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In the warm student council room, there's only Julius-senpai and I. While the gently falling snow outside paints our alone time as romantic, there's nothing romantic about what we're about to do.
"Thank you for your help, Mochizuki-jou. I'm sorry to trouble you in the middle of final exams week."
[I want to help you, Julius-senpai]
[It's my duty as a student council member]
[Only because I have nothing to do]
"No, no. It's my duty as a student council member!" I ignore the other choices as I wave my hands as Julius-senpai puts a cup of warm tea in front of me. "Um, Senpai. You need my help for double-checking the numbers, right?"
Julius-senpai chuckles, "Of course. At the same time, we can enjoy a cup of tea together, can't we? I just bought Yerba Mate, please tell me what you think of it."
"Oh, thank you..." I mutter as I take the cup and blow on it a little.
The reason why Julius-senpai only asks for my assistance is because everyone is busy with studying. He knows I'm smart enough I can slack off a little bit. And while Reinhard-senpai is also available, Julius-senpai just doesn't want to trouble him.
Julius-senpai smiles at me as he returns to his seat, "I am glad that someone other than Reinhard can give me a review of the tea I brew. Ferris doesn't really care for the taste, and you know how Subaru's face will scrunch up every time he drinks a tea."
I chuckle when I remember Subaru-senpai's various disgusted face every time Julius-senpai puts a cup of tea in front of him. "And yet he keeps drinking it and complains how it tastes like grass every single time..."
Julius-senpai's eyes softened, "He just has a childlike taste bud. Honestly, it's amusing how he keeps trying to drink it down and then gets his tongue burned."
"But he gets better, though. Yesterday his reaction is only a 'bleh'."
"Although his face still contorts greatly. At least he learns to sip it slowly."
Oh, he's having fun... I watch as Julius-senpai takes an elegant sip from his own cup after chuckling a little. It's true that Subaru-senpai's tea drinking skill improves bit by bit. If Julius-senpai keeps it up, Subaru-senpai probably can drink tea with a straight face by the end of the year.
"You can just not offer him a cup of tea, you know. It's because Julius-senpai keeps giving him tea that Subaru-senpai drinks it."
"I know," Julius-senpai puts down his cup. His eyes gazes softly at something only he can see as he traces a finger on the rim of his cup. "Even though he can just refuse it, he's trying his best to drink it every single time. Seeing him like that, I..."
I know!! Last I checked, your label towards Subaru-senpai is "a very dazzling and lovable existence"! There's a full-blown L-O-V and an E right there!!
I clasp my hand around my cup as my mind conjures up bubbles and flowers around the now silent Julius-senpai. Julius-senpai has a beautiful face so of course the effects looks wonderful for him.
However, looking at Subaru-senpai himself, I find it a bit curious myself. I don't know if it's only his stubbornness at play in the beginning because I wasn't there when Julius-senpai offer him tea for the first time, but it's obvious that he doesn't want to reject the things Julius-senpai loves even when he's personally not good with it.
Julius-senpai most likely knows about it, so he keeps offering tea to Subaru-senpai.
In return, Subaru-senpai keeps drinking the tea that Julius-senpai brew for him.
And Subaru-senpai's label to Julius-senpai is "a bastard but I respect him as a friend"? There's something wrong with your affection meter, Senpai.
Honestly, it's a little unnerving how much Subaru-senpai shows a lot of affection, care, and love to someone he only sees as a good friend. I know he has his own problems of low self-esteem, but I think it's no good if he keeps throwing his everything into someone with such a meagre label.
Or maybe there's actually something brewing inside Subaru-senpai's mind about Julius-senpai...?
Otto-senpai once told me that Subaru-senpai has a weakness against beautiful people (no matter what gender or sex they are) who looks mature. Looking at Subaru-senpai's previous crush Emilia-senpai and people he calls "good-looking", it's easy to guess Subaru-senpai's type. (Incidentally, I was 50% his type).
Julius-senpai clearly fits right in the center of Subaru-senpai's type. Not only that, Subaru-senpai used "ikemen" when he talks about Julius-senpai and once even said that Julius-senpai has an "annoyingly lustrous" voice. So why is it Subaru-senpai's label is so rigid?
