[Contrast AU] - Forced to Become a System Agent, I somehow romanced the Protagonist?!
Saoto figured he was good at adapting to new situations. Be it moving in with a stranger or sometimes seeing ghosts, he thought he had managed to deal with any curve ball life had thrown at him in his 15 years of living.
But having a floating robot ball chasing him around and being solely responsible to make sure his world doesnât get destroyed because someone lost a book? He wasnât exactly sure if it was something he ever expected to get used to.
âHave you found it yet?â R1T0 nicknamed Raito yelled, her round robot body anxiously jittering above him. Saoto was still crouching between bushes, desperately trying to find that book before classes ended. He was sure he had seen it fall around here during lunch break but he had already searched the entire ground. Something hit the back of his head at the same time a high pitched robotic voice yelled, âUp there! In the tree!â
He looked up and sure enough there it was, a thick book with a red cover hanging between the branches. There was no time to question how it got stuck up there so in a few practiced motions Saoto climbed up the tree to get it. He turned it around in his hands and was relieved to see it wasnât damaged from the fall. He jumped down again just as the bell rang for the end of classes.
âWhere is he right now?â Saoto asked as he ran back into the school. Raito floated right behind him, her frantic beeps telling him she was looking for their target.
A loud ping. âThe Chemistry room! We have 5 minutes until the event!â
5 minutes wasnât a lot but he was used to working under pressure. Sprinting through the halls, Saoto made it to the third floor just in time to see the students leaving their classrooms.
âSenpai!â A few people looked up but quickly turned away when they saw who it was. The only one who didnât was a certain mop of white hair, his blue eyes widening as soon as he saw him. Before he could say anything Saoto ran up to him and pressed the book to his chest.
âWhy are you--â he started but they didnât have any time for his questions.
âThis is yours, right? Please donât lose it next time!â Saoto interrupted, trying to sound cheerful instead of stressed. Raito was beeping behind him that the event was about to start so he quickly stepped away with a smile. âWell, Iâm off! Have a nice afternoon, Senpai!â
âHey! Wait!â Lang yelled but he was already gone, running past Shiro who was just in time to start his character event. By the time he made it to safety â the rarely visited boys restroom in the practice building â Saoto was leaning on his knees and trying to catch his breath.
âGood work! The character event is now in progress!â
âThank goodnessâŚâ he mumbled and walked over to the sink to splash some water into his face. He looked like a mess, his hands and pants covered in dirt from all the crawling he had to do. He picked a stray leaf from his hair when he noticed a trail of dirt behind him. In his rush to deliver the book he had forgotten to change his shoes when he came back in.
âAre you gonna get in trouble again?â Raito asked at the same time a voice started yelling his name down the hall, angry footsteps making their way to the restroom. He just sighed and pinched his nose.
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After a long speech from his homeroom teacher about skipping class and staying behind to clean up all the dirt he carried into the school, Saoto finally made it home. Normally he would feel bad about making Akito worry but today he was just too exhausted to give him much more than a few grunts before falling into his bed face first. Raito apologetically floated next to him, pixel tears streaming from her pixel eyes on the LED screen representing her face.
âIâm so sorry! I should have warned you about the book earlier!â
ââtâs not your fault,â he mumbled into his pillow. And it really wasnât. Neither of them knew that some bully had gone through Langâs stuff during lunch break and thrown out the plot important book like that.
This had all started two months ago when Saoto one day woke up to see a futuristic floating ball blinking at him. At first he thought it was some kind of hallucination but after touching her and hearing her talk he had to admit that the whole situation was a bit too realistic to be a daydream.
She explained that she was part of the World Scenario System, a god like entity that was simulating countless stories and scenarios by creating a large network of worlds to play them out. Because the simulations were filled with autonomous people and people we unpredictable, the World System used Subsystems like Raito and agents from the world like Saoto to make sure everything went according to plan.
