The strange combination of people wasn't as awkward as I thought it would be. With a single clap of his hands, Augustus played his role and spoke.

"Should we introduce ourselves? I don't think we all know each other."

"I'll begin." The villainess placed a hand on her intricate cravat. "My name is Milana Kinlissan."

Her friend went next, although I couldn't see her very well. "I'm Krisha Umal."

Umal? Umal, Umal...That pretentious noble house?

"Elinka Cote." The redhead tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Shion. Maliki," I added.

"Yohan Irwan."

"And I'm Augustus Ervinheart!" The golden boy's boisterous self-introduction was a stark contrast to his friend's low answer. "Perfect. Should we all get something to eat?"

"Actually," Krisha suddenly stood up, allowing me to see her giggling countenance, "I'd like to treat everyone today, if that's okay?"

"Oh, is there a special occasion?" Augustus asked.

"No, I just feel like it!"

Elinka fluttered around, staring up at the noble with anxiety lacing her voice.

"Are you sure? That's so generous!"

Krisha's grin subtly morphed as she looked down at the heroine. My eyes shifted away from the expected expression. Any noble ever invited to any of her family's lavish parties knew that the girl held a certain...attitude.

"It's perfectly fine. So, what would everyone like? I'll go order."

A round of gratitude went around the table, a "thanks" slipping past my own lips as everyone shot off their dishes of choice.

"A breadbowl for Shion," Elinka turned away from me, her hands grasping together before her chest, "And the spaghetti for me, please!"

Krisha gave an affirmation, twirling away towards the line at the far end of the hall.

The heroine and her favorite love interest didn't waste time, jumping right into a conversation about classes - chemistry, specifically, a class I wasn't taking. Yohan chimed in once in a while, although I wasn't sure whether his unchanging stare symbolized his love or his frustration.

The villainess and I, meanwhile, watched on like bricks. Our gazes met at one point, but her eyes quickly shifted back to her sleek phone.

That's a thin phone case. Is it a fashion choice? Isn't she scared it'll break?

"I'm back!" Krisha's call rang out, the girl daintily balancing two trays in her hands.

Elinka shot up, helping the woman set the trays on the table. A second wave of thanks rushed around the group, everyone helping themselves with what they had ordered. Except...

"There are...two clam chowder breadbowls?" I asked.

"Yes? Is something wrong?" Krisha innocently questioned.

"Nope, nothing's wrong!" Elinka nudged me, grabbing one of the breadbowls.

Didn't she order spaghetti?

The matter was promptly forgotten, though, everyone digging into their meals as they chatted. I managed to throw in a couple of words into the conversation, as did the villainess. I didn't bother talking more; the food was good enough to keep me busy.

Ten minutes had probably passed when I accidentally saw the heroine's dish: the breadbowl was obviously nibbled on, but the soup seemed untouched.

Why isn't she eating?

She animatedly listened to whatever the villainess was describing; I almost saw smoke rising above her head from her unwavering concentration.

The clam chowder's nice tho-...Clam chowder?

The night from a couple of weeks ago flashed through my mind.

Does she have a shellfish allergy?

Silver caught my eye, and my fingers immediately grasped my phone to type out a text. I had barely considered my next course of action when the villainess uttered a question.

"Elinka - what a fabulous name, by the way - why aren't you eating?"

"Oh," the girl gave a nervous laugh. A brief but disagreeable silence followed as everyone waited for her answer.

Love interest #2 still didn't check his phone. Without a second thought I kicked my leg out, hitting my target under the table.

Yohan turned his head towards me, leaning back to peek under the table and then looking back up at me.

"Why did you kick me?"

If possible, the silence now felt heavier as it sat on my shoulders. Their stares stuck to my skin like chicken oil: uncomfortable and irritatingly hard to get rid of.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I bluffed, my eyes desperately indicating at my phone by my hand.

"No, I'm sure you kicked me."

My smile stiffened.

I should've kicked him harder.

The stupid eccentric wasn't getting the hint!

"I see. Sorry about that, then."

Sorry you're so dense!

"It's alright," he waved uncaringly, as if he didn't just expose me in front of everyone.

