As the first class ended, Rou found himself casting an appraising, slightly exasperated look at the infamous five. Memories of his past gameplay surfaced, reminding him of just how absurd each of these romantic leads could be. He could practically see their blunders playing out in front of him like scenes from a comedy.
First, his eyes settled on Leonhart. He remembered countless times in the game where Leonhart would try to act as the chivalrous hero, only to trip over his own ego. In one particular scene, Leonhart had arrogantly challenged a lower-level monster solo—without any healing items. The result? An embarrassing series of retreats and desperate dodges until the heroine swooped in and saved him. Classic Leonhart
Then there was Prince Caelum Voss. Rou remembered the prince's tendency to be overly noble and stick to formalities, even in the most awkward situations. In one hilarious side quest, Caelum had tried to uphold the proper manners of royal etiquette... by refusing to eat anything but the finest imported food, only to go on a journey with no supplies. After hours of gameplay, the prince ended up fainting from hunger in the wilderness, much to the annoyance of any player who had to carry his unconscious form back to safety.
Elias Montgomery was next, and Rou chuckled inwardly. Elias had a crippling fear of cats—something that most players only discovered by accident during a seemingly harmless encounter in a village. At the sight of a tiny, harmless kitten, the otherwise serious and hardened warrior would lose all composure, practically climbing onto furniture to avoid the "threat." Rou couldn't count how many times he had dragged Elias back into situations with cats, just for the comedic value.
As for Damien Evercrest, Rou remembered how, despite his charm and smooth-talking ways, Damien had an infamous weakness: he couldn't swim. In one particular mission, Damien had tried to impress the heroine by diving into a lake, only to thrash about and nearly drown, needing the heroine to rescue him in front of a group of townspeople. The result was an embarrassing scene where his charisma points practically plummeted.
Finally, there was Sebastian Drell. Sebastian might have had a cold, mysterious air, but he was absolutely terrible at directions. In one dungeon mission, Rou had spent hours watching as Sebastian confidently led the party... straight into a maze of dead ends. By the time they escaped, players were joking about Sebastian needing a map for his map. Rou couldn't help but shake his head, imagining how that flaw might manifest in real life.
Rou sighed, realizing that the thought of being stuck in this room full of "knights in shining armor" was almost too much to handle.
Rou:
(So these are the ones who'll 'help' save the kingdom...)
Some time later...
As Rou sat in the back of the classroom, he mentally mapped out the day's events, remembering the pivotal moments from the game. Around midday, after the third period, the heroine was set to appear for the first time. Rou knew this was no ordinary introduction either—it was where her arrival would accidentally spark a scene that would draw everyone's attention in the academy.
He recalled the game's setup: the heroine would innocently wander into the canteen, visibly nervous and out of place among the nobles. In her flustered state, she would inevitably stumble, causing a small tray of food to go flying. The game had always framed it as a 'charming accident,' where one of the love interests—usually the prince, if Rou remembered correctly—would swoop in to catch her or shield her from embarrassment, marking the start of their blossoming connection.
Thinking back, Rou felt an odd sense of dread. The memory of that scene was dripping with tropes he had mocked relentlessly as a player.
Rou:
(And now I'm going to witness it in person...)
Rou felt a twinge of discomfort.
Rou:
[I wanna skip my meal...]
Later in the canteen...
Rou stood at the sideline as he felt a wash of discomfort, knowing what would come in this bustling canteen. His eyes scanned the room, taking in the lively atmosphere. Students chatted in clusters, trays piled with decadent food, while laughter and conversation filled the air. He took a sip of his drink, half-focused, until his gaze landed on a figure by the entrance.
Rou:
(Ah, there she is)
There, standing uncertainly with her tray, was the heroine of this world: Amelia Thorne. She had soft, chestnut-brown hair that fell in loose waves down her shoulders, and her eyes were a striking shade of emerald green. Dressed in the academy's uniform, she had an air of innocence and gentle beauty that was unmistakably designed to capture everyone's attention. Her expression was one of nervous curiosity, as if the entire canteen were an intimidating puzzle she was just beginning to solve.
Rou shook his head slightly, remembering how Amelia's timid charm had drawn in every love interest in the game.
Rou:
(This was the main target of those ridiculous 5)
He watched her take a few hesitant steps, her gaze darting around, oblivious to the watchful eyes of several students.
Rou:
(Here we go)
Rou, waiting for the inevitable chaos to unfold as Amelia moved forward, unaware of the scene she was about to set in motion.