After the shock of finding out that god not only existed but that they liked to play make belief by creating whole worlds and universes faded to mildly baffling instead of world shattering, Saoto tried to refuse her request to cooperate. Unfortunately, Raito also told him that if a scenario didnât satisfy the World Scenario System the entire world and everyone in it would be purged⌠Well, Saoto liked his world existing so ended up he agreeing.
He was picked because he fit the characteristics needed for an âAssisting Mob Characterâ. His plain looks and lack of friends meant that no one would notice if he had to suddenly leave to help with the scenario while his calm and reserved personality would make sure he wouldnât do anything reckless. Like a âMob Characterâ, he was supposed to stay in the background and be unnoticed by the âMain Charactersâ of the scenario and only nudge things along when something deviated. But that was not the situation they were dealing with.
By some dumb stroke of bad luck, this scenario of a âschool BL Harem world with lots of fluffy love and dramatic twistsâ got Lang Cheung as itâs protagonist who somehow managed to avoid all the love and twists that were planned out for him. It had already started the first day he transferred to their school and Saotoâs first day as an agent for the World System. Instead of running into the student council president and be escorted to school by him, Lang had left ahead of schedule and ran into Saoto, missing the event entirely.
He had managed to salvage the situation somehow by escorting Lang to school himself but what should have been a single blunder soon proved to be a sign of things to come. Every time there was a romantic event coming up with one of the characters, something happened that would completely ruin the moment. Be it Lang just not following the plan or some third party interfering, there was not a moment where Saoto didnât have to rush around to try and fix things.
Saoto rolled onto his back and gently patted Raito. âThat was it for now, right? There are no events scheduled?â
Raito perked up, her tears forgotten as she cheerfully bobbed under his hand. âYup, thatâs it! Thereâs nothing planned for the next week so you should take it easy now!â
He doubted taking it easy was an option with how unpredictable Lang was but he appreciated her optimism. Saoto looked over to his backpack abandoned by the door and tried not to think of all the homework he had to do. His grades had never been great but all the running around made them slip even more and with finals in a few weeks he really couldnât afford to skip out on studying.
But the stress of the day quickly turned into sleepiness, Saotoâs arms already wrapping around Raito and hugging her to his chest. She made a few beeping sounds in protest until she realised what he was doing.
âOh, youâre going to sleep? Iâll wake you up when itâs time for dinner, then!â
She wouldnât because she always fell asleep, too, but he didnât have the energy to remind her. Slipping under the blankets, Saoto curled up on himself and let himself drift off, figuring he could study when he woke up.
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He figured wrong because apparently he had been tired enough to sleep until morning and no one woke him up before then. As he frantically finished his homework at the breakfast table with Raito frantically apologizing for falling asleep, his guardian Akito said that he shouldnât stress himself out but that was a bit hard when saving the world had already tanked his midterm grades and he would be damned if he had to take remedial classes to make up for his finals, too. Saoto managed to give him a reassuring smile before stuffing some food into his mouth and running out of the house, messily scrawled worksheets stuck between his textbooks and Raito flying behind him and reminding him to put his shoes on.
Dear god, the day had barely begun and he was already tired. He tried not to panic as Lang fell into step next to him, the frown on his face making it clear that he wouldnât let Saoto escape this time. He was sure picking someone who lived near the protagonist was for convenience more than anything but right now he had the feeling that god had picked him just so Lang could ambush him on the way to school every day. Putting on the best smile he could muster, he turned towards his upperclassman.
âGood morning, Senpai. How are you today?â
âShit after you just ran off on me! Seriously, whatâs up with that? Itâs like you donât want to be seen with me!â
Beneath the anger there was hurt in Langâs voice and Saoto felt the familiar pang of guilt in his chest. Between running around school, returning lost things and generally having to orbit around Lang like some kind of helicopter parent, the two of them started to have some kind of relationship. Saoto wasnât exactly sure what kind of relationship, they probably werenât friends, but for some reason over time Lang started to seek him out more and more often and he wasnât sure how to deal with it.
