[The championship is ours. It was only to be expected. The next championship will be ours, too. That's beyond doubt.]
FK.Swan and WTG.Flow, esports players in the game Shanhai Proof, have millions of fans shipping them as a couple, thanks to their flashy plays, good looks, and childhood friendship.
Their shippers flocked to them during their peak years, then faded from public view as the two stopped interacting openly.
Then, during a transfer window, the news that "Swan is back in the starting lineup, Flow is transferring to FK" sent their shippers into a frenzy. The hashtag bearing their ship name shot straight to the top of the trending charts.
The shippers who had mostly left the fandom rushed to push the hashtag down, while urging everyone not to bring it up in front of the two players.
That night, Swan was livestreaming. As usual, he made time to interact with the scrolling comments while playing, but it seemed things were getting out of hand.
"Congratulations to our four-time champion ADC on returning to the starting lineup!"
"Be sure to take care of your hands, and remember to get your therapy on time."
Those were easy enough to answer.
Some other comments were a little curious, like:
"Any plans for the new season? How about a brothers-in-esports match, with you playing ADC and me playing top?"
"You're my only connection, so can you give us a little scoop on the summer roster?"
The solo fans and shippers flooded the chat with praise, trying to cover those comments, while the troublemakers fearlessly opened fire:
"Heard your new top laner is a year younger than you?"
"Heard he's won four runner-up titles and one championship?"
"Heard it's that top laner Flow, who joined the academy at the same time as you, got promoted to the starting lineup right after you, and just won the championship?"
Swan was about to refuse to answer when a hand popped into the frame and waved. After a brief laugh, a familiar voice rang out brightly: "Hello, everyone. I'm FK.Flow. It's an honor to fight alongside Captain Swan."
The livestream went black the next second.
From that day on, the shippers stood tall and raised their banners online: "The top childhood-friend ship is getting back together! Flow, be brave and go for it. Behind you, besides your butt, you've got all of us!"
Flow really was brave, shamelessly saying whatever he wanted:
"Big brother, you know I've been following you since we were kids."
"Yes, we have kids. More than one."
Fake getting-back-together-after-a-breakup / a reunion that only looks like a breakup to everyone else
PS: 1. ADC Lin Yiheng [Swan] (a don't-come-near-me shou, except for younger brothers) x top laner Zuo Xuchuan [Flow] (a shamelessly biased gong who only loves his big brother)
2. 1v1, mutual love, locked in, both sexually inexperienced
3. The characters aren't based on anyone. The game is inspired by commercial MOBA games. The tournament is called CPL, Certification of Mountain and Sea Pro League. The name was made up purely to fit a particular joke in the story.
4. This is entirely fictional. Respect the characters and the players. Any similarities are purely coincidental.
5. Thanks to the active players.
Theme: In esports, we never give up
