We'll Meet on the Moon

The background music in the game shifted for the first time from pure instrumental to a theme song with lyrics.

[Everything's Alright].

It was as if it were singing Liva's heart.

Accompanied by the sorrowful melody, Liva was gradually removed from Johnny's life, bit by bit.

On the steps of the teaching building where Johnny thought he first met Liva.

The platypus and Liva sitting on the steps were gone, leaving only a book about the lighthouse rustling in the wind.

Here, Johnny's own good friend Nicholas walked through the corridor.

In the library, Liva was no longer there; instead, Joey had taken her place, the two brothers chatting about Transforming Warriors and space topics.

That copy of "The Emperor's New Clothes" that Liva loved was covered in dust.

In front of the cinema where Johnny and Liva once watched a movie together, Johnny walked in laughing with his brother Joey.

Yes, although Liva had been removed.

But Eva had altered Johnny's memories, letting his brother Joey replace her.

At the same time, through constant hints and guidance, Johnny's dream and goal became becoming an astronaut.

Without Liva, with Joey by his side.

Johnny's future had completely changed.

The horse ranch where Johnny and Liva once galloped together was now empty at this point in time.

In front of the lighthouse named Anya, there were only countless weeds, and no trace of the young man and woman from before.

Even the rabbit that was hit and killed during the wedding ceremony had vanished without a trace.

In Johnny's memories, his future had been completely altered.

Through constant training and study.

Johnny finally received a hiring notice from the space agency and went to visit.

His goal was now within reach.

'To the Moon'—this goal seemed only a matter of time.

Everything Eva had done appeared to be working.

But all the players and spectators were silent.

Yes, Johnny was about to go to the moon.

Eva and Neil were about to complete their mission too.

But was this ending really what Johnny wanted?

To go to the moon, but without Liva.

Did that truly have any meaning?

In the future memories Johnny had fantasized, they arrived at the space agency.

And at this moment, Dong Zhen, along with all the players who had reached this point.

Were just mechanically controlling the game's characters.

Pain—there was only one feeling, and that was pain!

But as Eva and Neil arrived at the space agency and followed Johnny on the tour.

'Not here either...'

'What are you saying?'

'Anyway, let's go.'

Accompanied by Neil and Eva's exchange, Dong Zhen seemed to notice something different.

"Wait! This old broad!"

"This old broad seems to be looking for something!"

In the waiting room, recalling what had just happened and Eva's words, Dong Zhen had a bold guess—one he hoped was true.

But before he could say it in his livestream.

The originally somewhat sorrowful game background music suddenly fell silent, replaced by the sound of a heartbeat.

A cheerful background music began to play.

A girl with an orange-red ponytail appeared at the door.

'Ah! You're one of our new hires too, Liva, right? It's great that you could come.' said the nameless Director of Space Agency.

'Hello, I'm Johnny.' Johnny stepped forward to greet her, just like back then.

At the same time, the last memory fragment was finally assembled.

Standing by the window, Eva let out a relieved sigh.

"Whew! I almost thought she was gone."

"What the hell? Eva! But... you deleted her!" Neil said in disbelief.

"No, I told you, I just moved her away. How she plans her own life still depends on... her."

"This new world... is built on public data and Johnny's personal beliefs. Since Liva belongs to the individual, her data naturally wouldn't be recorded in the public database."

With Eva's explanation, Neil understood: "So... this all comes from Johnny..."

Yes, Liva had come after all!

Even though their lives had changed, even though Johnny and Liva had no connection before.

In this fabricated world, Johnny still remembered that promise.

"What if we get lost? Then we'll meet on the moon, dummy!"

Yes, they would eventually meet again on the moon.

The tears Dong Zhen had held back earlier threatened to spill again.

Inside the space agency, that piece was no longer called "For Liva" either.

It had a brand-new name: "To the Moon."

In the hall, watching Johnny play, Liva murmured from the audience, "I like that name."

In Johnny's fabricated memories, the two went through years of training and preparation.

Finally, the rocket was about to launch.

Neil and Eva had also invited Lily, the nanny who took care of Johnny, along with her doctor and others, to witness this moment together.

Under the setting sun, countless people stood on the cross-river bridge, watching the distant rocket launch base.

With a rumbling roar, the rocket lifted off.

At the same time, a heartbeat came through.

A very dull heartbeat.

It was the heartbeat of Johnny, gravely ill in reality.

He was about to leave this world.

To the tune of the piano piece called "To the Moon," the rocket ascended.

Ahead lay their destination—the moon.

Inside the rocket, Johnny and Liva looked at each other at the same time.

Then their hands gently clasped together.

[Then we'll always meet on the moon, dummy!]

With the appearance of the moon, the screen faded to black.

The next moment, Johnny's past memories surfaced like a revolving lantern.

Watching these memories, recalling the story of Johnny and Liva in the game.

Finally, Dong Zhen in front of the computer couldn't hold back that thread any longer. He covered his face with both hands, then pulled a tissue from the side.

He wasn't wiping his nose—he was wiping his eyes.

"Fuck fuck fuck! Tough Guy cries twice!"

"Holy shit, I'm bawling!"

"Can't see the screen through the tears!"

"If you really get lost, then we'll meet on the moon, dummy!"

"If you really get lost, then we'll meet on the moon, dummy!"

As the game's end credits rolled on screen.

In Dong Zhen's livestream room, the barrage gradually turned into that same sentence.

At that moment, everyone was moved by the game's story.

Everyone had even forgotten.

That this was actually a game participating in the Sci-Fi Conquest Game.

No one bothered to think about whether it counted as a sci-fi game anymore.

Everyone was immersed in the story of Johnny and Liva.

Thanks to 'Guess 2016' for the 1500 tip.