To be frank, Lang Cheung, despite being the protagonist, was not an easy person to be around. He was rude, outspoken and notoriously prickly. He had somehow managed to go through life with no regard to social structures and refused to subject himself to empty pleasantries. It was far to easy to set him off somehow and his general stubbornness stopped him from ever admitting fault or being honest with what he wanted.
Thatâs not to say Saoto didnât like him or anything. Quite the opposite, he admired just how uncompromising Lang was about his individuality and wished he could be more like him and his lack of tact meant that Saoto could speak informally with him than he could with others. But having the protagonist of the world pay attention to him was a surreal experience, especially since was supposed to fade into the background and have as little contact with him as possible. Unfortunately fading into the background was not an option when Lang was still glaring at him so he had no choice but to reply.
He tried to keep the smile on his face as he quickly replied, âIâm sorry, itâs not like that. I simply had to get home quickly.â
âYeah, Iâm sure the lecture you got helped with that.â
Shit, of course he heard about that. Then again. the teacher was yelling so loudly it would have been weird if word hadnât gotten around. Saoto scratched the back of his neck and tried to avoid his gaze. âWell, I didnât get home as quickly as I wanted but I really did need to leave.â
A moment that felt like hours passed where Lang was staring at him and Saoto just hoped that he wasnât sweating from the intensity. Then Lang huffed in a way that Saoto found adorable and turned his head away. âYeah, whatever. Just donât leave me alone like that again! Right after you left that weird guy from the library came up to me! It was super awkward!â
âThat weird guyâ was one of his love interests but he didnât need to know that. âAlright, alright. I wonât,â he chuckled. The way Lang acted you would think that he hated all of his suitors despite being the protagonist of a romantic comedy. It would be cute if he hadnât taken several years off his life with his antics.
Lang glanced at him for a moment only to quickly look away again. He looked a bit flushed but considering how unathletic he was he was most likely just a bit exhausted from walking. As they got closer to the school, more and more students appeared so Saoto decided not to mention it.
When they were almost at the gates Lang suddenly stopped though and asked, âDo you have any plans today?â
Saoto blinked at him. What was that about? He waited from him to elaborate but the upperclassman just staring at him with a weirdly intense look in his eyes. âUh, going to classâŚ?â
âNo, you idiot! After school! Do you have any plans after school?!â Lang was yelling now, his face even more red now and obviously frustrated. Saoto still didnât understand what he was getting at but he still considered his question.
âI was going to study for exams.â
âUgh, seriously? Just cram the day before!â
âNot all of us are geniuses like you, you know,â he said before he could stop himself. Instead of getting angry at his tone Lang just rolled his eyes.
âFine, Iâll help you study tomorrow if I have to. Just donât disappear after school today. Thereâs a place I want to go with you.â
Saoto felt a bit conflicted. On one hand he really needed to study and getting involved with Lang would most likely ruin that week he had off of dealing with his romantic escapades. On the other hand, having Lang, one of the best students in the school, tutor him was an opportunity he couldnât pass up. Plus, he didnât exactly hate spending time with him and if the protagonist himself was asking him to hang out together who was he to say no.
âSure, I can make the time.â Itâs not like had any friends to hang out with anyway. âBut I have to get home by 7. Akito will get worried otherwise.â
Langâs face immediately lit up but he quickly tried to cover up his smile with a cough. âGreat, Iâll be waiting by the back exit. Go there right after class, got it?â
Saoto nodded again and they parted ways shortly after, each heading to their classroom. Raito, who had been silently listening, floated up next to him, her beeping more confused than usual. âThat was weird, the script doesnât have an event like that.â
âMaybe itâs just offscreen.â Though the script dictated the major events in this world, it usually was vague on anything outside of them, especially in areas the god considered uninteresting. Things like what people ate, what they do in their free time or their day to day lives were irrelevant as long as they didnât have a lasting impact on the main characters. Frankly with the vague way it was written and how much of it had already gone wrong, Saoto started to think of it as more as someoneâs expectations for the future instead of strict predictions of it.
