The Sidekick Shenanigans : Balancing Support in The World of Romance

Softly, a feminine voice called out a name.

"Prince, Prince Lysander."

A seven-year-old child slowly opened his eyes from deep slumber, lying on a wide, plush bed that dwarfed his small frame.

His deep green eyes surveyed the room as he wiped away a thin trail of saliva from the corner of his mouth.

"Huh?"

Turning his head to the right, the child, known as Prince, quickly shut his eyes against the harsh sunlight streaming through the window, as a woman in a black uniform with a white apron flung open the curtains.

"Prince, did you forget? Her Majesty the Queen requested you to rise early today," the woman's gentle voice fully awakened Prince Lysander, prompting him to jump out of bed.

"Ahhh!"

Prince Lysander dashed out of the room in a flurry, his sudden movement causing the servants to start chasing after him.

"Wait, Your Highness!"

Unperturbed by the calls of the servants trailing behind him, Prince Lysander raced through the royal corridor, his eyes frantically scanning the surroundings. Upon reaching the end of the corridor, he came face to face with a towering, grand mirror and paused before it.

Breathless from his mad dash on his small legs, Prince Lysander studied his reflection, gingerly reaching up to touch his smooth, fair cheek, his eyes wide with a mix of childlike wonder and disbelief.

"...I...I AM LYSANDER?!"

The approaching servants also leaped in surprise upon hearing the young Prince's revelation.

Why am I Prince Lysander now?! Could this be the moment I entered the body of a fictional character from the game I was playing?

How did I end up here?!

I disregard the royal servants for now, allowing myself time to ponder this strange turn of events. Where are my memories? Please forgive for my egoism, Godㅡbut, I don't want to forget my old life!

Hm??

Ahh...ohhh!!! It's all coming back to me now.

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On that day, just like any other day spent as a melancholic 30-year-old man in a small town, I was returning home after a grueling day of corporate toil. I made a stop at the game store to purchase the latest release:

「 Seasonal Magical Love: Spring Premium Edition」

Naturally, as a penniless otaku, I could only afford the premium version after putting in hours of overtime, working like a horse in battle. Disregard my previous statement, I opted for the premium version due to its exclusive signatures from renowned voice actors and the esteemed game illustrator. Seasonal Love is a standard dating sim game with outstanding visuals, recognized for its considerable production expenses and active discussions within specialized online forums for otaku gamers.

The distinct feature in the adult version of the Seasonal Love premium edition differentiates it from the regular option, where players are limited to conventional romantic interactions typical of dating sim games. I indulged in the limited premium version with a mischievous chuckle.

The game boasts a decent storyline; in its regular format, players have the choice between two characters. This game has a compelling storyline. In the standard version, players must choose between two characters. Opting for the male character transforms the player into a destitute nobleman bereft of any magical talents, while selecting the female character turns them into an ordinary village girl possessing rare light and dark magic skills. Familiar plot, right?

As the tale progresses, both characters face their own challenges and attend the renowned magical academy, Clover Seas Academy. Yes, that's the one you were thinking about.

Hold on! I didn't bring up Hogwarts or any other magical institute because in the realm of Seasonal Love, the distinguished academy is called Clover Seas Academy. The game kicks off as the main character, also known as the player, enters the academy as a freshman at the age of 18.

Why are they 18 years old? Shouldn't they be 15, like in many famous games featuring teenagers?

Oh, you know the reason, hehehe.

Despite the game studio's apparent aim to create a typical eroge but make the game appealing to all teenagers, perhaps? Seasonal Love broke records as the top-selling visual novel dating sim game, with both its standard and premium versions selling out immediately.

Upon returning home, I found my parents fast asleep in their bedroom. without changing out of my smelly work clothes, I headed straight to my room to start playing the game.

What else could I do? It was a Friday, and with only two days and three nights of free time, I had to complete the game 100% without delay. Of course, that includes playing as both the male and female characters. Although I was taken aback when I heard the male character, who had been a friend in the male role, become one of the dating options when playing as the female character.

Despite that, using my skills as a dedicated gamer, I managed to finish the game in the early hours of Monday after playing continuously. I had to leave for work at seven in the morning. Turning off the console without removing the game cartridge, I headed straight to the shower, feeling disoriented from not having slept or eaten.

But it was incredibly satisfying, hehehe.

Grinning mischievously in front of the mirror after the shower, I tied my tie and adjusted my shirt and suit. I stumbled down the stairs from my room, bidding farewell to my parents, who were trying to keep me from heading to work.

Perhaps it was a parental instinct taking over. If I truly cared for both of them, I should have stayed home instead of going to work.

Whether it was due to a lack of sleep or blood sugar issues, I staggered towards the bus stop I usually used to get to the office. Without realizing it, my weakened body collapsed at the side of the road as the bus was turning towards the stop, just a few meters away.

Everything went dark.

My memory stopped there, my recollection as an adult male named-oh, I couldn't remember his name.

It appeared that this man's life was not lucky enough to secure the role as the main male or female character who would have the chance for relationships as in the game's storyline; instead, he found himself in the consciousness of Prince Lysander.

A supporting character destined to die for the character development of the main target of the female player character.

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" To Be Continue ? "