“This has got to be the most awkward situation I’ve ever witnessed...” Liliana and her sister were watching the next table. Kye, Alethea, Doran, and Michelle were sitting together eating pizza, but only two of the four had taken a slice. Alethea was staring daggers at Doran while Michelle stared at Kye. “Those two are completely oblivious of the stares. How is the Princess not reacting to it?”

“Lily, this is a dangerous situation. There is no peaceful outcome. Just look at the look on Lady Alethea’s face. She’s...”

The two faced each other. “A monster!”

“How do you do it?” Doran asked. “That spell is just one of many you’ve created, right? I haven’t invented any spells, so even one is impressive to me.”

“Oh, thank you! I’ve invented a few. I uh... stumbled upon one seven months ago before the attack purely by accident. I washed something with magic and Allison happened to be there. She made me name it and said she’d record it in the Archive. Its name is Waschen.”

“You’ve created a utility spell, too? That’s great. I didn’t know you could use magic that way. Huh.”

“Alethea and I made a few spells on the spot during the attack, too” She glanced over at the pink-haired girl. “Do you remember them? Allison made us name them after the battle so she could record them.”

She nodded. “I was credited for Oblivion Blade and Motion Canceler. You were credited with Absorption Chain and Singularity Core. We were both credited with Temporal Barrier and Overdrive, though the last one really shouldn’t be in the book.”

“What do those do?” Doran asked.

“They’re all classified at the moment. Lady Allison said that due to how deadly they are, it’s not safe to spread them.”

“She was really picky about Temporal Barrier,” Kye said. “But I understand why. It’s an ultimate-tier spell that... well it’s classified so I can’t say what, but let’s just say that whatever is inside it is not having a good time.”

Alethea snickered.

“What’s up?” Doran asked.

“Oh uh, Kye made a pun.”

“What? I did?”

“You said ‘not having a good time.’” She snickered again.

“What?”

“Time! Temporal!”

Kye facepalmed. “I am... so embarrassed to be near you right now.”

Alethea burst out laughing, unable to keep it bottled up. Even Doran held back a laugh.

“You think that’s funny?”

“What? She’s laughing so hard at it. It’s kinda funny.” He started laughing with Alethea. Kye and Michelle were speechless. They exchanged glances and sighed with each other. Each stood up and bonked someone.

“Shi-chan!” Alethea shouted and quickly covered her mouth.

“Mimi!” Doran shouted at the same time and also quickly covered his mouth.

Kye and Michelle’s eyes widened as they heard their nicknames broadcast to everyone around them. They slumped back down in their chairs, life seemingly drained from them.

“I’m sorry!” Alethea and Doran said together.

“Kye, speak to me!” Alethea shook Kye, to no avail.

“Michelle!” Doran tried the same.

“Sorry, Michelle’s not home right now. Please leave a message after the beep. Beep.”

“Kye! Snap out of it!” Alethea pleaded. “If you don’t, I’ll have to tell Doran what kind of underwear you have on.” Kye didn’t react in the slightest. “Hey, Doran, she’s wearing OMMPH.” Kye’s hand quickly covered Alethea’s mouth and she glared at the pink-haired girl.

“Oh, wow, I wonder if that’d work with Michelle,” Doran said. “I don’t know what she has on, though, so I can’t try it. Although back home, I did once see here in OMMPH.” Michelle quickly silenced Doran the same way, glaring at him no different than Kye was glaring at Alethea.

Kye and Michelle suddenly felt a kinship, as did Alethea and Doran. Liliana and Aliana watched with amused smiles.

After they finished eating, Michelle asked for Kye and Alethea’s private phone numbers so she could invite everyone to a call.

“I apologize if I’m being too direct, but I feel I need to put everything on the table,” she said.

Kye shifted in her seat, unsure what to think. She shared a glance with Alethea, but the two stayed quiet and looked back at Michelle, giving her their full attention.

“First and foremost, Lady Kye, I know how you feel about Doran. I’m not stupid and it certainly doesn’t take a genius to figure it out. Doran probably will be upset by me saying it, but he feels the same about you. I won’t lie either. I think there’s some chemistry between you. I don’t know you or Lady Alethea nearly as well as I do Doran, but disregarding the part where everyone knows you two are dating I see the chemistry between the two of you as well. I have a question for both of you before I blather on more about sensitive romance stuff. What is my relationship with Doran?”

Doran buried his head in his hands.

Kye answered first, “That’s a trick question if I’ve ever heard one, but I’ll give the obvious answer. You’re cousins.”

“Correct.”

Alethea had more to say, “You two are secretly dating.”

Doran looked at Michelle, as if pleading for her not to answer, but she did anyway. “Also correct. Lady Alethea, did you encourage Lady Kye to-”

“Let’s drop the lord and lady. Yes, I encouraged her to invite him to dinner. I wanted to observe them together. Kye is important to me, and I want only the best for her even if that means sharing her if she loves another.”

“Are you not afraid she will lose interest in you?”

“No. Are you afraid of the same thing with Doran?”

“No.”

Kye and Doran were beyond embarrassed by the conversation. Kye was looking anywhere else, and Doran was still covering his face with his hands.

“I think we have the same idea then.”

“I agree.”

They stood up, forced their partners to look at each other, and said together, “You should date.”

Kye was so embarrassed and shocked that she couldn’t mutter a word. Michelle wouldn’t let Doran hide from it. “Say it, Doran. Tell her!” He tried to shake his hand, but she wouldn’t let him. “Be a man!”

Kye was being forced the same way. “Go on, love, tell him how you feel.”

The two gulped and blurted out, “I like you, please go out with me!”

Alethea and Michelle took their seats, both wearing satisfied grins. Liliana and Aliana nearly spit their food out, hearing that suddenly after so much silence. Kye was so surprised by Doran saying the same thing that she tried to hide her face, but a hand stopped her. This time, it was Doran reaching over, instead of Alethea. He smiled warmly at her and said nothing. Her eyes were still wide and her mouth open. Finally, she smiled then said, “Yes!”

Michelle >> Doran has a new girlfriend.

Draenara >> Tell me everything!

Michelle >> He’s dating a royal from Nippon Sekai, Kye Akari.

Draenara >> Really? How’d that happen?

Michelle >> Alethea and I pushed them together. Doran is kinda dumb with romance. Alethea said Kye is, too.

Draenara >> Oh, I see. How do you feel about it?

Michelle >> I’m okay with it. He really likes her and I don’t want to hold him back. I can share.

Draenara >> That’s very mature of you, Mimi. But if you have any misgivings about it, please talk to me.

Michelle >> I’m a little nervous, to be honest. Alethea is really smart. She was asking me basically the same thing I was asking her before we pushed Doran and Kye together. I think she’s...

Draenara >> Yes?

Michelle >> Alethea is amazing. She knows how to handle Kye and asks the right things.

Draenara >> Do you like her?

Michelle >> I don’t know about that. It’s more like... admiration? Maybe I do, but I’m not sure.

Draenara >> Okay, but don’t hold yourself back! You have my full support in anything you do!

Michelle >> Thanks, Mom. I love you! Goodnight.

Draenara >> Love you too, sweetie. Goodnight.

Michelle closed the messaging app on her phone and opened Kye and Alethea’s profiles. They’re both amazing and beautiful. I’ve never really thought about another girl that way. She looked more closely at Alethea’s picture. Do I like her? Michelle sighed and got rid of her phone screen. She buried her head in her pillow, unsure what to think. I guess I’ll wait and see.