Raito bopped in the air in thought. âCould be. But itâs still weird how often we get unscripted events like this. The schedule should have been updated to consider them at this point...â
Saoto hummed back, not wanting to openly talk in the middle of the hallway. He was about to open the classroom door when Raito suddenly loud out a loud yell that made him visibly jump. âWhat the hell?â he hissed at her and earned some weird looks from the students around him. Raito seemed unbothered and just bopped in the air some more.
âIâll go synchronize with the Main System! That should tell us whatâs up with all the weird things going on lately and we will have an up to date schedule for events!â she proudly proclaimed like that explained anything. Instead of waiting for him to reply she just continued. âIâll just check for updates so it shouldnât take long! Iâll be back by the time youâre home! Have fun on your date!â
âWait--â But she was already gone, her round body disappearing in a flash of blue. Staring into empty space, Saoto suddenly realized that he had stopped in the middle of the hallway and that people were staring. He felt himself flush and quickly rushed into the classroom only for his classmates to stare at him too, some turning to each other to start whispering.
He had forgotten about it because Raito was always talking to him but Saoto suddenly became very aware that he knew none of these people. It was almost summer vacation and he somehow managed to not remember any of his classmatesâ names in the three months since he enrolled, let alone make any friends. After a few moments of standing frozen in the doorway Saoto quickly ducked his head and slipped into his seat, praying that his classmates would lose interest in him.
Fortunately for him they did and the day was largely uneventful except for the fact that he felt like people were judging him. He wished Raito was back already because for all her loud yelling, she was nice and made him feel less like combusting every time someone so much as looked at him. By the time classes ended Saoto felt like crawling out of his skin just to get rid of the anxiety he was feeling and he quickly stuffed his things away and ran out of the classroom. He quickly ran towards the back entrance, now and then catching people whispering about him he quickly ducked away before he could hear what they were saying. He really just wanted to meet up with Lang and forget this ever happened but before he could turn the corner a familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.
âI really think you shouldnât hang out with Kirita.â
âThe hell is that supposed to mean?â he heard Lang bark back. He peeked around the corner and saw Lang glaring at Kohaku Amano, the infamously stoic student council president and according to the script the main love interest of the scenario. Saoto was honestly surprised he even knew his name since they never talked before but judging from the scowl on his face that was probably for the better.
âI mean what I said. Kirita has been gaining a reputation lately and itâs not one you want to be associated with. Students and teachers alike have been calling his behavior erratic and suspicious.â
Was that why everyone was whispering about him? He figured people thought he was weird but to wasnât calling him erratic and suspicious a bit too much? Sure, he skipped class a lot, ran through the halls, sneaked into restricted areas⌠Okay, so maybe he was a bit erratic but he wasnât being suspicious! ...Right?
âSo heâs a bit weird, big whoop. Heâs not any weirder than anyone else in this school,â Lang argued back, only rolling his eyes at the accusations. Kohaku didnât budge though, instead continuing in a firm voice.
âItâs not just that. Donât you find it strange that he always seems to know where you are? How he always seems to know what troubles you and arrives in the nick of time to help you? As if he knew about them before you even did? Heâs acting like a stalker, Cheung, and I donât want you to put yourself in danger like that.â
Oh god he was stalking him wasnât he. Guilt settled into his stomach like a stone. Sure, he was doing it because he had to otherwise the world might end but stalking was stalking no matter the motivation. The fact that he knew exactly where he was and what he was doing at any moment through Raito didnât really help either. If the normally unaffected and stoic Kohaku was saying Lang should stay away from him maybe he was right.
He should probably just go home. If his behavior was really this creepy then hanging out with Lang after school was just him taking advantage of his kindness. As a mob character he shouldnât be hanging out with him anyway, so it was better if he tried to distance himself and work from the shadows. He just had to figure out how to do that without Lang noticing him but he will cross that bridge when he got to it.