The attraction is already there, but Subaru-senpai hasn't realized it yet... Or maybe he just doesn't want to acknowledge it?
It'll explain the weirdly distant label Subaru-senpai puts on his relationship with Julius-senpai, notwithstanding the insult.
That's such a classic tsundere move that I can't even complain. As expected of someone who's always dere-dere with most people but goes tsun-tsun like a cat with Julius-senpai.
But then how can I make Subaru-senpai becomes aware of his own attraction to Julius-senpai?
My aim is a Subaru BL Harem Ending (which probably includes my-informant-now-half-traitor Otto-senpai), so I need to make Subaru-senpai realizes how much everyone likes him. I'm sure he'll fall in love with them naturally, but to get there I need to make Subaru-senpai changes his label and perception about them, starting with Julius-senpai.
Hm... what to do...?
"Heeey, Mofuko! You there?"
Thank you, Divine Protection of Maiden System! I clasp my hands together to thank the system for the good timing at the same time Subaru-senpai opens the door of the student council room.
Subaru-senpai's small "geh!" at seeing Julius-senpai draws a chuckle from Julius-senpai and I. Ignoring our reaction, Subaru-senpai looks at me and claps both of his hands together in apology. "Sorry, but can you help me with cleaning the archive? Clind-sensei asked me to clean it again..."
[Of course, Subaru-senpai]
[Sorry, but I'm a bit occupied]
[Let's do it with the three of us]
This is it! A matchmaking event!! I clench my fist in excitement, "Let's do it with the three of us!"
As long as I can create a situation that makes Subaru-senpai's heart skips a beat because of Julius-senpai, there's a chance that Subaru-senpai realizes his own attraction to Julius-senpai!
Subaru-senpai looks at Julius-senpai awkwardly, but Julius-senpai fixes his glasses with a smile, "Why not? Surely another pair of hands who is familiar with the archive is better, is it not?"
Subaru-senpai grumbles under his breath something along the lines of 'pompous bastard'. This time, Julius-senpai and I are the one who ignore his reaction as we clean our table. Speaking of... "I haven't gone to the archive yet. What kind of place is it, anyway?"
Subaru-senpai scratches his cheek, "It's uh... it's kinda disorganized..."
"Kind of?" Julius-senpai raises a delicate eyebrow. Subaru-senpai rolls his eyes in annoyance.
"Fine, it's super disorganized. So I wanna ask for Mofuko's help to clean up the papers a bit."
Julius-senpai sighs, "It's not a task that can be easily done in a single break time... but very well, I guess it's necessary to help you two."
Subaru-senpai clicks his tongue as he glares away.
"Thank you, Senpai!" I will make sure to make this matchmaking event a success!!
"Um... disorganized sure is a word to explain this... archive..." is the only comment I can give as Subaru-senpai opens the door to the archive.
It was a small room filled with documents everywhere. Papers are scattered on the floor, and files are crammed into floor-to-ceiling shelves filling the room. There is no window nor wall that can be seen. Dust particles float in the air as Subaru-senpai waves his hand in the air in annoyance as he flicks the lamp on.
I thought their banter as we were going to the archive was pretty cordial as they're just talking about the details of Clind-sensei's request.
At first, I was pretty mortified to walk around school with these two bickering in front of me. But after almost a year with them, I've gotten used to the noise. In fact, none of the first years flinch anymore when they hear a "Julius Euclius, you bastard!!" or its many variants.
It only started heating up when Julius-senpai asked why Subaru-senpai is still helping out the teachers even though it's finals week. Thankfully, we arrive just as Subaru-senpai almost blows his top.
I mean, I know Julius-senpai is just worried about Subaru-senpai overworking himself again, but can he put in in a way that won't push Subaru-senpai's fight buttons every single time?
Julius-senpai brushes his bangs, "I've reminded Ferris several times to help me clean this room as he's the secretary, but he prefers to ignore this room's existence."
"Everyone just carelessly shoves things in here, so no matter how many times we clean it, it's useless. I told you, we should ask Reinhard for help."
Julius-senpai frowns, "He has so many things on his plate to support you, I can't ask him for help for something so mundane."
