The day after Ken led Mary into the rain.

The raincoat Ken gave her became her treasured possession.

She was so delighted with the gift that she wore it almost every day to school.

"Ken, let’s walk to school together."

"...Yes?"

After Ken’s breakfast with Raphne, Mary greeted Ken as he came out of the dormitory, still a bit awkward, nervously twirling a strand of her hair and glancing at him.

"You said you’d protect me."

"...But it’s clear today."

On that day, Mary felt a sense of stability in the rain for the first time in a long while.

Filled with joy at having achieved it, she embraced Ken right there and shed tears just like the rain falling from the sky.

From then on, she was able to come to the academy even on rainy days.

"Ken, is everything finished?"

"Uh, Mary? What’s the matter?"

"Let’s go back together."

"...Huh?"

Since that day, Mary began visiting Ken more frequently.

She worried about whether she was going too often, but she justified it as being for Ken’s safety.

However, this was just Mary’s rationalization.

From Ken’s perspective, it felt different.

"Lately, it feels strangely clingy."

Because Mary was now able to come to school on rainy days, thanks to Ken, Emily's harassment had stopped.

But now, Mary was excessively seeking out Ken.

"Somehow, it feels like we see each other a lot lately. Ha, haha."

"Does it? Isn’t it just the same as usual?"

Mary felt a sense of calm when Ken was by her side.

Normally, her perfectly composed and unflappable demeanor made her body tense with stress.

But next to Ken, who had promised to protect her, she felt relaxed both physically and mentally.

Mary had always wanted someone who would accept and protect her, someone to safeguard her, which was why she created a persona to protect others.

But being capable of protecting others meant she didn't need to be protected herself.

Thus, she had always wanted someone who would truly protect her, not just the persona she had created.

"By the way, Ken. Is it alright if I call you informally now?"

"Uh? B-but is it okay for someone like me to address you informally, Mary?"

"I consider us to be on good terms… Does Ken not feel the same?"

"N-no! I also think we’re close!"

"Then it’s fine. I look forward to continuing to get along well with you, Ken."

"Y-yes..."

Ken also noticed Mary’s change.

It was gratifying and pleasant that she wore the raincoat he made her every day, but it seemed like she was relying on him more than just the raincoat.

‘Why has it turned out like this?’

He had intended only to provide a means to stay dry on rainy days, but the outcome was different from what he expected.

"Does the coat fit well? You wear it quite often these days."

"Yes, it fits perfectly as if it was custom-made. Where did you buy it?"

"Oh, well… I actually made it myself."

"…You made it yourself."

Mary pulled the collar of the raincoat closer around herself.

‘So, he had that kind of talent.’

Realizing that Ken had made the raincoat himself made it even more precious to her.

A raincoat made by Ken himself, a one-of-a-kind item.

"Ken… Are you having lunch with that friend again today?"

"…Yes, my friend gets lonely easily."

Mary often invited Ken to meals.

Before Ken joined his new friend, he had shared meals with Mary, but recently they hadn’t dined together even once.

Feeling a bit hurt by Ken’s repeated refusals, Mary decided to be a bit persistent this time.

"Sometimes, it’s okay to have lunch with me, right? I’m sure your friend would understand."

"Ah, but my friend really lacks understanding…"

"Then, can I join you as well? I think I’d get along well with Ken’s friend."

Mary was confident in her ability to get along with people.

She was well-liked for helping others in need, so she was sure she could get along with Ken’s friend.

And she was also curious about who Ken’s close friend was.

But Ken’s reaction was awkward.

"Well, um…"

Ken looked uncomfortable, which made Mary feel a bit sorry for possibly being a burden.

"If it’s a problem, then-"

"Wait a moment."

At that moment, someone unexpected spoke up.

Turning their heads towards the voice, Mary and Ken saw a blonde woman looking at Ken with a haughty expression.

It was Emily Epiris, the game’s protagonist.

Mary’s expression stiffened at the unwelcome sight.

"What’s the matter?"

Knowing what Emily had done to Ken in the past, Mary immediately became defensive.

But Emily ignored her and spoke directly to Ken.

"Ken, have lunch with me today. Isn’t one day okay?"

Emily, who suddenly appeared, made a demand that felt more like an order than a request, which Mary couldn’t view positively.

"E-eh? I mean, I have a lunch appointment with a friend."

"What? You have a friend?"

"Ugh…"

Seeing Ken’s unwelcoming reaction, Mary stood up and approached Emily.

"What’s the matter?"

Mary blocked Emily from Ken, staring back at her resolutely.

Emily glared at Mary, who met her gaze without backing down.

