The protagonist and the villain of the dolls!

[Mission: Fanservice time! Time remaining: 00:01:00]

...Fanservice.

I frowned. My expression shifted from silent horror to raw disgust. The kind you reserve for those games that force girls to flash half an asscheek like it’s some polite greeting.

My bad mood clearly showed on my face, 'cause I ended up shoving the villainess aside and standing up straight.

"Fanservice...? Like, showin’ skin to some main character? Hell no." —I huffed, while that stupid floating window sparkled like it wasn’t totally violatin’ my dignity.

But again... It was either this or get murdered again. I knew it. Still...

"Stupid NSFW game..." —I muttered, teeth clenched. Then I looked up to the sky like I was prayin’. More like beggin’ the universe actually: —"Daniela, girl, this is all your fault for makin’ me play one of those pervy games."

"Miss, are you alright?"

"You know her, Elion?" —asked Clementine, brushing the dust off her outfit, her tone soundin' way more judgy than curious. Yeah, definitely confirmed—Carlotta just wanted to screw me over earlier.

I mean, this girl’s version of the uniform was tweaked with all these frilly gray bows around the chest, and a big blue one around the neck. Adorbs, gotta admit. She smoothed her dress once more, floatin’ over like a spooky lil' ghost until she stood left of Elion.

She kept the red jacket and floral black dress too. So I wasn’t the only one who didn’t change the base colors.

"Yup! We just met a moment ago, but she bounced before tellin’ me her name, so I chased after her! But uh, what are you doin’ here?"

Clementine totally ignored that last question and went full drama mode.

"Were... you two alone?"

"I mean, kinda?"

"Nah, gurl!" —I shook my head real hard— I mean, yeah we were alone, but like, not on purpose. I didn’t even know he was up there.

I dunno why, but this chick felt like she was radiatin’ an aura darker than Carlotta’s. Like, all this just 'cause her guy spent a sec with another girl? Talk about clingy issues...

Wait... I feel like I'm forgettin’ somethin’ important.

What was it...?

Then I looked up.

The timer was still ticking.

00:00:33… 00:00:32…

My eye twitched.

Because of these clowns, I’d wasted precious time figurin’ out an escape plan.

I shut 'em out. Deep breath. Fast thinkin’. Crisis mode brain ON.

Fanservice... The ultimate sacrifice of dignity for the sake of "content." Flashing skin for the crowd. Horny art for the algorithm. A sure way to get clout—or so I’d read. Lookin’ at it like that... it almost made sense.

Almost.

'Cause understandin’ it was one thing. Doin’ it myself? Hell. No.

"Think, think..." —I muttered, squishin’ my forehead between both hands while that system window hovered like some digital demon.

This was just like that time with Carlotta… and I’d survived that without flashin’ an inch. I could pull it off again. Easy.

...Wait a sec.

Thinkin’ about that experience—okay, not that bad, her boobs were kinda warm… WAIT, NO! Focus!

Right! That time, I loopholed the mission. It never said it had to be with a Hero.

So... what about this one?

Did it actually say I had to do the fanservice?

I squinted. Read the message. Let it sink in.

And then, boom. Revelation hit me like divine lightning strikin' a field of idiots.

IT NEVER SAID IT HAD TO BE ME!

My gaze slowly turned to the left—Clementine, standin’ beside Elion.

I looked again at her jacket and… oof… those buttons were strugglin’.

Like, beggin’ for mercy. Like they were cryin’: “please… too much boobage… let us go...”

She was stacked. Like, a lot. For someone who was maybe two heads shorter than me.

An idea popped in. Bold. Questionable. Potentially awful.

"If she’s still shy like in the original game... she probs hasn’t made her move on Elion yet. That’s what made her lose in the OG story... So maybe I can help her... and help me too."

00:00:15

Perfect. I had time. And a plan.

I strutted over to the duo. Elion looked confused. Don’t blame him. I was probably starin’ into space like a weirdo a sec ago. Honestly? Don’t care.

"Are you alright?"

"Uh-huh. Zip it." —I snapped, then turned to Clementine— "You're Clementine, right?"

