Academy Gardens
The three wandered along the cobbled paths, framed by climbing vines and the faint scent of roses.
The spring air was light, brushing Alyssa's hair back gently as she leaned closer to inspect a bed of bright lilies.
Finn beamed at her like an idiot, hands stuffed into his pockets.
"Man, this place is awesome," Finn said, laughing.
"In the first month, Kain and I used to sneak in here at night to steal strawberries. He was a bad influence, not me, I swear!"
Alyssa giggled again, her hand lightly covering her mouth in a way that seemed almost too perfect.
Kain shrugged, playing his role to perfection.
"Guilty," he said lazily.
"He followed me like a lost puppy"
Alyssa turned to him, eyes twinkling.
"You must be very important to Finn... I'm glad he has someone he trusts so much"
Kain's smile didn't falter, but inside, he hummed.
What a sweet little thing she was.
Finn deserved the world's dumbest loyalty award for delivering her straight into his hands without even realizing it.
They walked a few more steps, the sunlight dappled across the stone, when Finn casually dropped it.
"Oh, by the way, Alyssa's a noble! Her family's got, like, a whole estate near the river district. Pretty crazy, right?"
Kain's step hitched for the smallest fraction of a second.
A noble?
This sweet, blushing, fidgety little thing, property of some spotless house?
Kain's breath stayed even.
His hands remained in his pockets.
On the outside, nothing changed.
Inside?
He was grinning like a wolf.
'Innocent, obedient, pure... and noble'
'The day she falls will be a day worth celebrating'
He couldn't have designed it better if he tried.
"Wow, you're full of surprises," Kain said smoothly, eyes flicking to Alyssa, who blushed furiously under the attention.
"It's not a big deal," Alyssa said quickly, waving her hands.
"I'm... just Alyssa. No one important"
Finn laughed.
"Told you she's the coolest"
Kain chuckled.
"Yeah," he said, voice soft, "I can see that"
And he meant every word.
They spent the next hour wandering the gardens, Finn talking about every dumb thing that popped into his head, sword practice, favorite food stalls, even stupid ghost stories from the dorms.
Alyssa listened patiently, smiling, responding with little questions and polite nods.
Every so often, her eyes would flick to Kain.
Curious.
Hesitant.
He gave her nothing but a soft, bored smile.
The image of patience.
Just keep smiling.
Just keep helping.
Like the perfect best friend.
Small Café / Late Afternoon
The café was cozy, tucked away between old brick buildings, smelling of cinnamon and fresh coffee.
Sunlight bled through the windows in golden streaks.
Kain sat across from Finn and Alyssa, lazily stirring a cup of black coffee.
Alyssa leaned forward, her hands clasped together in front of her, and absolutely lit up.
"Finn's just... so sweet!"
She gushed, cheeks coloring pink.
"You know... after he saved me from those bandits, he sent a letter to my house the next day asking if I was alright! I mean—who does that anymore?"
Kain's spoon clinked softly against the side of his cup.
He smiled thinly.
"Yeah," he said.
"Real knightly"
Finn scratched the back of his head, grinning like an idiot.
"It wasn't a big deal"
Alyssa shook her head fiercely.
"It was! And he even bought me this book last week, 'The Song of Silver Skies', just because he said it 'felt like something I'd like'!"
Kain took a sip of his coffee, hiding the twitch of irritation behind the cup.
"Sounds like him," he said blandly.
Alyssa practically bounced in her seat now, eyes shining.
"And when my father met him? He said Finn reminded him of when he was young! That's huge! My father never says things like that!"
Finn turned beet red.
"I-I didn't even do anything..."
Kain set the cup down, fingers lightly tapping the handle.
He kept the easygoing smile on his face and kept playing the role.
But deep inside?
He was screaming.
'This wasn't how it was supposed to go'
'She was supposed to sneak glances at Kain'
'Get flustered around him'
'Ask for his advice, lean closer, blush prettily—'
Instead, she was completely, utterly drunk on Finn's stupidity.
A perfect, shining little idiot who couldn't even realize the hole he was digging.
"You know," Kain said after a long pause, his voice calm, "Finn's always been like that. A real... dependable guy"
Alyssa smiled so warmly that it almost made Kain gag.
