Lazing About in a Dating Sim

After Lucia and I left the baking club room, we decided to go hang out in my dorm room. 

As we’ve been hanging out in Lucia’s dorm room a lot lately, and the courtyard was being tended to this morning by a groundskeeper and put off-limits to students.

Also, Lucia was a bit curious about the state of my living quarters.

“Hey Otto… why are most of your clothes wrinkled?” 

Lucia asked before pulling out one of the many hazel jackets inside my closet.

“What’s the point of folding them if they’re just gonna get wrinkled again? Besides, it's not like wearing wrinkled clothes has any effect on my health.”

I said after picking up one of the novels laying on my bed and flipping to the first page.

“You’re telling me that feeling like your clothes are made out of crumpled pieces of paper, has no effect on you mentally?”

“I’ve settled for worse.”

I said before shrugging a little.

In turn Lucia just sighed and sat down right next to me.

“That sort of mentality is what causes a ton of problems to persist into the next century or two, and speaking of problems, are you gonna do anything to prepare for the competition?"

Lucia remarked before putting her head on my shoulder and nuzzling my neck a little.

“I’ve got a couple things in mind, yeah.”

I said, while trying my best to not dwell on the fact that my neck was currently getting caressed.

“Good because if you lose, we’ll probably have to start going to one of the other libraries close to our dorm rooms, which are almost always filled to the brim with insufferable people.”

“Wait, seriously? There aren’t any other quiet libraries nearby?”

I said, with a hint of shock in my voice.

“Nope, not a single fucking one. So if you lose, every day we’re either going to have to take a long trek halfway through the school or deal with a bunch of annoying idiots just to get our hands on a few books.”

Welp, there goes my back up plan. 

It looks like I’m gonna have to start taking this thing a bit more seriously.

“In that case… Lucia, do you mind giving me a refresher on how your magic works?”

“How’s that at all relevant to what I just said?”

Lucia asked, slightly bewildered before wrapping her arms around my waist and continuing to nuzzle my neck.

“…Trust me, it’s relevant.”

I said while trying to make my heart rate at least somewhat stable.

“Okay then? Is there anything you’d like to know specifically?”

“I was just wondering whether or not you’re capable of delaying the effects of your spells.”

“Yeah, as long as it’s not too complicated of a spell.”

“And can you also control the duration and scope of your spells?” 

“Sure, I guess. Though, even if you had my help during the competition, I’m pretty sure your odds of winning wouldn’t increase. I mean, I barely know anything about baking in the first place.”

“My plan doesn’t require you to know anything about baking or casting spells that can enhance my baking abilities, so don’t worry about it.”

Although it would have been really convenient if you were able to cast a spell that just made me a ridiculously good chef.

“If you say so… anyway, I think I’ve had enough magic talk for one day. Can we change the topic?”

“I don’t mind, is there anything in particular that you’d like to talk about instead?”

“How about future date plans?”

“Sounds good to me, is there anywhere you’d like to go specifically?” 

“Maybe we could go to some sort of coffeehouse?”

Lucia suggested.

“I’m okay with that, just so long as we don’t have to travel to a different city or country in order to get there.”

“Yeah yeah, I’ll make sure I find a coffeehouse that’s not located in the middle of nowhere.”

Lucia said dismissively.

Then a look of realization overtook her face.

“Actually, now that I’m thinking about it. I think one opened across the street from school just last week.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, Ameil told me about it a few days ago. I think he said it was called the Baroux or something? And according to him, the coffee brewed there is pretty good.”

“Huh, alright then. Is the food there expensive or?”

“You don’t have to worry about that. I’m the one who suggested it so I’ll be the one who pays for everything.”

“Still, I’d rather not make you spend a ton of dros if I can help it.”

“I’ll keep that in mind then. Can’t say that I really expected you to be the frugal type, though.”

“The less money someone spends, the less that they’ll have to work.”

“On second thought, it makes complete sense that you’d be at least somewhat thrifty.”

Lucia said in a monotone voice.

“Anyhow, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way. Could you come with me to the Baroux or whatever it’s called sometime next Sunday, Otto?”

“Sure, if we go during the afternoon.”

“Otto… you do realize that coffee shops specialize in doling out food and drinks during the morning, right?”

Lucia asked incredulously. 

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean that they close after 8 AM.”

“Still, who the hell goes to a coffee shop at like 3:00 in the afternoon?”

“Someone who’d rather not eat breakfast with a bunch of strangers in the morning.”

After all, tons of people tend to be irritable and conflict-prone early in the day.

“According to Ameil, this place is actually pretty quiet in the morning."

“On second thought, I think I’m okay with going to this place in the morning.”

“Great, then let’s meet up in front of the school at 8:30 next Sunday. Don’t be late, alright?”

“I’ll try not to be.”

“I’m gonna need a better confirmation than that, Otto.”

“What are you going to do if I don’t give you one?”

“I won’t let go of you for the rest of the day.”

Lucia responded before tightening her grip on me.

“...That’s not much of an incentive for me to give you a better answer.”

I said somewhat playfully.

In turn Lucia just rolled her eyes, without loosening her grip on me at all.