My Visual Novel System

Friends

He was already miserable enough in his role as the villain, but a mere exchange of glances between the two resulted in their affinity skyrocketing. The more Justus pondered over it, the more his anger grew. He had to establish a friendship with Azaria before her affinity with others reached new heights.

"Justus, we should head to the assembly hall," Lilyana reminded him cautiously.

Justus instinctively looked ahead and spotted Raiden Dominguez standing by the door, his gaze fixed on Azaria, as if he desired to accompany her. Azaria seemed to sense his gaze but remained seated, likely due to the ongoing cold war between them. Regardless of the reason behind their discord, it presented an opportunity for Justus to increase his affinity.

He gently patted Azaria's shoulder, and Azaria turned her head, her face full of doubt.

"Let's go together." Justus took the initiative to speak.

"Okay." Azaria hesitated slightly but eventually agreed, taking out a somewhat old book from her bag.

This book was a memento from Azaria's mother and was also Azaria's emotional support.

To shatter Azaria's emotional support, Justus chose to destroy this book in the previous 68 times. But this time, he didn't intend to oppose Azaria, so naturally, he wouldn't lay a hand on this book.

The book was titled "Justus, A Heart".

"The name of your book is really interesting."

"Looks like our destinies are intertwined," Azaria quipped, a rare hint of humor dancing in her eyes. Her infectious laughter caused the sunlight around them to pale in comparison.

Justus felt a jolt in his heart. If it weren't for his constant reminder that he was living in an unreal world, he might have been deceived by the vividness of these characters.

But precisely because Justus firmly believes all this is false, he had to suppress his excitement.

"Yes, but there should be more than one volume of this book, right?" If Justus remembered correctly, this title was from a line of poetry on Earth.

Azaria, verdant as an untouched glade, Justus within, a heart's fortitude unswayed.

If "Justus, A Heart" exists, then "Azaria, Verdant" must also exist.

"How did you know? Indeed, this is the second part. Do you know the first part?" A hint of fanaticism appeared in Azaria's eyes. Even when Azaria was confessed to in Justus's memory, she never showed such joy.

"I don't know, I guess. Haven't you heard of a line of poetry?"

Azaria shook her head but held the book tighter.

"The first part should be called ‘Azaria, Verdant’.”

Upon hearing the name, Azaria paused, then seemed to think of something amusing.

"Azaria verdant, Justus, a heart? It feels like it's talking about us." Azaria carefully savored the meaning of this phrase.

If Azaria had never heard of it, it meant that this poem wasn't from this world.

However, Justus couldn't help but feel intrigued by the implications of this previously overlooked title. It seemed to carry a clandestine undertone, adding a touch of conspiracy to the narrative.

"Ah, so our connection continues," Justus echoed, concealing his curiosity behind a playful smile. The words slipped from his lips once more, hinting at a deeper understanding.

This time, Azaria didn't shy away from responding. "Indeed, I eagerly anticipate your guidance throughout the next three years, my fated companion," she replied, a gentle smile gracing her face. Extending her hand once again, Azaria sought Justus's company, and he cheerfully accepted, reciprocating with a knowing smile.

Witnessing their interaction, Lilyana couldn't bear to be left out. She swiftly placed her hand atop theirs, declaring, "Count me in!"

Justus was caught off guard, but his laughter filled the air even louder. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that he would experience such genuine happiness in this world.

Meanwhile, Raiden Dominguez trailed behind the trio, his expression clouded with gloom, seemingly displeased with Justus's intrusion. Ignoring the tension, Justus continued to engage in laughter and conversation with Azaria, deliberately immersing himself in her world.

He understood Azaria like no one else, familiar with her preferences, habits, and every intricate detail. To Justus, Azaria was the person he knew best in this entire world. It was this deep understanding that motivated him to emulate her hobbies and interests, to forge an unbreakable connection.

"You actually like the book 'White Fang' too!"

"Yes, I like a lot of books, but this one is my favorite." Justus responded calmly, always feeling like he had stolen someone else's line, but it didn't matter anymore.

After all, his goal was to maintain a friendship with Azaria. As for Azaria's affinity with the male leads, they could slowly build it up later.

"This is the first time I've found someone who likes the same books as me." Azaria's voice was trembling with excitement.

On the grand stage, the principal mechanically delivered his speech, its monotony lacking any real excitement. In contrast, engaging in conversation with Azaria had become a delightful respite for Justus.

As Lilyana's disinterest in literature grew, her eyelids became heavier with each passing moment. Unable to withstand the hypnotic drone of the principal's words, she slowly closed her eyes and leaned against Justus's shoulder.

Startled, Justus jumped, thinking that their intense conversation had drawn the teacher's attention. However, when he looked again, he found Lilyana leaning against his shoulder, completely oblivious to the situation. Justus's gaze then shifted back to Azaria, catching a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

"You and Lilyana seem quite close," Azaria observed, her voice carrying genuine interest.

Justus responded with a smile, nodding in agreement. "Indeed, you could say we're childhood friends."

While Azaria would go on to attract numerous suitors in the future, it was Lilyana who remained her true female friend, always caring for her. Tragically, Lilyana had made the ultimate sacrifice, giving her life to protect Azaria, leaving her bereft and truly alone in the world.

Even in a seemingly innocent female-oriented harem plot, there were intricate and dark plots woven around Azaria.

Justus concealed the sympathy flickering in his eyes, only to find Azaria staring back at him intently.

"Um... can we be friends?" Azaria's voice trembled with uncertainty, her hands nervously entwined—a telltale sign of her anxiety.

Justus was taken aback. He had anticipated the challenge of gaining favor with the female lead, but he hadn't expected to stumble upon the friendship plot on the very first day. If this trend continued, he could comfortably navigate through the next ten years.

Feigning surprise, Justus responded, "Aren't we already friends?"

"Really? That's wonderful." Relief flooded Azaria's voice as a sweet smile graced her lips.

Her smile radiated a warmth that could brighten the gloomiest of days, as if it possessed the power to cleanse souls. Justus smiled back, his expression tinged with restraint. For some reason, he found it difficult to meet her gaze in the face of such enchantment.

Azaria's charisma was irresistible, drawing people in and captivating them effortlessly.

In his past experiences, Justus consistently found himself in situations where he had to face Azaria. However, aside from those circumstances, he would have been glad to have someone like her as a friend.