"I'm really lucky to have met him," she said, voice soft, sincere.
Kain laughed quietly under his breath.
Lucky?
Yeah.
Sure.
He leaned back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling like he was bored.
Inside, though?
He was making peace with it.
'Fine. Fine. Let it happen'
'Let her fall head over heels'
'Let Finn collect another little prize'
Nightfall / Kain's Room
The room was dim, lit only by the soft blue glow of the academy lights outside.
A cigarette burned between Kain's fingers, the smoke curling lazily into the night air as he leaned out the open window.
The cool breeze ruffled his hair, but did little to cool the slow burn inside him.
Behind him, the bed creaked quietly, the girls were all there, sprawled out, asleep, their soft breathing filling the room.
Kain exhaled a long breath of smoke, watching it fade into the darkness.
"Tch..."
He couldn't stop the memories from playing back in his head.
Alyssa, sitting there in that stupid little café, smiling, blushing, laughing, all for Finn.
"His swordplay is so graceful!"
"He's so strong, but so gentle!"
"Even his footwork is amazing, like he's floating!"
Each word replayed, hitting harder than the last.
Kain's jaw tightened.
He stubbed the cigarette out against the windowsill with a lazy flick of his fingers.
'What a fucking joke'
He shook his head slowly, trying to let it go.
Trying and failing.
Soft footsteps padded behind him.
A pair of slender arms wrapped around his waist.
Darcy.
Still warm from the bed, smelling faintly of his soap and her own sweet skin.
"What's wrong, Kain?" she murmured, pressing her cheek against his back.
Kain didn't turn.
He just gave a low chuckle, dry and tired.
"Just a headache," he muttered.
Darcy was silent for a moment, feeling the tension in him.
Then, without a word, she gently pulled him back, leading him away from the window and toward the bed.
Kain let her.
Didn't resist.
There was no point fighting it tonight.
Darcy kissed his jaw, a light, fleeting thing.
A silent way of telling him to stop thinking.
The girls stirred slightly as he slid back into bed.
Soft limbs tangled around him, comforting, mindless.
Kain closed his eyes.
Listened to the slow, steady rhythm of their breathing.
Let himself sink.
Morning / Academy Cafeteria
Kain sat at the end of the table, one leg crossed over the other, half-eating a bland egg sandwich while keeping an eye on Finn, who was grinning like a fool across from him.
Finn shoveled scrambled eggs into his mouth and spoke between bites.
"Alyssa's cooking, man... It's unreal. You don't understand"
"She made me this homemade stew with thick meat cuts, real spices, none of that cafeteria slop"
Kain sipped his coffee without reacting.
"Yeah?"
Finn nodded hard, practically glowing.
"Yeah! And she even baked fresh bread to go with it. Warm, soft, just melts in your mouth. Bro, this good"
He gestured so wildly that a few crumbs went flying.
Kain lazily brushed them off his sleeve.
"Sounds like you're in love"
Finn laughed, red in the face.
"Maybe, man. She's just... she's different. She even brought a book she thought I'd like. A real girly one, but... It's the thought, y'know?"
Before Kain could respond, the girls showed up.
Darcy rested her chin in her hand, fake-pouting.
"We're being replaced"
Lyla reached over, tugging playfully on Finn's sleeve.
"She better be cuter than us"
Finn chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head.
"Nah, nah, you guys are awesome! Alyssa's just... really sweet. That's all"
Beatrix finally spoke, sharp as a blade.
"Is her cooking better than mine, Finn?"
The table went still.
Even the usual cafeteria noise seemed to dip.
Finn froze, fork halfway to his mouth, sweat instantly forming at his temple.
"Uhh..."
He swallowed hard.
"Beatrix, c'mon. Your roast is the best thing I've ever had. Seriously. Nothing beats it"
Beatrix stared at him for a second longer, then gave a stiff nod and sat down beside Kain.
Ruby chuckled under her breath, snatching a piece of bacon off Kain's plate.
"You're lucky you're cute, Finn," she said, popping it into her mouth.
Kain leaned back, watching Finn squirm, his coffee cooling in his hand.
In his head, he could still hear Alyssa's soft, bright laugh.
Still see her clutching Finn's arm shyly, singing his praises.
