twisted wonderland blog 𓏻 .ᐟ
ଳ twisted wonderland x reader ⠀⋆｡°✩ ⠀longfics, oneshots, worldbuilding, etc. fem reader unless stated otherwise 𓏵 inbox/reqs always open
RULES ꜝ
⤿ be respectful to me and other readers.
⤿ please do not repost, translate, or feed my works into AI.
⤿ minors and blank blogs may be blocked at my discretion.
⤿ expect spoilers for twisted wonderland, event stories, and character lore.
⤿ enjoy your stay beneath the sea!
SERIES ꜝ
𑣲⋆ The Heroine Isn't Doing Her Job!
── .ಇ twst harem x reader﹙otome isekai au﹚
You thought being reborn into an otome game as a background character meant you could quietly enjoy life from the sidelines. But when the heroine repeatedly fails her objectives, the System does the unthinkable: it transfers the role of protagonist to you.
⤿ status : ONGOING
𑣲⋆ Handle With Care
── .ಇ tweels x reader ﹙aquarium au﹚
As the sole caretaker of Mostro Lounge Aquarium's star attractions—two enormous moray eel mermen named Jade and Floyd Leech—you've become an inseparable part of their daily routine. Unfortunately for your coworkers, the twins have already decided that you aren't merely their caretaker—you're their future mate.
⤿ status : ONGOING
𑣲⋆ Your Highness, Please!
── .ಇ minajael tealrajah x reader
As Crown Prince Minajael Tealrajah's attendant, you have spent your entire life observing the proper distance between royalty and servant. Minajael, however, has spent that same lifetime trying to close it.
⤿ status : ONGOING
𑣲⋆ Until Next Saturday's Sunrise
── .ಇ rielle corallia x reader
Separated by land and sea, Prince Rielle Corallia cherishes every letter, call, and precious Saturday spent with his beloved mermaid girlfriend. Though the ocean lies between them most days, his heart has never once strayed from home.
⤿ status : ONGOING
𑣲⋆ With Purest Love
── .ಇ riddle rosehearts x reader
To the students of Night Raven College, Riddle Rosehearts is the strict and unyielding Rose-Red Tyrant. So when a certain first year stumbles upon one of his love letters, all of NRC is forced to confront an impossible truth: Heartslabyul's housewarden is hopelessly in love.
hii!! could i request an epel x reader oneshot where everyone finds out epel has had a secret girlfriend back home this whole time?? maybe ace teasing him and epel getting so ragebaited it slips out 🥹 also what font did u use for ur masterlist banner?? it's sooo cute!!
SECRET'S OUT! ─── ⟢ e. felmier
𑣲⋆ summary: in which epel never saw the point in telling anyone about the girl waiting for him back home… until ace starts running his mouth.
pairings: epel felmier x reader
tags / warnings: established relationship , childhood sweethearts , long-distance relationship , secret girlfriend , ace is a professional ragebaiter , pet names (applejack for epel, apple of my eye for reader) , reader has a horse named honeycrisp , reader plays guitar , ace and epel are in the same class (so diverts from canon) , potential two-shot (if yall like this enough)
word count: 4853 words
sardine's notes: epel having a sweetheart waiting for him in harveston is everything to me. ♡ the font i use is from a website called cooltext.com and the font is named OZONE!! most of the fonts i use will either be from cooltext, dafonts, or plain old canva! please dont be afraid to ask me where i get my visuals or how i create them, i love sharing my resources and seeing other people using them!!
── .ಇ part one!! , part two (tbd)
The problem with having a secret girlfriend at Night Raven College was that Epel Felmier had very few people to tell him when he was being an idiot. Back home in Harveston, everyone already knew about the two of you; his grandparents knew, your family knew, half the elderly residents of the village knew, and even the people who pretended not to pay attention somehow knew that the Felmier boy was hopelessly sweet on the girl who brought her family's horse over to help with the apple harvest. Here at NRC, however, Epel had managed to keep the entire thing under wraps for nearly six months, mostly because there simply hadn't been any reason to mention it. NRC was an all-boys school, so nobody was constantly asking whether he was interested in some girl from class, and Epel certainly wasn't going to volunteer information about his personal life when nobody had asked. As far as he was concerned, the fact that he had a sweetheart waiting for him in a country thousands of miles away was nobody's business but his own.
There was another reason Epel had kept quiet, though he would rather chew through a crate of rotten apples than admit it out loud: Vil Schoenheit. Epel had spent enough time around his Housewarden to know exactly how seriously Vil took appearances, and some small, irrational part of him worried that Vil would decide having a sweetheart back home didn't fit the image he wanted for Pomefiore's students. What if Vil insisted he needed to maintain some sort of innocent, available bachelor image and told him to break things off with you? Epel knew, deep down, that Vil wasn't nearly that heartless, but knowing that didn't stop the thought from bothering him, so he'd decided it was safer to keep his relationship to himself and avoid giving Vil any reason to comment on it.
Unfortunately, Epel had forgotten to account for Ace Trappola's favorite hobby: making Epel mad just because he could. The two of them had discovered very early on that Epel's temper and Ace's inability to leave well enough alone were a particularly dangerous combination, and Ace had quickly realized that he could get an endless amount of entertainment by poking at Epel until he snapped. Epel knew exactly what Ace was doing every single time, which somehow made it even worse, because refusing to react meant admitting Ace had gotten the better of him, while reacting meant giving Ace exactly what he wanted. It was a battle Epel had been losing for six months, and apparently, today was going to be no different.
The dining hall was crowded with students when the four first-years settled around their usual table, the room full of clattering dishes, overlapping conversations, and the constant scrape of chairs being dragged across the floor. Epel had barely gotten halfway through his lunch when Ace, who had apparently exhausted every other possible source of entertainment, leaned his elbow against the table and looked at him with the particular expression Epel had learned to fear. It was a lazy little grin, accompanied by narrowed eyes and the unmistakable sparkle of someone who had just thought of something annoying to say, and Epel immediately knew that whatever came next was going to irritate him. “Y'know, Epel,” Ace began, resting his cheek against his palm as though he were genuinely contemplating a serious problem, “I've been thinking about your future, and honestly? I'm worried.”
Epel didn't even look up from his food. “Don't.”
Ace's grin widened. “I haven't even said anything yet.”
“Don't need ya to.”
Deuce snorted quietly into his drink, while Jack glanced between them with the resigned expression of someone who had already accepted that he was about to witness an argument he'd heard some variation of at least a dozen times. Ace, meanwhile, looked delighted. He leaned forward over the table, lowering his voice into a conspiratorial tone as though he were about to reveal some great secret about Epel's future. “I'm just saying, you're gonna have a hard time finding a girlfriend someday.”
Epel finally looked up from his lunch, his brows drawing together as he slowly realized where Ace was going with this. “And why's that?” he asked, already sounding suspicious, and Ace merely shrugged with an exaggerated air of innocence as he leaned back in his chair. “Because no girl wants a boyfriend who's prettier than she is,” he replied matter-of-factly, as though he'd just delivered some undeniable piece of wisdom, and Epel stared at him across the table in stunned silence while Deuce's lips twitched and Jack's ears flicked once at the sheer audacity of the statement.
Epel slowly put his fork down, the metal making a quiet clink against his plate as his expression hardened. “What'd you just say?” he asked, his voice dropping into that deceptively calm tone Ace had learned meant he was about three seconds away from losing his temper, but Ace immediately recognized the opening and took it without hesitation. “You heard me,” he said, leaning forward with a grin that was already threatening to become unbearable. “You're pretty. Like, really pretty. You've got the purple hair, the baby face, the eyelashes—”
“I ain't got a baby face,” Epel cut in sharply, his nose scrunching as he visibly bristled at the description. Ace's grin widened at once, delighted that he'd found another button to push, and he waved one hand dismissively. “You so have a baby face,” he insisted, stretching the words out just enough to make them more irritating. Epel's eyebrow twitched, his fingers tightening around the edge of the table as he fixed Ace with a murderous stare. “Trappola.”
“What?” Ace asked, looking entirely too pleased with himself as he propped his chin in his palm. “I'm complimenting you.” Epel's expression twisted in disbelief, and he gave a short, humorless scoff as he shook his head. “That's not a compliment,” he muttered, but Ace only shrugged and continued, “Sure it is. Plenty of girls would kill to look like you.” Epel's shoulders stiffened immediately, his cheeks beginning to flush with irritation. “I don't wanna look like a girl!”
“I know, I know,” Ace said, waving a hand dismissively as he fought down a laugh, his shoulders already beginning to shake from the effort. “That's the problem. You're gonna have to find a girl who's okay with her boyfriend being prettier than her.” Epel's fingers curled tightly around the table's edge, his knuckles beginning to pale as he leaned forward. “I ain't gonna have trouble finding a girlfriend,” he shot back, his accent becoming a little thicker with his irritation. Ace's eyes lit up at the challenge, and he immediately leaned closer. “Oh?” he prompted, his grin turning mischievous. “Yeah,” Epel answered firmly, crossing his arms. “Really?” Ace pressed, eyebrows raised. “Yeah,” Epel repeated, though his voice had lost some of its confidence under the scrutiny.
Ace tilted his head, studying Epel with an infuriatingly thoughtful expression before casually asking, “Name one girl who'd date you.” Epel's mouth opened on instinct, but no answer came, and the brief silence that followed was enough for Ace to slowly lean back with an enormous grin spreading across his face. “Exactly,” he said triumphantly, pointing at Epel as though he'd just won an argument in court. Epel's face burned. “I don't need to name anybody!” he snapped, but Ace immediately fired back, “Because you can't.” Epel's eyes narrowed. “I can.” Ace's grin only widened. “Then do it.” Epel glared at him for several long seconds before finally grumbling, “Shut up.”