"Fine, fine, do it your own way." Subaru-senpai sighs as he look at me, "Mofuko, what do you wanna do?"
[Organize the papers on the floor]
[Organize the books on the shelves]
[Try to clean the dust and cobwebs]
Ugh, don't tell me this is the Domino Effect choices...
This is the opposite of fake choices, the domino effect choices.
Sometimes there are choices like this where the outcome is unpredictable. What I choose might seem insignificant or unrelated at first, but it'll affect the event or the plot in significant ways down the line.
Most of the times, the consequences is just me missing out an affection meter raising event. But the occasional devastating consequences are really no joke. That's why I can't take something as 'which cleaning task is better' so lightly.
Although I choose to play as a matchmaker, there's still the occasional options where it will lead to a moment between me and the other student council members. They're all pretty blatant choices up to this point, but I don't want to trigger any romantic flags with any of them.
Because I'm the shortest between us three, there's a possibility that I'll lose my balance if I strain to reach something taller than me and then Subaru-senpai or Julius-senpai might have to catch me. I want to avoid any kinds of exciting romantic events starring me from happening, so the best option for me is definitely the easiest task.
"I'll organize the papers on the floor."
Subaru-senpai nods, "Okay, then I'll clean the cobwebs."
"You just don't want to organize any document, do you? Fine, leave the shelves to me."
I crouch down on the floor and start cleaning the papers on one corner of the room.
On the other side of the room, Subaru-senpai starts dusting away the cobwebs at the corner of the room with the duster that's hung next to the door. Next to him, Julius-senpai starts pulling out folders from the shelves.
Feeling relieved that I can put some distance between us, I start concentrating on my job.
...The writings on the papers that I collect have become so blurry I might need a magnifying glass to read them. Why are they not shredding all these unnecessary papers? Do they have anything to do with our academy's legend?
Ah, no good. I'm bored. I shake my head.
To distract my mind from meandering away, I decide to ask Subaru-senpai about the tune he's been humming ever since he starts cleaning without looking at their direction, "Senpai, that's the opening to that demon slaying anime, right?"
"Oh, you know about it too, Mofuko? You have taste!!" Subaru-senpai stops humming, I can imagine him turning around as he answers me enthusiastically. "That's right! Do you see the latest episode?! It was so intense! Especially the part where Haijiro is—Whoa!!"
"Subaru!!"
A loud thud of a body slamming to the floor made my heart jumps. I stand up and turn towards them in panic.
"Sen—" I hurriedly close my mouth with both hands as the 'click' of CG moment rings in my mind.
A FLOOR SLAM?!?!
Julius-senpai was on top of Subaru-senpai. One of Julius-senpai's left arm is curled protectively behind Subaru-senpai's head, and his left hand brushes Subaru-senpai's right ear. His right arm is braced on the floor. One of his leg is perfectly slotted between Subaru-senpai's legs and the other cage Subaru-senpai's leg.
On the other hand, Subaru-senpai's hands grip Julius-senpai's cardigan tightly. I wait for the moment Subaru-senpai pushes Julius-senpai off with an embarrassed scowl, but...
...he doesn't do that?
Subaru-senpai looks bewildered as a blush slowly blooms across his face as he locks eyes with Julius-senpai. His grip on Julius-senpai's cardigan tightens as they gaze at each other in wonder.
Subaru-senpai's weakness: good-looking face.
Julius-senpai slowly strokes Subaru-senpai's right ear. Subaru-senpai gasps softly, his body twitching, trembling legs curling inwards in response to the slow upward brush of Julius-senpai's leg.
Subaru-senpai's weakness: sensitive ears.
Julius-senpai's eyes dart towards Subaru-senpai's slightly open lips. He swallows hard as he looks back at Subaru-senpai's trembling eyes. Julius-senpai whispers slowly, voice heavy and shaken. "Subaru..."
Subaru-senpai's weakness: melodious voice.
Subaru-senpai lets out a squeak as his eyes darts between Julius-senpai's heavy-lidded gaze and the way his tongue slowly wets his own lips. Julius-senpai tucks a lock of hair behind his ear, their breaths quickening.
"May I..."
