Chapter 8
After wrapping up the day and returning to the dormitory, I pulled out my communication stone. This world's version of a smartphone lets you text or call people far away, so it's got a ton in common with the real deal. No internet or games, sure, but hey—in a fantasy world, this is luxury. Coming from my past life, it stirred up a nostalgic familiarity I'd almost forgotten in this over-the-top fantasy setting.
These things cost a fortune, so only high nobles can afford them, but thanks to our heroines' generosity, I had one. Time to share today's intel.
The next day, Polo and I left the dorm together for class. Luckily assigned to adjacent rooms, we could hang out just like always, even in the dorms. He was thrilled about it—wanted new friends but wasn't ready to stray from his closest buddy yet. For me, keeping him close made it easier to observe and feed the latest to the heroines.
"Mars, the first-years' group combat training's coming up soon. You prepped okay?"
"Yeah, sorta."
I half-listened to Polo's chatter, scanning for something. Crossing the academy grounds, I spotted my targets right on schedule and kicked the plan into gear.
"Hey, Polo. Check that out."
"Huh? What?"
"That couple over there. Don't they look perfect together?"
On the bench I pointed to, a pair sat side by side, all lovey-dovey. Chilly morning air aside, the heat between them made mirages shimmer around them—the temp looked higher just there.
"Hah, total picture-perfect!"
"It's still kinda cold in the morning... Maybe bundle up or stay inside?"
Polo, you T-type or what? Not "looks nice~" but worrying about their body heat drop? Those childhood vaccines didn't nuke his romance cells, did they?
"C'mon, let's head in. Gotta cram for that pop quiz today!"
"...Yeah, okay."
We left the smoochy couple behind and entered the building. As you might've guessed, that pair was recruited by the heroines themselves—real couples. Operation Like Getting Soaked in a Drizzle.
I leveraged the heroines' connections to station couples at key spots, asking them to act extra affectionate. The core: parade Polo past them at set times, exposing him gradually to the idea of romance—one, two, a dozen times.
Dating sim protag Polo had zero romance sense—newborn-level with the opposite sex. Force-feed veggies to a kid who wants candy, and they'll just hate 'em more. Same here: push dating on a guy craving freedom, and he'll recoil. Heroines' inhuman looks barely registered as "huh, pretty" with his cliche senses.
So for now, no hard sell on feminine charms. Just desensitize him unconsciously to "dating," spark curiosity through sheer exposure.
"Polo, look—another couple."
"Yeah."
"Those two are total eye candy. Super compatible, right?"
"Yep."
"Even TAs got pairs? Love blooms among the slaves too, huh?"
"Sure does."
….
"What the hell's with this guy?"
Long story short: total flop. Three days, a dozen couples, zero awakening of Polo's dormant romance cells. Just "yeah," "sure," "yep" on loop—no interest in dating itself. Worse, his vibe toward me cooled off.
He's a guy; can't have zero interest in the opposite sex. This reaction baffled me. Someone might joke he's secretly a girl, but nah—pretty for a dude, but confirmed male from childhood baths.
Knock knock.
"Mars... it's me."
"Polo?"
Snapping from my brooding at the knock, I opened up to find Polo in pajamas.
"What's up? Lights out soon."
"...Got something to say. Can I come in?"
"...Sure. C'mon."
His tone pinged my radar, but I brushed it off and let him in. He plopped gracefully in my chair like always.
"So, what's this about?"
I perched on the bed's edge. He hesitated, then teared up.
"Mars... you don't wanna be friends anymore?"
"Huh?"
What the—?
"Lately, you're all about couples... feels like you're ditching me to get a girlfriend. I know I'm lesser than you, a pain sometimes... but if you wanna end the friendship, I won't stop you."
"No no no, wait! How'd it twist like that?!"
His take: my couple obsession meant "get lost, I wanna date—don't cramp my style." Polo seemed popular, but girls checked each other instead of approaching; guys envied/intimidated by his looks, no real bonds. A month in, I was his only close friend. Heroines holding back for "natural" meets left him friendless and dateless.
Me fixating on couples? He figured I blamed him for blocking my love life, pushing me away on purpose.
"Haa..."
Even in-game, his heroine lines felt bluntly platonic. Didn't expect this level.
"Uuugh..."
Misreading my sigh as finality, Polo bawled—huge teardrops from those big eyes.
"Polo, no. I was curious 'cause you show zero interest in romance. That's it—no other meaning."
"...Really?"
"Yeah, dummy. No girl's into me anyway. With this mug? Girlfriend? Pfft."
Sensing my sincerity, he beamed again. Operation scrapped; time for Plan B. We chatted late, soothing his sulk while brainstorming anew.