Ace leaned back in his chair, looking tremendously pleased with himself as he folded his arms behind his head. “See? No answer,” he said, rocking his chair back slightly while Epel glowered at him from across the table. “Face it, Epel. You're doomed. You're gonna graduate from NRC, go back to Harveston, and spend the rest of your life staring sadly into an apple orchard because nobody wants to date the prettiest guy in the village.” Epel's jaw clenched so tightly it almost hurt, and he muttered through his teeth, “Will ya quit it?” without taking his eyes off him. Ace merely shrugged, his grin softening into an expression of completely shameless amusement. “I'm just being honest.” Epel scoffed and folded his arms more tightly across his chest. “Yer bein' annoying.” Ace immediately nodded, entirely unbothered. “Those things aren't mutually exclusive.”
Deuce had been doing his absolute best to stay out of the argument, but a tiny laugh escaped him before he could stop it. Epel's head snapped toward him so quickly that Deuce immediately straightened in his seat, his expression becoming painfully innocent. “You think it's funny too?” Epel demanded, his eyes narrowing as he looked between Deuce and Ace. “I didn't say that,” Deuce protested, lifting his hands slightly in surrender, but Epel caught the faint smile still lingering at the corner of his mouth. “You're smirkin'.” Deuce scratched his cheek, glancing briefly toward Ace as though hoping his friend might rescue him, but Ace was far too entertained to intervene. “I—well...” Deuce hesitated, then sighed as he tried to find the least offensive way to phrase his answer. “I mean, Ace did think you were a girl when we first met.”
Epel's expression went completely blank.
For one glorious second, the entire table was silent as Epel processed what Deuce had just reminded him of, and then Ace absolutely lost it. He slapped both hands against the table and bent forward, his shoulders shaking violently as laughter burst out of him. “I DID!” he wheezed, barely able to get the words out between laughs. Epel slowly turned toward him with an expression of such pure disbelief that even Jack looked away to hide the twitch of amusement at the corner of his mouth. Ace wiped at the corner of one eye as he tried and failed to regain his composure. “Oh my gosh, I forgot about that! You should've seen your face, Epel. You looked like you wanted to murder me!”
“I did want to murder you,” Epel replied flatly, his eyes still fixed on Ace as though he were seriously considering finishing the job now. Ace only laughed harder, dropping his forehead onto his folded arms on the table while Deuce muttered something about how he'd really thought Epel was a girl for the first few minutes they'd known each other. Epel groaned and dragged both hands down his face. “I swear, you idiots are gonna drive me insane.”
Jack finally cleared his throat, though the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth made it obvious that he was enjoying this considerably more than he wanted to admit. “If we're being honest,” he said, his tone carefully neutral as he glanced at Epel, “Epel does have a rather feminine appearance.” Epel's head whipped around so fast that his hair shifted across his forehead. “Jack!” he exclaimed, staring at him in betrayal, while Jack immediately lifted both hands defensively. “I'm not insulting you,” he explained, his expression remaining composed despite the faint amusement in his eyes. “I'm only saying that I understand where Ace got the wrong impression.”
“You're supposed to be on my side!” Epel protested, throwing one hand toward Jack as though appealing to him for basic human decency. Jack blinked once before answering, “I am.” Epel's eyes narrowed. “You sure ain't actin' like it!” he shot back, and Ace immediately started laughing again at the sight of Epel turning on Jack as well. The entire thing had become exactly the sort of ridiculous argument Ace lived for: Epel was furious, everyone else was trying not to laugh, and Epel somehow kept making himself angrier every time he attempted to defend his dignity.
Ace eventually managed to sit upright again, though his shoulders were still shaking from laughter. He rested his elbow on the table and looked at Epel with a grin that practically screamed trouble. “See? Even Jack agrees.” He paused deliberately, watching Epel's eye twitch before adding, “And let's be honest, Epel, do you even know any girls who'd like a guy like you?” Epel's head snapped toward him, his temper flaring so quickly that there wasn't even time for him to think about the answer before it came flying out of his mouth.
“Yes!”
The word rang across the table so sharply that all three boys immediately fell silent.
Epel froze.
His own voice seemed to echo in his ears, and his stomach dropped as he realized exactly what he'd just admitted. Ace's grin disappeared for a moment, replaced by genuine surprise as his eyebrows lifted and he slowly leaned forward. “...What?” he asked, his voice suddenly much quieter.
Epel's face was already heating, but his temper had reached the point where embarrassment was no longer strong enough to stop him. He leaned across the table, his palms pressing against the wood as he glared directly at Ace. “I said yes. You don't know what yer talkin' about, so quit actin' like ya do. I ain't gotta worry about findin' somebody because I already got somebody, alright?! I'm already spoken for, and I have been for years, so maybe quit runnin' yer mouth about things you don't know nothin' about!”
Silence fell over the table.
Epel's chest rose and fell as he stared at Ace, his face burning with the sudden realization that he had just said far, far more than he intended. Ace blinked at him, his mouth slightly open, while Deuce stared as though someone had just overturned the entire table without touching it. Jack's eyebrows had lifted, and even he seemed genuinely surprised. Epel slowly realized that there was absolutely no way he could take that back.
Ace's voice came out unusually quiet. “...You have a girlfriend?”
Epel swallowed, then leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms as though he hadn't just detonated a bomb in the middle of lunch. “Yeah.”
Deuce stared at Epel, his fork hovering above his plate. “For real?” he asked, eyebrows raised, and Epel gave a stiff nod. “Yeah.” Deuce blinked, still processing it. “How long?” Epel hesitated, his ears beginning to turn pink, and Ace immediately narrowed his eyes. “Or are you lying?”
“Three years,” Epel finally muttered, and Ace's jaw dropped while Deuce nearly dropped his fork and Jack's ears perked. “THREE YEARS?!” Ace shouted, his voice carrying across the dining hall as several nearby students turned to look. Epel immediately winced and shoved a hand against Ace's forehead when he leaned across the table. “You've had a girlfriend for three years?!”
“Get your face outta mine!” Epel snapped, pushing him back into his seat, but Ace barely gave him a moment to breathe. “How did you hide this?” he demanded, looking genuinely scandalized. “By not tellin' ya!” Epel shot back, folding his arms as Ace immediately followed with, “Why didn't you tell us?” Epel's cheeks burned. “Because I didn't wanna!”
Ace grabbed his shoulders and shook him once before Epel shoved him away. “Who is she?” he demanded, practically vibrating with curiosity, while Epel glared at him. “Why do ya care?” Ace threw his hands up. “Because this is the biggest thing I've ever learned about you!” Epel rolled his eyes. “That's a you problem!”
Deuce was still trying to process everything when he leaned forward. “Wait, so you're actually serious? You have a girlfriend back in Harveston?” Epel gave him an exasperated look. “Yeah.” Jack studied him for a moment before asking, “Does your family know?” Epel blinked. “Course they do!”
Ace pointed accusingly at him. “And you've just been casually keeping this from all of us for six months?” Epel's ears turned bright red as he looked away. “It weren't important.” Ace stared at him like he'd lost his mind. “You have a three-year relationship and you thought that wasn't important?!”
“It ain't anybody else's business!” Epel snapped, finally losing his patience again. Ace narrowed his eyes before pointing at him with a triumphant grin. “That is the most suspicious thing you've ever said! You're so full of it!” Epel opened his mouth to argue, but Ace was already leaning forward, clearly nowhere near finished interrogating him.
Epel muttered something under his breath, reached into his uniform pocket, and pulled out his wallet. Ace's eyes immediately followed the movement. “What's that?” he asked, leaning closer again, and Epel shot him an annoyed look before flipping the wallet open. Tucked safely behind one of the clear card slots was a small Polaroid, slightly worn around the edges from being taken in and out over the past several months.
“She's real,” Epel grumbled. “So quit lookin' at me like I'm makin' 'er up!”
He pulled the photograph free and placed it on the table.
The three boys stared.
The picture showed Epel and you standing together back in Harveston, the familiar greenery of the Felmier orchards blurred softly behind you. You had one arm around him and were leaning in to kiss his cheek, while Epel was caught in the middle of attempting to look deeply annoyed by the entire thing; his eyebrows were drawn together, his lips pressed into a stubborn line, and yet the pink creeping across his cheeks ruined the performance completely. A horse's head was barely visible in the background, and there was something unmistakably warm and happy about the photograph that made it immediately obvious how long the two of you had known one another.
Ace picked up the Polaroid with both hands, his eyes widening as he stared at it. “No way.” Epel immediately snatched it back, clutching it protectively. “Don't bend it!” he snapped, and Ace threw his hands up. “I wasn't gonna!”
“You're holdin' it like you're about to crease it!” Epel complained, carefully checking the corners. Ace rolled his eyes. “I was looking!” Epel narrowed his eyes. “Well, look with your eyes and not your grubby hands!” Ace ignored the insult, staring at him in disbelief. “You weren't kidding.”
“I told ya.” Epel tucked the photograph between his fingers while Ace shook his head. “You actually have a girlfriend.” Epel gave him an exasperated look. “I just said that!” Ace glanced back at the picture, then suddenly smiled. “And she's pretty.”
Epel's expression softened before he could stop it. “Yeah.” Deuce leaned over to look at the photograph again, smiling slightly. “You look really happy.” Epel's thumb brushed over the edge of the Polaroid. “I was.”
Ace suddenly pointed at the picture. “Wait, why are you making that face?” Epel frowned. “Because she wouldn't stop botherin' me about takin' a picture.” Ace grinned. “Looks like you were enjoying it.” Epel immediately looked away. “I wasn't.” Ace's grin widened. “You're blushing.” Epel's ears turned red. “I was not.”
“You totally were!” Epel shoved the photograph back into his wallet and snapped it shut. “We're done talkin' about this!” Ace leaned back with a victorious grin. “Oh, we're absolutely not done talking about this.”
Professor Trein's history of magic lecture was not nearly as interesting as remembering you.
Epel sat toward the back of the classroom, chin resting against his palm as Professor Trein's steady voice droned on about some ancient magical conflict that had happened centuries ago. The room was warm, the lights were dim enough to make his eyelids heavy, and the scratch of quills across parchment created a strangely soothing rhythm around him. He tried to pay attention. He genuinely did. Unfortunately, his mind had already wandered back to Harveston.
He remembered the first time his grandmother caught him watching you from across the orchard.
