1 The humming static of the System in my head sounded like a hard drive crashing. I held the rose out to Sebastian Caldwell. "For you." Sebastian—the boy who usually had every girl in the hallway swooning—seemed to have forgotten he was even hiding a flower of his own. I suppose when you’ve spent your whole life as the hunter, getting "hunted" back feels like a glitch in the matrix. After a long beat, he scratched the back of his neck, his cocky facade finally cracking. "Thanks," he muttered. He pulled his own rose from behind his back and handed it to me, his hooded, dark eyes shimmering with that familiar, flirtatious charm. "A fair trade." I shook my head. I took his rose, and with a swift flick of my wrist, I tapped the two flowers together. Suddenly, they were bound by a silk ribbon I’d seemingly pulled from thin air. I placed both of them back into his hand. "Now you have two. Both for you." Sebastian blinked, completely thrown. He hadn’t planned for a second act. "Why?" he asked, his voice a little breathless. The System finally rebooted, screaming: [Host! You have to be demure! Playing hard to get is the only way to hook a guy like Sebastian!] Demure? Understood. That meant I shouldn't be clingy or force a connection. I took a step back, creating space. "Because I like you," I said simply. The System: [...] To be thorough, I added, "And I like giving beautiful things to people I like." If emotions had a physical form, I’m pretty sure steam would have been pouring out of Sebastian’s ears right then. He gripped the roses so hard the stems probably bruised, turned on his heel without another word, and bolted down the hall. I watched the tips of his ears glow red as he disappeared into the crowd. Did I do that right? I asked the System. The System stayed silent for a beat before whispering: [That was... a pro move. 10/10.] 2 In my previous life, I died on stage. A teammate’s mistake during a high-stakes escape act cost me everything. When I woke up in this world, I was told I had a mission to "subdue" the second male lead. Honestly? I didn't care much about the mission. I was just happy to be alive and able to perform again. The next few days of "pursuing" Sebastian were actually quite fun. The System told me that the way to a man's heart was through his stomach and constant attention. I decided to follow the advice—in my own way. "Morning, Sebastian. I brought you breakfast." I sat in the desk in front of him before first period, placing a single hard-boiled egg on his desk. Sebastian looked at the egg, then at me. He seemed to be remembering our rose encounter because he looked guarded. He let out a cold, sharp laugh. "You're bringing me breakfast, and it's just... an egg?" "What else do you like?" I asked. "I don't know," he snapped. "A bagel?" I waved my hand over the egg. Suddenly, a toasted, buttered bagel appeared in its place. Sebastian’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. "I—I meant a coffee!" Another flick of the wrist. The bagel was gone; a steaming cup of dark roast sat there instead. "Holy shit... I meant... I meant pancakes!" This time, I didn't move. Seeing that I had finally "run out" of magic, he leaned back in his chair, a triumphant smirk returning. "Ran out of tricks, didn't you, Magician?" I nodded solemnly. "If you really want pancakes, Sebastian, I can go down to the cafeteria and buy them for you right now." Silence fell over him again. He slowly sat up straight, clearing his throat. "Just... give the bagel back." With a wave, the bagel reappeared. "This is fine. Don't go buying anything else. You're annoying," he grumbled, though he immediately started eating. I watched the flush creep up his neck and smiled to myself. [Host, didn't you actually have the pancakes ready?] the System asked. The secret to magic isn't just the trick, I replied. It’s about making someone happy and surprised, not just giving them whatever they demand. 3 A few weeks into my "pursuit," the midterms arrived. When the rankings were posted on the bulletin board, Sebastian wasn't his usual smug self. He didn't say much, but he refused the coffee I brought him that morning. I looked at the top of the list: 1. Adrian Miller 2. 3. Sebastian Caldwell 4. [The Hero and the Rival are always at each other's throats,] the System explained. [They fight for the top spot in grades, and in the original story, they both fight for the female lead's heart. Sebastian is her childhood friend, but he can never beat Adrian, the "Destined One."] I nodded. The System had mentioned that the female lead, Sophie Bennett, would be transferring here soon. In the original plot, Sebastian gets so distracted chasing Sophie that his grades slip, he never beats Adrian again, and he eventually moves abroad, bitter and broken-hearted, only to die young and alone. I came to two conclusions. One: Confidence is key. I needed to rebuild Sebastian’s ego. Two: Happiness is essential. I needed to make him smile. I found him skipping class, sitting on a bench under a sprawling oak tree at the edge of campus. When he saw me approaching, he immediately closed his eyes. "Can you just leave me alone for five minutes?" 4 I didn't say a word. I just sat down quietly on the other end of the bench and pulled a small, black plastic jar from my pocket. "Sebastian," I said softly. "Let me show you a trick." He opened one eye, looking ready to snap at me—until he saw me shake the jar. A single large die inside suddenly shattered into a dozen tiny dice with a rhythmic clack. He sat up, his curiosity getting the better of his brooding. "How?" "There's a magnet in the lid that holds the shell of the big die, and the little ones are hidden inside," I explained. I reset the trick and handed it to him. "You try." Sebastian gave it a firm shake. But instead of a dozen tiny dice, a single wrapped strawberry candy fell into his palm. His hand shook slightly. He wouldn't look at me. "Doing all this useless stuff for what..." But when he unwrapped the candy, he froze. Tucked inside the wrapper was a tiny slip of paper. It read: You're always #1 in my book. I designed the trick. The System helped me with the note. [Host, do you think he’s going to cry?] the System asked. [I think I’m going to cry.] Ignoring the System's weird electronic sobbing, I quietly ate the breakfast Sebastian had rejected. Sebastian eventually composed himself. He kept his head