Lazing About in a Dating Sim

The next morning, I had a bit of trouble staying awake.

As I stayed up all night reading the book that Lucia recommended to me and the library felt especially cozy today. 

Welp, it’s not like I really needed to be lucid right now anyway.

After all, I was currently in the middle of a conversation with Lucia.

“Why is it that everytime when someone is about to confess in this book, they’re fuckin interrupted by fireworks or something?”

Lucia said, in an irritated tone before turning to the next page of the novel that was currently in her hands.

She's never going to get it, is she?

“To keep the story from ending too soon.”

"That's another thing why the hell do so many stories just end abruptly when the lead gets together with one of the love interests?”

“Lack of tension driving the story forward.”

I said flatly, before grabbing myself a novel from a nearby shelf.

“So you’re telling me that right after you get into a relationship, all your worries suddenly just disappear? That’s just unrealistic.”

“Since when have you cared about realism? Most of the novels you like have a plot that deals with a noble falling in love with some peasant.”

“What’s so unrealistic about that?”

“I’m sorry but what good reason would a noble have to run away with some farmer?”

“Getting away from all your responsibilities and being able to just lounge around on some farm in the middle of nowhere sounds like a pretty good incentive to me…”

A look of realization overtook Lucia’s face.

“Ah right, that reminds me.”

“What’s up?”

“Hey Otto, wanna go to the harvest festival with me later?”

“Depends on what a harvest festival is.”

I said casually, before cracking open the novel that I had grabbed.

“You’re kidding right? Otto… the school’s been bombarding us with information about the festival this entire week!”

There was a hint of exasperation in her voice.

“Well I haven’t really been paying attention.”

I said nonchalantly.

“Of course you haven’t… anyway it’s basically just what you’d expect from a fair that’s held at a school instead of well at a fairground.”

Lucia said before crossing her arms.

“Alright then, sounds good. What time do we have to be there?”

“It’ll start at 2 though we should probably be there by at least 1.”

“Aren’t some classes still in session at that time?”

“Man you really haven’t been listening to the announcements lately huh? All classes are canceled for today because of the festival.”

Lucia said, before leaning back in her chair a little.

“Still don’t know why we have to be there an hour early though.”

“It’s so that we don’t get stuck in an unmoving crowd while trying to get in.”

“That many people are going? I think I might have to reconsider...”

My expression became one of mild revulsion.

“Oh don’t be so dramatic you’ll be fine. I mean it’s not that likely that somebody’s gonna go out of their way to be a prick right?”

“Don’t jinx it. My track record with that sort of thing is already bad enough as it is.”

I said, while squinting my eyes at her.

“Okay, now you’re definitely fuckin going.”

In turn I just sighed deeply before giving in.

As I had realized that it was probably futile to try and continue arguing with her at this point.

“...Fine but could we go at 1:30 instead of 1? I wanna catch up a little on some sleep.”

“I’ll accept those terms.”

Lucia said, with a triumphant smirk on her face.

“Great, wake me up when it’s 1:25.”

I said listlessly, before getting a bit more comfortable in my chair and closing my eyes.

A little while later, I was forcibly towed out of my seat and then the library by Lucia.

It didn’t feel as if I had dozed off for that long, but according to Lucia apparently I was out cold for at least 4 hours.

“Just a few more minutes...”

I mumbled groggily.

“Come on, stop dragging your feet, we’re 2 hours late!”

Eventually after a bit of trekking, Lucia and I arrived at the harvest festival.

There were a ton of booths in the area, and their contents ranged everything from magic circles to ordinary looking carnival games.

Moreover, the place was chock full of people, despite the event just starting a few moments ago.

“Hey Otto, let's go to that one first!”

Lucia said, with a bit of excitement in her voice before pointing towards the booth that had a bunch of aluminum bottles stacked in triangle formations and buckets full of baseballs.

“I’ve got no objections.”

I replied, nonchalantly.

A couple minutes later, the two of us ended up in front of the booth. 

“Could we get a bucket?”

She said, enthusiastically.

“Sure no problem.”

The worker behind the booth quickly responded, before handing us a bucket.

Before I could even touch one of the baseballs in the bucket, Lucia had already knocked down all of the bottles at the booth.

Note to self, do not under any circumstances challenge Lucia to a game of baseball.

“That’s a new record miss! Take any prize you’d like.”

“Hell yeah! And I think I’ll go with the white owl.”

“Here ya go.”

The worker kindly replied, before handing Lucia the stuffed animal that she wanted.

After Lucia had received her reward, she turned to me and asked in an expectant tone.

“How’d I do?”

“Shockingly well, how exactly did you manage to do that anyway?”

I said, while trying to hide my amazement.

“I look for weak spots all the time in my Abjuration class Otto. Compared to having to scour arcane shields for the most minor of fucking defects, this was a piece of cake.”

Lucia said casually.

“Anyhow, where should we go next Otto?”

“The booth up ahead with the marble bear on top of it looks pretty neat.”

I replied, after mulling over my decision for a few seconds.

“Alright let’s go to that one next then.”

Lucia said, before grabbing ahold of my hand and pulling me in the direction of the booth.