Epel had been pretending to work.
He'd been standing near a cart, supposedly sorting apples, but his attention had been fixed entirely on you. You were several rows away, helping with the harvest, your hands moving quickly as you worked while the late afternoon sunlight caught in your hair. Epel had been so absorbed that he didn't notice his grandmother approaching until she spoke beside him.
“You like that girl,” his grandmother remarked casually, and Epel nearly dropped the apple in his hand. “I do not,” he immediately insisted, his face already warming as she gave him a knowing smile. “Oh, of course not,” she hummed, clearly unconvinced. Epel frowned. “I don't!”
“Then why've you been starin' at her for the last ten minutes?” she asked, glancing toward him, and Epel immediately looked away from you across the orchard. “I wasn't starin'.” His grandmother raised an eyebrow. “You've barely blinked.” Epel's face grew hotter as he fumbled with the apple in his hands. “I was watchin' what she was doin'.”
“Mm-hm.” Epel looked at her, already knowing she didn't believe him. “I'm serious!” His grandmother simply smiled and returned to her work. “Of course you are.” Epel huffed and turned back toward the orchard, though he couldn't stop himself from sneaking another glance in your direction.
He remembered riding through town with you on Honeycrisp.
Honeycrisp was a magnificent horse, sturdy and patient, with a temperament that made him perfectly suited for carrying two teenagers through the quiet roads of Harveston. You would sit comfortably in the saddle while Epel rode behind you, his arms occasionally braced around your waist whenever the road became uneven. The village elders sitting on their porches always seemed to notice the two of you passing, and they had absolutely no problem making comments.
“Look at those lovebirds!” one of the elderly men called from his porch as you and Epel rode past, and Epel immediately hid his face against your shoulder. “Keep goin',” he muttered, mortified, while you laughed and patted his hand around your waist. “They're just teasing.” Epel sighed. “I know.”
You glanced back at him and caught the pink on his cheeks. “You're blushing.” Epel immediately lifted his head. “I'm not.” You raised an eyebrow. “You are.” He looked desperately toward the road for an excuse. “It's the sun.” You glanced up at the cloudy sky. “We're in the shade.” Epel's face went even redder. “Then it's hot.”
You laughed, leaning back against him as Honeycrisp continued down the road. “You're impossible.” Epel muttered against your shoulder, though you could hear the smile in his voice. “I learned from you.”
The old men would laugh from their porches, and Epel would bury his face even further against your shoulder while you struggled not to laugh. He had always hated being teased, but he secretly loved the familiarity of it. Everyone in Harveston knew you two. Everyone had watched you grow up together. There was something comforting about being surrounded by people who had known the two of you since you were children.
He remembered the apple carving dates even more fondly.
Whenever there were blemished apples that wouldn't sell, Epel would carefully carve them into intricate little designs instead of letting them go to waste. You'd sit beside him beneath the shade of a grand old apple tree, your guitar balanced across your lap while he worked with a small carving knife. The scent of fresh apples surrounded you, sweet and crisp beneath the rustling leaves, and the occasional note from your guitar would drift through the orchard whenever you paused to play.
Epel could carve practically anything: little animals, flowers, intricate patterns, even tiny figures. He'd sit beneath the old apple tree with his brows furrowed in concentration, carefully working his knife through blemished apples while your guitar provided a gentle soundtrack beside him.
You had also developed a habit of stealing the scraps. Epel eventually caught you reaching for another piece of apple peel and frowned. “You're eatin' the peel again?” You popped it into your mouth without shame. “It's the best part.” Epel stared at you. “Yer so weird.”
“You're the one carving apples for fun,” you pointed out, and Epel returned his attention to his work. “That's different.” You tilted your head. “How?” He gave you a smug little smile. “Because I'm good at it.” You laughed and reached for another piece of peel, and Epel pretended to be annoyed.
Eventually, he simply started setting the best pieces aside for you without saying anything. Whenever you reached over, there would be a particularly nice curl of peel waiting at the edge of his pile. He never admitted he'd been saving them for you, and you never needed him to.
“Mr. Felmier.” Professor Trein's voice cut through the classroom, and Epel's eyes snapped open. He straightened so quickly that his chair creaked, only to find Trein standing beside his desk with a stern expression. “...Yes, sir?” Epel asked, blinking away the last traces of sleep.
Trein smoothed his jabot. “If you find the history of magic so fascinating that you are willing to fall asleep during my lecture, perhaps you would like to explain the significance of the event I have just described.” Epel stared blankly at him for a moment before glancing helplessly toward the board. “I—uh...” Several seats away, Jack covered his mouth to hide a laugh, earning an immediate murderous glare from Epel.
Trein sighed. “Pay attention.” Epel immediately nodded and lowered his gaze to his notes. “Yes, sir.” He sank back into his chair, face burning, only to glance across the classroom and find Ace silently mouthing one word at him with an obnoxious grin: girlfriend.
Epel's eye twitched as he clenched his fist beneath the desk. He turned back toward his textbook and tried to focus on the lecture, but one thought remained firmly lodged in his mind. I'm gonna kill him after class.
That evening, after classes and dinner, Epel returned to his room and dropped his schoolbag beside his desk with a tired sigh. He didn't even bother changing out of his uniform before sitting heavily on his bed and pulling out his phone, already reaching for your contact without a second thought. The moment you answered, his tired expression softened, and he immediately launched into a detailed complaint about his day, grumbling about Professor Trein's lecture, Ace's relentless teasing, and everything else that had managed to irritate him since breakfast.
You listened patiently through his entire rant, occasionally laughing or offering a sympathetic hum whenever his complaints became particularly dramatic. Once he'd finally exhausted himself, Epel flopped backward against his pillows and asked about your day, listening quietly as you told him about everything you'd been doing back in Harveston. The familiar sound of your voice through the phone made the room feel considerably less lonely, and for a little while, the miles of ocean between Sage's Island and home didn't seem quite so enormous.
Eventually, there was a brief lull in the conversation, and Epel already knew what was coming when he heard the amused little shift in your voice. “So, my rugged applejack,” you began, and Epel rolled his eyes fondly as he stared up at the ceiling. “Are you still hopelessly in love with me? Or has bein' at Night Raven introduced you to pretty pavement princesses?” His entire face immediately heated, and he pushed himself upright, glancing around his empty room despite knowing perfectly well that you couldn't see him. “C-course I am,” he stammered, rubbing the back of his neck as his accent grew thicker with embarrassment. “Yer the apple of my eye. No city girl could ever compare to you.”
You laughed softly on the other end, clearly pleased with yourself, and Epel couldn't help smiling despite his embarrassment. “That's what I like to hear,” you teased, and he huffed as he settled back against his pillows, pretending to be annoyed while listening to you continue talking about home. Before long, the conversation wandered naturally from the orchard to Honeycrisp, from Honeycrisp to your family, and eventually to the Polaroid tucked safely inside Epel's wallet, where the photograph of the two of you had become one of his most treasured possessions.
Outside his room, the corridor had grown quiet as the evening settled over the dormitory, and Vil happened to pass by Epel's door on his way elsewhere. He slowed when he heard Epel's voice coming from inside, the door having been left slightly ajar in the boy's haste to make his nightly call, though nothing about Vil's expression suggested anything more than mild acknowledgment of the noise. He continued standing there for a moment as Epel's voice carried faintly through the opening, warm and unmistakably affectionate as he spoke to the person on the other end of the call.
“Wish you were here,” Epel murmured, his voice quiet and fond as he looked down at the Polaroid. “Miss ya somethin' awful.” He tucked the photograph safely back into his wallet and continued chatting, completely oblivious to Vil standing just outside his door. Vil listened for another moment before his expression settled into one of quiet curiosity. “Six months,” he murmured to himself as he walked away. “Six months at Night Raven College, and my dear Epel has apparently been keeping something very important from me.” He glanced back once at the half-open door, a faint smile touching his lips. “We'll have to remedy that.”
Your lunch break is scheduled from precisely 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, and you have every intention of using every minute of it properly. You wrote the time into your planner that morning, highlighted the hour in yellow, and even made a tiny list of what you intended to accomplish: eat your lunch, drink some tea, review your afternoon tutoring appointments, and spend the last ten minutes organizing your notes. After spending the entire morning rushing from one classroom to another, the thought of sitting somewhere quiet and having absolutely nobody ask you a question sounds like heaven. You have just enough time to enjoy your meal before your next appointment, and for once, your schedule is perfectly balanced.
You enter the cafeteria with your lunch bag tucked carefully beneath one arm, already scanning the room for somewhere peaceful to sit. The cafeteria is considerably louder than you'd expected, filled with the clatter of trays, overlapping conversations, and the occasional burst of laughter from one table or another. You spot a small table near the windows with only two chairs occupied nearby, and your shoulders immediately relax at the sight of it. Perfect—you can sit there, eat quickly, check your schedule, and leave with several minutes to spare.
"Hey! You're the new tutor!"
You nearly drop your lunch.
The voice rings across the cafeteria with enough enthusiasm to turn several heads, and when you look up, you see a white-haired boy waving enthusiastically from across the room. He's already smiling at you as though you've known each other for years, his garnet-red eyes bright with curiosity as he points directly in your direction. Before you can determine whether he's actually talking to you, he starts weaving through the tables with his tray in hand, gold accessories catching the light as he approaches.
"I'm Kalim Al-Asim!" he announces once he's close enough, stopping directly in front of you with an enormous grin. "You're the new tutor, right? Come eat with us!"
"Oh!" You straighten immediately, instinctively slipping into the polite posture you've learned to use whenever speaking with someone of obvious status. "Yes, that's me. It's very nice to meet you, Kalim, but I actually planned to eat over there..." You point toward the quiet table near the window, hoping the gesture makes it clear that you have absolutely no objection to him sitting with you if that's what he means.
Kalim follows your finger toward the table, blinks once, and then his entire face lights up.
"Perfect!"
Your ears perk.
"Perfect?"
"Yeah! We'll all eat there!"
Before you can ask who exactly "we" refers to, Kalim turns toward the cafeteria and raises both arms. "Everyone! The new tutor is eating lunch with us!"
