Chapter 199: The "Winner's" Gambit (Trolling the Alliance)

My life in the aftermath of the "Hostile Takeover Kiss" (Kenji's official term) is a special kind of hell. Rina, Haruka, and Aiwa, driven by the shared threat of Izumi, have formed a new, deeply suspicious, and incredibly unstable "Harem Alliance" (Kenji's other term, which he only says when he thinks Rina cannot hear him). Their primary goal: protect me from Izumi's evil, blonde, manipulative wiles. Their secondary goal: continue to fiercely compete for my affection in a way that is somehow even more stressful than before.

My "Rui Schedule" is back, but now it is a "Rui Protection Schedule," and it is enforced with the paranoid rigor of a state-sponsored witness protection program. I have no free time. I am never, ever alone. If I go to the bathroom, one of them "coincidentally" needs to brush their teeth. If I go to the kitchen for a snack, all three of them are suddenly "starving" and need to "help" me.

"Onii-chan, that is too much salt," Rina says, grabbing the shaker from my hand as I try to make instant ramen. "It is bad for your cardiovascular health. Let me make you a balanced, nutrient-rich meal instead."

"Rui-kun, your posture is deteriorating," Haruka comments, observing me read manga. "You are putting undue stress on your cervical vertebrae. Allow me to demonstrate some corrective stretches."

"R-Rui-kun," Aiwa whispers, offering me a plate of cut fruit. "You need vitamins. To keep your… hero strength up."

I am being smothered. Coddled. Managed. They are trying to "win" me by proving who is the most competent, caring, and attentive future partner. It is a domesticity cold war, and I am the unwilling territory they are fighting over. It is maddening.

And then, there is Izumi.

Izumi, having detonated our lives with her selfie and confession, seems to be thoroughly enjoying the chaos she has created. She is the ultimate troll, and she is playing her game with masterful, infuriating skill. She knows she is being watched. She knows Rina, Haruka, and Aiwa are analyzing her every move. So she decides to give them a show.

She starts texting Rina.

Izumi: Hey Rina-san! Izumi here. Just wanted to say, I was admiring Ectiqa's build log for her last costume. That wing articulation is brilliant, but I noticed a potential stress point in the main joint. Tell her she should try reinforcing it with a carbon fiber rod. ;) Just a friendly tip!

Rina stares at her phone, her eye twitching. "How… how does she know my build log is private?! How does she know about the stress point?! Is she hacking us?!"

Then, Izumi texts Haruka.

Izumi: Haruka-san, I was re-reading your analysis of LUNA's performance at the Winter Comicon. Very insightful. But you missed the subtle 'Starlight Paladin' reference in her hand gestures during the finale. A shame. Your analysis was almost perfect. Keep trying! <3

Haruka nearly crushes her phone in her hand. "She… she is critiquing my critique?! And she is patronizing me?! With a heart emoji?! Unacceptable!"

And she texts Aiwa.

Izumi: Aiwa-chan! Saw your literature presentation scores were posted. Congratulations! You and Rui-kun make a great team. That childhood promise story is so cute! It is amazing how he remembered you after all this time. You two are just like a real-life fairy tale. Keep fighting for your hero!

Aiwa blushes furiously, but also looks terrified, knowing Rina and Haruka are reading the text over her shoulder. Izumi is deliberately, sadistically, encouraging her two rivals, stoking their jealousy and possessiveness, all under the guise of "friendly" support.

Izumi is not trying to "win" Rui. She is trying to make the game more interesting. She is the chaotic neutral element who has decided this visual novel is too boring and needs more drama. She is actively helping Rina, Haruka, and Aiwa stay in the running, just to see what they will do next.

This, of course, has the unintended effect of making my life even more of a living nightmare. Rina, now convinced Izumi is trying to steal me and critique her engineering, becomes even more clingy. Haruka, insulted by the critique, becomes even more analytical, spending hours trying to find flaws in Izumi's Ichigo costumes. And Aiwa, emboldened by Izumi's "support" (and the memory of our kiss), becomes more quietly persistent.

My attempts to apologize to Aiwa for my behavior after our first kiss are constantly derailed.

"Aiwa, about the other day-" I start to say at school.

"Rui-kun!" Aiwa interrupts, her LUNA-Lite persona flickering on. "Did you see? Izumi-san just posted a new Ichigo photo. The caption is, 'Sometimes, a hero's greatest battle is against his own confusing feelings.' Do you think she is talking about you?"

My life is now being live-trolled by a cosplay superstar. This is not the quiet, nerdy existence I signed up for.