CHAPTER 62: UNSEEN AFFECTION POINTS

Time trickled by as the reassessments continued, the courtyard gradually shifting from tense anticipation to quiet murmurs and drifting conversations. A few more students had their placements altered—some demoted with grim expressions, others walking away with stunned smiles as they rose to higher ranks. Yet among all the shuffling and recalibration, only a handful were pulled from Class 1-A. Aside from Marcus and Cynthia, the top class remained largely unchanged—a silent testament to its elite status.

By the time the sun hung high above, casting warm golden rays through the shifting clouds, a decision was made: the rest of the students were dismissed for lunch. No need to subject them all to hours of watching their peers rise or fall. Some found benches beneath shady trees; others wandered off to hidden corners of the expansive courtyard to enjoy a moment of rest.

Marcus, Victoria, and Cynthia found themselves seated within one of the academy’s many pristine gazebos—a white wooden structure nestled beside a koi pond, the kind of place designed for quiet conversations and long afternoons. The gazebo’s frame was intertwined with flowering vines that fluttered in the wind.

They sat in a loose triangle—Marcus on the right, Victoria on the left, and Cynthia at the center, legs crossed and elbows lazily propped on the armrests.

Leon had stormed off earlier, his pride—along with his uniform—drenched and disheveled from Cynthia’s explosive reassignment. Though several drying spells existed, someone of his princely status would never settle for less than a fresh set of clothing. Naturally, Maria had followed, her steps measured and quiet. She hadn’t said a word before disappearing after him, but the tension that lingered in her wake spoke volumes.

"So then..." Cynthia broke the silence with a grin tugging at the corners of her lips, her voice lilting with barely restrained curiosity. "How do you two know each other so well already?"

Her gaze shifted between them, a mischievous glint in her eyes that made Marcus immediately wary.

Marcus blinked. "Uh..."

A simple question, yet it sent a ripple of awkward energy through the air.

They were both seated casually, and yet the atmosphere inside the gazebo seemed to shift slightly—charged with something intangible. The koi splashed in the distance, as if eavesdropping on the awkwardness.

"We just happened to meet randomly and hit it off quite well..." Marcus replied, a subtle twitch in his voice betraying his uncertainty.

What the hell is this?

His gaze shifted—not toward Victoria directly, but to the empty air in front of him. A faint shimmer blinked into focus, only visible to him.

Victoria [Affection: Warm +12]

His eyes darted to Cynthia.

Cynthia [Affection: Friendly +5]

...

...

...

[New Objective: Reach +20 Affection Points]

Rewards:

-Emotion Scan Feature

-View Current Route Feature

Why would I ever need this?!

Before he could unravel the implications, Cynthia leaned back in her seat, tilting her head. Her grin widened.

"Somehow I don’t buy that," she said, amusement dancing in her voice. "No way you two could’ve gotten that close in just a few hours yesterday."

She squinted playfully at them.

Victoria laughed softly, lifting a few fingers to her lips. "It’s nothing much, I assure you. We just... happened to have a lot in common."

She said it with practiced ease, but Marcus noticed a flicker of hesitation behind her crimson eyes.

Cynthia didn’t miss it either.

"For someone who used to be known as the Ice Princess across pretty much everywhere, you’re actually quite sociable," Cynthia said with a sly look. "What gives?"

Victoria stiffened—barely, but it was there.

Crap. Guess I’ve been way too reckless lately...

Victoria thought

She forced a chuckle. "Well... I guess I decided to change a little?"

The laugh that followed was awkward, but Cynthia didn’t press—though her skeptical look didn’t fade either.

As the two girls continued chatting, their voices blending into a light-hearted exchange, Marcus sat like a statue, eyes locked on the translucent system screen floating in front of him.

"Emotion Scan Feature...?"

He muttered the words aloud without thinking.

Cynthia immediately turned to him, brows raised. "Said something?"

Marcus flinched. "It’s nothing..." he replied quickly, eyes still glued to the system interface as if it might start glowing red and explode.

Victoria raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "Doesn’t sound like nothing to me..."

Cynthia nodded in agreement, eyes narrowing in amusement. "Yeah... you’re being real shady right now. And you seem to be looking at Victoria for quite a while..."

A bead of sweat rolled down Marcus’s temple.

Guess I’m screwed.

Suddenly, the screen shimmered again.

[System Intervention]

[Dating System Hints Activated]

[Accept?]

Marcus stared at the blinking notification.

You’ve got to be kidding me.