Your heart sinks.
Within seconds, several students look over. A few Scarabia students immediately pick up their trays, while others start calling to their friends and making their way toward the table. Someone brings another chair. Then another. Someone else decides the table needs more food and disappears to get it. By the time you realize what's happening, the peaceful little lunch you'd carefully scheduled has become the center of a rapidly expanding gathering.
You stand frozen beside your chair, still holding your lunch bag.
"...This wasn't what I planned."
Kalim laughs as he pulls out a chair for you. "That's okay! Plans can change!"
Your rabbit ears droop slightly.
"They really shouldn't."
Kalim doesn't seem to hear you.
The next several minutes become a blur of introductions, questions, and food. Kalim seems determined to make sure absolutely everyone at the table is included, frequently turning to someone sitting nearby and inviting them over before offering food to anyone whose plate looks even slightly empty. He remembers everyone's names with surprising ease, asks people about their classes, and somehow manages to keep three different conversations going at once without becoming confused. His cheerful energy is almost contagious, and even though you're desperately trying to keep track of the time, you find yourself smiling whenever he laughs.
"So!" Kalim says, leaning toward you with obvious curiosity. "What's your favorite subject?"
"History of Magic."
"Oh! That's perfect! I like history too!"
"Really?"
"Well..." He pauses thoughtfully, tapping his chin. "I like hearing about interesting stuff. Does that count?"
You laugh softly. "I suppose it does."
"Do you know about the history of the Scalding Sands? I could tell you all about it!"
"I'm sure I'd love to hear it."
"Great! We should have a study session sometime!"
You blink.
"A study session?"
"Yeah!"
Kalim immediately turns toward the others. "Hey, does anyone else want to study with us?"
Several students enthusiastically agree, and you suddenly realize that Kalim has somehow transformed a casual conversation about your favorite subject into plans for an entire group study session.
You glance down at your pocket watch.
12:18.
You still have forty-two minutes.
Surely that's enough time.
You take your first bite of lunch.
"So, how did you become a tutor?" Kalim asks.
You swallow.
And answer.
Then he asks another question.
Then another.
Then someone else joins the conversation.
Then Kalim remembers something he wanted to tell you.
Then someone asks about Foothill Town.
Then another student wants to know whether you really collect pocket watches.
By the time you finally glance at your watch again, it is 12:41.
Your fork stops halfway to your mouth.
"...Oh dear."
Kalim looks over. "What's wrong?"
"I'm running out of time."
"You've barely eaten!"
"I know!"
You stare at your lunch in dismay. You'd barely made a dent in it, despite having spent more than forty minutes sitting at the table. Your carefully planned hour is disappearing faster than you can keep track of it, and your next tutoring session is all the way across campus. You begin mentally calculating the fastest route there, factoring in the hallway traffic and the time it will take to climb the stairs.
At 12:47, you finally stand.
"I have to go."
"Aww, already?" Kalim's expression falls for approximately two seconds before brightening again. "You should eat with us tomorrow!"
"Tomorrow?"
"Yeah! And the day after that!"
You clutch your bag against your chest. "I-I'll have to check my schedule."
Kalim laughs. "You're always thinking about your schedule!"
"Because schedules are important!"
"I know!"
He says it so cheerfully that you can't help smiling.
As you begin gathering your things, you notice Jamil sitting across the table, quietly watching the chaos with the resigned expression of someone who has witnessed this exact situation countless times before. Unlike Kalim, he hasn't been asking you endless questions or trying to recruit half the cafeteria into your lunch break. He's mostly been eating quietly, occasionally stepping in to keep Kalim from accidentally knocking something over or reminding him that someone else hasn't received their food yet.
You sling your bag over your shoulder and give everyone a hurried bow. "Thank you for inviting me. I'm sorry I have to leave so suddenly."
"No problem!" Kalim waves enthusiastically. "Good luck with your tutoring!"
You hurry toward the cafeteria doors.
"Wait."
Jamil's voice stops you.
You turn around to find him approaching, holding something small in one hand. He reaches into your open bag before you can ask what he's doing and carefully places two wrapped pastries inside, followed by a small packet of dried fruit. His movements are efficient and matter-of-fact, and when you stare at him in surprise, he simply adjusts the strap of your bag so it sits properly against your shoulder.
"You hardly ate anything."
You glance down at your lunch, then back at him.
"...Was it that obvious?"
"To me, yes." Jamil's expression remains mostly neutral, although there's a faint hint of amusement in his eyes. "Kalim has a habit of getting carried away when he's excited. You shouldn't let him distract you from eating."
From somewhere behind him, Kalim calls, "Jamil! Are you giving her food?"
"Yes."
"That's so nice!"
Jamil closes his eyes for a moment.
"I knew you'd say that."
You giggle quietly, and Jamil's expression softens just slightly. "Eat those before your next session. You're going to need the energy if you're going to keep running around campus all day."
You nod, touched by the unexpected gesture. "Thank you, Jamil. Really."
"It's nothing."
He turns to leave, but pauses after taking two steps.
"...And don't skip dinner."
You smile.
"I won't."
Jamil gives you a small nod before returning to the table, where Kalim immediately begins asking him whether he thinks you would enjoy a Scarabia dinner party.
You don't stay long enough to hear the answer.
You rush through the hallway with your pocket watch clutched tightly in one hand, your bag bouncing against your side and the pastries Jamil gave you safely tucked inside. Somehow, despite the chaos, you find yourself smiling as you think about lunch. You'd intended to spend the hour alone, but instead you'd met one of the most cheerful people you'd ever encountered and received an unexpectedly thoughtful gesture from someone who barely knew you.
Then the System chimes.
You slow down just enough to look at the translucent blue window hovering in front of you.
You glance back toward the cafeteria, then down at your planner, where the words "LUNCH — QUIET / 12:00–1:00" are still neatly written across the page. You hadn't planned a social event, organized a gathering, or even agreed to one; you had simply tried to eat lunch, and Kalim had somehow turned that into a miniature party.
"...I didn't complete a social event," you mutter, adjusting your bag as you continue walking.
You stare at the numbers for several seconds, your expression becoming increasingly bewildered. Nine percent for Kalim after one lunch? Three percent for Jamil after he gave you a few snacks and told you not to skip dinner? Those numbers aren't enormous, but compared to the progress you'd expected from a single interaction, they seem surprisingly quick.
You stare at the notification for another few seconds, blinking at the little upward arrows beside Kalim and Jamil's names. "Already?" you whisper, your ears flicking nervously as you try to remember everything that happened during lunch, from Kalim dragging half the cafeteria into your meal to Jamil quietly slipping snacks into your bag. The System gives you no explanation, so you reluctantly dismiss the window and continue down the hallway, though your thoughts keep circling back to those surprisingly high numbers after only an hour of chatting. You hug your planner against your chest and shake your head, deciding that perhaps you shouldn't worry about it yet, even if a tiny part of you is already wondering just how high those percentages could get.
I don't usually send asks off anon... But your blog layout is extremely cute. I love the colors you use!~!
aah thank you so much!! the website i use to find most of my colors and gradients is coolors.co it has so many different tools for colors its v helpful!!
Your first tutoring session begins fifteen minutes early.
Not because your student arrived ahead of schedule, but because you did. After spending nearly half an hour double-checking your planner, confirming the classroom reservation, and arranging the desks so they sat at the perfect angle for discussion, you concluded that arriving any later would have been irresponsible. The empty classroom is pleasantly quiet, sunlight streaming through the tall windows while the faint scent of chalk lingers in the air. Everything is exactly as you planned, and for the first time since accepting the tutoring position, you begin to feel that perhaps this won't be so difficult after all.
A timid knock interrupts your thoughts.
You hurry to the door and find a navy-haired first-year standing rigidly in the hallway, clutching two textbooks tightly against his chest. His posture is so straight it looks almost painful, and the determined expression on his face falters the moment your eyes meet. "G-Good afternoon!" he blurts out, bowing so quickly that you worry he might lose his balance. "I'm Deuce Spade! I signed up for tutoring in Magic Analysis and Mathematics! Thank you very much for agreeing to teach me!"
You instinctively bow just as deeply. "It's nice to meet you, Deuce! Please, come in." As he steps into the classroom, you can't help noticing how carefully he wipes his shoes on the mat before entering, almost as if he's afraid of leaving dirt behind. He carries himself with remarkable seriousness for someone his age, and despite the nervousness written across his face, there's an unmistakable determination in his bright cyan eyes.
The two of you settle across from one another, and you quickly discover that Deuce's request for help was completely genuine. Every few minutes he raises his hand, hesitates, lowers it again, and finally gathers enough courage to ask another question. "I-I'm sorry," he says, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I know this is probably obvious. I just... don't really get why this formula works."
"You don't have to apologize," you assure him with a gentle smile as you slide a fresh sheet of paper between the two of you. "That's exactly why I'm here. If you already understood everything, you wouldn't need a tutor." Deuce nods earnestly, his expression determined, and immediately returns to copying down your explanation as neatly as he can.
Only a few minutes pass before his pencil stops moving again. He stares at his notes with intense concentration, lips pressed into a thin line as though willing the answer to appear through sheer determination before slowly raising his hand once more. "Um... I'm really sorry, but could you explain this part one more time? I think I almost understood it, but then I got confused again."
"Of course," you reply without hesitation, rewriting the equation more slowly this time while talking him through each step. Deuce listens with complete focus, nodding after every sentence before hurriedly scribbling another page of notes. "...Sorry," he mumbles again out of habit, earning a quiet laugh that escapes before you can catch yourself.
The sound makes Deuce freeze completely. His shoulders shoot up to his ears, and his face immediately turns scarlet as he waves both hands frantically in front of him. "I-I'm sorry!" he blurts out. "I didn't mean to keep apologizing! It's just... it's a habit! I know it's probably annoying!"
