That World of Otome Games is Tough for Us - Volume 1 - Chapter 10

Chapter 10:

The Final Meet-Cute Event

“IT’S A RELIEF to see you’re safe.”

“R-right.”

Marie and I didn’t come face-to-face until school ended on the day after the pirate incident. We sat side by side on a bench in the inner courtyard as we chatted. The sun was beginning its descent, and the area was largely deserted.

Marie was more receptive than she had been lately, probably because she felt she owed me for saving her life.

“Thank you so much for yesterday,” she said. “If you hadn’t shown up, things would’ve gotten ugly.”

“I screwed up, too. Went a little overboard with the things I said.”

Now that we’d both apologized for our behavior, we were eager to put the matter behind us.

Marie gazed out at the sprawling garden. “I was happy until I entered university.” She was referring to her past life.

“What changed?”

“That was around when my brother died. A lot happened after that. My parents kicked me out of the house, and my life fell apart. Or, I mean, I made myself miserable—it was all on me.”

Her story made me think of my sister again. I still couldn’t recall her name or likeness, but in turn, Marie still had that familiar air.

“Every time I thought I’d found a good guy,” Marie continued, “he’d turn out to be a total dud. They all started off chasing their dreams, you know. But sooner or later they’d get hooked on gambling or something and drive us into unbelievable debt. I worked like a dog trying to pay it all off.”

Guys chasing their dreams, huh? I wouldn’t really say that was a bad thing, but I would’ve picked a guy with a steady job, if it were me.

“So that’s why you’re so obsessed with happiness now?” I asked.

“Yeah.” Marie paused. She dropped her gaze to her lap, smiling sadly. “Although it isn’t going so well.”

Between this story and her dejected look, I just wanted to help her. “Marie, you still haven’t talked to Chris yet, have you?”

Her head jerked up. “Huh? Oh, um, no.”

“Then why don’t we give it another shot? Luxion, tell me where he is right now. Even if she struck out on the other four, she’s still got a chance with him.”

Luxion’s camera lens flickered. “Personally, I must reiterate my preference that the two of you pair up instead.” There was a short pause. “I have located him. He’s in the training grounds.”

That figured. Chris was often there in the game.

I stood from the bench, ushering Marie to come along. “Hurry up. Let’s go.”

“What, seriously? You mean it? But you’re the one who keeps telling me to give up.”

“I’ll help you out on this,” I said. “From the looks of things, Miss Olivia is already getting along great with Prince Julius. I don’t see any problem with making a go for one of the leftovers.”

“I-I guess you’re right.” 

For some reason, Marie didn’t seem particularly keen on the idea, but we headed for the training grounds nevertheless.

***

The training grounds were lined with logs that functioned as training dummies. One man—by the name of Chris Fia Arclight—stood in the middle of those logs, swinging his sword. He had short blue hair and wore glasses, which lent him a mature, intelligent look.

Chris’s father was an accomplished swordsman who’d earned the title Sword Saint. Chris himself was talented enough to have acquired the less distinguished—but nevertheless impressive—title of Swordmaster for himself. His abilities made him the one guy capable of facing off with Greg one-on-one. That said, he wasn’t interested in much other than swordfighting, which made him a bit annoying in terms of character.

Marie approached him as he was training while I hid in the shadows, watching from afar. “Good luck,” I whispered under my breath. “This is your last chance.”

“Are you certain this is the best course of action? I was under the impression you had developed feelings for her,” said Luxion.

“I like her, sure. But not like that.”

In the end, despite Marie’s overtures, Chris merely shook his head. “Apologies, but I’m not one for romance. I cannot accept your interest.”

“Oh, all right.”

Marie had made a more valiant effort this time around. I was impressed, actually. Alas, it hadn’t been enough to pique his interest.

Chris wiped the sweat from his brow and eyed Marie warily. “I’m not sure why exactly you’ve decided to approach me, but I already have a fiancée. I cannot grow close to another female student without impinging on her honor. Please don’t speak to me in the future unless absolutely necessary.” 

That was a valid point; he was already taken.

Marie’s shoulders slumped. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I’m sorry.”