They were still talking but Saoto was done listening. His fingers flew over his phone screen to send Lang a quick message about having to go home early after all and that they couldnât meet up for the rest of the week. That should give him enough time to figure out what to do. He felt bad for breaking his promise but he had to do it.
A ping told him the message arrived instantly. Saoto chanced a peek only to see Lang not walk away but instead looking around only for his eyes to land on him. The next thing he knew there was a hand on his arm dragging him out from behind the building.
âHey! No running!â He could only stare back into those deep blue eyes in front of him, part glaring and part upset. Saoto really couldnât tell how Lang had gotten to him so quickly but before he could say anything he had already turned towards Kohaku who was still standing a few meters away from them. âAnyway, I donât give a shit about what you think. We have stuff to do so fuck off.â
Kohaku sputtered at the crass language but Saoto was not much better, processing the swears even as Lang dragged him by the arm out of the exit and into the streets. They were a good distance away from the school when he finally managed to get his composure back enough to say anything.
âW-Wasnât that rude?â He glanced over his shoulder but of course Kohaku was long gone. While Lang was always a bit mean, he never had been this⌠vulgar before. Was it really alright for him to talk to the main love interest like that?
âSo? It was rude of him to stick his nose into things that have nothing to do with him,â Lang grumbled, still dragging Saoto behind him. Realizing that they were going somewhere together and very much not parting ways, he tugged to free his arm to no success.
âUm, I really do need to go home now, so--â
âYou probably donât like to hear this but youâre actually a shit liar, Kirita.â Saoto froze. Lang thankfully stopped walking and turned around to look at him, the anger from before gone and replaced with tired exasperation. âLook, Iâm not stupid, you know. There was no way you didnât come to the back exit the moment class ended so of course you heard what that asshole said. You feel bad about being called a stalker, right?â
He didnât reply but the look on his face seemed to say enough because Lang just sighed and let go of him. âI wonât say I donât think itâs weird that you always seem to know where I am or magically solve all my problems before they happen. But I think I know you well enough that youâre not the one causing them. So I donât care what anyone says about you.â
What a thing to say when he didnât really know him at all. If he just brushed off the sound arguments Kohaku brought up, maybe he should add naive and way too trusting to the list of Langâs attributes. âYouâre too nice, Senpai.â
âIâm not!â Ah, there was the patented flustered face that made the blond worthy of being the protagonist of a romcom. âA-Anyway, you coming along now or what?â
Saoto really shouldnât. He had been overstepping in the first place and the fact that he was a stalker was just another reason why he should go home now. But today had been really shitty and he just knew that if he actually left he would just wallow in self pity in his room until Akito came back. Maybe just this once he could be selfish and do what he actually wanted.
âAlright,â he said, his voice shaking a little from a mix of relief and guilt at agreeing. âIâm all yours, Senpai.â
A series of barely human sounds left Langâs mouth while his face flushed even harder. âAlright! Letâs go then!â he finally managed to say in an octave Saoto didnât think he could reach and then ran off before he could comment on it.
He led them to a nearby park that Saoto had never been to before, children and parents gathering around what seemed to be a large open air stage in the center of it. Lang handed a staff member some tickets who quickly ushered them towards seats at the front, mentioning that the show was about to begin soon.
âSenpai, what is all this?â Normally he would think that there was some kind of concert but with the audience being mostly children he doubted that was the case. Lang just hummed and gestured for him to be quiet just a suited actor jumped onto the stage, colorful smoke shooting up from the stage to the cheers of the audience.
âIs that Majinranger?!â As if to answer him the actor onstage introduced themselves as Majinranger X, the protector of Shin Tokyo. The children continued to cheer as he started moving around, explaining that he was here because a new monster had threatened to attack the park but that he was here to protect them. The hero wasted no time when the monster finally appeared, fighting it off with skilled kicks and punches.
Saoto had been following the tv show for years but he never would have thought that a live show would be happening so close to his school. His initial shock quickly faded into excitement as the show went on until the climax came, the hero asking the audience to cheer for him to charge up his ultimate attack, the Majin Beam. He joined in without hesitation and with a flash of stage effects the monster was defeated. Majinranger X thanked the audience for the help and just like that the show was over way too soon.