WHOA WHOA WHOA!! ARE YOU IMMEDIATELY GUNNING FOR A KISS JULIUS-SENPAI?!?!?
Subaru-senpai's blush deepened as Julius-senpai's lips draws closer towards his own. I keep waiting with baited breath for the moment Subaru-senpai snaps back from being mesmerized by Julius-senpai and pushes him off, and yet—
SUBARU-SENPAI CLOSES HIS EYES?!?!?
Well, it's more that he scrunches his eyes shut, but still! That's a 'go ahead, please enjoy', isn't it?! Offering yourself on a silver platter like that shouldn't be a legal move at this point, Subaru-senpai!!
[Julius → Subaru Affection Up!]
Julius-senpai's eyes widen at Subaru-senpai's reaction. He also closes his eyes, and his eyelashes flutter and brush against Subaru-senpai's face. Julius-senpai smiles softly as his lips finally—
""...Huh?""
Subaru-senpai's confusion overlaps with mine as I hear the 'click' sound of a CG moment.
The reason is simple—because Julius-senpai's lips only brushes Subaru-senpai's forehead.
Julius-senpai chuckles as he lightly brushes Subaru-senpai's bangs aside. "Your forehead is wide open, Subaru."
JULIUS EUCLIUS!! YOU BASTARD!!!
If I can kick him in the guts right now, I will do so in a heartbeat. Damn you! Give me back my expectation!!
No no no, calm down, Mofuko. That gentlemanly Julius-senpai probably wants to go through the proper channels first. That's right, his knightly ideal is to save their first kiss for the day they officiate their marriage. Yes, that's right, that must be the reason!
Subaru-senpai's face is bright red, equal parts embarrassment and indignation, as he slaps both hands over his forehead. "Y-Y-You—You—You—!!"
[Subaru → Julius Affection Up!]
"What's wrong? I remember you saying you love exchanging forehead kisses with your younger sister. I also did the same with Joshua when we're younger. Seeing your exposed forehead up close just reminds me of those times. There's nothing wrong with a forehead kiss. You won't say you're embarrassed of being kissed on the forehead, do you?"
Ah, he chickened out.
The way Julius-senpai keeps rambling on and fiddles with his own bangs in agitation makes me sure of the reason why he pivoted for the forehead instead. Maybe he didn't expect Subaru-senpai to just surrender himself so openly like that. It caught him completely off guard.
Julius-senpai is such a pure, honest young man, after all.
Don't mind, Subaru-senpai, there's no reason for you to be expecting a kiss in another location. Julius-senpai and I just haven't prepared ourselves for your curveballs yet.
No, really, even with my Divine Protection, Subaru-senpai's willingness to be at Julius-senpai's complete mercy is so unexpected. I can't fault Julius-senpai to back off right at the very end.
Also, isn't it big that Subaru-senpai's affection meter goes up just from a forehead kiss alone?
That means he does feel attracted to Julius-senpai and is open to that possibility, right? Is it the effect of seeing Julius-senpai's gorgeous face and hearing Julius-senpai's alluring voice up close?
"Well, let's stop fooling around and go back to cleaning the archive so I can go back to my student council duty." Julius-senpai stands up and offers a hand to Subaru-senpai.
Subaru-senpai, still holding his forehead with both hands, scowls with his face still red. "I can stand by myself."
"I see." Julius-senpai's amused smile wavers as retracts his hand. He watches Subaru-senpai stands up on his own.
Huh, that's it?
While that floor slam and forehead kiss are CG-worthy moments, I feel kind of disappointed. Maybe because the sexual tension between them was so thick it made me expect a peck on the lips at the very least.
Oh well, I think it's a good enough progress. As long as Subaru-senpai becomes conscious of Julius-senpai's appeal as a man, it's a win in my book. I'll check the updated label by asking Otto-senpai about Julius-senpai and Subaru-senpai tomorrow.
Also, they totally forget I'm here, aren't they? Invisible mode is really amazing.
Thanks to the matchmaker gameplay mode, whenever an event starts between people I matchmake (in this case Julius-senpai and Subaru-senpai), Divine Protection of Maiden System hides my presence in the world to the point the lovebirds forget that I'm in the same room with them.