Still feel that slow, heavy itch under his skin, the one he kept buried under a perfect, lazy grin.
All he had to do was wait.
Academy Training Grounds / Late Morning
The sun was ruthless, baking the wide-open sparring fields.
Finn stood inside the ring, his practice sword gripped tightly, trying his best to look composed.
Across from him, a third-year upperclassman, built like a damn house, gave a lazy roll of his shoulders, bored already.
Kain leaned back against the fence, arms folded, a little smirk on his lips.
Under the shaded stands, the girls sat sharing a bowl of chilled fruit, pretending not to watch.
But every time Finn so much as moved, their eyes tracked him.
Alyssa stood closer to Kain, fists clenched nervously at her chest, biting her bottom lip.
"Come on, Finn..." she whispered, bouncing on her heels.
Kain caught it and smiled faintly to himself.
[ System Notification ]
[ Affection Meter: Alyssa → Finn: 5% ]
[ Loyalty Meter: Alyssa → Finn: 2% ]
[ Mood: Bright (Excited!) ]
The whistle blew.
Finn launched forward like a man on a mission.
His form was rough, wild, but Kain had to give him credit: the heart was there.
The third-year barely moved at first, knocking Finn's swings aside like he was swatting flies.
A couple of the students on the sidelines snickered.
But then, Finn slipped low, ducked a heavy overhand swing, and drove the butt of his sword into the guy's ribs with a clean hit.
A loud thwack echoed through the arena.
Even the snickering students jolted up in surprise.
Kain clapped once, slow and deliberate.
"Not bad," he said under his breath.
[ System Notification ]
[ Mood Boost: Alyssa → Overjoyed! ]
[ Affection Meter: Alyssa → Finn: 15% ]
[ Loyalty Meter: Alyssa → Finn: 5% ]
On the sidelines, Alyssa gasped, hands flying to her mouth.
"Did you see that?!" she gushed, practically bouncing as she turned to Kain.
Kain just chuckled.
"Yeah, saw it"
She beamed, pure sunshine.
The sight would've made a lesser man melt.
Kain tucked his hands in his pockets, letting a lazy smile hang off his face.
[ System Notification ]
[ Alyssa's Mood: Extremely Vulnerable / Major emotional events will strongly influence future bonds ]
Finn got his second wind in the ring, rushing another upperclassman with sloppy but enthusiastic swings.
The crowd started cheering.
Kain tilted his head a little, smirking.
"Go ahead, Finn. Steal her heart properly," he muttered to himself, completely calm.
The match was over.
Finn wiped the sweat from his forehead, beaming like a fool after his victory.
Alyssa rushed forward, nearly tripping over herself in excitement.
"You were amazing, Finn!" she cheered, eyes sparkling.
Kain watched from his spot near the fence, arms crossed, smirking lightly.
Inside his mind, the familiar blue glow of the system popped open.
[ System ]
[ Quest Available: "Friendly Rivalry" ]
[ Objective: Spar against Finn ]
[ Reward: +5% Affection, +5% Loyalty with Alyssa ]
[ Mood Update: Alyssa → Joyful (Completely Believes in Finn) ]
Kain pushed off the fence, casually tossing his coat aside.
"Yo, Finn!" he called out, rolling his shoulders.
The crowd started murmuring at the sudden callout.
Finn looked up, wide-eyed.
"Kain?"
Alyssa blinked, turning toward him.
"Where are you going?" she asked, genuinely confused.
Kain gave a lazy grin as he climbed into the ring, barefoot and loose.
"I want a match too," he said simply, cracking his knuckles.
"Got to see if my best friend really got stronger or not"
Alyssa clutched her hands together, nodding instantly, her face lighting up with pure faith.
"You'll do great, Finn! You'll beat him too!" she said without a second of hesitation.
Kain almost laughed, almost.
Instead, he rolled his neck and gave Finn a slow, challenging look.
Finn awkwardly tightened his grip on his practice sword.
"You sure about this, Kain?"
Kain just smiled, wicked but easygoing.
"Don't worry," he said, stepping forward.
"I'll go easy"
[ System ]
[ Quest Accepted: "Friendly Rivalry" ]
[ Affection Meter: Alyssa → Kain: 3% ]
[ Loyalty Meter: Alyssa → Kain: 1% ]
[ Mood: Curious (Watching closely) ]
The referee, a bored third-year, shrugged and waved the match on.