âThat was so cool!â Saoto squeed as the parents started to take their kids out of the audience seats. âThe effects were so good! And that actor really knows how to fight! Those moves were so clean, they were just as good as in the TV show! And that monster costume was amazing! Is there an autograph session? Do I have something to sign?â
He was about to search his bag for a notebook to use when he started to feel eyes on him. All of a sudden he remembered that he was not alone and turned to see Lang still sitting next to him, watching him with an amused smirk on his face.
âS-Senpai! Iâm so sorry, I didnât mean to ignore you! I just--â
âHad too much fun? Itâs fine.â He gave Saoto a friendly clap on the back but he could still feel his cheeks burning. âThereâs no formal autograph session but you wanna go backstage and ask?â
âNo! Iâm fine! Letâs just go home!â Saoto jumped to his feet and walked out of the audience area as fast as he could. God, he really just got caught up in the flow, didnât he? Lang must think he was so childish for getting excited about a childrenâs show like that. When he felt confident enough to look at him he could see he was still smirking, obviously pleased with what happened.
âItâs fine if you want an autograph, you know. Iâm not a fan like you but even I thought it was pretty cool.â
âNo, Iâm good! Iâm sure the actors want to rest after the show!â he said before he could actually be tempted to go backstage. âHow did you even know I was a fan? I never told anyone.â
âItâs easy enough to guess. That backpack of yours is Majinranger merch, right? Itâs a bit subtle but you can clearly see the logo.â
And here he thought he had been sneaky about it. Seriously, this day had been a roller coaster of emotions but he would be lying if he said the show didnât make up for the embarrassment he was feeling right now. Lang was still smirking at him so he quickly tried to change the topic. âIâm surprised that there was a live show near our school though. I canât believe they still had tickets left with how full it was.â
He hadnât noticed how much time had passed during the show, the sun still shining brightly despite it almost being 6 already. Most of the families had already left, probably to go home for dinner, so now it was just him and Lang with some stranglers playing at the playground.
âThey didnât.â He looked at Lang only to see him avoid his eyes, his cheeks bright red again. He took another deep breath and repeated, âThey didnât. I had the tickets reserved for weeks.â
Saoto blinked, trying to process what he just heard. Why would he reserve the tickets when he just admitted to not being a fan? â...Did someone cancel on you?â
Lang stopped in his tracked and groaned loud enough that the children at the playground heard him. He pinched his nose and turned to fully face Saoto and looked like he would prefer getting run over by a car than do this. âUgh, youâre seriously making me say it? I reserved them for you! So we can watch together! God, youâre stupid!â
He would feel insulted but right now he was too confused to register that. Lang seemed to notice and he groaned again and covered his face his his hands. He stood like that for a few minutes until he finally peeked through his fingers, his face somehow the shade of a tomato. âOkay. I know you like to keep your secrets. I know we donât talk that much. But youâre the only person in that school that doesnât get on my nerves. N-No, that came out wrong. I-I mean...â He took another deep breath and finally uncovered his face, still flushed but a lot more determined. âW-What I mean is! I want to spend more time with you! So please...â
His voice gradually lost strength until it trailed off towards the end. Lang looked like he was about to pass out but Saoto was not much better, his own face feeling way too hot even in the early summer heat. They just stood there for a while, not saying anything until Saoto finally jumped into action.
âOh! You want to be friends, right?â he said with a smile that was hopefully friendly and not nervous. Lang just stared for him, his expression getting increasingly more confused until he finally sighed and hung his head, clearly done with the situation.
âYes, Kirita,â he mumbled with no enthusiasm at all, âI want to be your friend.â
âYou should have just said so! Youâre really not good at being honest, huh!â God he hoped his voice didnât actually sound like a dying mouse. Lang either didnât notice or was nice enough not to mention it because he just shook his head and started walking out of the park again. The walk home wasnât long but the sun was already starting to set in the distance, pulling their shadows longer behind them.
