The dormitory courtyard was quiet that night, lit only by lanterns swaying gently in the breeze. Ren sat on the edge of the stone fountain, bandaged hands resting on his knees. His HUD blinked faintly, like a heartbeat he couldn't silence.
Rank 38 tomorrow. They want me gone. Maybe I really am just a substitute.
A soft rustle of footsteps approached. Mio sat beside him, her uniform from Earth now faintly altered—woven with Aurelia's cloth, but still recognizably hers. She held a flask of tea in both hands, offering it out.
"You always forget to drink enough," she said, a little smile tugging at her lips.
Ren stared, hesitant, then took it. The warmth seeped into his palms, chasing off the night chill. "...You shouldn't be here, Mio. This world... it eats people."
"I know," she whispered. "But so did ours."
He froze. Her words dragged him back—Tokyo, endless gray days, rain that never seemed to stop. His office desk buried in red corrections, unread messages blinking in the corner of his phone. The silence of his tiny apartment, broken only by the hum of the fridge.
And through all that—Mio's voice, always checking in.
"Don't disappear, okay?"
Ren's chest tightened. "...I couldn't even answer you back then."
Mio shook her head softly. "You didn't need to. I knew." She looked up at the Aurelia sky, the glass dome reflecting starlight. "I saw how tired you were. How heavy it was for you just to keep walking."
Her hand reached out, hesitated, then gently covered his bandaged wrist.
"But you kept standing. That's why... I'm here. Because I couldn't let you be alone again."
Ren's throat ached. The words caught, but the silence between them said what he couldn't.
For the first time since arriving, he let himself lean just slightly—just enough that their shoulders touched.
Alone again... she remembered. And she came anyway.
The moment lingered—quiet, fragile. Until footsteps echoed from the corridor.
"Still awake?"
Shizuka's voice cut like glass. She stood under the archway, arms crossed, eyes unreadable in the lantern light.
Behind her, Maria appeared too, twirling her racket casually. "Ufufu. Midnight rendezvous? How bold."
Ren nearly choked, jerking upright. Mio, however, didn't move her hand from his wrist. Her brown eyes stayed firm, meeting the others head-on.
"I'm not leaving him again," she said.
The air snapped tight. Shizuka's eyes narrowed. Maria's grin sharpened.
Ren's HUD flickered violently, text distorting across his vision:
[Warning: Soul Resonance Detected. Emotional Anchor Linked.]
Ren caught between three shadows—Mio's warmth steady at his side, Shizuka's icy glare, Maria's fiery smirk—while the HUD burns brighter than ever, whispering of resonance beyond stats.
For once... I don't feel alone. But maybe that's the most dangerous thing of all.
Meet The Character :
Hinata Mio 🌸
Role: Childhood Friend / Soul Resonance Heroine
Age: 22
Height: 160 cm
Nationality: Japanese
Personality: Warm, empathetic, quietly strong. Always carries a sense of melancholy beneath her smiles.
Signature Look: Chestnut brown hair (slightly wavy), soft brown eyes, usually wearing simple but neat clothes.
Court Outfit (Aurelia): White-and-pink rally dress, lightweight shoes for movement. She adapts fast despite not being a native.
Notable Traits
· Emotional anchor for Ren — she's known him bxefore "Substitute Messiah" existed.
· Empathy = her greatest strength; can sense mood shifts instantly.
· Resonates with Ren's soul, allowing her to manifest in Aurelia world.
· Sometimes too selfless, willing to hurt herself if it keeps Ren moving forward.
Hobbies
· Reading shoujo manga quietly in a corner.
· Collecting trinkets with sentimental value (keychains, tickets, notes).
· Humming old songs, especially when nervous.
Birthday
May 15
Goal
· Short-term: Stay by Ren's side no matter what.
· Long-term: Help him find meaning in victories and losses.
Fun Fact
· She's the only one who ever saw Ren cry in high school (after failing a test and missing his crush's message).
· Famous among her friends for "umbrella rescues" — she always had spares for forgetful classmates.
Love Language
Quality Time & Words of Affirmation. Her tank fills when she spends quiet moments with Ren, even if it's just walking home in silence.
Racket Name
「Hikari no Hana」 (Flower of Light)
· A pale pink racket with faintly glowing floral engravings.
· Special Trait: amplifies partner's stamina recovery in long rallies (support-type playstyle).
· Symbolism: She's not about overpowering, but about helping others endure.