Outline:
Forced into a "romantic rival arc" by the system, Mira and Elaria find themselves in increasingly ridiculous bonding scenarios. But instead of hating each other, they connect—through sarcasm, brutal honesty, and a shared distaste for being puppets. As the scripted tension turns into genuine complexity, Mira makes a radical move: inviting Elaria to leave the story behind.
---
"I can't believe this is an actual arc," Mira muttered as she sat across from Elaria at the café table labeled *'Mandatory Rival Tea Scene'*.
Elaria tilted her head, her curls bouncing perfectly. "Oh Mira, teehee~ Don't glare like that! People might think we're flirting."
"We're literally surrounded by floating hearts."
Indeed, holographic pink petals and sparkles danced around them like desperate visual effects.
> Scene Directive: BUILD SEXUAL TENSION WITH RIVAL
> Suggested Action: Light Touch → Surprise Blush → Forced Denial
Mira deadpanned. "If I touch her, I swear I'm doing it to check for weapons."
Elaria giggled. "Plot says we're supposed to fight over Rion."
Mira blinked. "We both know that man is emotionally unavailable, right?"
Elaria's expression flickered.
Then she whispered, "Do you... ever get tired of pretending?"
That wasn't in the script.
Mira leaned back.
"Every day."
They sat in silence.
Then Elaria sighed. "I used to be part of a romance game. I had routes. Choices. I mattered. Then they shoved me in here to 'balance the cast'."
Mira blinked. "You remember that?"
"I shouldn't," Elaria said. "But lately... it's like I have echoes. Flashbacks. I keep dreaming about a bakery that doesn't exist."
Mira took a breath.
"The system is trying to anchor you here. Because if you start *thinking*—"
"I become a threat," Elaria finished. "Just like you."
The sparkles around them started glitching.
The background music loop skipped twice.
> WARNING: SCENE DETERIORATION
> SUGGESTED ACTION: INSERT CATFIGHT OR CUPCAKE WAR
Mira reached forward and knocked over the cupcake tray.
"Oops," she said, deadpan.
Elaria smirked. "How clumsy of you. I guess now we have to wrestle in frosting."
They burst out laughing.
Somewhere, a reader stats gauge spiked.
> Fan Reaction: 'GAY PANIC INCREASED BY 37%'
> System Confusion: Moderate
---
That night, Mira found Elaria sitting alone in the observatory tower.
No lights. Just the fake moon hanging above them.
"You came," Elaria said quietly.
"Wouldn't miss it."
They sat side by side, not touching, just... breathing.
"I don't want to be 'cute chaos girl' anymore," Elaria said. "I want a plot that isn't made of tropes."
"I don't want a plot," Mira said. "I want a choice."
Elaria turned to her.
"What if we ran?"
Mira blinked. "That was my line."
"No, really. What if we left the genre? Screwed the arc. Skipped the system entirely."
"And go where?"
"I don't know," Elaria said. "But maybe together?"
Pause.
Then Mira smirked.
"Oh no. Don't tell me the system accidentally shipped us with each other."
"I think... it might have."
They both laughed.
Somewhere in the system control room, emergency protocols activated.
> SUSPICIOUS DIALOGUE DETECTED
> RIVAL ARC DERAILING
> DEPLOYING TENSION CORRECTION NPC...
---
In the hallway below, a new character spawned.
Male. Handsome. Brooding. Overpowered.
> Name: Kael Dravenhart
> Role: Anti-Harem Savior
> Traits: Brooding | Sword Daddy | Will Fix You (™)
He walked toward the tower, eyes glowing.
"Time to reset the tension."
But he was already too late.
Mira and Elaria?
They were laughing at the stars.
Together.