There was something that was bothering George. No, it was not some horrible smell inside the tavern. No, it wasn't Grim's sleep talking that was occurring now and then. No, it wasn't Tina's loud snores. The thing that was bothering George was Isaac and Yu's crushes on each other. The signs were as clear as day and yet they were blind to see it.
Even the others could see that they love each other. Was it the fact that they are young teens? No. George knew what the problem was. How you ask? Well, he asked Isaac just today.
~Flashback~
George and Isaac were in the kitchen cooking dishes. Ted was in the restroom busy pooping. Isaac was holding a large tray filled with dishes. Yu then entered, she then held on to the tray. Two of their fingers intertwined with each other, causing both to blush. Isaac then retracted his hands from the tray, leaving Yu to carry it.
"T-table 13." Isaac merely uttered to her as he was trying to fight off the blush. The maid dress was not helping at all. Yu nodded with a huff and proceeded to leave the kitchen. That left George and Isaac all alone for the time being.
"Hey, Isaac." George started as he was roasting some chicken. It got Isaac's attention as he snapped his head towards him.
"Yeah?" He asked, preparing some mashed potatoes.
"You love Yu right?" George asked bluntly. The question made Isaac stop with what he was doing and blush.
"Wha-I-um..." Isaac stuttered as he thought about what to say. "Well, we are childhood friends so I love her as-"
"Like a lover." George said, interrupting Isaac. George then put the chicken on a plate.
"...h-h-huh?" Isaac asked, blush still there on his cheeks.
"Do you love her? Not as a friend but as a lover. You know..." George tried to elaborate it further but couldn't.
"..." Isaac couldn't answer.
"Isaac? You there?" George eyed Isaac before going back to cooking. After a few moments of silence, Isaac finally answered.
"H-how do you know?" Isaac asked, coming out of his stupor.
"What?" George turned his head to him as he was confused.
"How do you know that I like Yu?" Isaac asked, confused.
"You weren't exactly...that discrete about it." George said, retracting his head back towards the pan. "It was so obvious."
"It-It was?" Isaac asked, embarrassed. George simply nodded, making Isaac more embarrassed. He then drooped his head before answering. "Yes...I do."
George hummed.
"Does she know?" George asked.
"No...I kept it a secret." Isaac replied, head still down.
"Why not confess to her?" George asked again, he felt pity for Isaac.
"Will she even accept?" Isaac asked George. "If I do, what if she doesn't like me back? Will she laugh at me? Humiliate me?"
George felt a pang in his heart. He knew what Isaac was going through. Even he knew what it felt like.
"You're scared." George replied. "Scared of what might happen if she rejects you."
"S-scared?" Isaac asked eyes widened in disbelief before admitting it. "I-I am..."
"Don't let that fear control you." George tried to comfort Isaac. "Like it did to me."
George then remembered a memory he once had. A regret he tried to forget. A memory he tried to destroy.
Isaac turned to George who was feeling down.
"What happened?" Isaac asked George.
"I let fear control me." George said before mumbling. "Like how it always did."
Isaac didn't hear the last part but he was starting to get what he was trying to say.
"Should I confess to her?" Isaac asked George. George was silent for a couple of seconds with him mumbling to himself. He then turned his head towards him, his face changed into a happy one.
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"It's your choice kid." George said in a gentle and friendly tone. "Don't let your fear control you."
"T-thanks, George..." Isaac smiled at George. George smiled back before going back to cooking.
~Flashback End~
Although he tried to encourage him, it was still a bother to him. He didn't know why.
'Am I bothered that if Yu accepts they might try to marry right away?' George thought, sweating.
'No, you idiot. You're just worried about what happens next!' George said to himself. 'Ah, that's right. I am worried.'
Deciding to sleep, he closed his eyes. The night was quiet. The sound of the wind flowing in the night filled the room. It was calming and peaceful. He turned his body to the right to face the wall. His body ached. They were all sleeping on the floor, albeit they had pillows for their heads.
He then succumbed to his tiredness and slept.
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"Hey, Mary!" An eight-year-old shouted, running towards a girl of the same age.
"Yes, George?" The girl asked George. Indeed it was George, but an eight-year-old.
They were both in a playground. To the surprise of no one, they were the only ones there at the time.
'Confess to her, you idiot!' A voice whispered.
'Shut up Jack!' Another voice said.
"..." George could not say it. He wanted to but he couldn't. "Wanna play?"
"Sure!" Mary replied happily. George smiled, though not as wide as Mary's.
'You idiot!'
