Morning After
The cafeteria buzzed with sleepy chatter and the clink of plates.
Sunlight filtered through the tall windows, bathing everything in a soft, almost too innocent glow.
Kain strolled in late, a tray balanced casually in one hand, white t-shirt fresh, hair lazily tousled, looking every bit the effortlessly cool bastard he was.
He spotted Finn and Lyla sitting at their usual table.
Finn was talking, nervously animated, while Lyla just stared into her orange juice, quiet and small, like a wilted flower.
Perfect.
Exactly where he wanted her.
Kain approached, his steps slow, unhurried.
He dropped into the seat beside Finn, across from Lyla, setting his tray down with a lazy clatter.
"Mornin', lovebirds," Kain said, voice light, teasing.
Finn laughed a little too loudly, cheeks pink.
Lyla flinched, the cup in her hand trembling slightly.
Kain caught it immediately.
Every tiny crack.
Every little fracture.
She wouldn't, couldn't look him in the eyes.
Which was fine.
He didn't need her to.
Not yet.
He dug into his breakfast, eggs, toast, and sausage like he didn't have a care in the world.
Finn was babbling about training schedules and double dates and "how awesome it's gonna be once we all get along together!"
Lyla gave tiny, miserable nods, her voice barely above a whisper when she answered.
Kain let it all roll off his back.
He wasn't here to push.
Not today.
Today was for...
Softness.
Patience.
He glanced at Lyla's plate.
Barely touched.
Only a few nibbles of toast.
He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice so only she could hear:
"Eat, Frostbite," he murmured, not unkindly.
"You'll need your strength"
She jumped, eyes flickering up to his for a heartbeat before dropping again, face flushed.
But her trembling hands picked up her fork.
She obeyed.
Kain smiled faintly and turned back to his food like it was nothing.
But inside, he was exultant.
Good girl.
Finn, oblivious, kept chatting, completely unaware that Kain was weaving the strings tighter around both of them.
When breakfast ended, Kain rose smoothly.
He clapped Finn on the back, making him stumble a little.
"Keep an eye on her, lover boy," Kain said easily.
"Girls like Lyla? They scare easily"
He gave Lyla a slow, almost pitying look.
"Need someone strong to catch 'em when they fall"
Finn nodded enthusiastically, like a damn puppy.
Lyla just sat there, frozen, gripping her tray like it was a lifeline.
Kain didn't push further.
He just gave a lazy two-fingered salute and sauntered out of the cafeteria.
The last thing he saw when he glanced over his shoulder?
Lyla staring after him.
Her fingers were twisting nervously in her lap.
Exactly.
Fucking.
Perfect.
Later That Morning / Combat Training
The training fields buzzed with life.
Wood blades clashing, students shouting, the sharp bark of orders cutting through the air.
Coach Varro corrected stances with sharp smacks and the occasional growled insult.
Kain lounged against the fence, arms folded loosely, watching it all unfold like a king surveying his court.
Finn was halfway across the field, desperately trying to pair up with Lyla for sparring.
Lyla hesitated, visibly uncomfortable, but eventually agreed, probably because she didn't want to seem rude.
Kain smirked.
Poor girl.
Still trying so hard to be nice.
He watched as Finn fumbled through the warm-up drills, swinging wide, stepping too close, yelping apologies every time he nearly clipped Lyla's arm.
The idiot had no grace whatsoever.
It would've been sad if it wasn't so damn entertaining.
The System Board flickered softly in Kain's vision:
[ Finn Hartwell. Combat Aptitude: 7/100 ]
[ Lyla Vi Frost. Emotional State: Conflicted → Lonely → Nervous ]
He chuckled under his breath.
'Business is booming,' he thought lazily, noting how many minor "Relationship Adjustment Requests" were clogging the system backlog today.
Students fighting, confessing, screwing up.
Everyone needed help.
Everyone was weak.
It was beautiful.
Across the Field
Lyla barely dodged another of Finn's wild swings, letting out a soft, breathless laugh despite herself.
"Sorry, sorry!" Finn gasped, dropping his sword for the third time.
"Gods, I suck at this—!"
