Chapter 32

During the Golden Week, I'll do my best!

A few days later...

"Here, Mr. Hugh. Ahn~"

"Hey, Leen, stop it! We're in public!"

"Huh? Then, are you not going to eat it? I worked hard to make it..."

"Don't make such a sad face. ...I'll eat it."

"Really!? Ahn, here you go!"

"What's that?"

"Let's see."

In the cafeteria, Leen and Hugh, who had just transferred a few days ago, were spreading a loving atmosphere as they shared Leen's homemade bento. Gilbert and Cecilia, sitting at a small round table, watched the two with exasperated expressions.

"Ultimately, we didn't get into the Dante route because Leen didn't come to that event, right?"

"Yeah, that's right. It's really good that we didn't go as far as the kidnapping incident."

"Kidnapping incident?"

Again, the ominous word made Gilbert tilt his head.

"If Leen had gone down the Dante route, she would have been kidnapped as retaliation against Dante for trying to leave the organization and for ransom."

Realizing Leen's feelings, Dante immediately tried to leave the assassination organization. However, the organization wouldn't let him go so easily, and Leen was taken away as retaliation against Dante and for ransom.

"In that case, if the affection level was high, Dante would come to rescue her, but if the choices before that were even slightly different, Leen would be killed or both of them would die."

This is where even advanced players of dating sims often end up with a bad ending. Moreover, in this world where affection levels and route branches are invisible, the difficulty level skyrockets.

"Basically, the Dante route isn't meant to be cleared in one go. And here I am, with only one life!"

"Well, it's good that we avoided it. We also need to deal with the fact that Dante found out Cecilia is a girl, so we can't focus on that alone."

"Ah, that might not be necessary anymore."

"Eh, why?"

"Why...?"

She hesitated to explain, knowing that mentioning the deal would make Gilbert angry. The doting younger brother dislikes any risky behavior from his step-sister.

"Why? Could it be...?"

Just as Cecilia's suspicious attitude made Gilbert start to speak,

"Cecil!"

A bouncing voice was heard. Then, a shock from behind. Cecilia, who had leaned forward, turned around to see Dante with a smile. Oscar was behind him.

"Is it lunchtime? Can we join you?"

"Sure, if you want..."

"Great!"

Just like before, Dante attached the adjacent round table to the one Gilbert and Cecilia were sitting at and sat next to her. It took only five seconds. Gilbert and Oscar were too surprised to say anything.

"Cecil chose pasta. I was considering that too."

"...Is that so?"

He was getting unnaturally close. Cecilia looked at him suspiciously.

"Dante. What's going on?"

Faced with the suspicious looks of Oscar and Gilbert, Cecilia whispered to Dante.

"Huh? I said, I like Cecil. You're the first woman to propose a deal to someone like me. I really want to get to know you better."

"...You're teasing me."

"No, I'm playing with you."

"It's the same thing."

She sighed.

However, the deal seemed to be ongoing, and Dante didn't seem to have any intention of harming Cecilia.

"Actually, this morning, I thought of an interesting game."

"An interesting game? —Ah!"

Suddenly, her knee was touched, making her body jump.

When she glared, Dante laughed amusingly.

Dante's gaze was on Oscar and Gilbert, who seemed to have frozen at Cecilia's sudden exclamation.

Dante chuckled.

"Wow, really interesting. Why is it so..."

"What is it?"

"Cecil doesn't need to know."

This time, he traced the line from her shoulder to her neck.

"—! Dante! It tickles!"

"Sorry, sorry."

It was an apology with no intention of apologizing. As he said this, his fingertips reached her side.

"Hey, stop tickling my side! It tickles—"

The sound of dishes clattering echoed.

Looking up, she saw Gilbert and Oscar simultaneously stabbing their meat with forks.

Oscar stood up and grabbed Dante by the collar.

"Dante, you don't seem to be able to focus on your meal here. Let me take your place."

"Huh?"

"Let me take your place."

With a face that seemed to cast a shadow, Oscar repeated himself, making Dante blink. Then, he laughed.

"Well, if Oscar asks, I can't refuse. If you want to sit next to Cecil, just say so!"

"Wha—No—"

"Sure, sure. Go ahead."

Dante waved his hand and sat back next to Gilbert.

Oscar then sat next to Cecilia.

Dante was still laughing, apparently very amused by Oscar and Gilbert's reactions.

Cecilia sighed in relief at the change in seating. She tugged on Oscar's sleeve.

"Oscar, thanks. You saved me, right?"

"Well, Dante is kind of my responsibility."

"I really appreciate it. Dante keeps bothering me."

As Cecilia blushed, Oscar's cheeks suddenly turned red.

Seeing this, Gilbert silently tore a piece of bread.

"Are you jealous or something?"

Dante leaned in to look at Gilbert, apparently enjoying his reaction.

Instantly, a hiss was heard from Gilbert's direction.

Next to him, Dante was ready for a fight.

"Cecil! Your friend is super scary! He just hissed at me!!"

Seemingly in a bad mood, Gilbert ignored Dante's words and continued eating.

"He's not scary. Gilbert is a very good boy, so he can't be scary."

"You guys really get along well."

It was Oscar who said this. Cecil nodded.

"Yeah, that's true. I really like Gilbert!"

"Cecil..."

Gilbert murmured, slightly moved. Dante nudged his side.

"Why do you look so happy?"

"Shut up. You pervert."

"Cecil! This guy just called me a 'pervert'!"

"Eh? Gilbert wouldn't use such dirty words."

"That's right. No matter what, he's very polite. He wouldn't use such words to an elder."

"Even Oscar!?"

Dante's voice was strained.

The meal with the four of them was fun, despite the bickering.

While meals with just the two of them were enjoyable, for Cecilia, who rarely went out in society and had few friends, it was a lively meal with friends, something she hadn't experienced since her previous life.

That night, after taking a shower, Cecilia stood in her dorm room, looking out the window. The stars twinkled in the sky, and the wind caressing her cheeks was warm. After the exams, a fun summer vacation would begin.

"Ah, today was so much fun."

After the meal, the four of them studied for the exams. Unlike the previous tense atmosphere, this study session was very productive.

"I don't know what's going on with Dante, but it somehow worked out! The exams seem to be going well too! Everything is going smoothly, smoothl... huh?"

Her head, which had been in a daze, suddenly snapped up. Then, she realized something and hung her head.

"Ah, no!! I haven't let Leen fall in love with anyone! This isn't the time for this!! The exams are important, but... ugh."

It was good that the kidnapping incident didn't happen, but it also meant that the Dante flag was completely broken. Instead of supporting the romance, she ended up hindering it.

"Well, that's if the game proceeds as planned. But I hope it does. Otherwise, it will be tough for both Leen and me... huh?"

She heard a noise and looked down from the dorm. She could see a black shadow moving towards the girls' dorm.

"Is that...?"

Driven by a bad feeling, Cecilia grabbed the wig she had left on the bed and rushed out of the room.