: ‘I’m glad that he said all of that because I went through a dream exactly the details that he had provided. I've taken a nap myself earlier nearby in which I awoken probably around the same time as he did. Even walking towards my home, I heard screaming and crying. I knew that it was Rover but I never heard such sounds from him before, not even when he was the savior of Solaris-3. Honestly, I wanted to console him because I understand.'

Phrolova: 'Like he said, it also felt as if I have lived through a lifetime’s worth of memories, good ones of which. A whole life of me separate from Solaris-3, a new me with a new discourse in life; and I even made kids with the man I love. And of course, when I realized that it was all a dream, I felt a void in me. Living through a dream almost felt like living a lie, but I do realize one thing.’ 

Phrolova: ‘Perhaps there is a life where both of us are each other’s fated one. His cadenza and mine intertwined to make a good finale; a wonderful masterpiece that I can consider him fulfilling his promise and more. Truly, this is...’ A tear falls down from my unbandaged eye.

Phrolova: “A Coda for Us.” 

The True End.