Yesterday, I spent the whole afternoon building and revising a… questionable plan.

Do not blame me! There are numerous factors to consider and reconsider!

First and foremost, I don’t want to potentially link her with a pervert or a stalker—but I can’t just stop a stranger on the street and ask them: “Hey, are you a dangerous person?”—of course not!

Therefore, I’ve structured a list of potential candidates—composed solely of people I know, and detailed with every point and contemplation about their eligibility.

First candidate: Jayden “late to class” Davis.

No. Impossible. Sure, he is sweet and quick to flirt, but he is equally quick to discard anything and everything from memory. Matched with Avis’s exceptional mob aura, there’s no way he’ll take notice of her!

Second candidate: Viik “doubly late to class” Ogsburn.

No.

Then there’s Avery Doulton, who’s already dating Avie Murcell, and Odis Oumarou…

I’ll mark him as a potential option.

Actually, I’m building her a harem. Does personality really matter? Does it? People just need to notice her, no? And all they need to do is like her, no?! Why am I suddenly acting matchmaker?!

As I was (once again) raving through this dilemma, I received a heart-rending wallop from behind, snapping me out of my internal monologue.

“Lotte! You would not believe what happened today!”

Choking back my breath, I answered her call. “Sophie…” I managed to squeeze out, “Hug… Tight.”

Releasing her grasp, “Oops,” she laughed.

Several more people approached from behind, their eyes glimmering and consumed with enthusiasm.

“Sophie! Did you tell her?”

I craned my neck and leaned onto the table, covering my notes and doodles.

“What? What happened?” I probed, leaving my lips partly opened.

The female glanced at the group, grinning, then swung back towards me.

“I got accepted into my internship!” she squealed, waving her fists as if they were maracas.

“Oh…!” I exclaimed, “Congrats! What internship?”

Our group continued to chatter until the professor entered, and the noise died down as she began introducing today’s lecture.

Unconsciously, I glanced around the room, searching for yesterday’s promise. Catching sight of Avis (who was seated at the front), I bounced in my seat, content in knowing that—even without interacting—we’d fulfilled our agreement.

Witnessing my sudden joy, a hazy whisper approached me from behind, asking: “What’s got you so fired up?”

Puffing out a small tune of befuddlement, I shifted around, delivering him an innocent and unknowing stare.

A curious voice piped in, “What? What? What?”

I shook my head and opened my mouth, but before any words could escape, the professor interrupted our not-so-secret conversation.

“Please don’t talk right now!” she hounded, crossing her arms over her chest. “This is an important part of the lesson!”

In equal volume, “Sorry!” the boy replied, almost as if he had been prepared for this all along, “I was distracted by Lotte’s cuteness!”

A brief lapse of silence exploded into laughter, and the entirety of the class began to display different levels of exuberance.

The professor lowered her head and pinched her nose, shaking her head in defeat. A smile tugged at her lips, and she couldn’t help but release short sighs of amusement.

“Why don’t you two go get a room,” she drawled, her reason stuck between her throat.

The lad shook his head. “Ah… No can do, Prof. I need my degree.”

Brows lowered into a helpless but amused arch, “Why don’t you pay attention, then?” she suggested.

“Yes, ma’am!” declared the ever bombastic student.

Obviously now in a better mood, the professor resumed her lecture.

Time continued to pass, and the sound of scratching and typing bounced throughout the somber classroom.

Once the session had ended, I stretched and stood, ready to leave. However, of the four people in my group, one of them loudly groaned and began her usual complaint.

“I’m so tired~!” she whined, inclining in her chair. “Do you all want to go out and eat?”

The previous boy snorted. “Always the first to beg for food,” he mocked. “But lunch sounds good. You guys in?” He turned to us.

One by one, they chanted their agreement; and soon, it was my turn to answer.

“Actually.” I pressed my fingers together. “I think I’m going to go review this lesson.”

“And Lotte is ever the studious house cat!” the other boy choired, feigning heartache as he grappled onto his chest—eyes closed; head raised.

The remaining member, Sophie, was in the process of picking up her laptop. Hearing the metaphor, however, made her head turn.

“House cat?” she echoed, delightfully baffled. “How is Lotte a house cat?”

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Having his comparison questioned, he flapped his mouth, unable to really explain whatever his brain made him say.

Groping the air for ideas, “I don’t know—cute? Chill?” he tried to reason.

Cramming down my titters, I flicked my wrist at him. “That’s enough,” I cajoled, “but thank you.”

“See,” he said, exhaling relief. “Lotte gets me.”

“Didn’t she tell you to stop?” one of the girls added, stupefied.

“How about we go and get some food,” the boy replied, obviously ignoring her irrefutable comment.

And thus, the group of four left, leaving me alone as they continued their idle chatter.

Just before separating, “See ya later, Lotte!” hollered the ever theatrical companion; and, as if he were entering battle, he hadn’t turned back.

Exiting the room, I caught sight of Avis near a vending machine. She retrieved her purchase and peeked behind her, seeming to notice my awkward existence.

Relaxing her face, her cheeks rounded as she directed a smile my way.

I opened my mouth, and yet, no words escaped. Instead, I closed it again and decided to wave at her.

Waltzing with her own intentions, I noticed her approach; and as she neared, her smile lingered upon delivery.

“Your hair is very pretty,” she said, leaving no room for reply as she continued on her path.

Consequently, her action caused me to glimpse at my own mane. As usual, waves of ash blonde hair accompanied my sight, and the pastel pink tips remained fresh and new.

