There was once a rule that every Ravager member held sacred when fighting against the Amelioran Empire. Under no circumstances, do you develop romantic attachment to your comrades. The Ameliorans were professional tyrants that could exploit the bonds between those close to one another.

Love for one’s comrades was simple. You fought for one another, you knew how to work alongside them, and most importantly, you kept each other alive.

Romantic love was a dirtier, more messy affair. If you fell in love with your teammates, and didn’t understand the gravity of the bond you just formed with them, the Ameliorans would tear the Ravagers apart on the inside.

The original spirit of the Experience Journals was to make friends as I searched for an answer to the Universal Definition of Love, but I never for a minute ever considered the feelings of my comrades on the other side of my personal journey.

And in a perverse way, I became similarly attached to the results. Soon, I began wondering if I myself could experience any type of romantic love in general.

Kenta could become another one of these casualties if I’m not careful. I didn’t know whether or not I wanted him as a friend or as a romantic partner.

As I thought about my mixed feelings about my quest for an answer, I heard a rapping at the door. The door swung open without a response, the knock merely being a courtesy.

He was finally here.

I made sure to finish any writing right before my final class let out, after finishing class work, of course, as I didn’t like being badgered by teachers when I was enthralled in my own writing. My current journal was gingerly stored away in my bookbag, awaiting any potential comments from its intended audience.

This fact wasn’t lost on Kenta, as he glanced at my backpack with a subtle swipe of his rolling eyes.

As for myself, I patiently sat at my desk with the rare smile I prepared whenever I met someone interesting.

“Hello, Kenta,” thanks for coming,” I said.

“Uh, sure. I actually wanted to talk to you anyway.”

I tried not to show too much of my excitement in my smile, but based on his reaction, I must’ve overshot it. I felt my eyelids shutter a bit after his statement. Did anyone else before him show any interest before I pursued them?

I struggled to filter my thoughts properly, my eyes shifting back and forth between the surface of my desk and his perpetually angry eyes.

Oh, is that so,” I said, desperate to regain any composure I could in this conversation. “I didn’t expect you to show an interest in me.”

His sharp eyes softened a bit, overcome with a dumbfounded curiosity.

Was what I said really that surprising?

“Wait. Why is that a surprise?”

“I suppose you’ve heard a bit about me, and all the boys I’ve gotten involved with. I suppose no one so far has shown interest before I’ve taken an interest in them,” I said.

“Well, it may not look like it, but someone like me can be pretty observant,” Kenta said, his tongue clicking with a subtle tinge of acidity.

“Someone like you,” I repeated, my snide confidence replaced with genuine curiosity.

“Like you don’t know about that silly nickname that my teammates branded on me. Anyways, I’m aware enough to know that not all rumors carry the same weight.”

“Then, since you’re already here, Tyrant Prince, can I ask for your opinion on something,” I asked.

I noticed a bitter disgust fermenting in his pursed lips as I used his school title, but he nonetheless calmly exhaled.

“Sure, shoot Kotonoha.”

“Do you find me a cold, robotic person?”

I didn’t know why this was getting to me, but I was getting sick of the nickname of my own that the school so painstakingly came up with just for me.

I didn’t notice my own sniffling and the small collection of tears that settled on my cheeks until it was too late. Kenta waffled for a moment, briefly breaking eye contact until he gathered himself again.

“No. Not anymore anyway.”

“Oh, really? I’m so relieved. I have a habit of being too formal when breaking up with guys, and it never feels natural to me,” I said.

I felt my breathing settle as he reassured me. There was someone who wasn’t one of my two best friends that actually understood me.

“Don’t even worry about it, Kotonoha. It’s best not to be too trusting, at least not right away.”

“Haha, Kyoko said something similar,” I said.

My little emotional scene apparently disarmed the Tyrant Prince to such an extent that he could no longer brandish his aggressive school persona. The harsh lines around his face seemed to soften, and he was at a loss for words.

“Kotonoha, I was meaning to ask, but I assume you don’t have any interest in me romantically. So--why do you have a sudden interest in me? Enough to ignore your normal writing routine.”

“No interest, huh? I wonder about that.”

“Am I wrong? I feel like I have as many answers as questions at this point!”

“I’m just kidding. I won’t be cryptic with you. With the past several boys that agreed to help me over the years, I’ve come to the conclusion that I struggle to make romantic connections with other people.”

“So what can I do for you in this situation?”

It was a simple question, but at that moment I struggled to say what I usually wanted to say. This was supposed to be where I proposed to enter a temporary relationship, right? But, now I feel like I want to do something different.

“So I guess I should tell you why I wanted to meet you here. Kenta—I want you to help me fall in love!”