Kain didn't even bother drawing a sword, just standing there with his hands in his pockets.
"Come on," Kain teased.
Finn swallowed nervously, glancing at Alyssa, who gave him an enthusiastic double-thumbs up.
With a shout, Finn charged.
The first strike came fast, sloppy, but full of heart.
Kain leaned aside with a lazy step, flicking Finn's sword off-course with a flick of his finger.
Finn stumbled, but corrected fast, swinging again.
Again, Kain dodged, not mockingly, but just enough to look like Finn had a real shot.
From the sidelines, Alyssa cheered, bouncing on her toes, calling out Finn's name.
[ System ]
[ Alyssa's Mood: Proud ]
[ Affection Meter: Alyssa → Kain: 5% ]
[ Loyalty Meter: Alyssa → Kain: 2% ]
After a few more exchanges, Kain let Finn tap his shoulder with a sloppy hit.
The referee blew the whistle.
"Winner... Finn!"
The crowd cheered politely.
Kain rubbed his shoulder dramatically and gave a mock wince.
"Ouch. Guess you're the real deal now," he said with a smirk.
Finn laughed nervously, glowing under the praise.
Alyssa ran up immediately, grabbing Finn's hand without thinking.
"You did it! You beat Kain!"
Kain chuckled, stepping back and dusting off his pants.
Inside his mind, the system dinged.
[ System ]
[ Quest Completed: "Friendly Rivalry" ]
[ Reward Collected ]
[ Affection Meter: Alyssa → Kain: 10% ]
[ Loyalty Meter: Alyssa → Kain: 5% ]
Kain leaned against the fence again, hands stuffed in his pockets, pretending not to care as Alyssa kept praising Finn like he had just saved the world.
He tilted his head up at the sky, hiding the quiet, satisfied smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
'Good... Keep going, Finn. You're just making it easier for me later'
Academy Cafeteria / Early Afternoon
The buzz of students filled the room, the clatter of trays and chatter about the sparring matches echoing off the stone walls.
Finn sat proudly at the center of the table, practically glowing as he held Alyssa's hand for a daring 0.2 seconds before sheepishly letting go.
On either side of him sat his 'girlfriends'.
Ruby, Darcy, Lyla, and Beatrix, each pretending not to mind, though the occasional side-glance spoke volumes.
Ruby nudged Darcy with her elbow, muttering something that made Darcy snicker into her water.
Lyla leaned her head against Finn's shoulder for a brief moment, playing the "sweet girlfriend" role to a T.
While Beatrix shoved a forkful of salad into her mouth, pretending not to glare at the entire situation.
Across the cafeteria, Kain leaned back in his chair, sipping a cup of black coffee like he had all the time in the world.
Alyssa noticed him first.
She tugged lightly on Finn's sleeve, smiling brightly.
"Finn... shouldn't we invite your friend over? I mean, he must feel bad after losing, right?"
Finn blinked, lowering his sandwich mid-bite.
The girls all froze.
Darcy even coughed violently into her napkin.
Ruby slapped her back, whispering under her breath, "Last time Kain fought Finn, he wiped the floor with him so bad Finn forgot the whole damn fight"
Beatrix stiffened, nearly stabbing her salad.
Finn chuckled nervously.
"Uh, yeah, sure... I'll call him over"
He stood and waved awkwardly at Kain.
Kain, catching the motion, raised an eyebrow.
The system blinked open in his vision.
[ System ]
[ Mood Update ]
[ Alyssa → Pitying (Wants to Comfort You) ]
[ Affection Meter: Alyssa → Kain: 12% ]
[ Loyalty Meter: Alyssa → Kain: 6% ]
Kain smirked to himself, pushing up from his seat with slow, lazy steps.
"Guess I'm needed again," he murmured.
He crossed the room in a few strides and dropped into the open seat beside Alyssa.
"Hey, thanks for inviting me," Kain said easily, ruffling Finn's hair as he passed him.
Finn laughed, awkward but genuine.
Alyssa smiled warmly at Kain, so full of innocence it almost hurt.
"You were amazing too!" she said earnestly.
"I could barely keep up with your movements!"
