As the weekend approached, I texted Serena Sterling and Nina. I told them we needed to talk about our upcoming practical assessment.

  Nina wasn't thrilled about giving up her free time on the weekend. However, since Serena quickly agreed to meet, Nina grudgingly tagged along.

  We decided to meet at a café that had just opened. I wanted Serena to try their strawberry shortcake, knowing it would eventually become her favorite treat.

  Ding-dong.

  A small bell chimed, and a young woman walked through the door. She brushed her shiny, golden-blonde hair over her shoulder and looked around the room until her eyes landed on me.

  Adjusting a small purse on her shoulder, she strolled over. The hem of her long, light jacket swayed with every step, and the sharp click-clack of her heels rang in my ears. Her casual outfit made her look like a first-year college student. She gave off a mature vibe that you just couldn't see when she wore her school uniform. She moved with the grace of a runway model.

  Several guys in the café tried to sneak a peek at her, only to get told off by their girlfriends. Serena noticed the attention and covered her mouth to hide a soft laugh. She seemed to take a wicked pleasure in the drama she caused, living up to her role as a true villainess.

  "You're here early," she noted.

  "I just got here a little while ago," I replied with a nod.

  "Are you just going to ignore me?"

  A familiar voice suddenly interrupted us. Oh, it was Nina. She had arrived with her. She was so short that I hadn't even noticed her at first.

  "Hey, Nina."

  "Hmph."

  Nina crossed her arms and glared at me, her pigtails bobbing as she pouted. She clearly realized I had missed her. Based on the game's lore, she was really insecure about her height. Knowing that, I decided to keep my mouth shut about it.

  "Let's grab some food first. My treat. I'll buy you both some cake," I offered.

  They ended up ordering an Americano and a double shot of espresso.

  "An espresso? Isn't that a bit too strong, even with a sweet cake?" I asked.

  "Why do you care what I drink?" Nina fired back, looking offended.

  Why on earth did she want something so bitter?

  Serena gave her a teasing smirk. "Espresso smells wonderful. Isn't that right, Nina?"

  "Uh, yeah! Exactly. Oliver just doesn't get it because he has the palate of a child."

  Trying to prove her point, Nina took a brave sip of her espresso. She immediately choked, making weird sputtering noises.

  Serena smiled playfully. "Is it good? Should I order you another cup?" Nina's eyes went wide, and she froze. She obviously didn't want any more of the bitter coffee, but she couldn't bring herself to say no to Serena.

  I smiled awkwardly and quickly changed the subject to save her.

  "Alright, you two, take a look at this." I pulled out a stack of papers I had put together for our practical exam and spread them across the table.

  "Hmm?" Serena quickly skimmed the documents.

  "Our first match is against Caleb Thorne, Marcus Flint, and Elena Ward. You know that, right?" I asked.

  "Pfft. A bunch of nobodies." Nina scoffed. Her arrogance perfectly matched her status as the 17th-ranked student.

  "Nobodies? They used to be pretty famous before coming here," I pointed out.

  "Famous or not, they're still nobodies to me."

  I suppose she had a point. After all, those three weren't even named characters in the game. Compared to a major character like Nina and the main villainess, Serena, they fell short in almost every category—from fighting skills to battle strategy.

  However, this was no longer a video game. It was real life. Whether someone was a main character or just an extra, getting careless could cost us. Yes, Serena and Nina were stronger than them, but the gap in power wasn't huge. Ultimately, everyone here was still just a student learning the ropes. A smart strategy from the enemy could easily flip the odds. Plus, our team had me, and I was basically useless in a real fight.

  "They are all above average. Their team uses a bow, a sword, and a spear, giving them great balance. We know most of their magic abilities, but Caleb Thorne's powers might be slightly different than what's on paper. The main thing you need to remember is..."

  I went on to break down all the details about the enemy team. I explained their specific powers, fighting styles, team chemistry, formations, and likely tactics. I also laid out exactly how we should attack and what we needed to watch out for.

  "Fascinating." After some time had passed, Serena, who had been listening in silence, tapped her coffee cup and spoke up. "You actually did a lot more homework than I thought you would," she said. She flashed me a bright smile. "Aren't you ranked first in written exams? Listening to your plan makes you sound like a professional tactician."