'Stop it!' George ignored them as he went to play with Mary in the playground.
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George awoke from his slumber.
The sunshine hit his eyes. It was now the next day.
He looked panicked. Sweat dripped down his skin as he panted.
'Why now...' He thought to himself as he saw the others were still asleep. He had many questions but he decided to stand up and leave silently.
On the way out, George muttered something incoherent. He then started to work out for the next hour.
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There wasn't anything eventful that happened during work hours today. The cooks cooked and the maids maided...
No...the maids served.
-"Maided...I'm dumb..."-
Anyways, it was just a normal day of work. No interruptions, no crazy people. Just a very normal calm day. Though many customers went in and out of the place, they didn't do anything that was concerning.
When the tavern closed and the tables were cleaned, Emily wanted to visit some shops that were still open. Tina was against that idea but when Yu and Isaac volunteered to keep her safe, she hesitated for a bit before accepting.
Now, that left the four in the break room, Mileena and Grim were asleep, while Tina was still awake. George was trying to sleep but had trouble so he too was awake. He saw that Tina looked concerned and most of all, scared.
"You okay there Tina?" George asked softly, not wanting to awaken Grim and Mileena.
"Huh?-Y-yeah..." Tina mumbled softly. George saw Tina silently shake her head as if she was trying to get out of a haze.
"You worried about Emily?" George asked again. The question made Tina put her attention to him.
"N-no." She denied. She clearly wasn't good at lying because George could definitely tell that she was worried for her.
"Don't worry Tina, she'll be okay." George comforted Tina. Tina grew a small smile because of his words. A second later, she stopped smiling and got serious.
"Why are you helping us?" She asked George. George was caught off guard by the question but decided to answer.
"I just wanted to help." George answered, but Tina wasn't buying it.
"Bullshit. What do you want from us?" Tina asked softly yet it had anger filling it.
"When someone needs help. Don't you just have the urge to help them? When they are in trouble when they're in danger. Don't you just want to make their lives better..." George replied, he had a sad expression on his face. "Like when you wanted to help the lady that was in trouble. What did you want from her in return?"
"..." Tina couldn't find an answer. His reason for helping was like hers. She then sighed in defeat. "Fine, you win."
"Hey, Tina." George spoke up.
"Yeah?" Tina asked.
"We're friends right?" George asked. The question made Tina confused.
"Friends?" Tina asked, not knowing the concept. "Is that like a title about relationships or something?"
"Kinda. It means that you and another person who's not related to you are in a platonic relationship." George explained. This made Tina further confused.
"Platonic relationship?" Tina asked again.
"You know romance right, Tina?" George asked.
"You mean when a male and a female kiss?" Tina said innocently.
"Well, it's like that but no kissing, sex, and romance in it and it can be any gender. You can hang out with each other, comfort each other, and help each other." George explained it further.
"Like me and my sister except with someone else?" Tina was starting to get the idea.
"Yes, like that." George replied, satisfied that she finally got it.
"Well, I was going to say that you were like a father but friend seems better." Tina said, hurting George's heart with her words. "Plus, I think sis said that. She said that you were a good friend."
"O-okay..." George yawned. "I'm feeling sleepy now, so, goodnight."
He positioned himself into a more comfortable position.
"Goodnight." Tina then went to lay down on the floor and sleep. Though the others couldn't see it, she had a smile on her face. 'George is a good friend.'
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-I choked on my spit in shock and disbelief. Mark saw me and quickly helped me. After that, he asked me what happened.
"What happened Jolt?" He asked me.
"G-g-George m-m-m-might not have a h-harem." I said, my voice was shaky. He just stood there, dumbfounded.
"What about it? Harems aren't that important to the plot." He said. I quickly turned my head to him.
"Idiot! They are one of the most important things in an isekai!" I shouted.
"Can't you just do one romantic partner?!" He shouted back.
"Impossible..."
"Why isn't it possible?"
"I-it's just not."
"Why not you stupid bastard?"
"A harem is one of the three essentials of an isekai. The first is the Overpowered MC. The second is the Fantasy world with a possible RPG video game mechanic. And the last one is the Harem! If you take out one of those....is it really an isekai story?"
"...shit...I mean... it's possible for no harems right?"
"No...they're needed..."
"For what?!"
"Fanservice..."
"All that. For just FANSERVICE!?!?"
"Fanservice is one of the most important things in a story! Especially isekai!"
"What happens if you remove them?"
"If you remove the boobs. Then it'll just be the plot."
"What's wrong with the plot?"
"isekai's don't normally have one."
"Fuck you."-