The lessons were over and all students have left their classrooms filling the hallways with chatting and clamor.

Terres was looking around fidgety like a puppy who has lost his owner, clearly searching for someone.

Then he caught a glimpse of Meru's figure and hastily trotted towards the black-haired boy.

But then he froze unexpectedly when he saw who Meru was talking with.

It was none other than red-haired Jaftie.

The two of them, a capture target and a male-heroine were having a pleasant talk and it certainly didn't look like they were on bad terms.

In any other situation, Terres would feel relieved that his dear friend wasn't challenging others to a duel or just get into a fight but this time was different.

The time of Jaftie's scripted event was coming close and there was no way that Terres would just hand over Meru to anyone else!

I-I must stop the event from happening!

Terres felt a burning feeling in his stomach and was about to rush between the two of them but suddenly someone approached him out of nowhere.

"Sir Terres, how are you?"

A golden-haired beauty greeted him with a charming smile.

Taken by surprise he took a step back.

"Ah, I'm sorry, I must have scared you."

The beauty apologized lightheartedly and waved her hand dismissively.

"Miss Vanters, is there something that you need?"

Terres shook off the shock and remembered the girl's name.

On the side note, she was a part of the group of girls that kept bullying him frequently and although the bullying itself already stopped Terres couldn't bring himself to think that Horianna Venters might have even a shred of goodwill towards him.

"Oh! You even remember my name it's such an honor."

Horianna smiled at him and even though her smile looked genuine Terres felt as if she was mocking him.

"I won't take much of your time, I promise."

She suddenly approached him and started talking at a rapid pace.

"You know, I'm organizing a tea-party in two days, and I would love you to attend it, a male's point of view is indispensable in some cases and you are the best candidate to help me."

"I don't have time for such things."

Terres flat-out refused her straight away, the whole tea-party sounded more like some sort of trap set out to ensnare and ridicule him in a safe environment without many eyes on them.

Horianna laughed and shook her head as if she read Terres's mind.

"You don't have to worry about anything, sir Erstes will be attending too, and with some luck even sir Golgerg might show up too!"

She declared making Terres flinch.

Meru will come to their party!? But he hasn't told me anything!

The sickly boy felt miserable, Meru indeed told him that he will be busy in two days, too busy to hang out with him after school, Terres thought it was something important but to think that Meru was just hiding the fact that he was going to a tea-party.

Wait a moment...!

Terres realized something that made him shudder and he stared at Horianna with his eyes wide open.

Doesn't her father's territory borders with Meru's country, Tresonte!? C-could it be that she is the girl that he likes!?

Until now Terres thought that Meru's mysterious beloved person was from Tresonte, but it wasn't too farfetched to assume it could be someone from the neighboring territories!

She is cute... Is she Meru's type? Petite and long-haired...?

Terres glanced at Horianna's body with a grim expression.

We're not that much different when it comes to the body type... If only I did grow my hair back out!

Terres felt even worse now.

Suddenly he realized what he was thinking and blushed heavily.

"Oh? Can I take this reaction as a yes?"

Horianna giggled and smiled mischievously.

"Eh...?"

Terres blinked a few times shocked, he forgot he was in the middle of the conversation with a girl there for a moment.

"Alright! I'll send an official invitation to your room later today!"

Horianna just decided for Terres and left all happy leaving the boy confused and rather distressed.

Not only did he have to worry about the Jaftie's event, now there was this girl to worry about too!

N-no, what am I thinking about! I'm protecting Meru so that he can be with whoever he wants...

Terres shook his head and tried to convince himself but he was already fully aware that it wasn't his purpose anymore.

"Hey, you're looking down, did that lousy girl said something weird to you?"

Terres jumped when he heard Meru's voice right by his ear.

He quickly turned his head and found himself face to face with Meru, and their faces were less than an inch apart.

That made Terres blush so hard that it wouldn't be weird if a cloud of steam suddenly raised from his head.

"Oh, sorry."

Meru laughed awkwardly and straightened his back, with the height difference between them their faces instantly grew apart.

Oh...

Terres felt a bit disappointed that Meru hasn't done anything.

"...? You're not going to tell me? So she wasn't bullying you but flirting? Nice, I didn't think you had it in you!"

Meru laughed at his own joke and Terres frowned.

The thing is he wasn't angry at Meru for laughing, he was angry that Meru said something about secrets.

"Who's flirting with who? You're the one to talk about secrets! Hmph!"

Terres scoffed at Meru and turned away from him.

"Wha...!?"