  "Back in middle school, I always acted as the team's commander during our combat tests," I replied.

  Sadly, since I had zero talent for actual combat, playing the strategist was the only way I could get good grades. In my previous life, I obsessively watched gameplay videos. I studied every single frame to figure out character habits, team chemistry, weaknesses, and special moves. Now that I remembered all the lore from Heroic Hearts Academy, making battle plans was a breeze. I even knew their hidden secrets from reading the game's spin-off novels and fan comics.

  "It's cool that you did all this research, but it's kind of a waste of time. Serena and I can easily crush them without using any sneaky tactics," Nina said. She waved off my hard work, looking completely unbothered.

  "Sure, maybe for this match. But what about the ones after?" I challenged. Caleb Thorne's team wasn't the real problem. This fight was just a practice run to test if my game knowledge actually worked in the real world. "What happens when we fight the team after Caleb's? And the team after that?"

  "What about them?" Nina asked defensively.

  "What if we have to fight Julian Vance or Damian Steele's team in the final round?"

  "..."

  Nina went quiet. Even she knew she couldn't brush off the top male leads so easily.

  "Especially with a weak link like me on your team. Winning on pure strength alone is going to be tough, right?" I added.

  "Well, you have a point there," she admitted.

  Hey, did she really have to agree with me that fast? ...Even if it was true.

  "A good strategy is the best way to win a losing battle. If we end up fighting Julian or Damian, we will be at a massive disadvantage in raw power. We need to start practicing our teamwork and tactics right now to prepare for that."

  "Do you really think we'll reach the finals that easily?" Serena asked.

  I nodded confidently at her question. "Absolutely. We made a bet, remember? I promised we'd finish in first or second place."

  "Alright then. Show me what you've got."

  "Just remember, you have to follow my instructions out there," I reminded her.

  "Oh, of course," Serena said with a light laugh. She glanced back down at the detailed notes covering the table. "I didn't have high hopes for you, but your research and explanations today... I guess you might actually be a decent tactician."

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  She sliced off a small piece of her strawberry shortcake with a fork.

  "But talking is cheap. You need to prove that these plans actually work on the battlefield. I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing it."

  She popped the cake into her mouth.

  "We'll follow your plan for the first match. I'll trust your judgment." With that, she set her fork down. She had finished her dessert and looked incredibly satisfied. Giving her a delicious treat definitely made her more willing to listen to me.

  "Do either of you have any questions or concerns before we wrap this up?" I asked.

  "Uh, hang on, I need to hit the restroom..." Nina suddenly raised her hand. She was looking a little pale. All the color had drained from her face. It looked like that double espresso had upset her stomach.

  "I warned you about drinking that strong espresso," I sighed.

  "S-Shut up! Sorry, Serena, I'll be right back!" Nina glared at me, apologized to Serena, and quickly sprinted toward the restrooms.

  That left just the two of us at the table. Serena stared right into my eyes. A mischievous look crossed her face as she broke the silence.

  "By the way, how are things going with you?"

  "What do you mean by that?" I asked cautiously. What trap was she setting up?

  "People have been seeing Julian and Lily Pierce hanging out a lot lately."

  "So what if they have?"

  "I just think it's a bit odd. Isn't it strange for an ex-girlfriend to stick around with a new guy right after a breakup?"

  I chuckled to myself at Serena's question. Honestly, I wanted Lily to go hang out with Julian even more.

  "What about you?" I shot back.

  "Hmm?"

  "Does it bother you that Lily is always hanging around Julian Vance?"

  "Why on earth would I care about that?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

  "Well, I heard a rumor that you two are secretly engaged."

  "What?"

  Serena's eyebrows twitched. Her arranged marriage was supposed to be strictly confidential. She was clearly shocked that I knew about it.

  "Where exactly did you hear that?" she demanded.

  "Just rumors. Word gets around," I said with a shrug.

  "Is that so?"

  "Yeah. Don't stress over it. You and Julian both come from massive corporate families, and you've been childhood friends. It's the perfect setup for juicy gossip. You know how much students love playing matchmaker."

  "..."

  Serena stared at me closely, twirling a strand of her golden hair around her finger.

