Linen had just opened his mouth, ready to deliver the backup line he'd prepared in advance to save face—but then paused in stunned silence, staring across at Hysteria.
She… agreed?
Wait, what?
She actually agreed?!
Was this really the same girl who would bite someone's head off for breathing wrong?
Since when was her temper this good?
Hold on—analyze calmly.
She did say she agreed "for Elena's sake," and maybe also because of his performance in Arcane class. Could've just been an impulsive decision.
Time to give her a chance to reconsider.
Spell it out for her. Let her understand what's at stake.
"Hysteria-san, do you really want to be in the same study group as me?"
"Why are you so annoying? I said it's only because of your showing in class and out of respect for Elena…"
"No, no—Hysteria, I think you're being a little rash here. Maybe you don't fully understand what it means to join a study group."
"What's there to understand? It's just… studying together, right?"
Hysteria looked genuinely puzzled.
But Linen pressed on, his tone unusually serious.
"A study group isn't just about occasionally working on homework."
"It means we'll be together for the next four years—regardless of wealth, status, talent, or background. We'll learn side by side, grow together, and we won't be separated until graduation. Are you sure you want to let me join?"
…???
A series of question marks might as well have floated above Hysteria's head.
Was this guy really talking about a study group?
Why did it sound like some kind of dramatic marriage proposal?
And… why did her heart suddenly start beating faster?
No—nope. No more looking at this guy directly. That was dangerous.
"S-shut up, you bottom-feeder! What difference does it make if I let you join the group or not? Stop running your mouth!"
"Hysteria-san, please, just think about it—"
"Shut up already! I told you, it's only because of Elena! You're seriously annoying, you know that?!"
Of course I have to be annoying!
How could you possibly agree to this?!
Linen was this close to losing it.
What went wrong?
Did she and Elena really get that close, that fast?
Or was it his unfairly attractive face betraying him again, pulling the same old trick and raising favorability without consent?
No, think, think. If it were just about looks, the original version of "Linen" wouldn't have ended up as cannon fodder for the Zijinghua Empire. Something in the chain of events must have shifted.
Was my performance in Arcane class... not disappointing enough?
Just then, Elena leaned in, unknowingly delivering the finishing blow to his last shred of hope:
"Didn't Linen-kun help us all in Arcane class? It's our honor to have him in our study group."
"…I helped you?"
Linen blinked. Had he misheard?
But Elena's next words buried any doubt he had:
"Yes! Linen-kun deliberately used up his own mana to display his Weave to everyone as a reference. Shia and I learned a lot from it!"
"Elena, stop—!"
Hysteria cut her off, face turning red.
Oh, now you're blushing like a boiling kettle?!
Linen stared blankly.
Has it occurred to either of you that I was just trying to show off? Not offering a damn public tutorial?!
But Elena wasn't finished. With the sweet sincerity only she could deliver, she kept piling it on:
"Linen-kun isn't just talented—he's generous, helpful, and never asks for anything in return. He's a role model for all of us!"
"And with someone like you joining our group, how could we not be thrilled? Don't worry—we would never reject you!"
Don't worry—we would never reject you!
Each sentence was like a hammer.
That final declaration?
A sword straight through the heart.
Linen never knew such gentle, well-intentioned praise could feel so cold.
Then, a system prompt blinked silently into his vision:
[Congratulations, Host! You've been successfully rejected!]
[Mana capacity increased. Reward issued.]
Linen froze. Wait, what?
Then it hit him.
Because of his increasingly desperate badgering, Hysteria and Elena had essentially rejected the idea of rejecting him. The system had taken that as a form of rejection.
This counts?!
But thinking about it…
Yeah.
Wasn't this, in its own way, a kind of rejection?
They'd denied his desired outcome. He'd been utterly, if politely, defeated.
As both parties fell silent, Elena quickly stepped in to smooth things over:
"That's wonderful! That means, starting now, we'll be a study group for the next four years!"
At this, both Hysteria and Linen turned away at the exact same time and let out matching hmphs.
Still, that response was as good as confirmation.
Watching them from the side, Elena smiled warmly.
The two high-born heirs might seem wildly different on the surface, but when it came to being stubborn little kids... they were surprisingly alike.
And yet…
Even though I should be happy they're getting along, I've worked so hard to bring them closer…
Why does it feel... a little strange in my heart?