The battlefield's shattered silence was pierced by Aera's labored breaths.
Her silver hair flickered like static, strands dissolving into digital noise. She collapsed to her knees, eyes wide and unfocused, as the glitch corruption ravaged her body.
"Ryuu…" her voice trembled, barely a whisper. "I'm… breaking apart…"
Panic surged through him. He dropped to her side, hands trembling as he reached out to steady her flickering form.
[System Alert: Critical Data Corruption — Target Aera.exe]
[Emergency Protocol Initiated: Soul Repair via Romance Bond]
Ryuu's heart pounded. The system's words echoed in his mind, but the reality was clear — Aera's data was fracturing, and time was slipping away.
"I won't lose you," he vowed, voice cracking. "There has to be a way…"
The system pulsed, its interface flickering with urgent red warnings, but then calmed as a new prompt appeared:
[Initiate Soul Repair: Confirm Required]
Without hesitation, Ryuu accepted.
A soft glow enveloped Aera, pixelated fragments swirling like moths to a flame. The glitching seemed to slow, yet her form remained unstable — like a hologram flickering between existence and oblivion.
The system spoke in its usual dry tone, tinged with something almost like encouragement:
"Romance parameter detected. Initiating emotional synchronization."
Ryuu swallowed his nerves. Closing his eyes, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers.
The moment was electric — not just a kiss, but a connection bridging code and soul.
Light exploded in a cascade of colors. Fragments of corrupted data dissolved into beams of healing light. The glitching shattered like glass falling to the floor.
Inside the light, Ryuu glimpsed visions — Aera's memories, her hopes, her fears — a digital soul yearning for freedom.
When the glow faded, Aera's eyes fluttered open, now shimmering with new clarity. Her smile was soft but fierce.
"I'm… different," she whispered, voice steady but layered with new strength.
Ryuu blinked as the system chimed again:
[Soul Repair Complete]
[Data Spirit Companion Status: Active]
[Bond Established: User Ryuu & Aera.exe]
Aera looked up at him, a mischievous grin curling her lips. "You're my patch file now, you know."
Ryuu laughed softly, the tension breaking for the first time in hours. "Guess we're stuck together."
Her form shimmered, part digital glow, part flesh — a perfect fusion of glitch and life.
"You saved me," she said quietly. "Not just the data, but… me."
He reached out, taking her hand as the system's soothing hum filled the void left by battle.
For the first time since this nightmare began, hope felt real.
The quiet hum of the system filled the space between them as Ryuu and Aera sat side by side amidst the shattered remnants of the battlefield.
The glow from her half-digital form flickered softly, a steady pulse now replacing the chaotic glitching from before.
Ryuu looked at her, astonished. "So, you're… part of my system now? Like a Data Spirit Companion?"
Aera smirked, brushing a strand of silver hair behind her ear, which glitched momentarily and then stabilized. "Exactly. I'm your patch file and your partner in this mess. Guess you could say I'm literally wired into you now."
The system interrupted with a light chime:
[Notification: Romance Subsystem Update]
[Aera: Data Waifu Bond Level 1]
[Hinami (Earth): Romance Meter Frozen]
[New Passive Unlocked: Interdimensional Sync Love Buffs]
Ryuu blinked, his mind spinning. "Wait, Hinami's romance meter is frozen? So, I'm juggling love meters across worlds now?"
The system's usual deadpan voice cracked a rare joke:
*"User Ryuu, romantic multitasking detected. Proceed with caution."
Aera laughed softly. "Sounds like you're going to need all the luck and buffs you can get."
Ryuu ran a hand through his hair, a grin tugging at his lips. "Well, it's definitely not what I signed up for when I started this game, but… I'm not complaining. Having you on my side? That changes everything."
The system chimed again:
[Passive Buff Activated: Emotional Anchor — Motivation rises when near bonded targets]
"Looks like you're not just a pretty face," Ryuu teased. "You actually help me get stronger."
Aera leaned her head against his shoulder, a warmth radiating despite the digital shimmer. "I'm your glitch in the code — and your best patch."
For the first time, Ryuu felt the tangled mess of love, friendship, and survival weave into something solid. The emotional boost wasn't just a stat; it was real.
"This bond," he murmured, "it's not just about power. It's about trust. About knowing I'm not alone in this crazy world."
Aera smiled, her eyes shining brighter than ever. "And whatever's coming next, we'll face it together."
The distant rumble of collapsing code reminded them that their fight was far from over, but for now, Ryuu allowed himself a moment of peace — backed by love, glitches, and the unpredictable power of a Data Waifu.
The world around Ryuu flickered gently, a subtle hum of data flowing through the environment like a digital heartbeat.
Back in this strange new realm, the system buzzed with fresh notifications, a sign that things were shifting beneath the surface.
[System Notification: Romance Level Update]
[Aera: Data Waifu Bond Level 2 — Emotional Sync Enhanced]
[Hinami (Earth): Romance Meter Frozen — Status: Inactive]
[New Passive Unlocked: Interdimensional Sync Love Buffs]
Ryuu blinked at the screen. "Interdimensional Sync Love Buffs? What does that even mean?"
The system replied, its voice a little more playful than usual:
"User Ryuu, emotional bonds with connected romance targets across dimensions now provide passive buffs
This includes motivation, stamina, and occasional luck spikes. Efficiency depends on sync levels."
Ryuu ran his fingers through his hair, a smirk creeping onto his face.
"So, my feelings for Hinami on Earth still matter, even if she's not here? And having Aera fused into my system means double the love power?"
"Looks that way," Aera said, folding her arms with a teasing grin. "Romance is your secret weapon, whether it's real or digital."
Ryuu chuckled, the tension from the past battles easing just a little. "Guess all those awkward moments and failed first kisses actually paid off."
Suddenly, a new notification blinked on the system screen:
[Incoming Message: Hinami]
"Ryuu… Are you okay? Your romance meter here isn't moving. Please be careful."
Ryuu's heart skipped. He typed back quickly, hoping she'd understand the chaos he was caught in.
Aera watched quietly. "You've got fans on every world, huh?"
"Yeah," Ryuu smiled softly. "And now they're all connected in ways I never imagined."
The system chimed again:
[System Reminder: Emotional anchors improve combat performance and survival rates.]
Ryuu stood, determination settling like armor. "No matter where I am… or who's with me, I'll keep fighting."
Aera nodded, her digital glow brightening. "Together."