âHey,â Lang suddenly said when they stood in front of Saotoâs house. âGive me your phone number.â
âWhat.â Seriously, did he have to throw all of this at him in one day? Lang seemed to think so because he just continued.
âI want your phone number. Friends text each other so we should exchange them.â
Saoto tried to not pull a face but he couldnât really argue against that. He pulled out his phone and after a few taps the name âLang Cheungâ was proudly added to his contact list. Lang was staring down at his own screen for a second until he added, âAnd I want you to call me by my first name.â
âIsnât that a bit fast?!â he squeaked before he could stop himself. All he got was a raised eyebrow from the unimpressed protagonist.
âWell, thatâs settled then. Iâll see tomorrow, Saoto. Meet me at the library after class so we can get your shit grades in order.â
âW-Wait!â But he was already gone, rounding the corner to his own house down the street. Saoto was just left standing there, flushed and confused until he finally managed to enter his house and fall face first into the hallway. Thankfully Akito wasnât home yet to worry about him but he was doing plenty of that by himself.
He may be a little dumb but he wasnât stupid. Lang was trying to confess to him at the park. Or at least something dangerously close to it. Ignoring the fact that he shouldnât be confessing to a mob character like him anyway, why the hell had he already started to develop romantic feelings for someone? According to the script, Lang was supposed to be hard to love and also hard to win the heart of which is why the story had been categorized as a âslow burnâ one. Wasnât this more like a flash fire? What the hell was going on?
He heard a soft beep above him and without moving he just said, âI hope you got some information from the Main System because I have no idea what just happened.â
Raito floated down so she was sitting on the floor next to his face, her pixel eyes closed in thought. âWelllllllllll, I got some good and bad news. Good news: You donât need to follow the script anymore!â She paused and Saoto even though he should be relieved he already didnât like where this was going. âBad news⌠You maybe sorta kinda might have accidentally become the main love interestâŚ?â
âWhat?!â Saoto sat up so fast he almost got whiplash but he didnât care right now. âWhat do you mean I became the love interest?! What happened to a âschool BL Harem world with lots of fluffy love and dramatic twistsâ?!â
âItâs still gonna have fluffy love and dramatic twists! Just⌠involving you now...â Raito seemed just as confused as he was but that really didnât help their situation. His panic seemed obvious because she quickly tried to reassure him. âDonât worry! Events are still scheduled and you will still help to make sure things go smoothly with the other love interests! Itâs just that any interaction between you and Lang is supposed to be...â She seemed to look through her database for the exact wording. ââcompletely organic and left to the participants to decide. No interference from the System or its agents will be needed beyond their natural reactions.ââ
Saoto dropped back onto the floor. He was way too tired for this. âHow did this even happen.â
Raito awkwardly rolled around again. âWell, apparently the system checked on the scenario and thought you made a great addition. It also predicted that some feelings would bloom between you and Lang, but that has to be wrong, right?â
Feelings? What kind of⌠Then he suddenly remembered the almost confession and his face heated up again. Oh my god, was that part of the scenario? But the System said that their interactions were completely organic with no interference soâŚ
He yelled and started rolling on the floor in an imitation of what Raito did when she was upset. The orb jumped at his sudden outburst and worriedly floated around him until she saw how red his face was. âWait, did feelings really bloom?! Did something happen while I was gone?!â
Saoto couldnât answer, still to embarrassed to think straight. Sure, he admired Lang and maybe thought he was cool and pretty and cute but to become a love interest? That was way too much! And now he had a study d-d-d-date the next day and he couldnât cancel because he promised not to run away anymore!
As Raito continued to bug him to tell her what happened, Saoto made a silent vow to himself. He would not fall in love with Lang. He would not get any more involved with this scenario than he had to. He promised that the scenario would play out as originally planned and Lang would end up with one of his many other love interests!
(This promise turned out to be one he would break.)