She nodded a little. Her forever-long bangs swayed like stage curtains that never rise.

"Don’t stress, babe. I got zero interest in this dude." —I said, takin’ her cold hands in mine— "In fact, Imma help you get your man."

"Eh...? What?"

She barely whispered, soft like a confused cottonball. I didn’t wait.

With criminal precision, I snuck my tail between her shirt buttons and gave the fabric some much-needed freedom.

"...Wow." —slipped from my lips as I stared.

Buttons popped. Boobs unleashed.

I mean, I already knew she was big, but watchin’ ‘em bounce in slo-mo? That was animation-budget-level stuff. And her bra? Black, sheer, lacy, covered in lil’ heart patterns.

"!" —Elion went tomato red so fast I legit worried he’d pass out.

"W-what are you doing?!" —Clementine shrieked, horror and trauma mixin’ like a bad cocktail.

[Mission Complete! You've unlocked a new exclusive scene with character “Clementine Von Marinette.” +20 Protagonist Points.]

"HA! I knew it!" —I laughed like the genius I am. I didn’t flash skin, brought these two lovebirds closer, and got points. That’s what I call protagonist energy.

Besides, this is a smutty game, right? Logic doesn’t matter. So if she flashes her guy, he should be all—

SLAP!

My cheek burned. I stumbled.

"W-why’d you hit me?!" —I whimpered, rubbin’ my face as tears welled up. Even my tail curled up, offended.

Guess Defense Level 2 wasn’t enough. Still hurt like hell.

Then I saw it… a dark aura form around Clementine.

"You exposed me to Elion! My beloved! That’s unforgivable!" —she screamed, cheeks scarlet while scramblin’ to cover herself. Even her bangs trembled like they had feelings.

"Uh... Miss? Run." —Elion said, weirdly calm for someone in danger.

You don’t gotta tell me twice!

I knew that aura. That line. That exact phrase happens during the Bad Ending of the Hero’s childhood-friend route.

In that ending? Clementine kills Kathryn AND Elion. Then escapes with their corpses to turn ‘em into dolls so her bae never leaves. Yeah, no thanks.

LEGS, MOVE!

Clementine reached for her ribbon, mumblin’ something spooky.

"Connect: Creation Magic — Construction Sorcery. Make fabric dolls. Bear form. Release."

Her voice was low, calm, almost chant-like.

In front of her chest, a golden square formed. Inside, a neon-orange web grew like a spider’s. Then it sped up. Like, fast. Just like Carlotta's attack spell.

The air got heavy.

Then... her bows started bubbling. Like liquid plasma. First soft. Then violent.

The gooey stuff dropped to the floor, grew, and grew… till it was bigger than Clementine. Almost as tall as Elion.

"Oh... hell no." —I muttered, instincts screamin’ RUN.

And I would’ve stayed. But then it took shape.

A plush bear. Giant. Mutated. With a huge-ass head, glowing red eyes, and a smile that looked like it wanted to rip your soul out.

NOPE. I'M OUT.

I turned tail and sprinted down the hallway. Behind me, Clementine chased like some porcelain ghost of vengeance, screamin’ about the "sacred visual virginity of her beloved" or somethin'.

Didn’t stop to listen. Not dyin’ for boobs. Not today.

***

How the hell am I running for my life from another psycho two days in a row?!

"Move it, losers! Some crazy chick’s after me again!!" I screamed, flailing my arms like a lunatic while the NPCs in the hallway just stared at me like I’d lost my mind.

At least this time, once they saw the death teddy chasing behind me, their survival instincts finally kicked in. Students scattered. Some screamed. Others just ran without looking back. I couldn’t even blame them.

Like, how the hell does someone that smol have this much stamina?! Clementine was keeping pace like she’d been training for the Olympics or something. And her freaky plush nightmare wasn’t slowing down either—with those messed up gorilla arms, it was keeping up way too well.

"ATTACK, TEDDY!!" she barked, totally out of breath.

A massive claw the size of my head came swiping down. I felt it graze my tail, like—barely avoided becoming chopped gyaru-butt!

