Lapis's Night of Triumph and Scheming
1. On the night Lapis Julie became the ultimate winner of the 7th Fake Hypnosis App Emergency Meeting, her nose was riding higher than ever.
She was so caught up in it that, without her usual self-deception, she let her mind wander to thoughts like, What if I end up actually marrying my senpai for real? How many kids should we have? I'd honestly like three. But what if senpai wants more? Well, since they'd be the fruits of our love, maybe that'd be okay too...
"...Ehehehehe."
Once home and confirming no one was around, Lapis Julie finally let out the smile she'd been barely holding back. Anyone used to her usual expressionless, icy demeanor would faint in shock at the sight—phrased nicely, she looked blissfully happy; less nicely, utterly dopey.
"Ska Rate, Silk Blond, Ia Ris—they were all dead silent. A perfect victory, through and through."
Lapis Julie had heard Paster say he wished she liked him, kissed him, and even gone as far as giving him a blowjob—something no one else had done. Sure, when he'd asked why he'd want that, Paster had said it was because she seemed easy to sleep with, to cut ties cleanly.
But Lapis Julie operated under the belief that physical intimacy without love was impossible. So when he said she seemed "easy to fuck," she mistook it for a confession. That delusion had her so fired up she dove into a deep kiss. Then, amid the S-rank powerhouses at the emergency meeting, she'd clinched victory by an overwhelming margin, her skyrocketing confidence erasing any notion of brakes in her head.
Senpai definitely likes me. And if he likes me that much, there's no reason to turn him down.
She'd always chipped away at Paster's self-esteem, calling him an "incompetent, dim-witted senior with no backing who doesn't deserve to be scout leader." But in truth, no one knew better than her how incredible his abilities were.
Thinking back to senpai from back then still makes my heart race... He's the only awakener who could pull off something like that without hesitation.
When Lapis Julie was still an A-rank, trying to promote to S-rank by raiding the uncharted S-rank dungeon Muspelheim, Paster had been right there beside her. That's where she fell completely for the man she'd previously despised, ignored, and showered with venomous barbs.
After hitting S-rank and becoming 2nd team leader, her pride wouldn't let her admit her feelings, so she'd thrown every tantrum imaginable, tanking Paster's affection to rock bottom. But she brushed off the past as water under the bridge—what mattered now was how to make him confess to her.
Senpai's more than qualified to be with me. I've been stubborn out of pointless pride, but it's time to admit it. Yeah.
To accept his confession, she first had to own her true feelings. So Lapis Julie finally acknowledged what she'd denied for nine months since becoming S-rank: Senpai's on my level.
"Senpai's definitely an amazing guy. I'd happily accept even if he confessed to me right now."
With that weight off her chest, the affection for Paster she'd clumsily buried under forced denials exploded within her. From their disastrous first meeting, to realizing his true worth in that S-rank raid, to this morning's first kiss and blowjob—the big moments flashed first, then filled in with countless little ones.
Even the embarrassing antics she'd recalled to deny her crush now struck her as just... cool and cute.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Her face heated up. Her heart pounded wildly, Paster's words—"I wish you liked me"—echoing in her ears. Back then, denying her feelings, she'd lied and said she didn't. But now? She could easily say she did...
"...No. No way. Even so, I can't say I like him first."
Snapping out of her pink haze, Lapis Julie shook her head vigorously to clear the nonsense. Her pride slammed the brakes before she crossed a line.
If senpai confesses first, I'll accept without question. But begging him to love me? Unthinkable. The Julie family honor would weep.
True to form, even after all this, Lapis Julie refused to confess first. Still, vowing to accept if he did was progress enough for her to feel she'd grown as a person.
Self-reflection done, all that remained was Paster's confession. She lay on her bed, pondering.
"Hmm... So how do I get senpai to say he likes me...?"
Her mind raced through scenarios to force a confession, but nothing solid emerged. Paster was dense as a brick. He'd missed Ska Rate's signals for 15 years. Sure, partly due to her clumsy gaslighting, but still.
Lapis Julie conveniently ignored her own venomous insults and the "pesticide" rumors she'd spread to keep pests away from him, blaming only Ska Rate.
From Paster's view, both women's meddling was equally toxic, but each thought the other was the villain.
Ska Rate's the reason senpai hesitates to confess. The more I think, the more I hate her.
She closed her eyes, stewing—until, just 10 minutes after swearing she wouldn't confess first, doubt crept in: Maybe it's okay to say I like him when he uses the hypnosis app later?
Then her phone buzzed.
BUZZZZ.
"...Ugh."
She tried ignoring it to focus, but the noise shattered her concentration. If it's nothing important, they're in for it, she thought, checking the caller. Her big eyes lit up.
'Family Head.'
It was the current head of the Julie family—her mother, Jelina Julie. Probably calling to hammer in that ignored engagement to the Blond family's eldest son. The woman cared for nothing but the family's revival.
Normally, Lapis would've brushed it off with, "I still have much to learn at Liar's Trap, Mother. Marriage is too soon," and ignored the betrothal entirely.
But now? This call looked like an opportunity. A chance to legally lean on Paster, make him anxious and jealous enough to confess.
Yeah—if senpai likes me, this sudden engagement news will shock him into confessing.
She knew Paster well: if she just announced it without action, he'd sigh, Lapis Julie's marrying some noble heir? Well... can't be helped. She was never for me anyway, and give up.
So her plan: right after the news spreads, call him in a frail voice begging for help. "S-Senpai... I don't want to marry that guy. Please help me..." He'd step up like before. As they leaned on each other, their bond would deepen until he spilled his heart: "Lapi, the real reason I'm fighting your engagement isn't because you asked. It's because I like you. Will you accept my feelings?"
"Hehe, ehehehehehe!"
Just imagining it had her beaming. Giggling, she answered to launch her grand scheme.
"Yes, Mother."
2. The next morning, when Lapis Julie called Paster and heard Ska Rate's voice from the phone speaker right before the line cut off, she realized something had gone terribly wrong.