"No, no!" you quickly reassure him, shaking your head just as energetically. "I wasn't laughing at you at all. I just think it's sweet how seriously you're taking this. You're working so hard that you're apologizing for asking your tutor to... tutor you." That only succeeds in making him blush even harder, and he lets out a tiny, embarrassed, "O-Oh..." before ducking his head and smiling shyly at his notebook.
The atmosphere relaxes considerably after that. Deuce begins asking questions without quite so much hesitation, and although it takes him a little longer than average to understand the more theoretical concepts, you quickly notice something admirable about him. Once he finally understands an idea, he never forgets it. He attacks every practice problem with complete sincerity, scribbling notes in the margins of his textbook and repeating definitions aloud until he's committed them to memory. There isn't a trace of laziness in him—only someone trying his absolute best.
The classroom door suddenly slides open.
"Ohhh, so this is where you disappeared to."
Both you and Deuce look up at the same time.
A boy with bright orange hair strolls into the room as though he belongs there, hands tucked comfortably into his pockets and an easy grin already spreading across his face. A familiar heart-shaped mark sits beneath one scarlet eye, and before either of you can say anything, he pulls out the empty chair beside Deuce and drops into it.
"Ace?" Deuce blinks. "Your tutoring session isn't until tomorrow."
"I know." Ace shrugs. "I was bored."
"You came to tutoring because you were bored?"
"I wanted to see what all the fuss was about." He rests his chin in one hand and flashes you a cheerful smile. "You're the famous new tutor everyone's talking about, right? Figured I'd check if Deuce was wasting his time."
"I am not wasting my time!"
"Mmm. Jury's still out."
Deuce huffs indignantly before turning back toward you. "Please ignore him."
"I heard that."
"I wanted you to!"
You can't help smiling as the two begin bickering across the table. Their arguments have an oddly practiced rhythm to them, each interruption answered almost instantly by another complaint, yet neither of them seems genuinely upset. If anything, it feels less like a fight and more like watching two brothers who have somehow perfected the art of annoying each other.
Eventually, Ace grows quiet enough to watch the lesson, though "quiet" is a generous description. For several minutes he lounges in his chair with a pencil balanced between his fingers while Deuce painstakingly works through a single practice problem, stopping after nearly every line to erase something or reread the formula. You patiently wait for him to reach the answer on his own, but Ace's expression becomes more exasperated with every passing second until he finally lets out a dramatic sigh. "Deuce," he says, leaning forward onto the desk, "you've been fighting that one problem forever. You're thinking way too hard."
Deuce immediately frowns, clutching his pencil a little tighter. "I'm trying to make sure I understand it," he argues. "If I rush, I'll get the answer wrong." Ace rolls his eyes so hard you're surprised they don't fall out of his head. "It's just a formula. You don't have to interrogate it like it's hiding state secrets." The offended look on Deuce's face deepens, and before long the two freshmen are glaring at each other across the table instead of at the worksheet.
"You're making it more complicated than it is," Ace insists, gesturing vaguely toward the page. "Look, it's basically like... uh..." He pauses just long enough for you to wonder whether he actually has an example before snapping his fingers. "It's like walking through a doorway. You start outside, you go through the door, and then you're inside. That's all the formula's doing." Deuce stares at him for several seconds in complete disbelief before shaking his head. "Ace... that doesn't make any sense."
"It does make sense!"
"No, it doesn't! What does a doorway have to do with magic analysis?"
"You follow the steps in order!"
"A doorway has a single step!"
"Not every doorway!"
The argument escalates so quickly that you barely have time to process it before both boys abruptly stop talking and turn toward you at exactly the same moment. Ace points confidently in Deuce's direction while wearing the unmistakable expression of someone who already assumes he's won. "Tutor-san, tell him I'm right." Deuce folds his arms and gives a single determined nod. "Please tell him that was the worst comparison you've ever heard."
Your smile grows increasingly strained as you look from one expectant face to the other. Remaining neutral suddenly feels far more difficult than explaining magical theory. "Well..." you begin carefully, buying yourself a few precious seconds to think. "I understand what Ace was trying to say. I think he meant that formulas work best when you follow each step in the correct order instead of hesitating after every line."
Ace pumps a fist into the air before you can continue.
"However," you add quickly, raising one finger, "I also think Deuce has a point. Comparing a complex magical equation to... walking through a doorway... isn't the clearest explanation." You offer Ace an apologetic smile. "I appreciate the effort, though."
Deuce lets out a triumphant laugh while Ace drops dramatically against the back of his chair. "See?" Deuce says proudly. "Even Tutor-san thinks your analogy was weird."
"She said the idea was good!" Ace protests immediately. "You just got hung up on the doorway part!"
"I got 'hung up' because it didn't make sense!"
Despite the renewed bickering, you notice something interesting as you glance back toward Deuce's worksheet. While arguing with Ace, he'd absentmindedly finished the practice problem from beginning to end without stopping once. The moment he notices the completed equation, he blinks in surprise before comparing it to the example in his notes.
"...Wait," he murmurs, a smile slowly spreading across his face. "It's right."
Ace smirks without missing a beat. "Yeah, yeah. You're welcome, Juice."
"I am not thanking you for the doorway thing."
"You kind of just did."
For the next twenty minutes, the lesson progresses far more smoothly than before. Deuce asks fewer questions because the analogy finally helps everything click into place, while Ace occasionally tosses out observations that are surprisingly insightful despite insisting he isn't paying attention. Every time he contributes something useful, however, he immediately leans back in his chair and pretends it was completely effortless.
By the time the session ends, Deuce has filled nearly six pages of notes.
He carefully organizes every sheet into his binder before standing and bowing so deeply you worry he'll topple forward. "Thank you very much for today," he says sincerely. "I know I'm a little slow, but... I really want to become an honor student. I'll study everything we covered before our next session."
"I'm looking forward to seeing your progress."
He smiles—a small, earnest smile that reaches his eyes.
"I won't disappoint you."
Ace stands as well, stretching lazily before slinging his school bag over one shoulder. "Guess you weren't half bad," he says with a grin. "Maybe I'll actually show up for my appointment tomorrow instead of ditching."
"...Please don't ditch."
"Heh. We'll see."
Before leaving, he gives you a casual wave and follows Deuce into the hallway, the two already arguing over whose turn it is to carry the extra textbooks. Their voices gradually fade into the distance until the classroom falls silent once again.
You let out a long sigh and begin gathering the scattered worksheets from the desks. It hadn't gone perfectly, but your first tutoring session was over, and neither student had run away crying. Considering everything that had happened over the past two days, you decide that counts as a success.
After Ace and Deuce leave, the classroom settles back into a comfortable silence. You straighten the chairs they had pushed out, gather the loose worksheets scattered across the desk, and carefully stack the remaining practice problems into neat piles for tomorrow's lessons. Your first tutoring session hadn't gone exactly according to schedule, but it had gone well enough that you found yourself smiling as you packed away your supplies.
A familiar chime interrupts your thoughts.
The translucent blue screen materializes in front of your face once again.
You blink at the screen, then instinctively look toward the classroom door as though the two freshmen might somehow still be standing there. They had each spent, at most, an hour with you. One of them had apologized every other sentence, and the other had invited himself into someone else's tutoring session just to make sarcastic comments.
"...Already?"
Your eyes drift back to the percentages, and you instinctively pull your pocket watch from your cardigan to check the time, as if that might somehow explain what you were seeing. Eight percent. Seven percent. Those numbers weren't high, but they felt impossibly fast considering you had only just met them.
"I thought affection was supposed to increase over weeks... or months..." you murmur to yourself, mentally flipping through every otome game you could remember. First meetings usually barely moved the meter at all. A point or two, maybe three if the heroine made an especially memorable first impression—but certainly not this.
You stare at the screen for another moment before letting out a small, bewildered laugh.
Your first day as Night Raven College's newest tutor turns out to be significantly less organized than you had imagined. Headmage Crowley spends most of the morning speaking in grand, flowery terms about the importance of education while somehow avoiding every practical question you ask him. Whenever you inquire about scheduling procedures, student records, or designated tutoring spaces, he simply laughs and assures you that a talented young lady like yourself will "figure things out splendidly." By the time the meeting ends, your carefully prepared notebook contains far more decorative signatures than actual instructions.
Fortunately, Professor Crewel proves considerably more helpful. He walks you through the staff offices, explains which classrooms are available after regular lessons, and reminds you that your own well-being is just as important as your students'. Even then, your ears remain pinned anxiously against your head as you scribble down every detail as quickly as possible, terrified that you might forget something important. The thought of making a mistake on your very first day sends your heart racing.
Professor Trein takes one look at your expression and quietly intervenes.
Without saying a word, he reaches into his briefcase and hands you a detailed campus map covered with neatly labeled buildings and pathways. The kindness nearly brings tears to your eyes. "Th-Thank you very much, Professor Trein!" you exclaim, clutching the paper as though it were a priceless artifact. He merely adjusts his jabot and remarks that knowing one's surroundings is essential for maintaining order before Lucius meows in complete agreement from his arms.
By lunchtime, you finally believe that perhaps everything will be manageable.
The familiar blue window hovers directly in front of your face before fading away a few seconds later. Your stomach twists uneasily. Fifty Thaumarks isn't much, but if the System considers this your first objective as the replacement heroine, then refusing probably isn't an option. Taking a deep breath, you remind yourself that tutoring students is perfectly ordinary work. Nothing dramatic will happen.
At least, that's what you tell yourself.
Following Crewel's directions, you eventually find the bulletin board where students are meant to submit tutoring requests. The hallway itself is pleasantly quiet, with sunlight spilling through tall windows and illuminating the polished floors beneath your shoes. A gentle breeze drifts in from an open window somewhere nearby, carrying the scent of freshly cut grass from the courtyard outside.
Then you actually see the request sheet.
Your soul leaves your body.
The paper stapled to the board is practically full.
Dozens of names have already been written in neat rows, some accompanied by preferred subjects, others requesting specific dates and times. A few students have even added little notes in the margins asking for longer sessions or additional help before upcoming exams. You stare at the sheet in absolute horror, your pocket watch nearly slipping from your trembling fingers as you rapidly begin calculating how many hours exist in a single week.
No.
No, no, no.
