Giggles and whispers rang out around the table as the girls questioned West about yesterday.
"How did you defeat him?"
"You were so cool."
"Caleb is arrogant, I'm glad you put him in his place."
Soft laughter rose and fell like waves as West answered nonchalantly.
He sat back slightly with posture relaxe and elbows resting loosely on the table. He didn't rush. Didn't overwhelm. He let the attention come to him.
There was Minae, a petite girl with round glasses and short black hair tucked behind her ears. She leaned forward when she spoke with bright eyes, clearly enjoying being listened to.
Next to her sat Lara with tall and slender, honey-blonde hair cascading over one shoulder. She wore a faint smile at all times, the kind that suggested she knew she was attractive but didn't need to announce it.
Across from West was Tessa who was sporty and toned with her ponytail bouncing as she laughed. She spoke confidently, teasing others lightly and occasionally nudging West's arm when he said something clever.
Then there was Nina.
Nina sat slightly closer to West than the others.
She had long auburn hair, that flowed like the ocean waves, falling around her heart-shaped face, and warm brown eyes that lingered on him just a second too long each time he spoke. Her uniform was perfectly neat, skirt pressed, collar straight... she was someone who liked order.
And someone who wasn't single.
West noticed it almost immediately.
The way she glanced down at her phone when it buzzed.
The way her smile tightened slightly afterward.
The way she didn't answer messages right away.
'There you are...'
West chatted easily, shifting his attention fluidly from one girl to another. He remembered names. Asked follow-up questions. Reacted genuinely.
He didn't flirt aggressively.
He didn't need to.
Instead, he gave presence.
"So you're into photography?" West asked Minae, tilting his head slightly. "That explains the way you look at things."
Minae flushed. "W-What do you mean?"
"You notice angles," he said. "Most people don't."
She stared at him like he'd just unlocked a secret.
Lara laughed softly. "He's smooth."
West shrugged. "Only honest."
The table erupted into laughter.
Boys nearby watched with poorly hidden envy.
Some scoffed.
Some stared openly.
A few clenched their jaws.
'That used to be me,' West thought distantly.
Then he turned his attention subtly to Nina.
"And you?" he asked. "You've been quiet."
She hesitated. "Oh—um, I'm just listening."
West smiled faintly. "That's rare. Most people wait for their turn to talk."
Her heart skipped.
She laughed nervously. "Guess I'm boring."
"Not even close," West replied with a calm voice. "You're just considerate."
Her phone buzzed again.
She ignored it this time.
> [Cuck Points +1]
The notification came in silently.
West smiled and continued.
"Your bracelet's nice," he added casually. "Looks like a gift."
Nina's fingers brushed it instinctively. "Yeah. My—"
She stopped herself.
"…My boyfriend gave it to me."
There it was.
West didn't react immediately.
He let the silence breathe.
Then nodded. "He has good taste."
Nina smiled with a look of relieve.
Then West added gently, "But not good timing. He keeps interrupting... every second spent with a ravishing beauty such as yourself needs to be cherished."
Her breath stopped as she looked down at her phone. A blush appeared on her face.
> [Cuck Points +1]
West leaned back again, expression neutral, as if he hadn't just planted a thought that would grow on its own.
The rest of lunch passed in warmth and noise.
By the time the bell rang, the girls stood reluctantly while some lingered longer than necessary.
"See you later, West."
"Don't disappear again."
"We should do this more often."
West smiled politely. "Anytime."
As they left, Nina glanced back once and then again.
West stood while slinging his bag over his shoulder and gave her a wink.
> [ Total Cuck Points Gained: 5]
West smiled upon noticing the notification. He didn't even flirt much and yet he gained 5 cuck points from this one encounter. He was sure guaranteed to get more soon.
---
After school, West headed to Crème & Ash Café.
He hadn't been there yesterday because called in sick, claiming muscle pain and dizziness. Mina had sounded skeptical, but she approved it anyway.
The truth was that Adrenal Control's backlash had left him sore enough to justify it.
Today, though, he felt steady enough to work.
The bell chimed as he stepped inside.
He barely got two steps in.
"BRO."
Jax appeared from nowhere and grabbed him by the shoulders, shaking him violently.
"What did you do?" Jax demanded with widened eyes. "What did you do?"
West steadied himself. "Easy."
"No, not easy," Jax said, dragging him behind the counter. "You missed everything."
"Everything?"
Jax leaned in like he was sharing state secrets.
"That Aria girl?" he whispered. "The hot regular? The one with the scary awakened boyfriend?"
West raised an eyebrow. "What about her?"
Jax grinned like a madman.
"She came in."
West froze.
"…Yesterday?"
"Yesterday," Jax confirmed. "Didn't order anything. Walked straight up to the counter. Asked if you were working."
West's pulse quickened.
Jax continued, clearly enjoying this. "I told her you were sick. She looked disappointed. Like, genuinely."
"And?" West asked quietly.
"And then," Jax voiced while pulling something from the register drawer, "she left this."
He placed a folded piece of paper into West's palm.
It was a neatly written phone number with a small heart beside it.
Jax slapped the counter. "Bro. She dropped her number. For you."
West stared at the paper.
Inside, the system chimed softly.
> [Target Progress: Aria — Emotional Bond Strengthening]
Jax laughed. "Man, who even are you anymore?"
West folded the paper carefully and slipped it into his pocket.
"Just someone who wants women to be happy," he said calmly with a grin slowly appearing on his face.
Jax stared at him for a second longer as his grin widened.
"Oh," West muttered. "This is gonna be good."