Five Hearts to Freedom

The ball arced cleanly through the hoop, the swish echoing sharp in the court. Evan Drayke landed lightly, breath quick, sweat sliding down his temple. Black hair clung damp against his skin, his body lean and toned from years of training. The line of his waist was sharp, abs tight beneath his jersey, every move carrying the restless brightness of youth. For a fleeting moment, under the orange glow of the gym lights, he looked untouchably alive. And then, in the blink of an eye, it all vanished. The court, the sound, the air—gone. Evan felt himself plummeting into endless darkness, the void swallowing him whole. Only a cold, mechanical voice remained, detonating inside his skull. [Binding host: Evan Drayke.] [Mission mode: Compulsory Romance Strategy.] [Number of worlds: unknown.] [Failure penalty: permanent entrapment, until death.] Evan jerked his head up, but saw no light. His heart slammed against his ribs, tight and breathless. "...What the hell?" His throat was dry, voice swallowed by the void. "Compulsory romance? You've got to be kidding me—I'm not some game character—" Before he could finish, the darkness twisted, surging over him like a tide. He reached out instinctively, but caught nothing. Only one final, merciless declaration remained: [Host entering first scenario.] The next moment, everything went black. When he opened his eyes again, the basketball court was gone—replaced by a luxury car and a stranger's wedding.