Bran realized on the first day of the entrance ceremony. 'A strange feeling….' It felt like fate. He would come to like her. Whether in one second or two seconds. He would definitely come to like her before long. That was Bran's realization when he first saw Lia Vent at the entrance ceremony.
And after the entrance ceremony. For Bran, Lia became another goal he wanted to achieve at the academy. But it was difficult. 'There's no point of contact….' They were in different classes, and there were no overlapping lessons. He could only ever pray to run into her in the hallway. Neither in study groups for midterms, nor as a team member for final practical evaluations. Nor in the guitar club. Bran found no point of contact to meet Lia. Perhaps because of this, Bran's feelings grew even stronger. 'Should I at least try saying hello….' Anxiety began to show on his face, which normally revealed no emotions. He even arbitrarily added imagination to Lia's appearance, which he only watched from afar. Her tastes, her personality, her worries. Though he knew nothing about any of it. He filled in the gaps of what he didn't know about her by watching from afar and imagining. As Bran's feelings grew, he pondered how he could have her. While spending such time in contemplation. Summer vacation began.
'Board game club…?' Bran found an opportunity to make contact with Lia for the first time. A subtle smile appeared on his face, which always hid his emotions. Bran made full preparations. He canceled all his originally scheduled summer vacation plans and submitted an application to her summer vacation club. He thoroughly researched date courses and restaurants that women supposedly liked. He simulated various situations to make her happy and make her like him. And. To be alone with her if possible. He approached someone who was about to submit an application to the board game club. And he took steps to make them change their application to a different club. The result. The day before summer vacation. Bran met Lia. Alone, in the classroom assigned to the board game club.
"Wow! You came to apply? That's a relief~! I thought no one was coming!" "…I'm interested in board games." "Really? Then there are games we can play with just two people, so let's enjoy them together!" His first conversation with her was better than expected. Her smile, more beautiful than he had imagined. The fragrance emanating from beside her, something imagination couldn't fill. Even her smallest gestures. Bran's dried-up heart became covered with the emotion of love. His chest pounded uncontrollably. Just one day. Even though it was only the first day of club activities. Bran wished this moment would last forever.
But. "Excuse me~." Slide. Bran's happiness lasted only one day. His plan to spend the summer vacation doing club activities alone with Lia and win her heart. The very next day. It was torn to shreds by two people who suddenly appeared. More precisely, one of them.
"Instead of getting rid of your one-day slave, let's go on a date with me." "Eh, a, a date…?" The man named Emil. He became close to Lia before Bran did.
***
"Emil, Emil. Introduce yourself. Introduce yourself." "Quickly! Hurry up and do it!" "…What's there to introduce, you already know everything. …Meow." "Kya-hahahahaha!" "Pfft!" Sierra and Lia clutched their stomachs and burst out laughing at Emil's words. Emil, feeling ashamed, flushed red to his ears and lowered his head. Shame and anger were felt simultaneously from his trembling shoulders. And then Sierra spoke to him again.
"Emil, what's your favorite food? What is it?" "…It's cream stew, meow." "Ah, our Emil likes cream stew, meow? Is that so, meow?" "Ugh…" At Emil's words, Sierra smiled playfully and stroked his head. Then Lia pressed herself against his side. "Then, then. What do you do when you rest? How do you relax?" "…I read a book until I fall asleep, …meow." "Pfft, kya-hahahahaha!" "Eh, Emil falls asleep while reading? How cute~, can't you give us a paw? Meow meow?" "..." Sierra couldn't hold back her laughter at Emil's answer. And Lia, mocking him, waved cat-like hand gestures in front of Emil's eyes. At the two girls' combined teasing, Emil simply closed his mouth and trembled. He couldn't help it. This was a penalty, after all.
And. 'What exactly did they do on that date…?' Bran watched Emil intently from in front of him. Yesterday, it seemed he was going on a date with Lia, but now he was back using strange speech. Lia was sticking close to Emil, teasing him affectionately. "..." For several months since entering the academy. Bran, who had wanted to get closer to her, had only just taken one step. That guy, in just one day, had become that close to her. Squeeze. His hand clenched. He felt wronged and angry. And most of all. Jealousy welled up. 'Why….' It was just the moment he was about to begin.