down for a long time, crushing the candy wrapper and the note into his fist. Then he stood up, his movements stiff as he started walking back toward the main building. "Sebastian?" I followed him. "Where are you going?" "You're so annoying," he said, his voice unsteady. "I'm going back to class. To study. Obviously." He walked a little faster, putting some distance between us. "And stop chasing me. I'm not... I'm not into high school romances. I don't date." I stopped in my tracks. Has he never had a girlfriend? [Correct, Host. Sebastian Caldwell follows the 'Peacock Rule': Flirt with everyone, commit to no one. Honestly? He’s a bit of a fraud.] I nodded. Recently, I noticed he hadn't been talking to any other girls at all. 5 "Hi everyone, I’m Sophie Bennett. I’m looking forward to getting to know all of you." At the front of the classroom, the original female lead was introducing herself. I glanced at Sebastian. He wasn't looking at his notebook anymore. He was gripping his pen, staring at Sophie. Sophie, meanwhile, was looking at the front row—at Adrian Miller. And Adrian? Adrian was looking... at me. What? [Host, Host! Eyes on the prize! Look away!] the System panicked. "Who were you looking at?" Sebastian’s voice came from beside me, low. I quickly looked down. "Checking for teachers in the hall." I picked up a deck of cards and did a flashy one-handed shuffle. "Didn't want to get caught with these." The trick worked; his attention shifted to my hands. "Teach me that after class," he muttered. "Okay." After Sophie joined the class, things got noisy. Since she sat diagonally from Sebastian, I could hear their constant bickering. "Sebastian, can you show me how to do this last problem?" "Are you stupid? It's easy. Go away." I looked down at my own worksheet. It was a barren wasteland. I hadn't answered a single question. [Looks like Sebastian doesn't like 'stupid' girls,] the System noted. A second later, my worksheet was snatched off my desk. Sebastian stared at the blank page. "Why haven't you started?" "I don't know how," I admitted. I was bracing for a "stupid" comment, but instead, Sebastian pulled his chair closer. "Which one?" I pointed at a random question. Sebastian began explaining the first question on the English Lit quiz—a basic multiple-choice question—with the intensity of a surgeon. My palms started to sweat. The System sighed. [I take back what I said earlier. The Peacock has a double standard.] 6 Sebastian looked after Sophie, and occasionally, Sophie would bring him breakfast. With Sophie’s muffins on his desk, Sebastian started turning down my breakfast. "Just eat it yourself," he’d mutter. "You're getting too thin anyway..." [What a waste,] the System lamented. [You spent all night practicing that new coin trick.] I took a bite of my own bagel. "It's fine." "Hey, Sebastian told me you do magic!" After class, Sophie sat in the seat in front of mine. I blinked, then nodded. "Can you show me one? He tried to do one for me the other day—he said you taught him." Before I could even process that, Sebastian was there, grabbing Sophie by the shoulder and pulling her up. "Why are you bothering her? Go back to your seat." "Ugh, let go! I just want to see a trick!" Sebastian frowned and looked at me. I shook my head. "It's okay." I stood up and pulled a rubber band from my wrist. I asked Sophie to hold out her index finger. I looped the band around her finger, then mine, pressing our fingertips together. With my other hand, I gave a sharp tug. The rubber band passed right through our fingers and ended up dangling from my thumb. Sophie’s eyes went wide. Before she could gasp, I flicked the rubber band into the air. When it landed back in my hand, it was a lollipop. I handed it to her and gave her a small smile. Sophie’s face turned bright red. "Th—thank you..." she stammered. "That was incredible." 7 When school ended, Sebastian’s hand slammed onto my desk. "Why did you do that for Sophie?" he demanded. He leaned in closer. "Aren't you... jealous? Of her and me?" The System coached me: [Host, be magnanimous!] "You like her," I told him. "If she's happy, you're happy. And if you're happy, then I'm happy to help." Sebastian looked like he had been struck by lightning. He stood frozen, then looked down, covering his face. "Are you actually an idiot?" He looked moved—deeply, strangely moved. "It’s not like I 'like' her like that," he explained, his voice soft. "We grew up together. I’m just supposed to look out for her." He looked away. "Is there... anything you want?" "What?" "A gift," he muttered. "I can't just let you be all 'noble' and 'suffering' for nothing." The System was screaming: [This is it! The ROMANTIC UPGRADE!] I thought about it seriously. I looked into Sebastian’s eyes. "Can I hold your hand? Just for a second?" Sebastian stiffened. He turned his head away, and for a moment, I thought I had overstepped. But then, his hand slowly slid across the desk toward mine. I smiled and reached out, but I didn't grab his hand. I just gently hooked my index finger around his. Sebastian’s breathing hitched. Even with his head turned, I could see the feverish red on his cheeks. "Don't get the wrong idea," he whispered. "I told you, I don't date in high school." He looked at me, almost waiting for me to argue. I nodded solemnly. "I understand. I promise I won't try to be your girlfriend." Sebastian suddenly looked like a deflated balloon. I asked the System why. [I don't know, maybe he’s hungry?] the System guessed. 8 It was the class president’s birthday, and the whole group ended up at a karaoke lounge. Sebastian, Sophie, Adrian, and I were all there. Sebastian had declined the "Truth or Dare" game, calling it "childish." Adrian Miller, surprisingly, agreed to play. I drew the card. Adrian was the interrogator. In the corner of the dim room, I felt Sebastian’s gaze snap toward us. "Truth," I said. Adrian leaned forward. "Is there someone you like?" The room went deathly quiet. In the shadows, I saw Sebastian shift in his seat. I thought about it. If I said yes, the next person would inevitably ask who. That would put Sebastian in an awkward spot. He’d told me he didn't want a relationship. "No," I said. Sebastian stood up abruptly. The chair screeched against the floor. He was already turning, his jaw set as he stormed out of the private room.
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