This is impossible.
You haven't even started working yet.
"Th-There's no way..." you whisper, your rabbit ears flattening against your head. "My schedule... my beautiful, perfectly organized schedule..." The color-coded planner you spent all weekend preparing suddenly flashes through your mind, each carefully arranged block of free time disappearing one by one as more students inevitably continue signing up.
The System, of course, chooses that exact moment to cheerfully notify you of your success.
You have a horrible feeling that this is only the beginning.
ㅤㅤ⊹ ˖ Ი𐑼 SPECIAL CG UNLOCK !!
ace & deuce — the world's biggest nerd
ㅤ
The hallway outside the library is considerably busier by late afternoon, with students making their way back toward their dormitories after classes have ended. Sunlight pours through the tall windows lining the corridor, casting long golden rectangles across the polished floors while distant conversations echo from somewhere near the main staircase. The newly-posted tutoring sheet has already become a topic of interest, though most students only glance at it in passing before continuing on their way.
"Man, today's Magic Analysis lecture was brutal," Ace groans, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he walks beside Deuce. "Professor Crewel seriously expects us to memorize all those theories? No way."
Deuce's expression immediately darkens at the mention of the class. He hugs his books closer against his chest, shoulders slumping as he lets out a defeated sigh. "I-I know..." he admits quietly. "And mathematics isn't getting any easier, either. I understand practical stuff just fine, but all the formulas and theoretical explanations keep getting mixed up in my head." The thought alone makes his stomach twist. His mother had been so incredibly proud when he received his acceptance letter to Night Raven College, practically crying with happiness as she told everyone in town that her son had turned over a new leaf. If she heard that he was already falling behind in his studies, she'd be heartbroken.
His eyes suddenly land on the paper stapled neatly to the bulletin board.
"Tutoring requests..." he murmurs.
Ace follows his gaze and immediately snorts. "No way. You're actually thinking about signing up?"
Deuce hesitates for only a moment before determination settles across his face. "I mean... yeah. If I need help, I should ask for it, right?" he says, stepping closer to examine the available subjects. "Mom always told me that working hard means admitting when you can't do something alone." His expression softens as he thinks about her proud smile. "I want to become an honors student. I can't just give up because theoretical classes are difficult."
Ace stares at him as though he'd grown a second head.
"...Wow," he says at last. "That's, like, the nerdiest thing I've ever heard in my life."
"What?!"
"Seriously, Deuce! Voluntarily asking for extra studying?" Ace throws his hands into the air dramatically. "Are you actively trying to bore yourself to death, or did Riddle's rules finally break your brain?!"
"I'M TRYING TO BE A GOOD STUDENT, UNLIKE YOU!" Deuce shouts back, his face turning pink as he grabs the pen attached to the board. Ignoring Ace's endless laughter, he carefully writes his name onto the request sheet beneath Magic Analysis and Mathematics before stepping back with a satisfied nod. "There. Done. No matter what, I'm going to improve my grades."
Ace merely shakes his head, still grinning.
"You're such a nerd, dude."
The two eventually continue toward Heartslabyul, their bickering voices growing fainter as they disappear down the corridor. For several moments, the hallway returns to silence, disturbed only by the distant rustling of leaves outside the open windows.
Then Ace comes back.
He stops in front of the bulletin board with his hands in his pockets, staring at Deuce's freshly written name with a thoughtful expression. The idiot had looked so serious about it, acting like signing up for extra studying was some grand declaration of self-improvement. Honestly, Ace didn't understand what the big deal was. It was just tutoring. A normal, ordinary tutoring session.
"...I mean, somebody's gotta see what all the fuss is about," he mutters to himself.
Besides, History of Magic was terrible.
Absolutely terrible.
Professor Trein expected everyone to memorize centuries of names, treaties, historical events, and magical developments that all sounded exactly the same after the first hour of studying. If Ace failed his next exam, the old man would probably stare at him with that disappointed look that somehow felt worse than getting yelled at. It wasn't that Ace needed help, obviously. He was just... conducting research. Gathering information. Seeing whether this mysterious new tutor was actually worth all the excitement, I mean it's not every day you hear Professor Crewel singing someone's praises like he sung yours.
With a small shrug, he grabs the pen attached to the board and quickly writes his name beneath Deuce's.
There.
Nothing weird about that.
If Deuce asked later, Ace would simply tell him that someone had to make sure the tutor was legitimate before letting his hopelessly earnest best friend waste his time. Really, he was doing Deuce a favor. A public service, even.
Completely satisfied with this perfectly reasonable explanation, Ace stuffs his hands back into his pockets and strolls down the hallway with a grin on his face.
He definitely wasn't worried about History of Magic.
I just started reading your otome game au and it's so interesting!!! But may I know why sebek or lilia are not on the character profile? :>
AAAA thank you so much!! I'm glad you're enjoying it!
I left Sebek and Lilia out of the romance roster because I wanted to keep the cast at a size I could properly focus on and give everyone their own unique routes and endings. I ended up choosing Malleus and Silver as Diasomnia's representatives since I felt they fit the story and heroine the best!
Don't worry though, they'll still exist in the AU and make appearances as supporting characters! ♡
Your mornings always begin at exactly the same time. You wake up at 6:15, finish breakfast by 6:35, and leave the house at precisely seven o'clock with your clipboard tucked beneath one arm and your favorite pocket watch safely tucked into your pocket. Your parents often joke that if every clock in Foothill Town suddenly stopped working, the townspeople could simply watch your daily routine to figure out the time. You take the compliment very seriously.
Foothill Town sits comfortably between Night Raven College and Royal Sword Academy, thriving on the constant flow of students, merchants, and visiting families. Small cafés line the streets, shopkeepers greet their regulars by name, and apartment buildings remain full year-round because everyone wants to live near the prestigious schools. Your family owns one such complex, and helping maintain it has been one of your responsibilities for as long as you can remember. Collecting rent, checking fire alarms, and organizing maintenance schedules are all perfectly respectable tasks that suit your love of order.
Most importantly, your life has absolutely nothing to do with the main story.
Because, unfortunately, you know exactly what kind of world you live in.
An otome game.
The realization had come years ago, accompanied by memories that never belonged to this life. At first, you had panicked, convinced that you would somehow become entangled in dramatic romances and dangerous adventures. Then you remembered the most wonderful detail imaginable: you weren't the heroine. The protagonist attended Night Raven College, surrounded by handsome love interests and exciting plot developments, while you lived peacefully in Foothill Town collecting rent money and worrying about whether the building's emergency lanterns needed replacing.
It was perfect.
The heroine had a job to do.
You did not.
This morning is the third Tuesday of the month, which means rent collection day. Your schedule has already been color-coded, checked twice, and arranged down to the minute, leaving absolutely no room for unexpected interruptions. Professor Crewel's apartment is your final stop before returning home, and you can't help smiling as you glance down at your pocket watch.
Seven thirty-two.
Right on schedule.
You climb the stairs toward Apartment 3-B with a light step, enjoying the familiar sounds drifting through the building. Someone downstairs is playing soft music while cleaning, the scent of fresh bread from a nearby bakery lingers in the morning air, and sunlight pours through the hallway windows in warm golden strips. Everything feels ordinary.
Then a glowing screen appears in front of your face.
You stop so abruptly that your shoes squeak against the floor.
How do you fail an otome game? More importantly, why is the System telling you about it? The original heroine attends Night Raven College, and you've never even met her before. Whatever catastrophe she's caused over there should have absolutely nothing to do with your peaceful, carefully scheduled existence.
You decide that this must be a glitch.
Yes.
A strange magical bug.
That explanation is significantly better than any alternative.
Determined to ignore the increasingly horrifying windows floating in your vision, you straighten your shoulders and knock on Professor Crewel's door exactly on time.
The door swings open almost immediately.
"Well, well. If it isn't my favorite little rabbit," Crewel says smoothly, one hand holding a coffee mug while the other extends an envelope toward you. Even this early in the morning, he looks impeccably put together, his expression carrying the familiar amusement he always seems to reserve for you. "Prompt as always. Good."
"Of course, Professor Crewel!" you reply, accepting the envelope with both hands. "Punctuality is extremely important. I couldn't possibly arrive late for rent collection."
"Hah. That's why I like you, pup. You understand that clocks exist for a reason."
Relief washes through you.
Normal conversation.
Normal morning.
Normal life.
You carefully note his payment on your clipboard and prepare to leave, only for Crewel to casually lean against the doorway.
"Oh, that reminds me," he says. "Your father spoke with me yesterday. He asked whether I knew of any part-time work opportunities that might suit you."
Your entire body freezes.
"...Part-time work?"
"Mm. Apparently, you're looking for something to do outside of helping with the apartments." His smile widens ever so slightly. "Conveniently enough, our benevolent Headmage announced this morning that Night Raven College requires another tutor. Naturally, I recommended you immediately."
Professor Crewel immediately notices the change in your expression, one elegant eyebrow arching as he takes another sip of his coffee. "Something the matter, pup?" he asks, his voice carrying the same casual confidence as always. "You look as though you've seen a ghost."
A ghost would have been preferable.
The original heroine had failed. Somehow, somewhere on campus, she had completely derailed the story that was supposed to happen, and now the System was searching for someone else to fill the empty role. Out of every person on Sage's Island—every student, every magician, every ordinary citizen—it had selected you. The very person who had spent years feeling grateful that she had been born safely outside the plot.
One final notification appears before your eyes, brighter and larger than all the others.
Your heart sinks straight into your stomach as reality finally settles over you. This wasn't a glitch. It wasn't a magical error or some temporary malfunction that would fix itself by tomorrow morning. Professor Crewel had already recommended you for a position at Night Raven College, the Headmage apparently needed another tutor, and the System had decided that those circumstances were enough to drag you directly into the story.
You had spent your entire life believing that the heroine's job belonged to someone else.
Apparently, the heroine hadn't been doing her job.
A hajidere becomes extremely shy and embarrassed when it comes to romance. They panic easily, overthink every interaction, and become flustered by even the smallest displays of affection.