"Yeah," Ruby said dryly as she strolled up beside Lyla, twirling her own practice sword.
"You're a disaster, Finn"
Finn flushed bright red, laughing awkwardly before scampering off to retrieve his sword again.
Ruby snickered.
Lyla... surprisingly... giggled too.
A real, genuine little sound.
Ruby leaned in, bumping her shoulder against Lyla's lightly.
"He's not mean, you know," Ruby said, quieter.
"Just... kind of stupid"
Lyla bit her lip, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
"I know," she whispered.
Ruby winked at her.
"Honestly? If you like him... don't let it get you all twisted up. I'd be fine sharing"
Lyla blinked.
"W-what?"
Ruby shrugged easily, twirling her sword.
"Life's too short to get jealous over one boy. If you love him? Great. I do too. We can make it work"
Lyla just stared at her, stunned, heat creeping up her neck.
Ruby laughed and lightly ruffled Lyla's hair like she was a confused kitten.
"Don't overthink it, Frosty. Just follow your heart, yeah?"
And with that, Ruby trotted off toward the next sparring group, leaving Lyla standing there, utterly bewildered.
Back at the Fence
Kain leaned casually, watching it all unfold.
The way Lyla's emotions swirled, confusion, relief, guilt, hope, flashing across her face like a broken mirror.
The way Finn fumbled and flailed, hopelessly earnest.
It was art.
Absolute art.
When Finn jogged up to him, panting, cheeks flushed with nervous energy, Kain didn't even hide the smugness curling in his chest.
"Uh, Kain," Finn panted.
"Can I ask...uh... some advice?"
Kain arched an eyebrow.
"Advice?"
"Yeah, I, uh..." Finn scratched the back of his head, looking painfully earnest.
"I really Lyla? And I don't wanna be a piece of shit about it..."
He looked genuinely tormented.
Kain could barely keep a straight face.
Inside, he was howling.
Out loud, he just smiled.
Cool.
Patient.
The perfect friend.
"Okay, how much do you actually know about harems? I know we talked about it last night, but remind me what you know about it"
Finn blinked, wide-eyed.
"I-it's having... multiple girlfriends?"
"Exactly," Kain said smoothly, voice a soothing purr.
"You don't have to choose, buddy. Not if everyone's happy"
"But... would Ruby really be okay with that?" Finn asked, looking so damn sincere it almost made Kain laugh.
Kain clapped a hand on Finn's shoulder, squeezing reassuringly.
"Trust me," he said.
"She'll be fine"
He said it so convincingly even he almost believed it.
If he hadn't had his balls in her mouth this morning.
Finn lit up, relief flooding his face.
He thanked Kain profusely before jogging back to Lyla with new, clumsy enthusiasm.
Kain watched him go, utterly unbothered.
And when he saw Lyla's guarded, confused smile greet Finn, he saw how she still kept sneaking tiny, stolen glances past Finn… straight at him.
Kain knew he was winning.
Slowly.
Inevitably.
Later That Day
Ruby, being Ruby, had practically shoved Lyla and Finn out the door after training.
"Go!" she said with a teasing wink.
"You two need some alone time. Practice date. No pressure~!"
Finn, of course, was sweating bullets the whole time, babbling nervously about how he'd never done this before, how he hoped he wasn't screwing it up.
How his shirt felt weird, how his hair probably looked dumb, how maybe he should've worn the other pair of pants.
Lyla just smiled.
Tight.
Fragile.
Trying her best to mean it.
Trying her best to force her heart into the right shape.
Finn was sweet.
Finn was kind.
Finn was hers, if she wanted him.
She should be happy.
But even as she sat across from him at the little café table, even as she nodded along to his awkward jokes and silly stories.
Her mind kept wandering.
Back.
Back to the way Kain leaned against that fence.
Back to the way he smirked, so sure of himself.
Back to how he looked like he could rip the world apart and still laugh about it.
She shoved the thought away, guilty, confused, furious with herself.
Meanwhile / Watching From Afar
Kain sat on a nearby rooftop, legs dangling over the edge, sipping a cold drink lazily.