  "Well... the truth about that is..."

  Just as Serena was about to explain.

  "...Oliver, what are you doing in a place like this?"

  "?!"

  A completely unexpected voice interrupted us. Both Serena and I whipped our heads around to see who it was.

  "What are you doing here?" I asked.

  "I think I asked you first," Lily replied instinctively.

  Lily Pierce was glaring at us, looking very unhappy.

  "What are the two of you doing here together?" she demanded.

  Lily Pierce couldn't believe her eyes. Why on earth were these two meeting at a café on a weekend? Oliver Brooks had been brushing her off lately, claiming he was too busy to hang out. Yet here he was, having what looked like a cozy coffee date with Serena Sterling!

  This felt like absolute betrayal!

  How could he do this? When she had asked him to go to a café earlier, he flat out refused. He told her that he had no free time this weekend because he had to study for the practical exam.

  Was he "too busy" just so he could sneak off and meet Serena?

  "Ahaha...?"

  A wicked smile suddenly spread across Serena's face. She looked like she was thoroughly enjoying the drama.

  "Hello, Lily."

  "Hi. But seriously, why are you here with Oliver?" Lily asked sharply.

  "I only came out because Oliver told me he had something important to say to me," Serena teased.

  "Oliver did?"

  Lily quickly turned her glare toward Oliver. What in the world could he possibly need to talk to Serena about? Something important to say? Why would Oliver need to meet Serena in private? If it was just school stuff, they could have easily discussed it back at the Academy. So why meet outside of school on a weekend?

  Wait a second.

  Could it be...?

  - Actually, I've fallen for someone else.

  The words Oliver had spoken a month ago suddenly echoed in her mind.

  "Serena, please don't phrase it like that. It sounds weird," Oliver sighed. "We just met up to plan for the practical exam. Look at all this."

  He picked up the stack of strategy notes and waved them in front of Lily to prove his point.

  "And it's not a secret date. Nina is here with us, too." He pointed to the empty chair beside him. Sure enough, there was a half-empty espresso cup and a dirty plate sitting right in front of it. "So please stop glaring at me."

  "I'm not glaring! And why would I even care?" Lily snapped defensively.

  "You were pretty annoyed when I refused to go to the café with you the other day. Is that why you're upset?"

  Oliver gave a casual shrug. Lily groaned inwardly. He was a good guy, but he was incredibly dense sometimes. Sigh.

  "Oh, Lily? When did you get here?"

  "Hey, Nina."

  Nina suddenly reappeared from the bathroom and looked surprised to see Lily standing there.

  "We should head out, Nina. Let's go," Serena said.

  "Oh, alright."

  "Have a nice chat with your childhood friend. We'll leave you two alone," Serena added smoothly.

  Serena gracefully grabbed her coat and purse before walking out the door. Nina scrambled to shove the last piece of her cake into her mouth before rushing out after her.

  "..."

  "..."

  An awkward silence fell over Oliver and Lily.

  "...Well, I should probably get going too," Oliver muttered.

  "Sit down."

  Oliver stood up to leave, but Lily pointed sharply at his chair, demanding he stay. She wasn't asking; she was ordering him.

  "Do you really not have even a few minutes for me?" she asked.

  "I already told you, I'm busy."

  "Hah."

  Lily let out a bitter laugh. Busy? Why was he only ever "busy" when she wanted to see him? Was she the only person he was avoiding?

  "Hey, Oliver Brooks. We need to talk."

  "About what?"

  "Did I do something wrong? Why are you acting so cold toward me lately?"

  She bit her lip nervously, staring a hole right through him. No matter how hard she racked her brain, she just couldn't figure out why Oliver was acting this way. Sure, school was stressful, but it really felt like he was pushing her away on purpose. Had she offended him somehow? Or was something else going on?

  "...Seriously," Oliver muttered.

  She scowled at him, and he let out a dry, defeated laugh. The way he looked at her made her feel like a child throwing a tantrum in front of a tired uncle. ...Which only made her angrier. Oliver had just seemed so much older and more mature lately.

  "Lily."

  "What? What is it?"

  With a soft smile, Oliver reached into his bag and pulled out a massive stack of heavily annotated papers. It was a much larger pile than the one he had shown Serena. It was obviously all research for the upcoming combat tests...