── .ಇ You aren't shy in everyday life, but the moment the possibility of romance enters the picture, your brain completely short-circuits. The System says a confession event is approaching? Suddenly you're late for a very important (not)date on the other side of campus!
Kichidere (規律デレ)
A kichidere expresses affection through rules, structure, and guidance. Rather than openly admitting their feelings, they show love by worrying about someone's wellbeing and helping them maintain order in their life.
── .ಇ Riddle may scold you for skipping meals, staying up too late, or running across campus without taking breaks, but every criticism comes from a place of genuine care. The more he likes someone, the more involved he becomes in their daily routine.
Itazurakko (いたずらっ子)
An itazurakko loves teasing the person they care about. They enjoy provoking reactions, making jokes, and finding creative ways to get attention.
── .ಇ Ace constantly keeps conversations going long after tutoring sessions end and takes great pleasure in making you flustered. Unfortunately, his teasing usually hides genuine affection.
Jendere (ジェンデレ)
A jendere is kind, honest, and wholeheartedly devoted to helping the person they love. They naturally prioritize their happiness and wellbeing above everything else.
── .ಇ Deuce always offers to carry books, walk you to the bus stop, and help with anything you need. Even when he becomes embarrassed, his sincerity never wavers.
Darudere (ダルデレ)
A darudere appears lazy, unmotivated, and indifferent, but becomes much softer around someone they genuinely care about.
── .ಇ Leona constantly tells you to slow down, take naps, and stop stressing over schedules. While he acts like nothing bothers him, he quietly watches over the people important to him.
Smugdere
A smugdere is playful, confident, and loves acting clever around the person they like. They enjoy teasing others but secretly treasure their relationships.
── .ಇ Ruggie never misses an opportunity to joke, negotiate, or turn situations to his advantage. However, beneath all the laughter is someone incredibly loyal and hardworking.
Rindere (凛デレ)
A rindere maintains a composed, elegant, and intellectual image while struggling to express vulnerable emotions.
── .ಇ Azul would much rather offer you a contract than admit he enjoys your company. His feelings often hide behind business proposals, politeness, and carefully crafted excuses.
Sadodere (サドデレ)
A sadodere enjoys teasing, observing, and occasionally tormenting the person they care about—but never with malicious intent.
── .ಇ Jade finds your reactions endlessly fascinating and takes great joy in making you nervous. The more comfortable he becomes, the more playful his mischief grows.
Teasedere
A teasedere openly shows affection through playful behavior and constant attention.
── .ಇ Floyd loves dragging you into whatever interests him at the moment and giving you embarrassing nicknames. His emotions are unpredictable, but his attachment is always obvious.
Deredere (デレデレ)
The classic romantic archetype. A deredere is cheerful, affectionate, and completely honest about caring for others.
── .ಇ Kalim never hides how much he enjoys spending time with you. He wants everyone around him to be happy and naturally includes you in everything he does.
Hinedere (ひねデレ)
A hinedere is cynical, guarded, and reluctant to trust others, but gradually opens up over time.
── .ಇ Jamil notices your exhaustion long before anyone else, though he rarely expresses concern directly. His affection appears through actions rather than words.
Himedere (姫デレ)
A himedere carries themselves with confidence, elegance, and high standards. They expect excellence from both themselves and the people around them.
── .ಇ Vil pushes you to take better care of yourself because he genuinely wants you to thrive. His demanding nature comes from a place of affection and admiration.
Nijidere (虹デレ)
A nijidere sees beauty and romance in everything around them. They love passionately and express their admiration openly and dramatically.
── .ಇ Rook finds even the smallest details about you fascinating and worthy of praise. Every interaction becomes poetry in his eyes.
Dere-tsun (デレツン)
Unlike a tsundere, who starts cold before becoming affectionate, a dere-tsun begins warm and caring but occasionally acts prickly or defensive out of embarrassment.
── .ಇ Epel genuinely likes helping others and wants to be dependable, but his pride gets in the way whenever someone calls him cute or questions his masculinity. He may grumble and deny things, but his affection is never truly hidden.
Hikikomori Utsudere
An utsudere struggles with low self-esteem and often assumes the worst about themselves, while a hikikomori prefers isolation and avoids social interaction.
── .ಇ Idia genuinely believes he's an NPC in everyone else's story and panics whenever conversations become too personal. Yet the more comfortable he grows, the more enthusiastic and affectionate he becomes.
Kuudere (クーデレ)
A kuudere appears calm, reserved, and emotionally distant, but possesses deep feelings beneath the surface.
── .ಇ Malleus rarely expresses excitement outwardly, though he treasures every interaction he shares with you. His quiet nature often makes his affection even more meaningful.
Dandere (ダンデレ)
A dandere is naturally quiet, soft-spoken, and reserved, but becomes more expressive around people they trust.
── .ಇ Silver may struggle to communicate his feelings directly, but his actions always speak for him. His loyalty and kindness remain constant, even when words fail.
ROLE ── Replacement Heroine / NRC Tutor
TWISTED FROM ── The White Rabbit
SPECIES ── Rabbit Beastman
DORM ── None
RESIDENCE ── Foothill Town
HEIGHT ── 158 cm
DOMINANT HAND ── Right
HOMELAND ── Queendom of Roses
CLUB ── None
BEST SUBJECT ── History of Magic
HOBBIES ── Collecting pocket watches
PET PEEVES ── Tardiness
FAVORITE FOOD ── Tea pastries
LEAST FAVORITE FOOD ── Foods that take too long to eat
TALENT ── Perfect scheduling
DERE TYPE ── Hajidere
ROUTE DIFFICULTY ── N/A
♡ Riddle Rosehearts
"You're three minutes late. Explain yourself."
DORM ── Heartslabyul
HEIGHT ── 160 cm
DOMINANT HAND ── Right
HOMELAND ── Queendom of Roses
CLUB ── Equestrian Club
BEST SUBJECT ── Practical Magic
HOBBIES ── Hedgehog tending
PET PEEVES ── Rulebreaking
FAVORITE FOOD ── Strawberry tarts
LEAST FAVORITE FOOD ── Junk food
TALENT ── Fast at crossword puzzles
DERE TYPE ── Kichidere
ROUTE DIFFICULTY ★★★★☆
♡ Ace Trappola
"You're fun to tease, Tutor-chan."
DORM ── Heartslabyul
HEIGHT ── 172 cm
DOMINANT HAND ── Right
HOMELAND ── Queendom of Roses
CLUB ── Basketball Club
BEST SUBJECT ── Enigmics
HOBBIES ── Card games
PET PEEVES ── Dithering
FAVORITE FOOD ── Cherry pie
LEAST FAVORITE FOOD ── Raw oysters
TALENT ── Basic sleight of hand
DERE TYPE ── Itazurakko
ROUTE DIFFICULTY ★★☆☆☆
♡ Deuce Spade
"I-I can carry your books!"
DORM ── Heartslabyul
HEIGHT ── 173 cm
DOMINANT HAND ── Right
HOMELAND ── Queendom of Roses
CLUB ── Track and Field Club
BEST SUBJECT ── Physical Training
HOBBIES ── Blastcycling
PET PEEVES ── Limited-time sales
FAVORITE FOOD ── Anything with eggs
LEAST FAVORITE FOOD ── Bell peppers
TALENT ── Machine maintenance
DERE TYPE ── Jendere
ROUTE DIFFICULTY ★★☆☆☆
♡ Leona Kingscholar
"Quit fussing over time. Take a nap, yeah?"
DORM ── Savanaclaw
HEIGHT ── 185 cm
DOMINANT HAND ── Right
HOMELAND ── Sunset Savanna
CLUB ── Magift Club
BEST SUBJECT ── Ancient Magic
HOBBIES ── Chess
PET PEEVES ── Dealing with kids
FAVORITE FOOD ── Meat
LEAST FAVORITE FOOD ── Vegetables
TALENT ── Falling asleep in 3 seconds
DERE TYPE ── Darudere
ROUTE DIFFICULTY ★★★★★
♡ Ruggie Bucchi
"Free tutoring? What a deal, shishishi!"
DORM ── Savanaclaw
HEIGHT ── 171 cm
DOMINANT HAND ── Right
HOMELAND ── Sunset Savanna
CLUB ── Magift Club
BEST SUBJECT ── Animal Linguistics
HOBBIES ── Part-time jobs
PET PEEVES ── Losses
FAVORITE FOOD ── Donuts
LEAST FAVORITE FOOD ── Anything rotten
TALENT ── Fishing
DERE TYPE ── Smugdere
ROUTE DIFFICULTY ★★★☆☆
♡ Azul Ashengrotto
"Surely you'd consider an exclusive tutoring contract?"
DORM ── Octavinelle
HEIGHT ── 176 cm
DOMINANT HAND ── Right
HOMELAND ── Coral Sea
CLUB ── Board Game Club
BEST SUBJECT ── Alchemy
HOBBIES ── Coin collecting
PET PEEVES ── Leaving things to luck
FAVORITE FOOD ── Fried Chicken
LEAST FAVORITE FOOD ── Healthy foods
TALENT ── Mental Arithmetic
DERE TYPE ── Rindere
ROUTE DIFFICULTY ★★★★★
♡ Jade Leech
"How fascinating. Your heart rate increased again... Cute~!"
DORM ── Octavinelle
HEIGHT ── 190 cm
DOMINANT HAND ── Right
HOMELAND ── Coral Sea
CLUB ── Mountain Lovers Club
BEST SUBJECT ── Potionology
HOBBIES ── Terrariums
PET PEEVES ── Organized harmony
FAVORITE FOOD ── Octopus carpaccio
LEAST FAVORITE FOOD ── Conger eel
TALENT ── Making tea
DERE TYPE ── Sadodere
ROUTE DIFFICULTY ★★★★★
♡ Floyd Leech
"Sea Bunny! Come hang out with meee~!"
