Seeing this, Kael felt torn.
Should he agree to Barbara Pegg's request or not?
From her behavior before, it was already clear—she liked him.
But right now, in this Life Simulation, the one he most wanted to pursue was Jean Gunnhildr!
Jean and Barbara were real sisters. If something happened between him and Barbara... then in this run, he could basically kiss Jean goodbye. With Jean's upright personality, there was no way she'd steal her own sister's lover.
Since the System had presented him with this choice, it meant the decision would absolutely affect his relationship with Barbara.
If he said yes, something might happen tonight. Even if nothing did, just the fact that the two of them—one boy, one girl—spent the night together would change things between them forever.
The truth was, Kael did find Barbara adorable. But in this Simulation, his other self was so fixated on Jean.
If he chose Barbara, he'd probably just end up bouncing back and forth between the two sisters.
Rather than become a two-timing jerk, better to just focus on Jean.
Besides, Barbara already had feelings for him. No matter what, he could still get at least an S-rank out of her as a fallback.
"Choose to refuse her."
[You looked at Barbara, her face so close her head was almost resting against your chest, and forced a troubled smile.]
["Barbara, let's take a walk in the courtyard to calm down. Once you're feeling better, I'll send you home."]
[At your words, Barbara released her grip on your nightshirt. Her voice was tinged with disappointment. "Alright."]
[The two of you sat together on a bench in the courtyard. Barbara stared at the ground, lost in thought.]
[The autumn night air carried a chill. You took off your Knights of Favonius jacket and draped it over her shoulders.]
[Barbara startled at the gesture, turning her head to stare blankly at you.]
["Kael... I want to hear you sing. Will you sing for me?"]
["Of course." For you, singing was the simplest thing in the world.]
[You sang a recent ballad written by a bard named Venti that had become popular throughout Mondstadt.]
[Hearing your voice, Barbara's tears began to flow on their own.]
[It wasn't until you looked at her in confusion that she realized she was crying.]
[Flustered, she wiped the tears from her cheeks.]
["Sorry... your singing is just so beautiful, I couldn't help myself."]
[You'd made people cry with your songs before, so you replied calmly, "It's alright."]
[Seeing your expression, Barbara felt like crying all over again.]
[She had always thought you were gentle—always smiling politely at everyone, always so considerate toward her.]
[But only recently had she realized... it was all an act.]
[The reason you could face everyone with a smile was because you didn't actually care about them.]
[You didn't care about... her, either.]
[That day, she'd seen you returning through the city gates with Jean. For some reason, panic had seized her heart, and she'd hidden away.]
[Because she'd hidden, she saw something she never had before.]
[The smile on your face with Jean was brighter than any smile you'd ever shown before. Barbara realized then what your true smile looked like.]
[And your eyes... they carried something dangerous.]
[The gaze of a man looking at the woman he desired.]
[Barbara's heart had felt unbearably wronged. Tears had spilled from her eyes without her even noticing.]
[Why...? She had been the one who found Kael first... the one who liked him first...]
[So why did she still lose to her sister?]
[Why did everyone always like her sister more? Even Kael now...]
[She felt as though she was being suffocated by Jean's brilliance.]
[You stared at Barbara as tears streamed down her face like a burst pipe.]
[What was happening? Why was she crying again???]
["Kael... you once told me... that effort is the most wonderful magic. But... if I've already tried so hard, and it still doesn't work... then what should I do?"]
[You found the question bewildering, but still answered. "Magic takes time. Maybe you don't see the results yet, but one day, your effort will bring you what you want."]
["Liar!" Barbara suddenly shot to her feet, eyes burning with anger through her tears. "You just say those sweet words to comfort me! You're a liar... If effort really worked... then why do you still like my sister? If effort really worked... then why don't you like me?"]
[Her confession left you stunned.]
[You'd always known Barbara relied on you, but you thought it was only the dependence of a friend. After all, she'd grown up in Jean's shadow, with a timid, self-conscious personality.]
[Though she was kind at heart, she often built walls inside herself when dealing with others, out of insecurity.]
[She didn't have many true friends. You'd assumed that was why she always sought you out.]
[You never imagined... her closeness wasn't just dependence. She had fallen for you.]
["I..." Faced with Barbara's tear-streaked face, you felt completely at a loss.]
["I'm sorry... I didn't realize you felt this way about me, but I..."]
["Don't say sorry." Barbara cut you off. Her confession had taken everything she had, and now she'd returned to her usual timid self.]
["Liking you is my choice. I don't have the right to demand anything from you. I just... lost control for a moment."]
[She wiped away her tears with her own hands, then lifted her head to look at you seriously.]
[Her tear-filled eyes gleamed under the night sky.]
["My sister moves forward so quickly. I know chasing after her is exhausting... If one day you can't keep up with her pace anymore, or if you just feel tired... will you turn around and look at me?"]
["I'll always be here. The moment you look back... you'll see me."] (My poor Barbara)
---
Uploading 2 more in few minutes :)