It's not alright! Reimburse me for emotional distress!

"Anyways," Milana took no time to reset her sights on Elinka, "Does the breadbowl not suit your tastes?"

"Oh!" The redhead's hands hid under the table. "No, it's not that...it's not that it doesn't suit my tastes," a worried smile graced her lips.

...Why isn't she explaining her situation? It's not something to be ashamed of.

I peered at Krisha, my gaze shifting to the villainess.

Should I speak up? They can't really affect me.

The Kinlissan family business didn't overlap with my brother's while Krisha didn't have the power to throw her weight around other nobles.

I opened my mouth, only to punctually shut it.

"Are you allergic to clam?" Augustus asked.

Leave it up to the main love interest to get it right.

Love interest #2 was the rightful victim of my unconscious glare. He seemed to notice that, shockingly, his flat lips skewing.

"Well...yes. To shellfish, actually," Elinka finally confessed.

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Yohan murmured with obvious concern.

"Krisha! Did you make a mistake when ordering?" The villainess turned on her friend, her delicate brows furrowing.

"No? How could I make a simple mistake like that?" Krisha spoke out feverously. I couldn't see her face, but her voice betrayed a hint of prideful glee.

"Why would someone choose a dish they're allergic to?" Milana deadpanned, then sighed. "You really went too far this time. You should apologize."

"What?" 

"No!"

Krisha and Elinka spoke simultaneously, the latter quickly continuing. 

"No, that's not necessary! I'm okay, really!"

The golden boy and the masked eccentric both examined the redhead with worry. They then exchanged another look, coming to some sort of conclusion. 

The blonde laughed, effortlessly smoothing over the situation.

"Elinka said it's fine, so it's fine. Krisha'll just get it right the next time she treats us, right?" He smiled a dazzling smile, getting a stupefied nod from Krisha. 

Convenient. 

***

A dusty flyer lay on the ground, the faded letters almost indiscernibly spelling out "Green Team." The man walking ahead of me didn't seem to notice it, walking over the paper as he passed by. I stepped around it, although it was mostly for my own self-respect. 

The villainess was right: it is incredibly dull. Well, that's why our team's been jobless for a month...

"Lunch was stressful today, sorry...," Elinka looked down as we walked, her long hair dancing in the breeze.

I shifted my gaze, turning towards the big gates at the end of the avenue. 

"You should have said you're allergic right away."

"I know!" Her exasperation was clearly audible. "I know. I wanted to, just...," she trailed off.

I waited patiently, admiring the way the sun glinted off of the metal in the distance. Petals seemed to drift around us with every step, a couple smacking my face. The heroine, though, was unharmed, the plants showing clear favoritism and landing gently in her hair.

At least they smell nice.

"I just didn't feel like I needed to point it out. She went out of her way to treat us and I didn't want her to feel bad about getting something wrong."

My mouth twisted, my eyes shooting up and to the side, half in humor, half in annoyance. Her naivety was endearing, but I wished luck for whoever had to deal with it in the future. 

Oh, Augustus. I should be wishing luck to Augustus. 

"She wouldn't have felt bad. Next time just be straightforward," I managed to answer.

Or is it Yohan...? No, his mountain is insurmountable. I'll wish him luck in his attempts, though. Whoops, that doesn't sound like something a matchmaker would say... 

"Really? I see...," the protagonist mumbled. Her voice took a light turn, the girl randomly skipping twice at my side. "But Milana was so nice!"

"Milana?" I paused in surprise, quickly resuming my steps when Elinka glanced back at me in question.

"Yep!" She leaned towards me, her words turning into a whisper. "I know it's rude, but she always looks so...aloof, and I thought she didn't like me. But I was wrong!" She exclaimed. "She actually went so far for me today!"

"She did?" I dumbly echoed.

"Yes! It was a little scary, but she stood up for me. When she was speaking to Krisha - about her getting my order wrong, remember?"

"Oh. That." I watched the redhead skip ahead of me again, reaching our bikes with a smile. 

Does she really think she didn't know what would happen?

A/N: ooooooooooOOOOOOoooooooo i am procrastinating.