The System glowed in his vision:
[ Lyla Vi Frost. Emotional Status: Conflicted (Strengthening) → Yearning (Hidden) → Guilt (Building) ]
[ Finn Hartwell. Emotional Status: Hopeful → Determined → Blissfully Oblivious ]
He grinned, fangs flashing slightly under the setting sun.
Perfect.
He wasn't going to rush it.
No.
He was going to let Lyla struggle.
He was going to let her choose him.
When she finally broke, when she realized that no matter how sweet Finn was, it was him she needed.
That's when he'd reach out.
That's when he'd claim her completely.
Back at the Table
Finn accidentally knocked over his drink while trying to hand Lyla a sugar packet.
She laughed, real, soft, helping him clean it up.
But even as she smiled at him, something twisted low in her chest.
A cold whisper:
"This isn't enough"
Evening
Kain's phone buzzed.
A message from Ruby:
Ruby:
She's starting to crack.
Keep playing it slow, boss.
She's almost yours.
Kain smiled lazily, setting his drink aside.
He tapped a reply with one hand:
Kain:
Good work.
Tell her to follow her heart.
Ruby:
Roger that.
He leaned back, stretching.
Tomorrow was another day.
Another step closer.
That Night / Lyla's Room
Lyla sat on her bed, hugging a pillow to her chest, her face hot, her heart hammering against her ribs.
She replayed Finn's goofy smile in her head, the way he laughed even after spilling his drink, the way he tried so hard just for her.
Maybe it's enough, she told herself.
Maybe I just need to try harder.
Her phone buzzed.
Ruby:
Hey, is everything good?
Wanna talk?"
Lyla hesitated only a second before tapping back:
Lyla:
Can I call you?
Seconds later, Ruby's voice filled the room, warm and teasing as always.
"Sup, lovebird? Got butterflies yet?"
Lyla buried her face in the pillow.
"Ruby... I'm thinking of asking him out. Officially. Tomorrow. After class"
There was a beat of silence, and then Ruby let out a low whistle.
"Damn, girl. Bold. I love it"
"But—" Lyla's voice cracked slightly.
"What if he says no? Or worse... what if he says yes and then realizes he doesn't actually... y'know, like me like that?"
Ruby laughed softly.
"Finn? Sweetheart, Finn would crawl across broken glass for you"
"Trust me. Ask him. Go for it. You deserve to be happy"
Lyla squeezed her pillow tighter, heart thudding painfully.
"...Okay."
"Atta girl," Ruby said warmly.
"Sleep tight. Tomorrow's your big day"
Meanwhile / Kain's Room
Finn stood awkwardly in the doorway, rubbing the back of his neck like a nervous kid.
Kain lounged lazily on his bed, one leg kicked up over the other, thumbing through his System menus.
"Spit it out," Kain said, voice dry and amused.
Finn flushed.
"I'm... uh... I'm thinking of asking Lyla out tomorrow. After class. Just, like... y'know. A real date. Official. That kinda thing"
Kain raised a brow slowly, smirking behind his drink.
"And you're asking me," he drawled, "for dating advice?"
Finn shrugged helplessly.
"You're... good at this stuff. Y'know, talking to girls. You just seem like you always know what you're doing"
Kain stared at him for a long moment.
The System flickered:
[ Finn Hartwell. Status: Hopeful → Nervous → Desperate for Approval ]
A chuckle rumbled low in Kain's throat.
He waved a hand lazily.
"Go for it," he said.
"You've got nothing to lose"
Finn brightened immediately, practically glowing.
"Thanks, man! I—I really appreciate it!"
Kain just smiled lazily, almost indulgently.
'Poor bastard,' he thought, amused.
So stupid.
So loyal.
So easy.
The Next Morning / Combat Training
The sun beat down on the training yard.
Coach Varro barked commands like a half-drunk wolf, pacing up and down the lines of students.
"Move your ass, Hartwell! You think demons are gonna wait for you to get your stance right?!"
Finn yelped and scrambled to fix his footing.
Lyla, a few feet away, tried to focus on her own drills, but her hands were shaking.
She glanced at Ruby for support, and Ruby gave her a little thumbs-up and a wicked grin.
