Yuuji adjusted his glasses and took a deep breath. Today was the day he'd begin tutoring Elira Vortemer, the cold-hearted, white-haired villainess who could probably kill a man with just one glare. Or at least make him wish she could.
He found her sitting on a stone bench in the academy garden, arms crossed, eyes as sharp and cold as freshly cut ice. Birds fluttered nervously around her like they knew she was the kind of person who could turn the sky dark just by sighing.
"Alright, Elira," Yuuji said, trying to keep his voice light. "Let's see what you got. No pressure, just don't set me on fire, okay?"
She lifted an eyebrow. "I don't need tutoring. I need you not to waste my time."
"Cool, cool," Yuuji replied, raising his hands like a hostage. "I'm here to help. So, uh... what's your biggest weakness?"
She smirked — the slightest crack in her ice-cold facade. "Stupid tutors."
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]:
Warning: Villainess is not cooperative.
Suggested Action: Deploy Charm Skill.
Estimated Success Rate: 0.2%
Yuuji sighed. "Fucking great."
Before he could start laying out his plans, a voice called from behind a tree.
"Trying to get roasted already, Sensei?"
Yuuji turned to see Roux Elvaniel, the half-elf bard with hair so shiny it practically had its own theme music. He was lounging casually, twirling his lute like a magic wand.
"Elira's lucky you're here to tutor her," Roux teased. "She scares off everyone else."
Elira shot Roux a glare sharp enough to pierce his ego. "Go charm some other poor bastard, Roux."
Yuuji grinned. "Well, at least I'm not the only one dealing with her."
Roux winked. "You're going to need more than charm, buddy."
Lesson One: Ice Queen 101
Yuuji flipped open his notebook, a collection of hastily scribbled notes and system-generated guides.
"So," he began, "spell formations. You know how to draw the basic circles?"
Elira's eyes rolled. "I could teach you."
"Right, right," Yuuji said, grinning. "But humor me, yeah?"
She finally leaned forward, pulling out a quill and parchment with perfect, elegant strokes. Watching her work was like watching an artist paint, except the canvas could explode at any moment.
"Okay, I'll admit — that's impressive," Yuuji muttered.
Elira smirked. "I'm not just a villainess. I'm a goddamn prodigy."
[SYSTEM ALERT]:
Villainess confidence level: Off the charts.
Suggestion: Lower expectations or buy body armor.
Yuuji nodded silently, wondering how many other tutors had ended up with singed eyebrows trying to bring her down a notch.
The Classmate Invasion
Just as Yuuji was about to suggest they start with some theory, footsteps echoed.
"Hey, Sensei!" came a voice. It was Theo Dorne, the merchant-class jokester who somehow made potion-making sound like stand-up comedy.
Yuuji winced. "What do you want, Theo?"
"Just checking in," Theo said with a grin. "Figured I'd see how the brave tutor's doing with the Ice Queen herself."
Elira didn't look amused. "You're interfering."
Theo raised his hands. "Nope, just providing moral support! And maybe snacks."
He pulled out a small pouch of suspicious-looking cookies.
"Are those poison?" Yuuji asked suspiciously.
"Only if you're boring," Theo winked.
Yuuji took one. It was surprisingly good.
Hours passed. Yuuji managed to avoid getting killed or humiliated — a small victory. Elira even cracked a joke about how he was the "worst tutor ever, but at least not useless."
"Progress," Yuuji muttered.
Just as they packed up, a shadow fell over them.
Leonhart Sylven, the knight route and embodiment of "I-will-protect-you-even-if-you-are-terrible-at-tutoring," stood there with arms crossed.
"Elira," he said, voice serious but not unkind, "your tutors are usually less... interesting."
Elira's eyes flickered with something Yuuji couldn't read.
Yuuji felt like a deer caught in a knight's glare. "Uh, hi?"
Leonhart nodded curtly. "Keep her in line."
Yuuji gulped.
Back in his dorm, Yuuji flopped onto his bed and stared at the ceiling.
"Why did I think tutoring a villainess would be chill?"
He opened the system menu and sighed.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]:
Reminder: This is not a game.
Pro Tip: Avoid death flags like the plague.
Objective: Survive, tutor, and maybe—just maybe—steal a little romance.
Yuuji grinned.
"Challenge accepted."