The Heroine and Capture Targets: Entrance Ceremony Meet-Cute Event

On the day of the entrance ceremony—

Koleha lurked in the shadows on academy grounds, watching intently.

In her sights: a beautiful blonde girl wandering aimlessly.

The 'Heroine'—Summer, transformed beyond recognition with makeup and hairpieces.

She'd used the high-end cosmetics favored by villainesses… and in front of the mirror had gasped, "This… is me!?" A classic scene. Koleha was impressed—how very Heroine-like.

She'd stationed Summer in the plaza "a short walk from the main gate," where the meet-cute event should trigger.

Koleha was certain she had the place right. This park-like plaza, with the school building visible in the distance, matched exactly what she'd seen from the Heroine's first-person perspective in the VR game.

… Like a pilgrimage to a holy site, it even moved her a little.

So, what would happen here now—

"Hm? You there, are you a new student?"

His Highness Harks Daido, a capture target sparkling needlessly, approached to speak with her.

Accompanying him was his aide, Kenho Cthugha: the muscle-brained son of the knight commander, sporting spiky red hair befitting his fire attribute.

He had just enough muscle to just barely still be called lean and was popular with older ladies who had a thing for muscles.

"Y-yes. I am a new student. Um, and you are…?"

"Ah. I'm also a new student… but what are you doing here? The ceremony is about to start. Come, let's go."

"Y-yes!"

Summer delivered the lines Koleha had taught her, a touch wooden.

It was stiff enough to be concerning, but would surely come across as charming nervousness.

After all, she was the Heroine!

"Hm? You there…"

"Hya!?"

"Your Highness, you shouldn't stare at ladies like that, yeah?"

"Ah, my apologies. I couldn't place your face. I thought I'd memorized the faces and names of all new students."

Koleha grew excited, thinking "Oh! This is the first 'face look' of the OP event, desu wa!"

In the VR game Face☆Meet, the Heroine could stare all she wanted at capture targets' faces and vice versa.

Every time their eyes met, affection rose.

"Ah — well, I'm a commoner, so it's only natural you don't know my name."

"… Hmm. True, if you're not a noble, you won't be in the registry. But with that face, I'd have sworn you were a noble."

"P-perish the thought!"

Koleha watched, satisfied—"Yes yes, I saw this in the game!"

If she had to lodge one complaint, Harks' form of address was "sonata" rather than "kisama". But that was a trivial difference.

Next would be the name entry: the Heroine would give her name—

(… Ah. We never decided on a name!?)

A fatal oversight at this late hour!!

If Summer gave her real name, she'd be exposed as Koleha's maid.

A fake name would raise suspicion if it wasn't in the registry.

And Koleha, hiding, couldn't do anything! She could only leave it to Summer's judgment!

"And your name?"

"Eh!? U-um…"

Summer glanced repeatedly toward the bushes where Koleha hid.

Koleha mouthed, "Ad-lib! Make it sound good!"—a reckless order.

"Hm? Is there something over there?"

"N-no, um! H—Hiiro Inn."

"Inn… Hmm. There was an Innsmouth family, wasn't there. Are you related?"

"W-who knows? I've never seen the family tree."

Summer's solution was a stopgap at best.

If he checked the rolls later, the lie would be exposed at once. But if Harks didn't check, she'd get away with it.

(There's no way he'd check a commoner's name. Good choice, Summer!)

Koleha nodded in the bushes.

Perhaps the motion made a sound—Harks turned toward the shrubbery where she hid.

Koleha hastily held her breath. It felt like playing Red Light, Green Light. Just look at the Heroine already, or leave! The event's over! She watched tensely from her hiding spot.

"Hm? Something wrong, Harks?"

"… No, just a cute violet blooming. We should be going or we'll be late. Hiiro, was it? Hurry so you're not late."

"Ah, yes."

Harks departed with Kenho toward the auditorium.

"… O-Ojou-sama! I really can't do this! I'm super suspicious!"

"Hey! This is the scene where you gaze after the prince and murmur, 'Your Highness Harks…'! Also, you did pretty well! It's fine, he's an idiot!"

Koleha scolded and encouraged the fretting Summer.

"N-no, Ojou-sama! Calling the prince an idiot is a bit much!"

"But Summer, you were face-to-face at that distance and he didn't notice you even though he knows you."

"That is… true?"

"The plan is perfect! We proceed just like this, Summer — no, Hiiro Inn!"

"Ahh, we're sticking with that improvised name, huh. Well, I already gave it to the prince, so it can't be helped… Ah! We'll really be late!"

"Oops."

It would be bad for the prince's fiancée to be late. She had to remain the perfect fiancée so nothing would tarnish her eventual serves-you-right moment.

"Let's hurry, Hiiro!"

"Ah, um, I guess that's my nickname now… Ah, Ojou-sama, leaves! You've got leaves all over you! I'll brush them off, so please walk quickly without moving too much!"

Koleha and Summer quickened their pace to the ceremony and made it in time.

—And thus, the game began.