  "You know I don't have the natural talent to be a hero," he started.

  "That isn't true."

  "I know my limits better than anyone. I could survive middle school on effort alone, but Vanguard Academy is a completely different beast."

  "..."

  "I want to have fun too. I'd love to hang out with you, play video games after class, and go on weekend trips."

  "..."

  He smiled, looking incredibly sad.

  "But if I slack off and party when everyone else is resting, I'll never catch up to the top students. That's why I've been pouring all my energy into training and studying. I couldn't afford any distractions, so... I ended up putting some distance between us. I'm sorry if that hurt you."

  "No, it's... fine. Don't worry about it," she replied awkwardly.

  Lily awkwardly scratched the side of her cheek. She had to admit that whenever Oliver was around, she found it hard to focus on her own studies.

  "There's one more thing," he added.

  "Hmm?"

  "We broke up, remember? It's not a good look if we keep hanging out all the time."

  "Huh?"

  Lily blinked in utter confusion. What on earth was he talking about now?

  "Since when do you care about what other people think?"

  "I care a lot. You might want to start dating someone new soon, and I don't want to ruin your chances just because your ex is always hanging around."

  "How many times do I have to tell you that I have zero interest in dating anyone?"

  "Heh. You say that, but you and Julian seem to be getting awfully close these days."

  "...That's only because you've been avoiding me," she muttered under her breath.

  "What was that?"

  "Wow, I practically whispered that. Did you really not hear me, or are you just playing dumb?"

  He had heard her perfectly; he just chose to ignore it. Oliver smiled to himself.

  "Anyway, since we're talking about it, I'll ask again. Is there really nothing going on between you and Julian Vance?"

  "What are you talking about? I already told you nothing is going on. We are just friends."

  "Come on, be honest. I'm practically an expert on romance. I can give you some killer advice, you know?"

  "I have nothing to say to you."

  What was actually wrong with him? Why was he pushing this so hard?

  "Julian is incredibly good-looking, rich, and naturally gifted... The guy is basically perfect."

  "What are you trying to say?"

  "He obviously has a crush on you. Do you want me to help set you guys up?"

  "I said no. How many times do I have to repeat myself?"

  A knot of intense anger began twisting in Lily's stomach. Oliver's constant efforts to push her into Julian's arms were driving her crazy.

  "Seriously, a guy like Julian..."

  "Shut up!"

  Bang!

  Lily slammed her palm onto the table. The loud smack made Oliver flinch as he realized, 'Oops, I pushed her too far again.'

  "What about you? Do you have feelings for Serena?" she demanded.

  "Huh? Me? Where is this coming from?" Oliver was completely caught off guard by the accusation.

  "You broke up with me on the very first day of school."

  "Yeah, so?"

  "You told me you had fallen for someone else."

  "Did I really say that?" Oliver looked like he was genuinely trying to remember if he had said that.

  "Serena is the one you like, isn't she?"

  "What are you talking about? Me and Serena? Haha, that's insane."

  "Then why do you keep trying to hook me up with Julian?"

  "Never mind."

  "I'm so mad right now..."

  "I'm sorry, alright? I'll buy you whatever you want to make up for it. Just take a deep breath." Oliver rubbed his forehead and spoke in a much softer voice. "What do you feel like having? A slice of cake? A parfait? Some coffee?"

  "Just an Americano is fine."

  "Just a coffee? That's boring. If you aren't going to pick a dessert, I'll pick one for you."

  As Oliver turned to order from the menu, Lily sat in silence and thought about his words.

  - I care a lot. You might want to start dating someone new soon, and I don't want to ruin your chances just because your ex is always hanging around.

  That same logic could easily apply to Oliver. What if Oliver actually fell in love with Serena at first sight during the entrance ceremony? What if the only reason he ended their fake relationship was so he could get closer to Serena without any drama? What if he had been ignoring her on purpose all along? And the real reason he didn't invite her to his combat team, choosing to group up with Serena instead, might be... could it be...?

  As her imagination ran wild with the worst-case scenario...

  "...I hate this."

  Lily felt a dark, uncomfortable feeling twisting in her chest, an emotion she couldn't quite explain.