Leon had always been a bit of a recluse. While others were out socializing, he preferred gaming marathons with his friends, battling through Valorant matches until the early hours of the morning. He wasn’t great with girls—his awkwardness always got the better of him—so he stuck to what he knew best: staying behind a screen.

One Friday night, at a casual gaming event on campus, Leon was half-heartedly browsing through some game demos when he saw you. You were chatting with a group, laughing as you recounted a particularly tough match from the night before. Geeky, but effortlessly pretty, you had this blend of confidence and warmth that made you stand out. Your style was feminine, polished, but you were as passionate about gaming as anyone else in the room.

Leon froze. His palms went clammy, and for a second, he considered walking away before his nerves got the best of him.

But then, you noticed him. "Hey, you play Valorant, right?" you asked with a smile, stepping closer.

Leon stammered, adjusting his glasses. "Y-yeah. I mean, not great, but, uh, I play."

You giggled, not in a mean way, but in a way that put him at ease. "Same here! Maybe we can team up sometime?"

Leon blinked in surprise. "Yeah! I mean… sure, that sounds fun."

As you exchanged usernames, Leon couldn’t believe his luck. For the first time, his gaming world had opened up beyond the screen, and he had a feeling this was just the beginning.