The aftermath of the Annual Gala left the campus buzzing. Whispers of Damian's failed ploy spread like wildfire, though few knew the full story. Adrian, for his part, was careful to keep a low profile, knowing that Damian wouldn't let his humiliation go unanswered.
Still, the night hadn't been a total victory. Adrian had managed to stabilize his relationships with Sophia and Lily, but Iris had been noticeably drawn toward Damian during the gala. Worse yet, Damian's System would likely push him to escalate their rivalry even further.
[So, you survived the night,] Adrian's System said dryly. [Congrats on not screwing up for once.]
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Adrian replied, leaning back in his chair. "What's the status on the heroines?"
[Sophia's favorability is holding steady. Lily's ticked up a bit. But Iris? She's slipping away. You need to act fast if you want to stop Damian from sinking his claws into her.]
Adrian frowned. "Iris is sharp. She won't fall for his tricks easily."
[Oh, please. Crowe has a System feeding him every advantage. You've got me—and no offense, but you're not exactly a dream team.]
Adrian sighed. "Thanks for the pep talk."
[Anytime, champ.]
---
Adrian decided to approach Iris during one of her study sessions in the library. She was poring over a thick stack of economic journals, her expression as focused as ever.
"Mind if I join you?" Adrian asked, setting his bag down on the table.
Iris glanced at him briefly before returning to her reading. "If you're here to distract me, don't bother."
"Actually, I'm here to help," Adrian said, pulling out his notes. "I figured you might want a second opinion on that article you were dissecting last week."
That got her attention. Iris looked up, her gray eyes narrowing slightly. "And why would you think I need help?"
"Because even the best minds benefit from collaboration," Adrian replied smoothly. "And because I happen to know a thing or two about hybrid economic systems."
Iris hesitated, clearly weighing her options. Finally, she nodded toward the chair across from her. "Fine. But don't waste my time."
Adrian hid a smirk as he sat down. The next hour was a battle of intellects, with both of them challenging each other's arguments and refining their ideas. By the end of it, Adrian had managed to chip away at some of her defenses.
"You're not as incompetent as I thought," Iris admitted grudgingly.
"I'll take that as a compliment," Adrian said.
[Favorability with Iris slightly increased. Good job not being a complete idiot.]
---
Sophia was less of a puzzle but no less demanding. She valued directness and action over words, which meant Adrian had to constantly prove his worth through effort.
He found her at the training grounds, sparring with another student. Her movements were precise and aggressive, each strike filled with raw power.
When the match ended, Adrian stepped forward. "Think you've got room for one more?"
Sophia wiped the sweat from her brow, eyeing him critically. "You? Against me?"
"Unless you're scared," Adrian said with a smirk.
Sophia snorted. "You're going to regret this."
The sparring match was brutal. Sophia didn't hold back, and Adrian found himself on the defensive more often than not. Still, he managed to keep up, using his agility and quick thinking to dodge her most devastating blows.
When the match ended, Adrian was on the ground, gasping for breath, but he had managed to score a few hits.
"You're not half-bad," Sophia said, offering him a hand.
Adrian grinned, taking it. "I'll take that as high praise."
[Favorability with Sophia slightly increased. You earned her respect—for now.]
---
Lily remained the most delicate of Adrian's relationships. Her insecurities made her easy to hurt but also easy to encourage.
Adrian visited the art studio again, this time bringing a gift: a set of high-quality sketching pencils.
"These are for you," he said, placing them on her desk.
Lily looked up, her expression uncertain. "W-why?"
"Because you deserve them," Adrian said simply. "And because I want to see what you can create with them."
Lily hesitated, then picked up the pencils, her hands trembling slightly. "Thank you…"
Adrian smiled. "You're welcome. Now, show me what you're working on."
The next hour was spent watching Lily sketch, her movements growing more confident with each stroke. Adrian made sure to offer genuine praise, knowing how much it meant to her.
[Favorability with Lily slightly increased. Be careful—she's becoming attached.]
---
Meanwhile, Damian was hard at work consolidating his own gains. He had organized a small study group, inviting several of the heroines to join under the guise of academic collaboration.
Sophia, Iris, and Lily all received invitations.
Adrian learned about the study group through a mutual acquaintance and immediately saw the danger.
"Damian's trying to box me out," he muttered.
[Of course he is. And unless you crash that party, he's going to succeed.]
"Then I'll crash it," Adrian said, standing.
---
Adrian arrived at the designated study room just as the session was starting. Damian looked up, clearly surprised but quickly masking it with a smirk.
"Adrian," he said smoothly. "I didn't realize you'd be joining us."
"Thought I'd contribute," Adrian said casually, taking a seat.
The atmosphere was tense as the session progressed. Damian tried to dominate the conversation, steering it toward topics that showcased his intelligence. Adrian, however, countered with subtle but effective interjections, ensuring that the heroines remained engaged with him as well.
By the end of the session, Damian's frustration was palpable, though he managed to maintain his charming facade.
[Favorability with Sophia, Iris, and Lily stabilized. Damian's influence slightly weakened.]
---