Chris did look surprised by her sincere apology. Perhaps he hadn’t expected her to back down so easily. His lips parted in a smile. “That was rude of me. I don’t seem to have a way with words, and I’m not very good at dealing with girls. I think it would also be in your best interest to find someone else.” 

Chris was indeed a bit too blunt, but he was still trying to be considerate, in his own way. In the game, he had always seemed pretty cold and distant, so this was unexpected.

That said, Chris resumed swinging his wooden sword. Marie retreated quickly so as not to disrupt him, returning to where I was waiting. She looked a little dejected. When she came to a stop in front of me, she smiled. “That could’ve gone better.”

“You struck out with four in a row. So I guess that’s it.”

“Yeah,” she agreed.

It was game over. Marie had tried to woo every single love interest save for the prince and found no success.

Marie let out a long exhale, as if all the tension had fled her body. She straightened. “But, I mean, isn’t this super unfair?” she grumbled. “That I’d fail with all four of them?! Why couldn’t at least one of them open their eyes and see what a catch I am?!”

Sadly, reality didn’t always go the way we wanted, unlike a scripted game.

I glanced at Luxion. “Miss Olivia’s making good progress with the love interests, isn’t she?”

“Yes. Although it is difficult to ascertain which route she has chosen. Based on the information you both provided me, I would venture to guess that she is developing her relationships with all of the boys equally.”

And sadly, as a result, Marie couldn’t get a single one of them to look at her twice.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me. What, is she heading for the reverse harem ending? She could share at least one of them with me.” Marie sounded a little annoyed, but if anything, she looked forlorn and distraught.

“Cheer up,” I told her. “I’ll treat you to dinner.”

Marie instantly perked up, and drool dribbled down her chin. But despite the delight, she didn’t want to seem so easily bought. “D-don’t you dare mock me,” she huffed. “You think a hot meal’s all it takes to cheer me up?”

“How about you wipe that drool first? You’re not convincing anyone.”

While the two of us were bantering back and forth out of view, Olivia arrived at the training grounds.

“Mr. Chris, you’re training, too?” she asked.

“Yeah. You?”

“Y-yes. We’ll have to show off our combat skills soon, so I thought I would practice in advance.”

“That so?”

Chris was normally aloof. But with Olivia, he smiled the moment they started talking. I could understand where he was coming from. Olivia was naive, kindhearted, and just overall more open-minded than most folk. Her cheerful, energetic side—and enormous breasts—made her all the more appealing. If I were in his shoes, I’d have been smiling, too. Meanwhile, Marie stood in stark contrast with her unsavory personality and flat-as-a-board chest.

Marie seemed to notice where my gaze had drifted. She smiled menacingly, glaring daggers at me. “Spit it out. How exactly are you comparing us, hmm?”

I turned away quickly. “Anyhow, why don’t we go grab us some food?”

“You were comparing our breasts, weren’t you?! Go on, say it!” Marie snapped. She’d forsaken all pretense at this point, letting her emotions flow out unchecked.

“At times, the truth has the power to hurt people,” I told her sagely. “I’m far too gentle a soul to risk such a thing.”

She balled her fists. “You’re basically admitting it! Damn you! So it is my chest, huh? You men are all the same. Just a bunch of creeps!”

I wasn’t about to tell her the truth: that the roundness of breasts was far more appealing than their actual size. Not that this helped her. She was so flat there were no curves to entice the eye.

“Urgh, you really piss me off,” Marie continued, fuming. “I’m going to eat ten whole steaks!”

Luxion had kept his silence up until this point, but upon hearing this, he interjected. “You ate ten last time as well, did you not? I should advise you that while your body will see no further development, you are capable of retaining fat. Not in your chest or buttocks, either, but rather around your stomach and upper arms.”

Marie sobered quickly. “I-I’ll limit it to six, then.”

Seriously? That was still a lot! It was little wonder why the love interests hadn’t fallen for her. She’d worried me at first with her antics, but with everything I knew about her now, I couldn’t see her seducing them if she were the last girl in the world. 

“C’mon, let’s get moving,” I said. “I’m starving.”

“Hold up! Wait for me!”