Feelings are Not a Game

"Really..."

Raphiel didn't continue the issue of Gabriel blaming herself.

"Since you find it somewhat challenging to conquer him, how about changing your approach?"

Looking at Gabriel, whose pain in the palm of her hand should have diminished, Raphiel continued to suggest.

"By what means?"

Gabriel became intrigued by what she said.

"Use task methods, just like you're playing a game." Suggested Raphiel.

"How do I do that? Are you going to use magic to create a mission panel for me?" Gabriel complained, "Even if I create it, there's no way to determine Kamikawa's strategy progress. It's entirely something that can't be done."

Raphiel explained, "Who said we have to use that method? What I mean is to conquer Kamikawa gradually, step by step. Even if you can't conquer him, that's okay. It's just an effort."

"Then tell me. If it feels good, it's not impossible to try."

Gabriel still had some unrealistic fantasies in her heart, like Ren taking the initiative to confess to her.

She still had a dream, in case the dream came true.

"First of all, are you sure Kamikawa always has no expression on his face?" Raphiel asked.

"Of course. I've never seen him smile before."

Gabriel nodded quickly; she was very concerned about this issue.

"Then the first step is to make him smile." Raphiel said smoothly, "This shouldn't be too difficult, right?"

"Not sure, who knows what's going on with him."

Gabriel couldn't determine the difficulty level of this issue, but judging from Ren's usual appearance, it should be a very difficult task to make him smile.

"That won't be easy to deal with." Raphiel sighed.

"Wait, let me ask him first."

After saying this, Gabriel turned to look at Ren, "Kamikawa, can you smile?"

"What does that mean?"

Looking up, Ren didn't understand what she was saying.

"It's just the most ordinary smile. Can you do something like this?"

Gabriel showed a smile and demonstrated to him.

"Capable."

If a natural smile is not required, Ren can do it very easily.

"Then why don't you even smile?" Gabriel expressed his doubt.

"I don't want to pretend to smile."

"A fake smile?"

Gabriel and Raphiel both paid attention to this keyword.

"If I didn't ask you to fake a smile, could you do it?" Gabriel frowned and asked anxiously, "It's a very natural smile, like the smile I usually do."

"..."

Ren didn't answer and remained silent.

Naturally changing expressions is something he could never do.

Gabriel realized the problem and asked again, "When was the last time you naturally smiled?"

"Five years ago." Ren answered without hesitation.

He remembered the trip to Kyoto five years ago very clearly.

"The problem seems to be quite serious."

Raphiel didn't expect Ren to smile naturally five years ago.

"So what happened to you during this time that made you unable to smile naturally?" Gabriel asked.

"..."

Ren continued to be silent; he didn't want to tell the story of being imprisoned for ten years.

"Of course, something happened."

Gabriel whispered; his reaction was enough to explain everything.

"Okay, you can keep playing on your phone. I was just asking. You don't need to care."

She learned more information from him, but Gabriel was very pleased.

It's hard for her to imagine what happened to Ren that made him unable to smile naturally.

Intensive training?

But his usual behavior was very different.

Ren didn't even know common sense, and Gabriel would never believe it if he said he was trained.

"Um."

Ren lowered his head again.

"It seems that making him smile is a very difficult task. Let's change the task." Raphiel said, "Let me think of something simple that can be a first step."

"I don't reject the task of making him smile." Gabriel interrupted.

"So, are you planning to carry out this mission?"

"At least try. If I give up so easily, I'll feel sorry for him." Gabriel changed the topic, "But what is the mission reward? If there's no reward, my motivation will be greatly reduced."

"The mission reward depends on what Kamikawa gives you. I just gave you advice. Can I also be responsible for the mission reward?" Raphiel said helplessly.

"If that's the case, I might understand the meaning of your method." Gabriel said slowly with a cold gaze, "It means I will give tasks to myself, such as accompanying him to some place to conquer Kamikawa, and the reward for the mission is to see how his feelings toward me change?"

"Maybe that's what you mean." Raphiel agreed.

"No, I refuse this approach."

After receiving her clarification, Gabriel's expression changed immediately.

"Why? Didn't you really want him to show progress in his strategy and tasks?" Raphiel was a bit confused about why she refused. "Although there's no real progress in the strategy, having tasks like this isn't a bad thing."

"Because his feelings are not a game." Gabriel said very seriously, "If I approach him with the mentality of doing a task, do you think such behavior can be called liking?"

"..."

Raphiel rarely fell silent, and after a few moments, she continued to ask, "Then why do you still want to make him smile?"

"Did I say what's next? What I said just now is I don't reject, but I didn't say I'll accept it."

Gabriel is also good at wordplay.

"So what do you mean?"

"I will make him smile again. I'm doing it not for the mission you mentioned but just to make him smile."

"What's the difference?"

"The difference is significant. At least I really want him to smile again."

Gabriel looked at Ren, whose head was still bowed and expressionless, and tried hard to imagine what she would look like when he smiled.

Unfortunately, she couldn't imagine it.

But it would surely look good.

"Suddenly, I feel like I don't understand you at all."

Raphiel shook her head and sighed.

"Also, I've confirmed one more thing." Gabriel said immediately.

Raphiel was a bit curious: "What is it?"

"You actually don't like Kamikawa. You lied to me when you said you liked him before."

Gabriel was confident about this.

"Why are you so sure this time?"

"Keep it a secret."

Gabriel followed Raphiel's usual behavior and said this with a smile.