System Mission: Seduce the Final Boss [BL]-Chapter 31: I might be getting evil

Today, Blake was trying something new.

And that was sitting away from Myles.

He squinted across the classroom. ’I can’t afford to be right next to him today,’ he thought, adjusting the angle of his notebook. ’If I’m too up in his ass, it’ll be even more difficult to select a candidate... and besides, he won’t have a chance to branch out.’

He had told the others a flimsy excuse about not seeing the board clearly from his usual spot.

Some of the students raised eyebrows but didn’t press further, which was exactly what he needed. Blake had learned early that overexplaining only drew attention, and Myles already suspected too much as it was.

His eyes flicked back to Myles, sitting in the same spot, posture rigid as always. The boy’s expression hadn’t changed even a fraction since the morning.

’Man, he looks as calm as always, how nice, must mean he doesn’t mind this,’ Blake mused. He allowed himself a small smirk. ’Lucky for me, I have more chances to communicate now.’

Yet he didn’t succeed.

He tried speaking with a few classmates in the periods leading up to lunch, attempting casual conversation, gauging potential.

But the results were discouraging. Most of them were firmly ensconced in their groups, their attention fractured between friends, phones, and the monotony of lessons.

Neutrality reigned. No spark of interest, no hint of warmth toward anyone, let alone Myles.

’Damn,’ Blake scoffed under his breath. ’Not one of them is going to pass evaluation. Not even close.’

He leaned back in his chair, considering his options. He could force connections, but time was short, and coercion would only backfire.

Myles could sense it immediately. No, he needed someone who could reach Myles without an agenda, someone naturally solitary or overlooked.

Someone capable of being... friendly.

Lunch came, and with a resigned sigh, Blake gathered his tray and made his way toward Myles.

Normally, the two would sit alone and talk solely to each other, but today Blake joined a larger table.

It was, of course, impressively awkward.

Myles didn’t comment on this, either.

He didn’t glare, didn’t scoff, didn’t say a word, which Blake read as cautiously acceptable. ’Good. No protests. That’s... more than enough for now, for someone who doesn’t want to stick out,’ he thought.

Blake’s gaze drifted across the tablemates. A few were friendly enough, some overly talkative, others merely polite.

None of them seemed remotely compatible with Myles’ peculiar brand of cold.

They were especially too busy with their own hierarchies. Too attached to their own circles. He found himself frowning behind his fork.

’None of these people can get through to him. Not yet. Not anyone like this,’ Blake reflected. The realization was frustrating but clear. ’I need someone solitary. Someone who doesn’t care much about popularity or judgment!’

The last lunch bell rang, signaling the final period. Blake sat silently, pretending to nibble at his food, but his mind was already elsewhere.

By the end of classes, he still hadn’t found a viable candidate within the controlled environment of the school. The ordinary students weren’t going to work.

"See you tomorrow, Myles!"

Stepping off the bus, Blake’s attention was immediately drawn to a commotion across the street.

A figure, a boy, by the looks of him, was being punched repeatedly, thrown to the ground, and kicked by someone larger. Panic clawed at Blake for a fraction of a second before he instinctively shifted into action.

’Um, what kind of bullying starter pack is that? Seriously, I’ve never seen something like that in my past life...’

Somehow, he couldn’t really ignore it. Sure, he didn’t know him or anything, but feeling helpless like that... he definitely knows how it feels.

He crouched slightly, heart thudding, activating his skill, "I’ll sneak for my lover."

Walking towards them, he felt his hands trembling a little.

’Okay,’ he thought, tension knotting his stomach. ’I’ve never done this in a fight before. Let’s not screw my debut up.’

Approaching the scene, he assessed it quickly.

The larger boy seemed focused on intimidation rather than skill; the smaller boy, his target, was defenseless, trembling, uniform disheveled.

The skill’s effect allowed him to slip past the aggressor silently. Carefully, Blake grabbed the smaller boy and dragged him out of reach, letting the bullies’ shouts fade behind him. He didn’t even need to make contact with them.

’Ah. That was no debut, after all.’

The technique was, at the very least, flawless. At same time, it left a tight coil of anxiety in his chest.

As they stopped running, Blake was panting heavily, tired.

Looking at the boy three, a cliché thought popped into his mind.

’Why am I saving him, again?’ he asked himself internally, catching his breath.

Then the answer came, clear as day: This kid had potential.

He was small, shy, clearly bullied, probably intelligent, maybe even brilliant in ways others overlooked.

He’d seen hardship, Blake could sense it.

And most importantly, he wouldn’t be judgmental. A perfect candidate for Myles’ first real friend.

The boy blinked up at him, astonished and grateful. His uniform marked him unmistakably as a student from their school, which confirmed Blake’s hope.

"Hey" Blake said softly, "you okay? What’s your name?"

"A-Anthony," the boy stammered, brushing himself off and attempting a smile.

Blake nodded, studying him closely. Anthony’s eyes were alert, wary but not cold. Observant, smart, capable of noticing patterns without being suspicious.

A textbook nerd?

But in Blake’s experience, these details didn’t matter when the heart and instinct were right.

’Anthony... perfect,’ he thought. ’Exactly the kind of person Myles could connect with. Solitary, cautious, familiar with being overlooked. Someone who make him reflect? I mean, since he wants to destroy the world and everything, he might need someone weak to make him understand that he shouldn’t do it.’

Anthony’s hands were still shaking slightly, and Blake offered a gentle smile. "You handled that well, don’t worry, next time let’s beat them up," he said, a trace of humor in his voice to ease the tension.

Anthony blinked, relief softening his expression. ’Thanks... I... I don’t know what I’d have done if...’ He trailed off, shoving the words behind a nervous laugh.

"That’s fine. You don’t need to thank me," Blake replied, patting Anthony’s shoulder briefly. "Just... stay aware, yeah? And don’t let it happen again. I’m Blake Ashford, come to me next time if you need help."

Anthony nodded earnestly. He was quiet, respectful, and clearly relieved. Blake could already see the subtle potential for friendship forming, a seed of connection that Myles could nurture.

As they walked toward down the street together, Blake analyzed him further. Anthony’s posture suggested caution, not fear.

"What class are you in?"

"I’m in 4B."

"That’s not too far away from my class. Let’s have lunch together, alright? There’ll be a friend of mine, too."

"Really...?" Smiling, his cheeks reddened a little, "okay, let’s meet then."

His gaze was quick and he didn’t speak much, but his silence wasn’t cold like Myles’, it was observant.

And that, Blake knew, was precisely the type of presence Myles could resonate with.

’Okay,’ Blake thought, letting a small, satisfied smirk curl his lips. ’First real lead. Step one complete. Now... how to bring Myles close enough to notice Anthony without scaring him off.’

He felt like an evil mastermind.