Kain chuckled low under his breath, sipping his coffee.
'Sweet little thing... she has no idea'
Ruby kicked Darcy under the table, whispering, "Place your bets. How long before Alyssa figures out Kain's a devil in disguise?"
Darcy muffled her laugh with her hand.
Beatrix just stabbed another helpless leaf.
Meanwhile, Alyssa started chatting with Kain, asking about what kind of training he did and how he got so good at moving.
Finn watched, oblivious, shoving pancakes into his mouth.
[ System ]
[ Mood Update ]
[ Alyssa → Curious (Wants to Know More About You) ]
[ Affection Meter: Alyssa → Kain: 15% ]
[ Loyalty Meter: Alyssa → Kain: 8% ]
Kain leaned back in his chair, letting the conversation flow naturally.
Alyssa beamed as she finished her story about how Finn had once helped her practice her sword form, even though he'd been exhausted from training himself.
Ruby clapped politely.
Darcy leaned closer to Finn, giving him a teasing nudge.
Beatrix muttered something about "show-offs," and Lyla wiped a fake tear from the corner of her eye, dramatically sighing about how wonderful Finn was.
Kain had to hide his smirk behind his coffee cup.
Then Alyssa turned her big, sea-blue eyes toward him.
"You know," she said, twirling a strand of pink hair around her finger, "since you're so amazing too, Kain... maybe you could train with us sometime?"
Finn, already chewing a bite of toast, almost choked.
The girls froze again, but only for half a second, before Ruby recovered with a bright, "Oh, that's such a good idea, Alyssa!"
Darcy smiled stiffly.
Beatrix poked her fork at Finn's plate, muttering under her breath, "Better step it up, dummy"
Meanwhile, Kain set his coffee down slowly, feeling the corner of his mouth tug into a genuine, lazy smile.
Cute.
Naïve.
Honest.
He couldn't even bring himself to tease her for it.
"Sure," he said casually.
"If Finn's okay with it"
Alyssa clapped her hands together happily.
"Of course he is! You're his best friend! It'll be so fun!"
[ System ]
[ Mood Update ]
[ Alyssa → Excited (Wants to Spend Time With You and Finn) ]
[ Affection Meter: Alyssa → Kain: 19% ]
[ Loyalty Meter: Alyssa → Kain: 11% ]
Finn nodded eagerly.
"Yeah, the more the merrier!"
He looked proud, like he had personally brokered some important alliance.
Kain leaned back, draping an arm casually over the back of his chair, feeling the steady crawl of the meters ticking upward in his mind.
Alyssa just smiled brighter, completely unaware of the tiny storm she was inviting into her sweet little world.
Training Grounds / Later That Afternoon
The sun beat down on the academy's training field, the stone tiles warm underfoot.
Finn adjusted the straps on his practice gear, full of energy and determination.
Alyssa stood nearby, practically sparkling with excitement, a little basket of refreshments at her side.
Kain lounged against the fence lazily, one hand tucked into his pocket, the other holding a bottle of water.
His eyes were half-lidded in boredom, but his mind was razor-sharp.
The girls?
They were positioned around Finn like a cheering squad.
Ruby cupped her hands around her mouth.
"Go, Finn! Show 'em what you got, babe!" she called, overacting just enough to make Kain internally snort.
Darcy winked at Finn from the sidelines.
"Make sure you stretch first, sweetheart. Don't want you pulling anything!" she said with sugary sweetness.
Beatrix adjusted Finn's sword belt, her face close to his for exactly two seconds longer than necessary, before stepping back with a stiff nod.
"You'll do great"
Lyla blew him a little kiss, her face red but determined.
"We believe in you, Finn!"
Kain crossed one ankle over the other, glancing at Alyssa.
She wasn't forcing it.
No... she was practically bouncing on her toes in pure, innocent excitement.
"You're going to do amazing, Finn!" she chirped.
"I just know it! Remember to breathe, okay?"
Finn, now looking like he could punch the sun out of the sky with pure adrenaline, grinned back at all of them.
"Alright, alright," he said sheepishly.
"I'll do my best!"
