Watching You from Across the Way [Esports]

[The face of flashy-dash plays, mid laner and comeback specialist in desperate games, marksman]

Sweet, cool, and straightforward x gentle and restrained | Passionate esports, evenly matched rivals | The female lead's secret crush comes true + healing romance

Blurb 1:

On the eve of the most important Global Championship Cup in January 2022, the first match of China's pro team qualifiers saw the obscure BTK, a team with a long history of poor results, face Overlord, two-time reigning domestic Challenger Cup champions.

The match began. No one believed BTK could win, and BTK lived up to expectations, losing two games in a row.

Then news suddenly broke: "BTK has made a full roster change, bringing in all of its substitutes."

The announcement set the live comments ablaze, but no one doubted the outcome of the match that day, until BTK's new five-man lineup took the stage and won a game.

[To be honest, this is actually BTK's starting lineup.]

[If these players are this good, why didn't they put them in earlier? I'd already closed my eyes and braced for the mockery, but now I think we might have a chance!]

Of course, a few comments stood out from the rest.

[Ahhh, that girl in mid is so pretty and cute! She even has dimples when she smiles. I love a sweet girl!]

[Dawn only joined BTK a month ago. I didn't expect her to be so gorgeous and so strong. That flashy dash play was insane!]

The unfamiliar face on camera had smiling eyes. Perhaps she wasn't used to being filmed; she looked a little flustered, raised her right hand in a small wave, and gave a blank little smile.

The live comments exploded again.

Although BTK won one game, they still lost after a hard-fought match lasting more than twenty minutes.

After the match, a voice recording from Overlord was released. Just as their crystal fell, a clear voice said, "That mid laner on the other team is pretty good."

The live comments exploded for what felt like the hundredth time, with fans crying out, "No, you can't!"

Down in the audience, Xia Yangqing closed her eyes, thinking: What I actually said was, "That mid laner on the other team is pretty good. She's daring with her plays, and her game sense is great, too."

Seriously, what a mess...

Blurb 2:

During an interview after a victory, Chu Xiyi gave her first interview to a crowd full of anticipation.

After discussing the match, the host casually asked, "Dawn, is there a player you particularly admire?"

Everyone assumed that, as a mid laner, she'd name another mid laner. But she lifted the microphone without hesitation and said softly, "I wanted to go pro because of Breaker."

Host: ...

Live comments: Ahhh! No, you can't!

Another comment: You have my blessing! Handsome man and beautiful woman, get married right now!

"Then you must really want to be his teammate, right?"

She shook her head and said, "I want him to watch me win a championship and lift the trophy."

Watching this on screen, Xia Yangqing only smiled faintly. She found it amusing but didn't take the words to heart, thinking it was just the way a fan wanted to beat their idol.

Until later, during a livestream, Dawn accidentally logged into the wrong account. Tens of thousands of viewers saw the ID and discovered that for three years, she had been the number-one supporter in Breaker's livestream, her username never changing: I Want You to Become the Light.

She stayed by his side as he went from streamer to pro, from the depths to the heights, and from obscurity to fame. Then, step by step, she made her way to the other side and became his evenly matched opponent.

"My feelings for you aren't a fan's admiration for an idol. I've always loved you."

Later, she got her answer: "I love you even more than you think. I can't live without you. I've felt that way for a long time."

[When you're cornered, break through, and you'll see the light of dawn.]

[Breaker, the one who breaks through; Dawn, the light of dawn.]

Notes:

1. The leads start out as opponents and later become teammates. The story focuses on the competition. It's not just a sweet romance, and it respects esports. There is no disparagement of esports.

2. The story is set in the world of Honor of Kings. The competition schedule and everything else differ from reality, so please don't judge it by real-world standards.

3. No real-life inspirations. Please don't read real people into it, please don't!

4. The romance is healing, not fast-paced. One-on-one romance, very obvious mutual attraction, and both leads are the romantic type.

5. There are plenty of live comments and in-game details. Each chapter includes a little explanation, and I hope it won't make the story hard to follow.

6. If you don't like it, please don't be hurtful.

*Updates around 9 p.m. If there's no update, it means I'm still writing. Weibo: DC Dreamcatcher

Theme: For a dream we share, we must all give it everything we've got.