"AH! Watch it, you psycho! My ass is NOT optional!! And Teddy?! Girl, creativity left the building, huh?!"

"Don’t insult Teddy!"

Another claw swipe, this time dangerously close to my poor booty.

"WHY THE HELL DOES THAT THING HAVE REAL CLAWS?!" I shouted as I zipped around a corner. "What the hell kind of spell even was that…?"

Wait, right! Magic. She could animate dolls or whatever… but how the hell did she turn a ribbon into that monstrosity?!

Okay, think… THINK! How do I get outta this mess?!

My legs were starting to give out. My thighs burned like hell, and I was gasping like a fish out of water.

"Ughh... I’ve been sprinting from the north wing all the way to the south end of this damn Academy…" I wheezed. "WHERE THE F*** ARE THE TEACHERS?!"

Oh right. Otome logic. Adults don’t exist unless it’s for drama. Freakin’ convenient.

A claw nearly nicked my back. I screamed, spinning like a Beyblade mid-battle.

"Stop running, damn you! I must restore my honor—and Elion’s!!"

"STAY AWAY, YOU CRAZY B****!" I cried, actual tears forming in my eyes.

I was done. Scared. And maybe… okay, maybe I regretted flashing her boobs at her crush. Just a little.

But too late now.

Wait—if I’m the protagonist, shouldn’t I have like, secret powers or something? That’s how these games go, right? Hidden magic… OP heroine moment… right?!

YES. Totally. I just had to awaken it.

I whipped around a corner, bounced off the wall, and spotted the outdoor gym door. Without thinking, I bolted for it and kicked it open like a final boss.

Inside, students and a teacher froze like I’d just burst in dressed as a flamingo. I said nothing. Just. Kept. Running. The extra head start was all I needed.

As I crossed the court, I tried to recall that chant...

"Connect: Creation Magic... Construct Sorcery… make a fabric puppet… teddy bear form… release…?"

I stopped for just a second and tried.

"...Nothing."

Absolutely NOTHING happened.

Seriously?! Do I need, like, a ribbon or trauma or something?! What kinda requirement is that?

Right as I neared the far exit, I heard the door behind me slam open. The impact shook the whole gym, followed by Clementine’s voice, venomous and outta breath:

"Connect: Teddy — Construct Sorcery. Modify right prosthetic. Cannon. Release."

EXCUSE ME?! Did she say CANNON?!

I turned around in full horror-mode and saw it—Teddy’s arm was MELTING. Like, the entire thing turned into black goo and swirled into a freaking arm cannon. A literal cannon.

"ARE YOU SHITTING ME?!" I screamed, diving to the floor.

A second later, a BLAST ripped through the gym like a freakin' nuke. I didn’t need to look—I knew everyone else ran for their lives. Even the teacher. P****.

"ARE YOU TRYING TO MURDER SOMEONE?! WHO USES A MAGIC GUN IN A FREAKING GYM?!"

"Stop... running..." Clementine panted, full psycho mode. "Teddy. Kill."

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR DAMN MIND?!"

I tried running again. Swear to God, I did. But when I threw open the door, I slammed face-first into something solid. Like—brick wall level solid. I stumbled back.

And saw him.

Nope. Not a wall. A man. A tall, cold-looking, too-handsome-to-be-real man.

White hair. Ice-blue eyes. Face carved from marble. Towering like a statue from some angsty romance manga.

I knew him. I knew that face.

THE THIRD HERO. THE ICE PRINCE HIMSELF.

WTF is he doing here?!

He didn’t even look at me. Just walked right past like I was some background extra. His eyes locked onto the bear.

He lifted his hand, calm, commanding.

"Miss Marinette. That’s enough. Kai."

The air went still.

Teddy… screamed. Like, it actually wailed. A deep, pitiful sound as it started unraveling from the inside out. Pieces of black cloth split and flaked away like ashes. Clementine huffed and looked away.

"Understood, Lord Auren Von Weiss. I’ll repair Teddy’s remains."

"And you. Headmistress’s office. Now."

...I could finally breathe again.