Male Lead, Don’t Push, Pull!

“A quick break.”

“Phew.”

Kyle lowered his wooden sword, breathing heavily at Verdo’s declaration of rest.

Damn, you little punk, look at all that sweat.

I grabbed one of the towels lying around and reached for Kyle.

“Vivi?”

I wiped Kyle’s sweat with the fluffy towel. His sweaty black hair brushed against the back of my hand.

His dark blue eyes fluttered slightly.

“Have you been practicing swordsmanship? Aren’t you hot?”

“… It is hot.”

“You’re sweating so much, you’re going to get a sunstroke,” I murmured. “Are you okay?”

Kyle nodded with a reddened face.

Ugh, he’s cooked. Burned.

My brother is too serious. He should do it in moderation. How many times did he have to roll in this heat before his face turned into a tomato?

“It’s a good time.”

Verdo muttered beside him. I retaliated by stomping on his foot with all my might. He grunted and made a pained sound.

Yep, that’s it.

“Are you going to continue with the lesson? I need to talk to Kyle about something.”

“Vivian, a sword is supposed to be a sword. You’re supposed to wield it until you’re blue in the face, and then you’re supposed to gain enlightenment….”

“No. Class is over. What is it, Vivi?” Kyle asked me, interrupting Verdo.

My brother opened his mouth in disbelief. Then he looked back and forth between me and Kyle and pointed a finger.

Haha, how about this?

Funnily enough, my brother’s expression seemed to assert, “No matter how noble a prince you are, I am your teacher and you are my pupil…!”

Much to Verdo’s chagrin, it didn’t seem to have any effect on Kyle.

The conversation was interrupted by my brother’s sobs of regret.

After accepting the cool drinks given by the attendant, we sat side by side in a corner of the training ground.

Only then did I bring up my purpose for visiting Kyle.

“You would like to customize a sword for the crown prince?” He repeated questioningly. 

“Yes.”

Even I, who knew the future of the original story, couldn’t figure out where the heroine was in the present.

Honestly, it’s too much for me to remember all the details of the story….

If it weren’t for the fact that the gladiatorial festival, which is held every four years, was taking place this summer, I wouldn’t even be sure that Kyle and the heroine would cross paths this year.

Anyway, the bottom line was that he’s going to have to go out of his way to find her….

Once I get out of the mansion, I’ll see what I can find.

So the excuse I came up with was that I wanted to go to the workshop to have Kyle’s sword fitted.

I was going to go back and forth to the workshop run by the Marquis of Rosiere and secretly spot the heroine.

“You mean my sword?”

Kyle’s eyes lit up. He turned to Verdo, giddy with excitement.

“Can I have my own sword, Master?”

“Hmmm. Well, everyone at your age gets a sword, so I suppose it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get one for you.”

“Really?”

“Yes. But you’ll have to use a wooden sword for practice.”

“That sounds great!”

Kyle’s face lit up. He was happy to have his own sword, after all.

Okay, I’ve got my brother’s approval.

As for my dad, well, he’s a pushover. He has a weakness for me.

Huhu. Just wait, Kyle. I’ll get you not only a sword, but a lady.

My grand plan for the protagonists of this novel was well underway.

*** 

A carriage carrying the emblem of the Marquis of Rosiere drove through the city.

I had traveled this route many times already, and it was a familiar one. It was so hot outside that heat rose from the ground.

“Vivi, my sword is finally finished today.”

“Mmm.”

“How about this? Master told me to use a wooden sword for practice because it’s too early for a real sword, but I’m still excited. It’s going to be so cool, right?”

“Yeah. It will be,” I replied dryly, looking out at the scenery outside.

Time had passed quickly and it was already our last outing.

I had visited the workshop several times in the meantime to have Kyle’s sword fitted. At the same time, on each outing, I had Lisa scout the streets for children.

Not knowing where the female lead was or what she was doing at this age, the only clue I had was that she was living on the streets.

I was stumped, but I figured if I looked hard enough, I’d find her.

But no matter how much I searched, I couldn’t find the heroine, whether she had risen to the heavens or fallen to the earth.

“Phew.”

I thought she’d at least be in the capital.

Was I mistaken?

Perhaps I was taking the task of finding the heroine too easily. After all, the capital of the empire is so large, finding her would be not easy.

For some reason, I lost my strength and leaned against the backrest. Even so, my eyes still glanced at the scenery outside the window, unable to let go of the lingering feelings.

As I stared out the window, I suddenly felt an intense gaze on me.

