03: Full Offense

Raven was quiet for the most of the time we're in the train, as I remain next to her, standing as we hold onto the grab handle strap.'I said the right thing, right?' I mentally ask myself and let the time pass.As Raven looks afar at the window in front of her, I couldn't help but look at it too.'I'm about to head to school, but I barely know anything about this person's true owner. Perhaps, I'll be able to learn more through looking at the contact list on the phone I have.'I take a look at the phone I carry.Since it didn't seem to have any password, I was able to pass through it, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, normal applications in the phone are placed, and the wallpaper is a picture of a meteor shower.'Estelle Zeller must like the stars. How fitting. Her name means Star, right?'I think as I finished looking at everything else, then stopping to click on the gallery.But I was met with nothing else but a bunch of pictures of the night sky.'I was expecting more like her own selfies or something since girls that like to doll up are into that, but just a bunch of pictures of the night sky? I guess you can't really judge a book my it's cover.'When I finished checking the gallery, I see the contact icon.'This is the most important. Let's see here..''Hah?'My eyes widen in surprise at the sight I see.One contact.One and only one.'Raven Lunaire' was all that's saved.Not just that.But as I read the name internally, I felt everything connect at that moment.'Lunaire isn't a normal last name no matter how you think about it, it's extremely rare and made out of fiction. Pure fiction. Not just that but, the full name itself. Raven Lunaire.. that's the name of the main character in Heroine's Demise! The dating novel game!'I felt my hand grip onto the strap tightly as I felt my eye twitch.'So, you mean to tell me right now? I transgressed in the dating sim? Not just that, but the person I am right now. Estelle Zeller, the most unluckiest support character who keeps getting bullied after befriending the heroine? Argh, just how convenient..'I ruffle my hair in annoyance, I feel at that second that Raven looked at me, but I could careless at that moment as I try to remain calm within my abnormal situation.'This certainly reality. There's no arguing that. But..' For the first time since I got here, I felt a huge amount of displeasure at the situation.'Hah.. this sucks.. of all characters I could possess, it's not even a side character, but a very minor role who just appeared once or twice in each eventful moments in the game.'I sigh as I continue to think about it.'One getting bullied and being saved by Raven herself. Second, being Raven's personal bridge to a certain male lead that will be chosen by the player. Meaning, Estelle does nothing but be supportive and give out advices like a fortune cookie while also get bullied and be saved for the heroine to shine.'"... You really seem deep in thought huh, Estelle?" Raven speaks up softly as she glances at the view still.'It's no wonder Raven herself is eager to walk with Estelle to school. It's not out of kindness, but something out of pity and responsibility.'I try to hold in my emotions as I still try to process everything from here on out.What to do next?What should I follow through?'What can I do at this exact moment?'Though my heart was placed with a moment of self-doubt, one thing became clear.My role.Perhaps the girl I need to make happy isn't Estelle Zeller herself, but Raven Lunaire, the heroine I played."...Raven." I say as she looks at me curiously."Yeah?" She replies gently.As soon as I meet her gaze, I no longer feel nervous by the moment I utter the next following words."Let's be best friends.""...?" Raven looks at me, clearly taken back by my choice of wording, but it didn't matter.Not to me anyway, since it's how it's designed to be.Raven will protect me as best as she can in order to shine, and I will save her from poor choices that could be made in the future.When we make it to our stop, I stayed as close as I can to Raven."... Best friends, huh? But, how do people become best friends, Estelle?" Raven tells me as we walk out way out the train station."... Good point. Well, I guess you'll just have to trust me." I reply as I smile at her."Trust you, huh?.. Then, will you do the same?" Raven asks me in return as she smiles gently at me."Will I do the same? Pfft.. well, you don't really have to tell me that. I already trust you, Raven." I say in return, leaving no room of doubt.'After all, you're the heroine who could never do anything wrong to hurt a support character.'When we make our way to the school, my mind drifts back the art in the game.'It looks the exact same from the game's illustration.'"Right, uh.. we should probably head to class as soon as possible.." I mutter as Raven looks at the building then to me, until all of a sudden a few students nearby were mumbling and whispering to each other, making me feel a sense of uneasiness."It's him! The principal's son.""His hair is as red as the roses..""I heard he'll take over the school one day as the student council.""But, didn't he only transferred here this year?""It's family connections, duh. He's the principal's son after all."The more I listen to the people around us, the more confused I got, until the moment I saw the curly red haired guy walking to the main pathway's direction."The principal's son..?" Raven muttered as she is