"You can do this", Lyla told herself.
Across the field, Kain leaned casually against the fence, arms crossed, watching.
Waiting.
The System glowed softly in his vision:
[ Lyla Vi Frost. Emotional Status: Nervous → Determined → Excited ]
[ Finn Hartwell. Emotional Status: Anxious → Hopeful → Thrilled ]
He smiled slowly.
Let it play out.
Let them believe they were free.
The fall would taste all the sweeter.
Mid-Morning
Coach Varro's roar battered the trainees:
"IF YOU CAN'T DODGE, THEN DIE ON YOUR FEET, NOT YOUR KNEES!"
Finn wiped his forehead, his nerves shot.
Across the training yard, Lyla stared at him, cheeks burning, heart hammering.
She could feel Kain's gaze boring into her from where he lounged lazily against the fence, arms crossed, smiling like a devil who already knew the ending.
"Now or never," she told herself.
She bolted across the field, skidding to a halt in front of Finn, nearly bowling him over.
The students around them stopped what they were doing, eyes wide, sensing a massive gossip earthquake was about to hit.
Coach Varro froze mid-insult, cocking an eyebrow.
Lyla, breathing hard, blurted in one breath:
"FINN, ILIKEYOUANDIWANTTOGOOUTWITHYOU!"
Dead silence.
The very air trembled.
Finn blinked at her, stunned into pure, stupid silence.
Kain, watching with hooded eyes, smirked into his hand.
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: MASSIVE EMOTIONAL SURGE DETECTED ]
[ FINN HARTWELL. EMOTION: PANIC → DISBELIEF → ABSOLUTE JOY → FULL SEND MODE ACTIVATED ]
Finn took a step forward, heart pounding.
"But... but I already have Ruby..." he mumbled, loud enough for Lyla to hear.
"And… I don't want to take–"
Lyla squeezed her fists nervously.
"I know!" she squeaked.
"I don't mind!"
Finn, still red as a tomato, stammered:
"Then... THEN YES! YES, LET'S GO OUT!"
[ SYSTEM: MATCH ACCEPTED!! ]
[ LYLA + FINN: AFFECTION METER 87% → 95% ]
[ NEW STATUS: DATING / SECOND GIRLFRIEND ACCEPTED ]
The field erupted.
Cheering, wolf whistles, laughter, it was a goddamn parade.
Some random dude laughing so hard he almost fell over, shouted:
"OUR BOY FINN GETTING HIMSELF A HAREM OUT HERE!"
Another girl, a healer in training, called out:
"Bet he's packing heat down there!"
Everyone cackled, even though everyone (except Finn) knew it was a lie.
Meanwhile, Finn turned so red he looked like he might combust.
Across the yard, Kain smirked, savoring the glorious chaos.
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: LYLA'S DEVOTION FLAG SET ]
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: FINN'S LOYALTY METER — 100%. UNBREAKABLE BOND ESTABLISHED ]
The other guys muttered darkly:
"Bro... how...?"
"He's not even that ripped..."
"Maybe he's secretly hung like a dragon..."
"We can always check in the showers"
Coach Varro growled:
"IF YOU'RE DONE SWAPPING VOWS OF ETERNAL LOVE, PICK UP YOUR GODDAMN SWORDS!"
Ruby sauntered over to Finn, ruffling his hair like he was a confused little puppy.
"Proud of you, dummy," she grinned.
"But don't think I'm letting you off easy. You got two girlfriends now, you better treat us both right!"
Finn nodded so fast his neck almost snapped.
Kain, watching it all unfold, exhaled lazily, like a king overseeing the first steps of his conquest.
'Pathetic,' he thought fondly.
He could already see the threads tightening:
Lyla, wide-eyed and desperate for affection.
Ruby, mischievous and his.
Finn, clueless and ripe for manipulation.
And Kain...watching, waiting, smiling.
He didn't even need to sabotage.
He just needed to be patient.
Girls' Locker Room
The air was humid, filled with the sound of hairdryers, laughter, and the clatter of lockers being slammed shut.
Ruby leaned against her locker, lazily peeling off her combat gear, towel slung over one shoulder.