"I’m sorry, but Ken is uncomfortable. Please stop."

Emily, with an incredulous smile, responded.

"Are you aware that you’ve been clinging to Ken lately? Aren’t you the one making him uncomfortable?"

"..."

Mary couldn’t counter Emily’s statement.

She had indeed been concerned about making Ken uncomfortable due to her frequent visits.

But wasn’t it alright since she wasn’t outright rejecting him?

‘Did I really visit too often?’

She hadn’t expected her behavior to be seen in such a light by others.

Overcome with sudden embarrassment, Mary felt her face flush as she avoided Emily’s gaze.

"Well, isn’t it true that Emily also often seeks out Ken? And I’m visiting purely out of friendship."

"Wh-what are you talking about! Why would I care about that pig!"

As their conversation grew heated, people around them began to take notice.

It was an unusual scene, two of the academy’s top beauties clashing over a mere meal with an unremarkable student.

Students began whispering among themselves.

"What’s with this? Why is she so interested in Ken?"

"Wasn’t Emily supposed to dislike him?"

"Yeah, but then what about Adrian? I thought Adrian was involved with her."

"Don’t be silly. It sounds like Adrian is being overshadowed by that fat Ken."

"Mary! Why does Ken get such special treatment!"

In the middle of this uproar was Ken Feinstein.

Watching the confrontation, Ken thought:

‘This feels like the Adrian event from before.

But why was this event happening now?

Ken’s mind was confused.

In the standard route, this would happen after Mary’s affection for Adrian increased, leading to a confrontation with Emily, who was close to Adrian.

Although the situation was reversed, it seemed like the same event.

No, more importantly, I really can’t deal with lunchtime right now.

He wasn’t bothered by the idea of having lunch with Mary or Emily; it was just that he couldn’t afford to neglect Raphne, who would be in a panic if he missed even a single meal.

Alright, time to escape.

Ken concluded that he should flee.’

"By the way, Emily. Are you trying to torment Ken again? I’ve heard about what you’ve been doing to him."

"Well, and what if I did? I just pushed that pig to lose weight faster."

"Ken’s weight loss is his own choice. It’s wrong to impose it on him."

"Have you ever seen Ken lose weight? After you see it, you won’t say such things."

"I-I haven’t seen it, but… I don’t care if Ken is fat or slim."

"Hey, why are you suddenly blushing? Ken! Say something!"

As Emily called out to Ken, the person she wanted was already gone.

"Huh?"

"...Hey, Ken just left."

The student at the side informed Mary and Emily, causing their faces to simultaneously stiffen.

"What?"

"Eh?"

Avoiding the conversation between the two, I quickly left the classroom and headed straight to Raphne’s tower.

As I opened the familiar door to the top floor, I was greeted by the delicious smell and the sight of her with her red hair.

“K-Ken! You came!”

Raphne ran to the door and grabbed my hand, shaking it enthusiastically.

She always reacted like this, just like this morning.

“Oh, I’m so relieved, I was worried you might not come.”

“Raphne.”

Usually, I would naturally respond to her familiar greeting, but today was different.

After experiencing the chaotic scene earlier, I recalled Raphne’s words from a few days ago.

‘I don’t want this!

If Ken gets a girlfriend, he won’t come here anymore!

He’ll forget about me and be all lovey-dovey with her!’

At that time, I felt a lot of frustration.

There was no way I would abandon Raphne over something like that.

Raphne tilted her head, looking at me with confusion.

“What’s wrong?”

“Didn’t you say that if I got a girlfriend, I wouldn’t come to the tower?”

“Uh, uh? …Did you get one?”

Raphne’s face immediately turned worried.

I spoke with a sense of grievance.

“No, I was actually invited to lunch by two different women, but I turned them down and came to you!”

I proudly declared to Raphne.

“This should reassure you, right?”

“…Huh?”

“See? You can trust me now.”

I felt a sense of pride.

Although Raphne is my favorite character, Mary and Emily are also well-crafted characters by the game developers.

It felt commendable to reject lunch invitations from two such characters and come to Raphne instead.

I was also a bit resentful towards Raphne, who had cried saying I would abandon her if I got a girlfriend.

The misunderstanding would now be cleared up.

With a triumphant smile, I looked at her.

“So, a woman invited you to lunch?”

Raphne didn’t return the smile.

“Huh? No, I mean, that’s not the important part.”

“Which woman was it?”

[System: Raphne Belle Martinez’s traits have manifested.]

[Traits: Despair 72%, Dependency LV 6, Anger LV 2]

It was the rare sight of Raphne showing anger.

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