Misunderstandings

"H-Hey… C-Can you stand?"

Hm? I looked up at Asu, who was pouting as she extended a hand to me. Hmph. Why would you pout when I'm the one who's in pain? I subconsciously puffed up my cheeks in displeasure.

Ah… But I can't afford to act this way right now. What if she uses my actions just then to reject me?

I reluctantly grabbed onto her outstretched palm as I looked into her clear blue eyes that were devoid of impurities. However, even though her gestures were filled with grace, Asu must've been extremely embarrassed just then, because I recalled the way she stumbled over her words as she finally uttered "k-k-k-k-k-k-kiss!"

I smirked. "This reminds me of when we first met…" The same faked innocence; the same clear sapphire eyes.

As I spoke, I saw the panic that arose in her eyes and the guilt-ridden expression Asu showed as she looked away. It was so interesting, the way she was so selfish yet unconsciously selfless as well.

At this moment, she's probably having mixed feelings. On one hand, she feels guilty for tricking me with her 'goddess farce,' but on the other hand, she's cursing me a villainess for bringing up her dark history in the first place. And as an Asu-proclaimed villainess and a loyal Asu-simp, isn't it my right to ask for some compensation?

*VA note: Bruh. Lancera, why are you so slow? You've been saying that since day 1 of your pov. Just hurry up and—

Asu opened her mouth to protest, but she didn't make a sound. Finally, she hung her head and mumbled under her breath,"… F-Fine. What do you want?"

Got her!

"There's a festival in town a week from now… the Golden Song Festival, celebrating the Autumn Equinox…" I started. My voice trailed off as I realized that for the first time, I couldn't read Asu's thoughts. She looked happy at first, but like a mirage, her joy was replaced by an expression of discomfort, before her face went slack. But why would she feel discomfort?

Even with her denseness, she must've figured out by now that it's a date that I'm asking for.

… In the end, does she not want to be with me? Were all of the signals I saw before false?

I felt my lips and hands tremble, and I cast magic to soothe them.

It doesn't matter anymore. I already started, so I must continue. It's now or never.

I quickly churned my mind, looking for loopholes in my words would cause Asura Claremont, a rich and classy noble who is also the goddess divine to all the students at the Golden Rose Academy, to feel reluctant to go to the festival.

"The event organizers have prepared extensively as this is the first Golden Song Festival. The festival will mainly include performances by travelling magicians and the like, as well as various famous merchants from around the continent. It will be a good experience. You don't have to expose your identity either because it's a masked event. The event is on the evening of a Saturday, so you don't need to worry about school."

But even as I explained anxiously, Asu continued to avert her eyes, her arms crossed self-consciously by her chest.