I'm honestly grateful for that. Please forget I'm here and continue being lovey-dovey in front of me! As the matchmaker, it's my duty to see your blooming love right before my eyes.
Julius-senpai, noticing the way Subaru-senpai keeps looking down, now looks worried. "Well, if that embarrasses you that much, we can just forget—"
His voice hitched as Subaru-senpai yanks his necktie to—
There's a 'click' of a CG moment in my mind.
"The-there, you're also wide open, you bastard! The last one to attack is the winner! Don't think you can win for teasing me, dammit!!"
[Julius → Subaru Affection Up!]
A COUNTERATTACK FOREHEAD KISS?!?!?
Julius-senpai and I can only watch Subaru-senpai covers his own mouth with the back of his hand with a face redder than an apple. He quickly lets go of Julius-senpai's necktie and runs away from the archive.
"Idiot Julius! Stupid ikemen! I hate your nice voice!!"
Julius-senpai doesn't even notice his glasses are askew because Subaru-senpai's attack(?) knocked it off his nose. He just brings a hand to his forehead in a daze as Subaru-senpai's screams and footsteps grow further away.
Hold up, there's no need for Subaru-senpai to do all that, isn't it?
Seriously, as a matchmaker, I know it's unnecessary to raise Julius-senpai's affection meter towards Subaru-senpai any further until a key event happens. Julius-senpai already likes Subaru-senpai and I have full confidence that it will turn into love when Subaru-senpai gets into Julius-senpai's route proper.
Subaru-senpai's label for Julius-senpai doesn't even hint at any possibility that he'll follow-up Julius-senpai's move in a romantic way in the slightest.
But of course, this is Subaru-senpai after all. He always tries his best to return any affection he's given. I should've known better.
...Why does Subaru-senpai always score a perfect communication rate with men again?
Even my Divine Protection of Maiden System and Otto-senpai Info can't tell me how many men has fallen for Subaru-senpai's natural charm. What a sinful man.
Hm?
The sounds of footsteps suddenly stops, then slowly grows louder, approaching the archive. Subaru-senpai slams the door back open and peeks into the room.
Looking at Julius-senpai, who honestly still looks like a pigeon shot by a peashooter, Subaru-senpai scrunches his nose and very gently push Julius-senpai's glasses back into place with his index finger.
"Fix your face, you prick."
Julius-senpai's jaw drops.
[Julius → Subaru Affection Up!]
Subaru-senpai grimaces, looks away, and bolts out of the archive again. But this time, unlike his first escape, he stops at the doorway for one last look at Julius-senpai. He squints, pulls one of his lower eyelid, and sticks out his tongue before running off again.
A perfect, cheeky akanbe.
...If he wasn't still red up to his ears the whole time.
Julius-senpai slowly crouches on the ground and clutches his forehead. I don't even need to look at his face to know he's blushing like crazy right now. His ears are very, very red. "Subaru, you really are..."
No wonder. That "retaliation" was so tsundere-coded I want to give a standing ovation to Subaru-senpai and roll around on the floor screaming my head off because what the heck did I just see?!
Seriously, is there a more perfect counter to Julius-senpai's forehead kiss than that? Even my Divine Protection of Maiden System couldn't predict that move!
And to think that the only thing I did was choose to organize the papers... Domino Effects choices really can't be underestimated.
Or maybe that's just Subaru-senpai being Subaru-senpai again.
Subaru-senpai probably doesn't realize he's leaving two people (yes, I'm including myself) in this room who want to tear their hair out because of his antics.
And what do you mean that glasses push and akanbe aren't even CG-worthy scenes?! Seriously, you're bugging, Maiden System!! I clench my fists in frustration. It looks like I need to recreate this memory without the assistant of the CG skill again. I'm glad I'm taking drawing courses or I'd probably have gone nuts by now. The number of scenes my divine protection deems 'unworthy as CG' is too many to count by now.
I pat Julius-senpai's shoulder in sympathy. I get how he feels. This poor man really needs some serious support. "Let's go back and enjoy that Yerba Mate together, Julius-senpai. I'll hear you out."
He nods miserably.