She tossed a glance at Lyla, who was blushing so hard she looked like she might pass out just from existing.
Around them, other girls from their combat class crowded closer, whispering, giggling like vultures circling a fresh feast.
"So, Ruby, Lyla...~" cooed one of the girls, a sly grin on her lips.
"What's it like... y'know... being in a harem with Finn~?"
Ruby rolled her eyes internally but gave a sweet, innocent laugh, playing her role perfectly.
"Well, he's... kind, you know?" she said, adjusting her sports bra.
"Lyla and I are lucky"
Lyla nodded so fast it was a blur, practically sparkling with nervous excitement.
Another girl leaned in, eyes wide:
"He must be really sweet to deserve two girlfriends..."
"Is he... good at... stuff?" another teased, earning a round of giggles.
Ruby just shrugged nonchalantly, acting the part of a loving girlfriend, but inside?
She didn't give a damn.
Her heart already belonged to Kain, the true king among men.
Still, she played along, winking at Lyla, who nearly melted into the floor.
"I guess we'll find out someday," Ruby teased, sending the locker room into chaos-level screaming.
Boys' Locker Room
The mood was way different.
Metal lockers creaked open.
The sharp tang of sweat, soap, and man-shame filled the air.
Finn, still flushed from Lyla's confession, peeled off his shirt, awkwardly tossing it into his locker.
Some of the other guys, fueled by toxic curiosity, snuck glances.
And there it was.
Finn's Great and Tragic Reveal:
Just... average.
Whispers broke out immediately:
"Holy shit... that's it?"
"Bro has two girls, and that's all he's working with?"
"There is no god"
Disappointment clung to the walls like fog.
But then —
Kain moved.
Effortlessly stripped off his shirt, the white fabric sliding off his lean, toned body.
The room went dead silent.
And when his briefs lowered slightly…
THE ROOM WAS STRUCK DUMB.
It was a dragon.
A monster.
An ancient beast slumbering beneath silk and cotton.
Someone dropped their towel.
Someone else made the sign of the cross.
The locker room reverberated with silent, primal awe.
Even Coach Varro, passing by the open doorway, took one glance and muttered under his breath:
"That boy's a goddamn weapon"
Meanwhile, Kain, cool, unaware (or pretending to be unaware), simply continued drying his hair, like the world hadn't just shifted on its axis.
Finn, blissfully ignorant, struggled with his socks.
Kain's eyes gleamed for a fraction of a second.
'Soon,' he thought, smiling lazily.
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ]
[ NEW BONUS: KING'S CROWN / More Stamina! ]
"Nice!"
Nightfall / Dormitories
The campus fell into the soft hum of nighttime.
Students were settling in.
Books closed.
Lights dimmed.
Dreams stirred.
But in Kain's room...
The air was thick with a different kind of tension.
He lounged lazily on his bed, one leg propped up, shirt half-open.
The moonlight pooled against his white T-shirt and briefs, highlighting the lean cuts of his body.
He was scrolling through the system menu, idly investing more points into Strength and Charisma, the numbers booming with each selection.
The System, gleeful, flashed updates:
[ Strength +2 ]
[ Charisma +4 ]
[ Aura: MAGNETIC KING ]
And then—
The faintest tap-tap at his door.
He didn't even have to guess.
A slow, knowing smirk curled his lips.
"Come in," he said smoothly.
The door creaked open, and there she was, Ruby.
Wearing nothing but an oversized shirt (one suspiciously stolen from Kain's closet) and thigh-high socks, cheeks flushed with anticipation.
"...Hey," she whispered, sliding the door shut behind her.
Her heart pounded in her chest like war drums.
Kain's eyes slid lazily over her figure, savoring every heartbeat of her nervousness, every twitch of her fingers.
"Here to thank me, are we?"
His voice was deep, velvet wrapped in steel.
Ruby, biting her lip, nodded and practically sprinted across the room, diving into his arms.
The bed rocked under the force of it.
Her hands buried themselves in his shirt, clutching him as if afraid he'd vanish.
"You did so much for me today..." she murmured against his chest.
"For us"
Kain leaned down, catching her chin between his fingers, tilting her face up.