looking at the guy in awe."Hm?" The guy's blue eyes meets Raven's, creating a moment of connection between the two that one would normally see in romantic movies.'Ah.'I suddenly remembered this specific scenario.From the beginning of the game itself, Raven meets the first male lead of the story.'Nomase Rosenberg. The student council president appointed early on as soon as he transferred, not only that but he's also the school principal's son who is destined to take over.''Well, he's basically a Cinderella overnight, if anything his personality is troublesome to deal with.''He's like one of those quiet guys who tries to act rough, but in reality he is indecisive and gets swayed easily.''I would know.''Since I couldn't get a proper ending with him. Really, he's just a pain in the ass.'While I continue to let my thoughts think over, Nomase has already made his way to face Raven."You. Your skirt is a little too short. Didn't you listen to the school rules? It's supposed to be below the knee, not above." Nomase says as soon as he points it out to Raven."Huh? Umm.. I.." Raven looks down at her uniform, completely unaware that her skirt appears too short."Wah.. poor girl.""So unlucky of her, haha..""Glad I'm not her."I frown slightly as Raven couldn't come up with a reply."Are you deaf? Or are students like you just plain stupid?" Nomase says with a frown."Hold on." I decided to interfere on the spot without hesitation."..?" Both Nomase and Raven looked at me as if I was a ghost who suddenly appeared out of nowhere."Isn't it too far to call her 'stupid' just for something like this?" I argued, still trying to keep a calm demeanor despite being annoyed with just his presence alone."... She's stupid for not following a simple rule. Isn't that valid enough?" Nomase frowns as he starts to face me."You must be new here, Mr. Trust-Fund Kid." I say with a smile as gentle as a prickly flower."..." Nomase froze, in fact all of them did as soon as I called him that. "Ha..?" Nomase adds as his eyes widen in annoyance."You're the principal's kid, right? You shouldn't insult students this early in the morning." I say to him as it giving a kind advice to not cause trouble."... I'm merely pointing out that her unifor-" Nomase tries to defend himself but I cut him off."Come on now, it's not even noticeable, right? Let's see here." I leaned down to point at Raven's skirt, which surprised Nomase and Raven."E-estelle?" Raven was confused and flustered as I remained lower next to her."See? It's neither above or below. It's just on her knee length." I say with a smile, I didn't care how I look as I got up again and take a step to Nomase."She's been in this school for three years, basically she's a senior who's been here longer than you. So she has grown with this uniform, right? You would know since you're not 'stupid' yourself, right? That logic is valid too, right?" I continue as I start to feel everyone's gaze on me, but it didn't matter.They're all just a bunch of NPCs to me.And with that in mind, I cared less on how people will think of me."Now.. her uniform would seem less shorter, but only if that's what you're mostly paying attention to, right?" I continued on with a chuckle as I shrug in a laid back manner.Nomase's face got red out of embarrassment as everyone started murmuring on the image I've implemented for them to assume."T-this-- I wasn't-- I wasn't aiming for that!" Nomase tries to argue back."Oh! My bad! " I said as if trying to mock an apologetic reaction."It's just that, it's funny that you even pointed without in the first place. " I reply with a smile."... " Nomase was speechless as I turn back to Raven."Raven, should we ask the principal if we violated the rule? I'll come with you if you want. " I tell her with a reassuring smile."Eh? Uh.. " Raven is speechless as she looked at me."My bad. " Nomase instantly says as he lowers his head in apology to Raven who blinks in surprise.'Running away, huh? That's good. I only wanna scare him a little anyway. Involving any other adults might just backfire, so making a scene in front of every student present is the better option to make him feel some tinge of helplessness.''This could lead to some rumors to him and me but, if I'm going to save Raven, it's better to do it on full offense.'"Let's not waste the principal's time for this. Since this is only the second week of school, I'll let this be. Apologies for my rude behavior. I appeared too strict.""Haha, it's okay Mr. Trust-Fund Kid!" I say as I pat his shoulder.".. Y-you.. shouldn't call me that.." Nomase says in response as he holds onto his shoulder and rubs it as it I gave him a strong pat."Eh? Why not? You're a wealthy kid that is immediately given a position without working for it." I said, shamelessly so in front of his dumbfounded face."E-estelle..!" Raven tries to get me to stop but I just smile as innocently as possible while I feign in obliviousness."I-i.." Nomase stutters, clearly unable to deny the fact that everyone is aware of."Well, we'll go to class before we miss first period. Thank you for letting us off the hook!" I say and look at Raven."Uh.. we will go on ahead then." Raven says softly, as her eyes showa bit of hesitation and uncertainty for making Nomase go quiet.Feeling better for winning over an argument, I couldn't help but smile in triumphant victory as me and Raven turn our backs on Nomase who is probably looking at us with a feeling of defeat.TO BE CONTINUED