Meru's eyes became round when he witnessed Terres's reaction.

"Whoa! Wait up! What's going on?"

He called and chased after Terres.

"Not telling!"

The sickly boy pouted and faced away from Meru.

"Come on, don't be like that."

Meru groaned and walked around Terres, but the shorter boy faced the other way again.

"No!"

He said and continued pouting.

"Hey...!"

Meru clicked his tongue and got in front of Terres to block his way...

But Terres just walked around him.

"Why, you little...!"

Meru gritted his teeth and...

"WHAT THE...!? Eh!? Eeeeeehhhh!?"

Caught Terres from behind at which the captured boy raised a confused voice.

Meru was hugging Terres from behind and leaning over him, he then proceeded to touch Terres's chin, tracing the line of his jaw, and gently but firmly raised it up, making Terres look at him.

"Stop playing, just tell me what's going on."

Meru asked in a cool voice and Terres felt his face getting hot.

"Come on, don't ignore me..."

Now it sounded like Meru was pouting since Terres was just staring at him he went ahead and smushed the soft cheeks of his cute friend with his hand.

"Shtoph yt...!"

Terres frowned and Meru smiled.

"Oh? So you will talk to me again?"

He asked and lowered his head so that he could rest his chin on Terres's forehead.

"..."

Terres frowned even more but he ultimately gave up.

"That girl invited me to some tea-party that she was organizing or something, and she said that you're going there too, but it's in two days and we had plans together, didn't we?!"

Terres declared accusingly and Meru raised his brows.

"Tea-party? Who's going? Me? Since when? That girl hasn't even talked to me since the beginning of the school!"

Meru answered completely shocked Terres.

"Eh!? B-but she said that...!"

He complained confused but Meru only rolled his eyes and blocked Terres's mouth with his hand.

"Who are you going to believe, me or her?"

He asked with a serious expression and Terres felt bad.

Why did I start doubting him instantly? Horianna was bullying me until not long ago but I listen to her before Meru? Geez, I'm acting like some overly-jealous lover... Hehe... Meru's lover...

"Are you even listening...?"

Meru sighed and let go of Terres.

The sickly boy had to shook his head to return to reality from the rose-colored fantasy his brain started creating at the thoughts of getting even more intimate with Meru.

"Ah! S-sorry... You would tell me if you wouldn't have time to hang out with me, right?"

Terres asked apologetically and Meru nodded.

"Of course! Now come, Let's get to your room, alright? You promised me to look at my essay for Jepsnie's class!"

Meru said and offered his hand to his friend.

Terres looked at it and grabbed it without hesitation.

Meru's hand was big and warm, it felt nice to hold on to.

"Well, I promised you after all..."

Terres fidgeted and smiled shyly.

The two of them walked through the hallway holding hands.

"So she isn't your type?"

Terres asked suddenly and Meru tripped and almost fell down.

"Who's my what...!?"

Meru misheard Terres and thought that the sickly boy just asked him if he was his type.

"Horianna, that girl who spoke to me. Is she your type?"

Terres asked again, this time more specific about the subject.

"Oh..."

Meru felt disappointed and just shrugged his shoulders.

"Her looks aren't bad but I don't like her in particular. She wasn't nice to you before either so her personality doesn't look promising either."

Meru explained and Terres nodded vigorously.

"I see, I see."

Terres wasn't even hiding his satisfaction.

The pair continued walking in silence.

Suddenly Terres tugged on Meru's sleeve.

"Hey, Meru...?"

"Yeah...?"

"Let's go to Horianna's tea-party together!"

Terres declared.

"What!? Why?! What about our plans?!"

Meru asked shocked.

"I kind of want to see what this whole tea-party is about, but I only want to go if you're going. Please...?"

Terres asked purposefully acting cutely and Meru had to look away to hide the blush that took over his face.

"F-fine! I'll check it out with you."

He folded in a lot easier than Terres was anticipating him too.

"Thank you! I love yo..."

Meru stopped himself in time to not blab out something that would sound inappropriate in a hallway full of other students.

"Huh? What was that...?"

Meru tilted his head and leaned down to hear Terres better.

"I-I said that I would love to go there with you!"

Terres quickly changed what he was going to say and Meru just nodded and continued walking.

Hehehe...! Just like in the game, going to a tea-party will make Meru skip Jaftie's scripted event and I should be able to turn it into my event! I'm going to win Meru's heart!"

Terres snickered to himself completely unaware that he has already achieved that and just needs to confess.

But, oh well, when someone is convinced that they're right they won't confirm it with others...