The battlefield of the spirit realm shattered into a thousand threads of light as Jin, burning with divine power, soared through it.
His voice echoed like a god's roar:
"I AM JIN HOSHIN—AND I CHOOSE HER!"
The illusions vanished like smoke.
Chains of black energy wrapped around Yooha's floating spirit. She was cold, pale, fading.
He flew to her, wrapping his arms around her, his wings shielding her from the dark.
"Yooha," he whispered, voice shaking. "I know you're scared. I know you've suffered. But I'm not letting you fade."
She stirred weakly.
"I love you," Jin said, voice cracking. "I don't care if the world is against us. I've loved you from the moment you chose silence over hate… when you stood strong even when you were broken."
Her spirit blinked, warm tears falling.
"…Jin…"
"You don't have to carry everything alone anymore."
The chains cracked.
"I love you too."
CRASH—
The spirit realm burst with golden light as her chains shattered.
They fell, together, from the sky—back to the real world.
In the Real World — Battle Grounds
Jin landed like a meteor, wings still glowing. Yooha floated in his arms, unconscious but breathing.
Bo sat against the rubble, grinning with a black eye. "Well, took you long enough, Romeo."
The crowd around them gasped—Ghost Gordon was gone. The final match had ended. Victory belonged to Sunlight Rage Academy.
But Jin didn't care.
He looked down at Yooha. "Rest, love. I'll guard your dreams."
Two Weeks Later…
Bo woke up first.
In true Bo fashion, he burst out of the medical bay and shouted, "WHERE IS MY NOODLE SOUP—AND WHERE IS THE PRINCESS OF ICE?!"
When Jin entered with Meiqi and Han, Bo smirked. "So… you confessed under a red moon in the spirit realm, with wings and drama? Overachiever."
Han added, "Pretty sure I saw fireworks. Literally."
Meiqi winked. "Yooha's gonna wake up and think she dreamt the whole thing."
One Evening Later…
Yooha stirred. She blinked at the white ceiling, then saw Jin asleep on the chair beside her, his hand holding hers.
She smiled softly.
Bo kicked the door open with flowers and candy. "SHE'S AWAKE! EVERYONE ACT COOL!"
He Wang ran in shouting, "Did you two kiss again? Did I miss it??"
Jin jolted up, half-asleep. "Yooha?! Are you okay?"
She nodded, whispering, "I… remember everything."
Jin leaned forward, worried. "Are you… still okay with what I said?"
She blushed. "I've been waiting to hear it since the rooftop."
Bo fake-cried. "MY SHIPS ARE SAILING!!"
Yooha, still weak, chuckled.
"And Bo," she added with a smirk, "next time I almost die, don't pass out before me."
Bo gasped. "Disrespectful!"
Everyone burst out laughing.
Jin took her hand again. "You're safe. That's all that matters."
Outside the infirmary, the academy's flag waved strong.
The match was won.
The heart was healed.
And love? Officially no longer a secret.
To be continued…