[ System ]
[ Mood Update ]
[ Alyssa → Overjoyed (Excited to see Finn and Kain spar!) ]
[ Affection Meter: Alyssa → Kain: 20% ]
[ Loyalty Meter: Alyssa → Kain: 12% ]
[ Quest Update ]
[ "Big Brother Watching" - Support Finn during the match (Completed) ]
[ + 500 EXP (Hidden) ]
[ + Minor Mood Boost with Alyssa ]
Kain chuckled under his breath.
'Easy money'
He clapped Finn on the back hard enough to make him stumble a step forward.
"Don't hold back," Kain said smoothly.
"I'm counting on you, Finn"
"Yeah!"
Finn gave him a thumbs up, practically glowing.
The girls clapped and cheered, mostly for show.
Ruby and Darcy even linked arms for a second, "whispering" loudly about how amazing Finn was.
Alyssa, meanwhile, was glowing with such pure pride that Kain almost felt guilty.
Almost.
The match started.
Finn moved, swift, clumsy but passionate, and Kain dodged, parried, and blocked with lazy precision.
He never struck first.
He let Finn attack again and again, praising him every so often.
"Nice footwork," Kain said casually.
"That spin was decent," he added, smirking slightly.
Alyssa clapped her hands after every compliment.
"You're doing it, Finn!" she cried happily.
"You're amazing!"
The girls joined in, their smiles tight but convincing, still playing their part beautifully.
Kain could feel the meters nudging upward again in his mind, slow, steady progress, like stacking coins for a rainy day.
'Good,' he thought as he dodged another of Finn's earnest swings.
'Very good'
The sun dipped a little lower, casting a warm orange glow across the field.
Finn was breathing heavily, sweat trickling down his face, but he wore the biggest, dopiest grin imaginable.
The girls were all clapping and shouting encouragement.
Ruby waved her arms dramatically.
"Go, Finn, GO!"
Darcy fake-bit her knuckle, swooning.
"So strong... so cool..."
Beatrix tightened her fists at her sides like she was barely holding in her excitement.
"You're so fast, Finn!"
Lyla cupped her cheeks, beaming like a blushing maiden.
"My heart can't take it!"
Alyssa, sweet and pure, stood at the very front, practically vibrating with pride.
"You're doing incredible, Finn! Just a little more!"
Kain, meanwhile, blocked another wild swing with ease, the force traveling up his arm.
He could have ended this at any point.
Instead, he tilted his head thoughtfully... and let Finn's next strike knock his sword from his hand.
SMACK!
The blade hit the ground, skittering across the stones.
Finn froze.
Eyes wide.
Chest heaving.
Then slowly, a dawning grin of victory stretched across his face.
Kain stepped back, raising his hands in surrender with a lazy smirk.
"Guess you got me, champ," he said.
[ System Update ]
[ Mood Update ]
[ Alyssa → Ecstatic (100% Proud of Finn!) ]
[ Affection Meter: Alyssa → Kain: 23% (+3%) ]
[ Loyalty Meter: Alyssa → Kain: 16% (+4%) ]
[ Secret Bonus ]
[ "Big Brother Wins by Losing" Quest Complete ]
[ Hidden Favorability Buff with Alyssa (Small Trust Boost) ]
The system flickered quietly in Kain's mind.
He resisted the urge to laugh aloud.
The girls rushed to Finn's side.
Ruby tackled him in a rough, joking hug.
"My champion!" she teased.
Darcy patted his back, smiling sweetly.
"You did so good, babe. Like...wow"
Beatrix ruffled Finn's hair aggressively.
"That was amazing!"
Even Lyla, who normally spoke little, mumbled something about how proud she was.
Alyssa clutched her basket to her chest, tears practically sparkling in her eyes.
"You were perfect, Finn!" she said sincerely.
"I'm so lucky to know you"
Kain, still lounging against the fence like he hadn't just taken a fall for this idiot, gave a lazy thumbs-up.
"Next time, try not to leave yourself open so much," he teased, earning a bright laugh from Finn.
'And that's how you rig a game without anyone knowing'
'Man, Alyssa's really one of a kind... pure as a damn sunrise'
He watched Finn soaking in the praise, the girls playing their parts so well, and Alyssa shining brighter than anyone.
Kain's eyes gleamed under the setting sun.
Play the best friend.
Stack the points.
And the reward would be so incredibly sweet.