Chapter 8 - The Trap

Ah.

That’s not good.

I completely forgot about her.

The heroine. Haruna Keisuke.

Wait…But since I’m Jin this time, won’t everything turn out differently?

No, no. I can’t be so relaxed. Not when the consequences are so severe for Kaede.

I need to shut her down fast. Make it clear that I’m not interested.

Okay. That should work. 

…Hopefully…

I’m now in the male dormitories. It’s a huge facility, the size of Kaede’s mansion on the East side of academy compound.

For now let’s put my things away in my room with Mari’s help and then worry about it on the way to class.

“Excuse me. Where can I find room 438?”

An unfamiliar girl’s voice from behind me asks.

“This is the boy’s dormitory. The girl’s accommodations are on the west side of the compound.”

I state while turning.

“Oh no! I almost made a big mistake! Thanks!”

A girl with hazel eyes and dark brown hair says with a wide smile on her face.

…

Oh no.

The girl skips away merrily.

Oh no.

That was her…

Haruna Keisuke…

Damn it!! I think I was friendly just then!!

Nooooo!

I forgot there was an event like this!

I need to be extra mean next time I see her now.

I think it should be in the classroom.

She’ll say something like: ‘Oh! It’s the guy who helped before! Thanks again! Looks like we’re in the same class huh?’

And I’ll say: ‘Who are you? Don’t act so familiar’

Yes, yes. Perfect!

I cheer myself up and walk into my assigned room with Mari.

...

In the middle of the room is a half-dressed cute girl…

She was small and had her short blond hair tied up…

Her green eyes penetrate through me, giving me shivers…

She looks so soft…

She’s also gone beet red and is stammering…

So cute…

No! I won’t be fooled twice!

“You must be my roommate. My name is Jin Wolfgang Staeles. Pleased to meet you”

I offer a polite greeting and bow courteously.

“Uhm, uh……What?! You don’t think I’m a girl?!”

“How could I mistake you for a girl? Especially when you’re only half dressed like that”

“Oh! Yes! Sorry! Let me just put this on!”

He finishes changing into a male academy uniform quickly with a red face full of embarrassment.

“My name is Akiho Yamada…Wait…Did you just say your name was Jin Staeles?! As in the Prince Jin Staeles?! Wawawa, your highness!!”

He does an awkward bowing motion…

So cute…

No, no, no. You already have Kaede.

No, no, no. That’s not even the question here, he’s a guy you know?!

Don’t be fooled!!

“There’s no need to stand on ceremony. We’ll be living together after all. It would be awkward if this was your reaction every time”

“Eh? I…Is that okay?”

He looks up flustered and blinks at me.

Stop it, you.

“Of course”

“B…By the way…Your highness…”

“Like I said, just call me Jin”

“I…I couldn’t possibly...”

“Hahhh, at least when we’re in here please just call me Jin”

I let out a big sigh as if his response had upset me.

“V…Very well”

“So what were you saying?”

I get back on topic.

“Hm? Oh, yes! How did you know I was a guy? It’s embarrassing but most people mistake me for a girl you know!”

“Oh…”

I’m drawing a blank here.

If I didn’t have knowledge from the game I definitely would have thought he was a girl.

“Your shoulders”

“My shoulders?”

“Yes, they’re…Broader than a girls would be”

“Oh!! You’re very observant aren’t you? As I’d expect from the future King! Yes, they would be. I’ve been lifting lots of weights after all!”

He starts flexing his tiny, slender, womanly biceps with a really proud expression.

No, no. That was rude. He’s trying his best.

I hold my mouth shut out of fear Jin’s instincts would awaken and say that out loud.

“Yes, I can tell”

“Really?!”

He grasps his hands in front of his chest and looks up at me with dreamy eyes.

…Dangerous...

I nodded.

Tears started to line his eyes.

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He notices immediately and starts wiping them embarrassedly.

“I…I’m sorry, It’s just…I’ve been trying so hard to be manly and everyone still sees me as a girl…”

What a tragic trap.

No, no, no. Jin, don’t open your mouth. That’s rude.

“Right. Well, let me unpack. Otherwise I might be late to the first class”

“Oh! Right! Sorry! By the way, what class are you in?”

“1-1”

I state so as Mari and I begin to unpack. Mari didn’t say anything during my exchange with Akiho. Perhaps she was being polite? Yes, after all Mari is the best maid.

“Wow really?! Me too!”

Akiho had really warmed to me in the past five minutes. He was so concerned about me being a Prince before but now he doesn’t even seem to consider it. He must be the type to adapt quickly.

“Would you like to walk there with me then? It will just take me a bit longer to unpack”

“Please leave it to me your highness. I’ll finish this and then check the rest of the academy’s facilities”

Mari chimed in.

“I’ll leave it to you then”

“Come on then Jin! We can’t be late!”

Akiho seems pumped.

However, he’s clearly acting more cute than manly.

This is probably just his regular demeanor.

Which probably made people think of him as a girl even more.

The trials of a trap.

No, no, no. You can’t say that out loud Jin.

“I’ll see you later Mari”

I whisper before closing the door behind me.

Having a roommate is a tradition for the academy.

It’s supposed to help the noble children become more modest.

But with these rooms, I can hardly see how that would happen.

Most of the students her brought their own personal maid too.

This is basically a five star hotel.

So Akiho and I walked beside each other to our classroom in the center of the compound.

Ah, I can’t handle these stares. I’m not a homo okay?!

Akiho is talking my ear off and I’m giving classic Jin replies.

Meaning they were short, emotionless and cold.

However, Akiho looks like he’s having the best conversation ever.

Ah, Akiho really heals my soul.

…Not good…

I have Kaede.

I have Kaede.

He’s a guy.

He’s a guy.

We get to the classroom while I recite my inner mantra.

Should I be a classic protagonist and sit in the back right corner next to the window?

Ah, this room is windowless.

Plus that seat is already taken.

Damn it!

“Oi Jin, let’s sit here!”

Akiho is really relaxed when talking to me now.

It’s nice.

I sit next to Akiho in a fairly center seat in the second row from the front.

Oh! I’ve been waiting for this!

The heroine, Haruna Keisuke comes walking in with a blank look on her face.

That same face lights up when she sees me and she hurries over.

“Ah! Hey! If it isn’t the guy who helped me earlier! Thanks again! Do you mind if I sit here?”

She asks rather innocently.

But I know your game.

Don’t think you can fool me!!!

“Who are you?”

Haha, tremble before Jin’s almighty indifference!

“Oh! Sorry, I didn’t introduce myself before did I? My name’s Haruna Keisuke! Nice to meet you! Let’s work hard together!”

She fist pumps like a classic protagonist.

No, no, no. I’m the protagonist here. No, wait. I guess she is the protagonist in the game…

Damn.

Anyway, why was there no reaction to my obvious negativity?

Oh! It must be because I forgot the second part!

“Don’t act so familiar with me”

Hahaha! You couldn’t possibly spin that right?

“Oh! I’m so sorry! My mom’s constantly telling me that I’m way too friendly all the time. Right! We’ve only just met! It’ll take time before we’re able to become friends! Until then we’ll just be classmates!”

She took the seat next to me during her speech.

What’s with that?!

Ah, I had truly forgotten the depths of her stupidity from the game.

Honestly, it was like she was living in her own world, while the other characters were in another.

Truly the epitome of a dense protagonist.

Fine, fine. I have to regroup with a new strategy.