"You belong to me, Ruby," he said, voice low and binding.
"And I take care of what's mine"
She shivered in his grasp.
No kisses.
No need for a rush.
This was deeper.
She curled against him, small, trusting, his.
And Kain simply held her, basking in the glow of his System's satisfaction, his mind already whirring for the next move.
[ System Notification]
[ New Skill: Lovers Embrace. +10 EXP Boost when a loyal companion is nearby]
Next Morning
Operation: "Puppeteer the Date" was underway.
Ruby, looking suspiciously well-rested (and glowing), was arm-in-arm with Lyla, gushing and plotting.
Meanwhile, Finn, the world's densest protagonist, sat nervously at breakfast, stabbing his scrambled eggs with all the grace of a drowning man.
"Dude," Finn whispered across the table, eyes wide.
"Today's the day. She's gonna ask me out on a date… WHAT DO I SAY?"
Kain, sipping his coffee coolly, didn't even blink.
"Say yes, dumbass"
He gave Finn a lazy thumbs-up, suppressing a devilish grin.
Finn nodded, determination burning bright in his soul, totally unaware of the strings Kain had tied around him.
Combat Class / Midday
The sun blazed high overhead, casting long shadows across the outdoor training field where Classes 1 and 3 gathered.
Coach Varro barked orders, but even he couldn't suppress the electric tension rippling through the air.
Something was about to happen.
Kain leaned casually against a tree, arms crossed, a phantom smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
The system pinged softly in his mind:
[ Event Trigger: Public Display ]
Across the field, Lyla and Ruby stood side-by-side, almost vibrating with excitement.
Lyla squeezed Ruby's hand for courage.
And then—
They marched across the field.
Every student, male and female, froze as they realized what was happening.
Finn, dense but not blind, blinked as the two girls approached.
"Uh, h-hey guys—"
Lyla stepped forward first, cheeks blazing pink, her voice shaking but clear:
"Finn... would you go on a date with me?"
She clutched her skirt nervously, looking up at him with wide, hopeful eyes.
Ruby followed right behind, practically glowing, resting a hand casually on Finn's shoulder:
"Yeah, me too. Let's make it a group date"
Her voice was smooth, confident, the perfect counterbalance to Lyla's nervous energy.
Dead silence.
The whole class gawked like they'd just witnessed a meteor crash.
Coach Varro dropped his clipboard.
A few students gasped out loud.
Even the birds seemed to hold their breath.
Finn's face went bright red.
For a moment, he just stood there, mouth opening and closing like a fish.
Then Kain, from his tree throne, lazily called out:
"Say yes, you idiot!"
Finn straightened up, pumped his fists, and shouted:
"YES! I WOULD LOVE TO!!"
His voice cracked halfway through, but the energy was pure.
The entire field erupted.
Girls squealed.
Guys groaned in despair.
Someone even fainted.
Kain chuckled darkly to himself, watching the dominoes fall just as he planned.
Later That Evening
The official date was set for Saturday, but Kain had his date lined up for tonight.
Ruby waited outside his dorm, dressed to kill.
Simple black dress.
Heels.
No makeup needed, her glow made her devastatingly beautiful already.
Kain opened the door, smirking in approval.
"Took you long enough," he teased, grabbing her wrist and pulling her inside with practiced ease.
The door clicked shut behind them.
No words needed.
Ruby slammed into him, kissing him feverishly, years of hidden loyalty and love pouring out all at once.
Kain spun her around effortlessly, pressing her against the wall, one hand sliding into her hair, the other lifting her thigh around his waist.
She gasped into his mouth, but didn't resist.
"Y-you did so much for me..." she breathed between kisses.
"Of course… for I don't plan on sleeping tonight"
And that night —
While Finn lay in bed, wondering what outfit to wear for his big date...
While Lyla dreamed sweetly of holding Finn's hand...
While the entire class gossiped about the legendary double confession...
Kain claimed Ruby fully.
Marking her in ways no other man ever could.
And the System roared its approval.
[ Passive Unlocked: All Loyal companions gain +10 strength and defense when within 50 meters of Kain ]