I can't work with this.

I just can't, I've been trying to convince him to use his menu for weeks now. But it's always the same answers. "I just need to talk them out of it right?", "If they kill me then that's how it is.", "I'm content with my life. More money would be nice, but I'm sure they need it more than I do."

Remember when I said that anyone can do as a protagonist because they can be both active AND reactive? I was wrong. Dead wrong. This guy isn't even reactive to his own potential death, he's the very definition of passive. He won't interact with the menu because he might "use it wrong". I don't know how you can manage to both be a coward and be incredibly uncaring about your death at the same time. But I think I might have actually picked the worst possible person for a protagonist.

I believe everything has something interesting deep down. People and places, objects and animals. They all have something to tell. But getting a story out of that guy is like getting blood out of a stone - possible, but I'd have to use a bunch of skills, and I'd rather not.

And listen, he's a cute guy. He'd make a great friend, I'm sure of it, he might even work if the story I set up was a romcom or something. Unfortunately, I doubt the enemy to lover thing is going to work. Mostly because our dear antagonist has found out about the compass. I don't know if she figured out it pointed towards her target. But it's only a matter of time before she starts making plans, and my sweet boy is going to be torn to shred at the rate she's going.

Picking someone else would be a pain too. I'd need to alter a bunch of stuff and it just ruins the whole premise, you know? You can't start something with a hook and then just go "haha just kidding, you won't be hunted actually, that was just a prank". I COULD, but I have standards! Very questionable and inconsistent ones, but standards nonetheless!

So! I'll fix the issue with this! The issue being that he wants to solve this "when it comes to him". But she won't listen to anything he has to say when that happens. So I'll simply force their communication early in a safe environment. This entire setup was too impersonal anyway, there needs to be some connection between the both of them to make the ending mean something.

I'll make it, so they can send messages to the other with their menu, anonymously of course, they also won't be able to outright lie on it to make it more interesting. She will use those messages to get a better idea of who she's dealing with, and he'll use those letters to hopefully convince her to not go through with the whole "killing him" part of this ordeal. I'll have to break a rule or two and teach him how to actually use it, or we'll be here forever.

[CHAT MENU] P : Hello? A : Test P : Test? A : Urgh, I can barely read what's written on there, wait it's writing that too? How do I make it stop, stop? Stop writing! Stop menu! WAIT NOT THAT FOLDER, WHY WOULD YOU-

P : Are you okay?

A has closed the [CHAT MENU]

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

A has opened the [CHAT MENU]

A : Okay, I figured it out how to stop it.

A : Here's how it's going to work, I'll ask you one question, and you'll get one from me, you have to tell the absolute truth and I will too. Simple transaction.

P : Hi! I did ask if you were okay before, so... Are you okay?

A : I'm- this is your question? Really? I'll get to ask anything out of you, you realize that right?

P : That sounds like a normal thing to ask, people do it all the time.

The conversation is not exactly going as I planned. A (for Antagonist) keeps asking logical questions like "How much do you understand your menu? Do you know who I am?" and "Where do you live?"

And of course, this idiot answers the question truthfully, which he technically doesn't have to as while you can't lie on a message, you can simply decide to not answer. And his questions are things like "Do you need help? Do you like bugs? What's your favorite color?"

He is, for all intents and purposes, catapulting himself right to her and hoping for the best. I really don't get it. I always thought he was a little passive, but I didn't think he was THIS dense. When I first met him, he said "That sounds like a scam". So surely he has SOME basic understanding of being tricked, right? So why is he-

[CHAT MENU] A : I think that if no one does anything, things are going to get worse for everyone. You might be okay with that, but I'm not going to miss an opportunity like this, even if it means taking an innocent life. P : I think you're really cool for trying to make the world a better place. I wish I had your determination. A : Stop patronizing me. You think being nice to me will stop me? Stop trying to butter me up and answer honestly for once. P : But she said we can't lie here, right? I'm being honest. I really do think you're incredible to go so far for your ideals. A : Shut up. I'm going to sleep. I owe you one question, so ask that when I wake up next. A has closed the [CHAT MENU]

Are you kidding me.

How.

How did she even manage to go from a "I'm 100% going to kill you" to "I'll talk to you later", I only looked away for 30 minutes! Granted, they aren't in love or anything. But it's a massive change in the power balance. Before she was near guaranteed to win, but at the rate it's going they might actually... well maybe not become friends, but she might actually hesitate to kill him when the moment comes.

If this actually turns into an enemy to lover thing and I have to deal with a romcom for this universe, I am going to scream.

I am not letting that happen.