I gawked up again, turning around to watch her departing figure—and, in my mind, I couldn’t help but quietly comment on my own likeness of her’s.

She strolled lightly, her gaze downcasted as she maneuvered away from the people around her. With dark hair tied up again in a half-up half-down style, she seemed to disappear into the masses.

I blinked, and her figure became visible again, almost as if she had fazed out and fazed back in to reality.

Exhilarated, my lips curved; and, spinning around, I continued on my own path.

—————

After having taken another class in the afternoon, night quickly approached as I sat in my apartment room, nibbling on a strawberry whilst deliberately staring at my phone. The little device continued to buzz as one of my group discussed plans for tomorrow.

Although I did participate in the conversation for a while, in the end, I wanted to further review today’s lesson.

Pulling out my notebook and laptop, I spent a few hours completing my readings and adding information to my notes. Sighing, I also added a few clarifying questions for another day.

The strawberries in my bowl disappeared in time, and I decided to conclude after a while longer, standing up to get some other type of snack.

I loitered in the kitchen for some minutes before closing the fridge and deciding against getting any more refreshments.

Thus, I hopped onto the sofa, pulling out my phone to see hundreds of notifications. With a grimace, I tucked it away and pulled out my journal instead. Of course, I couldn’t have forgotten my plans for Avis.

Once again, I tried and mulled over the possible candidates.

…but I am very tired, and my newly bought manga is inviting me with every glance its way.

You know… maybe I can plan my strategies tomorrow morning.

With such thoughts in mind, I postponed the activity till next sunrise.

And, in consequence, I awoke earlier than usual, perhaps a bit anxious as well as restless for my plan. In truth, I’ve been thinking about it all night and haven't gotten much sleep.

Here’s the thing: I don’t know enough about Avis, and I don’t have enough knowledge about people. All I have is passion; a sudden appetite for entertainment.

All in all, my end goal is to build her a harem. As for the consequences…?

Chewing on air, I’ll think about it when I get there, I affirmed with myself, nodding in the process.

Sitting near the window and sipping on a cup of orange flavored milk, I waited.

From what I heard from Jane, Avis usually visits in the morning.

“I rarely have morning shifts, but whenever I’m here, I’ll always see you or Avis,” she continued.

I lifted my head, suddenly realizing Jane was sitting besides me.

“Aren’t you supposed to be at register?” I mumbled, chewing on the paper straw as I turned back towards the window.

“On break,” she said. “…What’re you looking at?” Tilting along in my direction, she squinted her eyes, trying to figure out whatever’s on my mind.

“Quiet, J,” I hushed, “I’m thinking.”

Jane raised her eyebrows, still somewhat puzzled. Decidedly, she wrapped her fingers around my cup and pulled it away from me.

Alerted, I yanked it back, not giving her the satisfaction of taking my beverage for herself.

“Get your own drink,” I hissed, hugging my flavored milk as if it were my gem. Then, I turned back towards the window.

Within that split second, I saw the receding figure of Avis, just opening the door to the café. My body lunged under the table that instant, startling Jane just as she heard the light chime of the doorbell.

Catching sight of Avis, she immediately stood up and hurried over to the counter, not bothering to ask about my aversive actions.

Such was what I liked about her, that workaholic barista.

Avis ordered her drink and left, and I trailed after her, leaving Jane behind without an ounce of explanation.

We walked a few blocks before I had an inkling feeling she knew someone was following her. Thus, I rounded a corner, cutting short my distance and rushing in front of her instead.

I kept my eyes on her as I proceeded forward, not exactly sure what I, myself, was planning.

However, from the spot where I stood, I noticed a stranger approaching from a different corner. Judging from their distance and speed, a miraculous idea came to mind.

Pulling out a charm from my bag, I waited for the boy to just barely reach the corner. Then, I threw the wooden object near his foot, and in an instant, I ducked down and hid myself from view.

Startled, the lad bent down to examine the piece, and in unison, Avis was on the other side of the corner. She, as well, bent over to pick up the sudden object, bumping into the boy in the process.

“Ah—Sorry,” he voiced, taking a step backwards.

“Ah… No…” The girl paused, seemingly in thought, then suddenly laughed. She picked up the charm and handed it to him. “Here,” she said.

“Oh, no. It isn’t mine.” Denying her, he waved his hands and pushed away the object.

Avis blinked—a gradual and elegant motion. Then, she simpered. Holding up the charm, she examined the writing on the wooden object. “It’s a charm for love,” she murmured. Then, again, she pushed it towards the boy. “Maybe fate has something in store for you.” She insisted, “Take it, I don’t need it.”

Skeptical, “What if this is someone’s charm?” he asked. “Shouldn’t we return it?”

Using her slender fingers to cover her lips, a noticeable smile revealed itself in her eyes.

“It is in your hands,” she said.

Picking up her dropped bag, she threw it over her shoulders and departed with a nonchalant wave.

The boy furrowed his brows, his mouth left agape. “Okay…” he whispered, juttingly resuming his own path.

Seeing his puzzlement, I sighed.

The plan was to provide Avis with an unusual encounter, one that may spark a change in routine. However, things are much more simple in real life than in manga, and the brief interaction had done nothing of significance.

The boy stopped and glanced around, likely searching for the person who lost their charm. But because no one showed, he shrugged and stuffed the piece into his tracksuit before speeding away.

Grunting, I pushed myself up from the gravity of failure. With wavering confidence, I exited the corner in which I hid. However, what you’ve done unto others will be done unto you, for I, myself, bumped into an approaching stranger.