Chapter 8 – The Night the Sunset Witnessed
A full month passed in peaceful rhythm. Ding Li and Koya became inseparable. Every day they strolled the island hand in hand, chatting with villagers, watching sunsets, and quietly farming emotion points. The nineteen residents now treated Ding Li like family. Koya still worried about her brother, but Ding Li's steady presence slowly painted color back into her days.
One evening, exactly one month after Rem Hai left…
Koya stood at the shoreline, hands clasped tightly over her heart, staring at the setting sun. "Ding Li… it's been a whole month. What if… what if something happened to them?"
Ding Li took her trembling hands in his. "Hey. Ah Hai said it could take months. One month is still early. They'll come back. I promise."
Koya turned, eyes shimmering with unshed tears. In that moment courage overtook shyness. She rose on tiptoes and pressed a quick, soft kiss to his lips.
"Ding Li… the sunset is really beautiful tonight."
Ding Li froze, brain short-circuiting. "Y-yeah… really beautiful…"
Koya's blush exploded. She'd basically confessed and he answered like an idiot! Mortified, she spun around and bolted.
Ding Li stood there repeating "the sunset is really beautiful…" until the obvious finally hit him like a cannonball.
She… she just kissed me!
He sprinted after her, caught her wrist, and pulled her into his arms.
Koya struggled for half a second, then melted, burying her burning face in his chest.
"What are you doing…?" she mumbled.
Ding Li smiled against her hair as the sea breeze played with her pink strands.
"The wind feels gentle tonight, too."
No more words were needed.
He tilted her chin up. Their eyes locked. Slowly, their lips met—soft at first, then deeper, hungrier. The world disappeared. There was only the sound of waves, the taste of salt and sweetness, and two hearts finally saying what words never could.
Hands wandered. Breaths mingled. The sunset painted them gold as they sank together onto a bed of broad banana leaves Ding Li had hastily gathered beneath the trees.
Five hours later…
The moon hung high. Seabirds had long returned to their nests. Ding Li gently wrapped the sleeping Koya in the same leaves that had cushioned them, cradling her like the most precious treasure in the world. Carrying her home under the moonlight, he couldn't stop smiling.
Morning
Ding Li woke first, propped on one elbow, watching Koya sleep. Her pink hair spilled across the pillow, lips slightly parted, cheeks still flushed from last night. Guilt tugged at him—he'd been too rough for their first time.
Around noon she finally stirred, opened her eyes, and instantly remembered everything. With a tiny squeak she buried her face in his chest, wishing the bed would swallow her.
Ding! "+1 [Shyness] emotion collected."
Ding Li checked his panel while stroking her hair.
[Physique: 49]
[Vitality: 10]
[Soul Strength: 10]
[Total Emotions: 429 / 10,000,000,000,000]
[Spendable: 391]
"Ow—!" Koya suddenly yelped.
Ding Li panicked. "What's wrong?!"
"It's your fault… my legs hurt when I move…" she grumbled, half-pouting, half-teasing, eyes shining with affection.
Ding Li's heart clenched with guilt. "I'm sorry, Koya. I was too—"
She silenced him with a finger to his lips. "I'm not blaming you, dummy. Just… be gentler next time, okay?"
All day he refused to leave her side—bringing medicine, massaging her legs, feeding her fruit, whispering promises about the future they'd build together.
By nightfall they were laughing again, curled up under the same blanket, planning a life where no one they loved would ever have to risk the sea again.
Ding Li kissed her forehead and made a silent vow:
I'll become strong enough that this entire ocean bows when we walk its shores. No one will ever make her cry again.