DORM ── Octavinelle
HEIGHT ── 191 cm
DOMINANT HAND ── Left
HOMELAND ── Coral Sea
CLUB ── Basketball Club
BEST SUBJECT ── Musicology
HOBBIES ── Dancing
PET PEEVES ── Restraint
FAVORITE FOOD ── Takoyaki
LEAST FAVORITE FOOD ── Shiitake mushrooms
TALENT ── Parkour
DERE TYPE ── Teasedere
ROUTE DIFFICULTY ★★★★☆
♡ Kalim Al-Asim
"Let's celebrate finishing your tutoring session!"
DORM ── Scarabia
HEIGHT ── 168 cm
DOMINANT HAND ── Right
HOMELAND ── Scalding Sands
CLUB ── Pop Music Club
BEST SUBJECT ── Musicology
HOBBIES ── Partying
PET PEEVES ── Eating alone
FAVORITE FOOD ── Coconut juice
LEAST FAVORITE FOOD ── Curry
TALENT ── Poison recognition
DERE TYPE ── Deredere
ROUTE DIFFICULTY ★☆☆☆☆
♡ Jamil Viper
"You should rest. You're overworking yourself."
DORM ── Scarabia
HEIGHT ── 175 cm
DOMINANT HAND ── Right
HOMELAND ── Scalding Sands
CLUB ── Basketball Club
BEST SUBJECT ── Ancient Magic
HOBBIES ── Breakdancing
PET PEEVES ── Touching bugs
FAVORITE FOOD ── Curry
LEAST FAVORITE FOOD ── Dates
TALENT ── Cooking
DERE TYPE ── Hinedere
ROUTE DIFFICULTY ★★★★☆
♡ Vil Schoenheit
"You're neglecting your sleep schedule again."
DORM ── Pomefiore
HEIGHT ── 183 cm
DOMINANT HAND ── Right
HOMELAND ── Shaftlands
CLUB ── Film Research Club
BEST SUBJECT ── Potionology
HOBBIES ── Yoga
PET PEEVES ── Cutting corners
FAVORITE FOOD ── Homemade smoothies
LEAST FAVORITE FOOD ── Mayonnaise
TALENT ── Homebrew makeup
DERE TYPE ── Himedere
ROUTE DIFFICULTY ★★★★☆
♡ Rook Hunt
"Quel magnifique lapin!"
DORM ── Pomefiore
HEIGHT ── 177 cm
DOMINANT HAND ── Right
HOMELAND ── Sunset Savanna
CLUB ── Science Club
BEST SUBJECT ── Art
HOBBIES ── Watching plays
PET PEEVES ── People prying into his affairs
FAVORITE FOOD ── Liver pâté
LEAST FAVORITE FOOD ── Garlic
TALENT ── Photography
DERE TYPE ── Nijidere
ROUTE DIFFICULTY ★★★☆☆
♡ Epel Felmier
"Quit callin' me cute! ...Wait, don't leave yet!"
DORM ── Pomefiore
HEIGHT ── 156 cm
DOMINANT HAND ── Right
HOMELAND ── Harveston
CLUB ── Magift Club
BEST SUBJECT ── Flight
HOBBIES ── Road trips
PET PEEVES ── Being mistaken for a girl
FAVORITE FOOD ── Macarons, grilled meats
LEAST FAVORITE FOOD ── Apple pears
TALENT ── Apple carving
DERE TYPE ── Dere-tsun
ROUTE DIFFICULTY ★★☆☆☆
♡ Idia Shroud
"Tutor-san... you're basically an SSR support character..."
DORM ── Ignihyde
HEIGHT ── 183 cm
DOMINANT HAND ── Left
HOMELAND ── Island of Woe
CLUB ── Board Game Club
BEST SUBJECT ── Summoning
HOBBIES ── PC gaming
PET PEEVES ── Talking in person
FAVORITE FOOD ── Sweets
LEAST FAVORITE FOOD ── Raw fish
TALENT ── Programming
DERE TYPE ── Hikikomori Utsudere
ROUTE DIFFICULTY ★★★★★
♡ Malleus Draconia
"You always seem to be rushing somewhere."
DORM ── Diasomnia
HEIGHT ── 202 cm
DOMINANT HAND ── Right
HOMELAND ── Briar Valley
CLUB ── Gargoyle Studies Club
BEST SUBJECT ── Protection
HOBBIES ── Exploring ruins
PET PEEVES ── Using technology
FAVORITE FOOD ── Ice Cream
LEAST FAVORITE FOOD ── Full-sized cakes
TALENT ── Stringed instruments
DERE TYPE ── Kuudere
ROUTE DIFFICULTY ★★★★☆
♡ Silver
"My apologies. I seem to have fallen asleep."
DORM ── Diasomnia
HEIGHT ── 176 cm
DOMINANT HAND ── Right
HOMELAND ── Briar Valley
CLUB ── Equestrian Club
BEST SUBJECT ── Physical Training
HOBBIES ── Training
PET PEEVES ── Idleness
FAVORITE FOOD ── Mushroom risotto
LEAST FAVORITE FOOD ── Lilia's cooking
TALENT ── Swordsmanship
DERE TYPE ── Dandere
ROUTE DIFFICULTY ★★☆☆☆
please comment if you would like to be added to the taglist! ♡
edit : i realized i forgot epel!! he is now added, i also changed riddle's dere type from tsundere to kichidere because i feel like it just fits better!
WORLDBUILDING ─── ⟢ the heroine isn't doing her job!
⟢ THE SYSTEM
The System is a game interface visible only to the heroine. After being assigned the role of protagonist, you gain access to various mechanics designed to help you progress through the story.
The System's primary purpose is to track relationships, monitor route progression, and ensure the narrative continues moving forward.
⟢ SYSTEM NOTIFICATIONS
System Notifications appear whenever an important change occurs. These alerts typically announce new route unlocks, completed objectives, major affection increases, or story progression milestones.
New routes are usually unlocked after meeting a character multiple times, completing a significant interaction, or becoming important enough in their daily life to be recognized by the System.
⟢ AFFECTION METERS
Every love interest possesses an affection meter.
Affection represents a character's overall feelings toward the heroine. Contrary to what many heroines initially assumes, affection does not automatically equal romantic attraction. Early affection values often reflect trust, familiarity, curiosity, admiration, or friendship.
The heroine can view all currently unlocked affection meters through the Likeability menu.
𝖫𝖨𝖪𝖤𝖠𝖡𝖨𝖫𝖨𝖳𝖸
♡ 𝖠𝖼𝖾 𝖳𝗋𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗈𝗅𝖺 : 15% ▲
𝖿𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖽
The symbol beside each percentage indicates the current trend of the relationship.
▲ indicates that recent interactions have increased affection.
─ indicates that affection has remained stable.
▼ indicates that affection has recently decreased due to neglect, disagreements, or missed opportunities.
The descriptor beneath the percentage reflects the character's current emotional attitude toward the heroine and may differ between characters even when affection percentages are similar.
⟢ DAILY TASKS
Daily Tasks are small objectives generated by the System.
These tasks encourage story progression by rewarding the heroine for interacting with love interests, completing events, or simply participating in campus life.
Another Poll! ─── ⟢ the heroine isn't doing her job!
before i start writing the heroine isn't doing her job!, i need help deciding what the protagonist should be called
the story is still going to be a reader-insert regardless of the results! however, i've noticed that a lot of twst fics use yuu in place of y/n, especially in longer stories, so i was curious what everyone would prefer.
heroine naming poll
y/n
[name]
___
yuusagi (hint👀)
other (leave a suggestion in the tags/replies!)
Voting ended onJun 20
for anyone curious, this won't affect the story itself! the protagonist will still be a reader character either way ♡
i just thought it would be fun to see what everyone likes reading the most before i start writing.
feel free to vote, reblog, or leave your thoughts in my asks ♡
Hi 👋 All your plot points sound very interesting, and I can't wait to see them. Just wondering if you have an Ao3 or if you just post on tumblr? No worries if you don't, I was just curious. Good luck on writing, and longfics are the best 👌.
hello and tysmm! i do have an Ao3 but i do not post on it, as ive never really learned how to use it 😅 should i crosspost? if i do start posting on Ao3, i'll let you guys know!!
With Purest Love 𓏻 .ᐟ
── .ಇ riddle rosehearts x reader
To the students of Night Raven College, Riddle Rosehearts is the strict and unyielding Rose-Red Tyrant. So when a certain first year stumbles upon one of his love letters, all of NRC is forced to confront an impossible truth: Heartslabyul's housewarden is hopelessly in love.
⤿ status : ONGOING
⤿ updates : irregular
⤿ warnings : spoilers for book 1, canon divergence, original worldbuilding, original setting (sweet virtue prep)
CHAPTERS ꜝ
⚬ prologue ──
⚬ chapter one : [title]
⚬ chapter two : [title]
⚬ chapter three : [title]
⚬ chapter four : [title]
⚬ chapter five : [title]
Until Next Saturday's Sunrise 𓏻 .ᐟ
── .ಇ rielle corallia x reader
Separated by land and sea, Prince Rielle Corallia cherishes every letter, call, and precious Saturday spent with his beloved mermaid girlfriend. Though the ocean lies between them most days, his heart has never once strayed from home.
⤿ status : ONGOING
⤿ updates : irregular
⤿ warnings : long-distance relationship, twst spoilers, original character interpretation (rielle has limited canon, so my portrayal is partly headcanon)
CHAPTERS ꜝ
⚬ prologue ──
⚬ chapter one : [title]
⚬ chapter two : [title]
⚬ chapter three : [title]
⚬ chapter four : [title]
⚬ chapter five : [title]
Your Highness, Please 𓏻 .ᐟ
── .ಇ minajael tealrajah x reader
As Crown Prince Minajael Tealrajah's attendant, you have spent your entire life observing the proper distance between royalty and servant. Minajael, however, has spent that same lifetime trying to close it.
⤿ status : ONGOING
⤿ updates : irregular
⤿ warnings : class differences, implied political themes, original character interpretation (minajael is still relatively obscure/new)
CHAPTERS ꜝ
⚬ prologue ──
⚬ chapter one : [title]
⚬ chapter two : [title]
⚬ chapter three : [title]
⚬ chapter four : [title]
⚬ chapter five : [title]