I turned my head and came face to face with Kyle, who had a grim expression on his face.

“Kyle?”

When did his mood drop so low? The air surrounding him felt heavy, making my breath catch in my throat.

I turn to Kyle with a belated flourish.

“Ahaha, Kyle. It’s really hot today, isn’t it? I can feel the heat up here.”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t even have a sword of my own, and you’ve already got one, Kyle! You’re amazing!”

“I know.”

“If we get your sword today, let’s go show it off to the knights! What do you say?”

“Okay.”

Hmm…. For some reason, all the responses I get back are short answers.

“Kyle, are you angry?”

“No.”

Contrary to his ‘not-angry’ response, Kyle crossed his arms and turned his head away from me.

He’s pouting. He’s pouting because I’m not paying attention to him, right?

The situation was supposed to be serious, but I couldn’t help but chuckle a little. Kyle looked so much like a typical boy his age.

Then Kyle’s eyebrows shot up in frustration.

“Hehe.”

I slid into the seat next to him.

Still, once Kyle pouts, it lasts a long time…. We’ll have to make up, right?

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention to what Kyle was saying,” I sneakily apologized to Kyle, who was still protesting, staring at the wall.

“…Hmm.”

“I’m really sorry. I just got distracted because there’s someone I really need to find.”

“Who do you need to find?” Kyle asked, turning his head quickly.

Umm… Well, you know, the female protagonist of this novel, the one who’s going to help you in the future and maybe even love you and marry you.

Wouldn’t it be a  little awkward to say that in front of you, the male protagonist…?

I rolled my eyes and noticed that the carriage had arrived at its destination just in time.

Good! I turned back around, hastily saying, “Uh! Kyle, I think we’re already there! Let’s get out of here.”

“Vivi.”

“Mmh?”

“I cherish Vivi.”

I was about to grab the carriage door and head out when the sudden confession stopped me in my tracks.

I turned around and saw that Kyle’s expression was quite serious.

Kyle looked me in the eye and said, “You’re fun to play with, and you’re fun to be around. Nothing but good things have happened to me since coming to the Marquis of Rosiere, and soon I’ll be going to the Academy, and today I’ll get my own sword.”

“Mmm.”

“Does Vivi feel the same way?”

“Eh? Um, that’s right?” I panicked and turned it into a question.

Oh no, is he going to pout even more?

But contrary to my worries, Kyle didn’t.

“I want Vivi to feel that way when she’s with me.”

It was a pretty cute thing to say, and then he turned away from me, embarrassed.

Oh my god… everyone, how can I emphasize this enough?! Our male protagonist is so cute!!

So he was just whining to me to pay more attention to him. What a fool you are.

“Ahaha, Kyle!” I laughed heartily and hugged him tightly. 

Then Kyle yelped in surprise.

“What! Get off me!”

“Oh, come on, is that all you can think of, my little prince?”

“You’re treating me like a child, let go of me.”

“Ahaha. Okay, okay.”

I chuckled and let go of Kyle. Instead, I raked my fingers through Kyle’s hair.

Wow, did he feel so bad that I wasn’t paying attention?

Even though he’s so grown up, he can still be this cute sometimes.

“Hehe. I didn’t realize you cared so much about me, Kyle.”

“Let go of me.”

Kyle swatted my hand away with a pout.

He stroked his hair and before I could catch him, he opened the carriage door and left. Somehow, he was cute until he left.

“Kyle, I’m coming with you!”

I called after Kyle, not bothering to hide the laughter that escaped me.

*** 

I decided to stop looking for the heroine.

I wish it was possible to find her, but if I can’t, so be it, right? If two people are meant to be together, they are, and if they’re not, they’re not.

Kyle is happy enough as it is, and maybe that’s all that matters.

I’m just there to cement my status as Kyle’s childhood friend, and then leave when the time is right.

I was just an extra in this novel anyway. I’m a small-time citizen whose main goal is not to die for treason!

As a small citizen, I was supposed to stand in the background, pretending to be ignorant of the original story.

Okay, I’ve already taken Kyle away from Titania’s abuse.

Now let’s just get out of the way of the original story and find a way for me and my family to live.

And it was only half an hour ago that I was having those blissful thoughts. 

“Sienna?!”

“Huh?!”

“Are you really Sienna?”

“Yes, yes! Hiiek.” 

The other person cried out in surprise. Her big eyes filled with tears that looked like they were about to spill over.

Uh… so.

It seems that I found the heroine I’ve been looking for.