As the stillness of the night wrapped around her, Disha's heart pounded in her chest, but it wasn't the usual rush of adrenaline she had grown used to. This was different—slower, heavier, like the weight of everything that had been left unsaid was suffocating her. The shadows stretched long between them, and Disha knew, in the deepest part of herself, that this was their last moment together.

Hoseok stood before her, his familiar lopsided grin fading, replaced by something more painful, more resigned. The fire in his eyes, the one that always matched hers, was dimming. He reached out, his fingers brushing against hers, and the warmth of his touch felt like a cruel reminder of what she was about to lose.

"Well," Disha forced out, trying to summon that old spark of sass in her voice. "If you're going to break my heart, you might as well do it properly."

Hoseok let out a breath that was almost a laugh, but it cracked at the edges. "You always know how to ruin a moment, don't you?"

"Someone has to keep things interesting," she replied, but her words faltered, the usual sharpness lost in the quiver of her lips. She blinked back the tears threatening to fall, refusing to let them win—not now, not like this.

Hoseok's eyes softened, and he stepped closer, cupping her face in his hands. "You don't have to pretend, Disha. Not with me."

She bit her lip, a shaky breath escaping as she looked up at him, their eyes locking in a way that made her chest ache. "I don't know how to say goodbye," she whispered, her voice raw with emotion. "I don't want to."

His thumb traced the curve of her cheek, wiping away a tear that had slipped past her defenses. "I don't want to either," he murmured, his voice cracking. "But we don't always get to choose, do we?"

Disha shook her head, her throat tight with the effort of holding it all together. "You always said I could survive anything," she whispered, her lips trembling. "But this... I don't know if I can survive this."

Hoseok's expression wavered, his own eyes shining with unshed tears. He leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers, their breaths mingling in the cool night air. "You're the strongest person I've ever known, Disha," he said softly. "You'll survive this, even if it hurts. Even if it feels impossible."

A bitter laugh escaped her. "You know," she said, her voice thick, "I was always ready for the fights, the battles, the chaos. But I wasn't ready for you to leave me."

Hoseok let out a quiet, pained sound. "I wasn't ready to leave you either."

They stood there, locked in their embrace, the world around them fading away. For a moment, it was just the two of them, wrapped in the remnants of a love that had always been filled with sarcastic banter and stolen glances. But now, that love felt fragile, like something slipping through her fingers no matter how hard she tried to hold on.

"I love you," Disha said, the words breaking free from her, no longer hidden behind witty remarks or playful jabs. "I love you more than I've ever loved anything, and it scares me to death."

Hoseok smiled, a tear slipping down his cheek. "I love you too, Disha. I've loved you since the moment you smirked at me like you knew you could win every argument we'd ever have."

A watery laugh bubbled up in her chest. "That's because I can."

He chuckled, but the sound was laced with sadness. "Yeah, you can. You always will."

The silence that followed was heavy, but it was the kind of silence that spoke volumes. They both knew this was the end—knew that no amount of clever remarks or defiance could change the inevitable.

Hoseok pulled something from his pocket, the small pendant that had started this entire journey. He pressed it into her hand, his touch lingering, as if he didn't want to let go. "This is yours now," he said quietly. "You were always meant for something greater, Disha. Even if I'm not there to see it."

Her hand shook as she held the pendant, her grip tightening around it like it could somehow tether him to her. "What am I supposed to do without you?" she whispered, her voice breaking.

"You live," Hoseok replied, his gaze intense. "You keep going. And you make sure you never forget how to laugh, even when it hurts."

Disha swallowed hard, the lump in her throat almost unbearable. "You were the only one who could ever keep up with me, you know that?" she said, her voice trembling but still laced with that familiar sass.

Hoseok smiled, a bittersweet smile that made her heart break all over again. "And you were the only one who could make me want to try."

There were no more words left. Just the quiet, painful acceptance of what had to be. Hoseok leaned down, pressing a final, lingering kiss to her forehead, and for the first time, Disha didn't try to hide her tears.

"I'll miss you," she whispered, her voice small and broken.

"I'll miss you more," he whispered back, his breath ghosting over her skin like a final goodbye.

And then, just like that, he was gone.

Disha stood there, clutching the pendant to her chest as the night closed in around her. She was alone now, with only the memory of his smile and the echo of his laughter to keep her company.

But even in the emptiness, there was something left—something small but powerful. The love they'd shared, the battles they'd fought, the moments they'd stolen—it would live on in her, as long as she kept going.

And as she stood there, broken but not defeated, Disha made a silent promise: she would survive. For him.

Because that's what Hoseok would've wanted.

Dear Readers,

As we come to the end of this journey, I want to take a moment to thank each of you for walking alongside these characters, feeling their joys, their fears, their triumphs, and their heartbreaks. Writing this story has been an emotional experience—one filled with love, loss, laughter, and everything in between. It's never easy to say goodbye to characters who have lived in my mind and heart for so long, but knowing they've found a place in yours makes this farewell bittersweet.

Disha and Hoseok's story is, at its core, a reminder that love can be both beautiful and painful, that life's challenges will try to break us, but in the end, it's our ability to hold on, even when everything seems lost, that makes us stronger. Their sassy, spirited love may have faced impossible odds, but it was real, fierce, and unapologetic—and that's what I hope resonates with you all.

This is not just their ending—it's also a beginning. A beginning for Disha to find her way, to carry forward everything she learned and everything she loved, into a world that waits for her beyond the pages. And perhaps, it's a beginning for all of us to remember that no matter how tough the road gets, we are never truly alone.

Thank you for your support, for your patience, and most of all, for believing in these characters as much as I did. I hope you carry a piece of them with you, as I will, long after the final word is written.

With all my love and gratitude

The_Anime_Writer