“Ha? Make her cry?”

Moen looked utterly baffled at the senior in front of him.

“Why?”

“Well... for some private reasons of mine.”

Anna said, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger.

“You sure this isn’t just one of your tricks to mess with me?”

Moen couldn’t help but show a sharp smile that suggested he had seen right through her plan.

“I see now. This is just another one of your pranks, isn’t it? I’m not falling for it this time.”

“Oh? The junior won’t do it?”

“Obviously! Anyway, making a little girl cry for no reason—it’s bad karma, okay? I could get struck by lightning for that.”

“So, it’s fine if you make your senior cry instead?”

Anna placed a finger by her eye, feigning tears.

“You told me once that you’d do anything to repay me, but now you won’t even help me with this tiny request? It turns out someone like you, with your pretty-boy charm, just can’t be trusted in the slightest. Boo-hoo, such an ungrateful junior.”

“...”

Moen fell silent for a moment, then let out a resigned sigh.

“I’ll help. But senior, you’ve got to tell me the reason. You don’t seem like the kind of person who’d bully a little girl on purpose.”

“A reason?”

Anna pulled back her fake crying face, resting her chin on her hand as her gaze drifted to some far-off place.

At that moment, Moen saw something else in her—the profound loneliness that seemed detached from this world.

“Just treat it as a selfish request, junior.”

...

...

“Here, Moen, try our local specialty—the cream stew.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Come on, Moen, taste the baked escargot we’re known for.”

“Mm, sure.”

“And Moen, have a bite of our signature sirloin steak.”

“Ah, alright.”

In an elegantly decorated small restaurant, the melodious tunes of a famed musician played in the background. The flowing song, paired with a singer’s enchanting soprano, poured forth from a magical sound stone, like a gentle brook.

The doors and windows were tightly shut. Inside the dimly lit room, a few red candles burned atop the pristine tablecloth, their flames flickering and casting a rosy glow across everyone’s faces—just like the sparkling red wine.

Even the pickiest noblewoman would undoubtedly praise the gathering as the very picture of a perfect candlelight dinner—ideal for fostering the purest feelings between a boy and a girl, and culminating in an unforgettable romantic atmosphere.

At that moment, if the boy were to present a ring with a massive diamond and declare his undying love, he would surely bring the girl to tears of joy, prompting her to vow that even if he were a dog, she’d marry none other than him.

But, the premise is…

This “date” wasn’t between three people.

Three!

The word itself—a guaranteed damper on anything romantic.

The only things three goes well with are wardrobes, under-the-bed stories, complicated love triangles, tragedies of “I was here first,” and cutthroat games like poker or mahjong.

Mixing three into dates? It's like inviting disaster with open arms!

So…

Save me, senior!

Moen instinctively dodged as Sari—clearly trying to get closer on purpose—kept relentlessly offering him food. At the same time, he cast pleading glances toward the instigator, Anna.

But instead of rescuing him, Anna gave a tiny pump of her fist.

You’ve got this! Her silent message was crystal clear.

I’ve got what!

Ever since Sari learned he and Anna were on a “date,” she seemed to completely change. Her bold advances made it feel like she could melt even the toughest steel-hearted man into a hopelessly romantic softie.

Seriously, this isn’t even remotely in line with your usual geeky demeanor. Do justice to your black-rimmed glasses and braided hair! Aren’t transformations banned here?

Regardless, Moen wasn’t sure how much more he could take.

Subtly sliding his chair a bit farther away, Moen realized just how close Sari was sitting and noticed that her seemingly loose uniform—a minor distraction—was hiding a surprisingly good figure, no less stunning than Anna’s.

But the realization simply made him feel more restless, especially with Anna sitting there like someone waiting to relish the drama unfold.

“Um… Sari,” Moen said, trying to fend off her persistent food offerings. He forced a pained smile.

“I’m not a kid anymore. I can eat on my own.”

“But this is my way of showing thoughtfulness!” Sari shot back stubbornly.

“And I’ve already gotten your point!”

“Really?”

Finally, Sari relented and tilted her head to the side.

“Well, how was it? Did it taste good?”

“Delicious, delicious!”

Moen nodded energetically.

Though nerves had numbed his sense of taste, leaving him no clue at all whether the food was good or bad, this situation made one thing clear—he needed to wear a smile and belt out praise enthusiastically, no matter what.

“I’m so glad Moen liked it,” Sari beamed, looking utterly delighted, as though this minor validation from him had brightened her entire world.

Seeing her shy expression, Moen froze for a fleeting moment.

But he quickly shoved the faint guilt gnawing at his conscience deep inside and smiled while subtly sliding the tampered dish back toward Sari.

“You’ve worked so hard, Sari. It’s your turn to eat.”

“I…”

Sari blinked behind her black-rimmed glasses, her captivating eyes darting briefly around. Her cheeks reddened to the point the candlelight made it seem like fresh juice could be squeezed out of them.

“I want Moen to… feed me personally.”

“...”

Moen’s lips twitched, but given the circumstances, he had no choice but to nervously pick up a silver spoon and, under Sari’s expectant gaze, lift the aroma-laden dish toward her awaiting mouth.

Sari took it in one swift bite, practically glowing with contentment.

“It’s so delicious—no wonder Moen fed it to me himself!”

“R-really?”

Moen murmured in response, nearly popping his eyeballs out in disbelief.

Wait, what? That dish was loaded with extra wasabi! Is she somehow immune to it?

His thoughts were spiraling when Sari leaned forward once more, her lips slightly parted like a baby waiting for their next serving.

More!

“...”

Save me, senior!

Moen once again sent frantic help signals towards Anna.

Yet his esteemed senior was fully immersed in battling her steak and had no attention to spare for him.

Her only response was subtly raising a small fist and clenching it.

You’ve still got this!

Seeing Anna remain completely indifferent—if not actively stirring up his misery—Moen couldn’t help but feel like his heart was stabbed deeply.

—Senior, if you keep being so carefree, I might just end up heartbroken!

Realizing he was entirely on his own, Moen took a deep breath.

Don’t panic.

Moen, stay calm.

Look on the bright side. At least... if your senior doesn't care about this, then you can avoid disasters like the infamous love-war scenarios, right?

This means if you complete the task she gave you and handle Sari properly, everything could still land softly and without chaos!

Yes… there’s a bright future waiting ahead.

Bring it on, fate! Watch as I smash—

The sound of a bell jingling abruptly echoed in the air.

In that instant, Moen felt as if infinite light poured into his field of vision.

But it wasn’t his future—it was someone swinging open the restaurant's tightly shut door.

“Hello? Is there anyone here?”

A figure dressed as a maid stood at the entrance, backlit by the light outside. Her gaze swept across the room’s dim interior.

Her eyes squinted slightly, as though still adjusting to the faint light.

At that moment.

The moment Moen saw the figure’s face clearly.

The alarm bells in his head screamed—an explosion of panic, louder and sharper than any he had faced before, including moments of literal life and death.

Even after experiencing countless brushes with death, never once had his ingrained danger sensors been triggered so violently.

Cold terror pricked him like needles stabbing straight into his soul.

As his mind reeled from confusion, shock, and fear, his thoughts began racing madly.

Deep within the recesses of his heart, his inner player persona—his “scumbag soul”—was ignited fully. Before her dignified eyes could settle squarely on him, he bowed his head lightning-fast and ducked beneath the table, clutching Anna’s slender pale thigh as if his life depended on it.

“Senior! You *have* to save me this time!”