"Emil, how about we play games a little later today? Huh? What do you think?" "No, meow, I'm going back to the dorm when it's over, meow." "Ahahaha! It's completely natural now! Let's keep using this speech style!" "…Absolutely not, meow." For this moment, to be alone with Lia. All the plans Bran had contemplated, thought about, and conceived over time had gone up in smoke. Lia didn't give him any attention. As if she were engrossed in something. She looked at Emil with affectionate eyes. It wasn't just that he was speaking strangely. Bran could clearly see that she held affection for Emil as a person. 'No….' That sight provoked Bran's desire. 'Absolutely not….' Because he had always lived by having what he wanted. He would rather die than have what he chose taken away by someone else. 'Right, the method doesn't matter….' Bran revised all the happy imaginings he had of Lia. As things stood, all previous plans were canceled. 'If only I can have you.' Bran began to formulate a plan in his mind again to win her.
***
'That cat-speech from a while ago was really a pain….' Several days had passed since Sierra and I joined Lia's board game club. During that time, we enjoyed games smoothly and had a fun time together. And we grew closer because of it. What happened in the club was almost always the same. We'd play board games. And then Lia and I, with our superior competitiveness and skill, would be the last ones left. Then Lia would quickly become cocky and start provoking me. A comeback victory thanks to easy mode luck. Of course, sometimes I would just lose without a comeback and get teased. 'Her expression when I make a comeback is always priceless.' I chuckled to myself, recalling Lia's teary-eyed expression. Today, as usual, I was getting ready for club activities from the morning. Every day was peaceful. I was enjoying summer vacation. But. 'The capture is the problem, though….' While everyone else was peaceful and having fun, one hurdle remained for me. That was Lia's capture. 'Since there are no events, it was the same in the third playthrough, and I don't really know the capture situation.' I had noticed that Lia started showing me favor after the last water balloon competition. But the problem was how much that favor had grown. 'The objective is to receive a confession, which is a bit troublesome.' If it were me confessing, Lia's current affection level would have been enough. But the condition of receiving a confession and then having to refuse it was quite difficult.
"Should I be more blatant…." Just as I was walking towards the academy, muttering to myself. "What are you talking about?" "Ugh!" "Ahaha! You get startled every time, haven't you gotten used to it by now? You chicken!" "..." As usual, Sierra suddenly appeared behind me. She bumped her shoulder lightly against mine, which was glaring at her. Then she gently leaned her head forward and asked me. "So? What were you saying?" "...What?" At my question, Sierra erased her faint smile and asked again with a slightly cautious expression. "Blatantly…, or something. …You said it." "..." "What were you talking about? What were you thinking…?" "..." What kind of answer did she want? Lately, Sierra had been throwing out such difficult questions. Every time, figuring out what to say was another torment. 'Talking about Lia is absolutely out of the question….' Besides, that wouldn't even be the right answer.
"G-games, I mean." "Huh?" "I was just thinking, wouldn't it be okay to play a bit more blatantly dirty…" "..." Sierra said nothing to my answer. …It's not the wrong answer, right? Thinking that, I looked at her, and Sierra was staring at me with a sharp gaze. "Why, what?" "No, nothing. …I just thought it was about something else." "..." Actually, it wasn't that I didn't know what the right answer was. Because I wasn't stupid. No, maybe I was stupid after all? But….
"Oh? It's Lia?" "Huh?" "Lia and…, Bran?" "Bran, you say…?" At Sierra's words, I turned my gaze in the direction she was looking. Lia and Bran were clearly standing there. 'What is it…? Why are those two….' Seeing that sight, a slight unease welled up within me. Bran, who had stolen Lia from me in the last playthrough. Since he hadn't done anything yet in this playthrough. "What could they be talking about?" "..." Sierra murmured with a curious tone at the sight of the two facing each other. The distance was too far to hear their conversation. But the two were clearly having some kind of conversation. 'Lia's expression…, is it a bit dark…?' But I could read her expression. Lia's expression wasn't her usual playful and provocative self. She was listening to Bran, looking somewhat intimidated.
"Yahoo~! Hi! Good morning!" And then, Sierra suddenly greeted the two from beside me. Upon noticing us, the two who had been talking waved from afar. Then they turned their backs and walked towards the academy. '...No way.' At that sight, memories from the last playthrough came back to me. An ominous feeling dominated my mind.
"Sorry, let's finish a bit early today. Do you want to go first? We'll handle the tidying up." And sure enough. As the club activity was nearing its end. Lia said that to Sierra and me, smiling apologetically.