Chapter 69: Chapter 69: The Crucible of Chivalry

"But boss there’s absolutely no way we can pull that off!" shouted Ben his voice cracking in sheer panic "We don’t even know how to talk to girls normally let alone convince them to join a play with us!"

"That is exactly why I said class is dismissed" stated Alexander his voice turning into a sharp drill-sergeant bark "Because now we begin the practical training."

Both of you get your asses up onto the center stage right now."

Ben and Leo groaned loudly dragging their feet across the floor like men marching toward a firing squad.

Alexander turned to the shy librarian offering her a reassuring wink "Lilly come here" said Alexander gently guiding her by the elbow "You will stand right here in the center of the stage."

Lilly stood frozen on the tape marker her face already turning a delicate shade of pink as she clutched the long sleeves of her oversized knit sweater.

Alexander stepped back onto the director’s platform crossing his arms firmly "The exercise is simple" stated Alexander his sharp eyes locking onto his two terrified disciples "You will take turns approaching Lilly.

Your objective is to initiate a conversation and keep the dialogue flowing entirely naturally.

If I hear even a single syllable that sounds forced robotic or awkward you fail.

And I don’t want to put undue pressure on you but look at her.

She is absolutely gorgeous.

She has spectacular breasts a dream-like ass and she is the absolute definition of perfect girlfriend material.

If you ever want to secure a high-quality specimen like her for yourselves in the real world you need to put in the work.

Now... action!"

Ben swallowed hard his knees visibly shaking as he took three clumsy steps forward "H-hey there Lilly..." stuttered Ben his hands sweating profusely "Do you... uh... do you like books?

Because I was thinking we could... read together in the dark..."

"Fail!" shouted Alex from the back corner his sudden booming voice echoing like a thunderclap through the room "Terrible!

Creepy!

You sound like a basement-dwelling stalker!

Next!"

Ben let out a choked cry collapsing onto his knees as if he had just been physically struck sweat pouring down his forehead.

Leo gritted his teeth wiping his damp palms on his jeans as he stepped up to take his shot.

He tried to puff out his chest to look confident "Hello beautiful lady" said Leo trying to lower his voice into a sultry baritone "Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?

Because I can be the angel that heals your—"

"Fail!" roared Alex slamming his hand onto the director’s table "Cringe!

Absolute cringe!

What century are you living in Leo?

You almost made me throw up my breakfast!

Get back in line!"

"Ahhhh!

It’s too hard!" screamed Leo clutching his head in pure psychological agony as he stumbled backward nearly fainting from the sheer stress of the intense gaze Alexander was leveling at them.

For the next forty-five minutes the theater room became a scene of comedic carnage.

It was an endless cycle of failure after failure.

Ben tried to compliment her shoes and accidentally choked on his own saliva coughing violently until he had to sit down.

Leo tried to ask her about the library but accidentally tripped over a fake wooden rock prop faceplanting directly onto the stage floor with a loud thud.

Sweat was literally dripping from both of their faces their shirts clinging to their skin as they panted thoroughly exhausted by the brutal psychological pressure of trying to act smooth under Alexander’s merciless critique.

Through it all Lilly stood in the center watching the absolute chaos unfold.

At first she had been incredibly nervous but as the ridiculous failures kept piling up she couldn’t help but let out a soft giggle.

It was a bizarre yet thoroughly delightful feeling.

For a girl who had spent her entire high school life feeling completely invisible and forgotten being the absolute center of attention—the grand prize that two boys were sweating and practically dying to impress—felt like a beautiful dream.

It was exactly like being the main protagonist of a romance story a fantasy she had never in her wildest dreams dared to imagine for herself.

"Sorry about that Boss" muttered Ben rubbing his sweating palms against his jeans "It’s just... the pressure is insane."

"I know" said Alexander leaning back against the director’s table "But if you can’t handle the pressure here you’ll completely freeze on stage.

Keep going."

After a few more catastrophic attempts that left both boys looking like they were on the verge of a medical emergency something finally shifted.

Ben took a slow deep breath stepped forward and dropped his awkward rehearsed pickup lines entirely "Hey Lilly..." said Ben scratching the back of his neck nervously "To be completely honest I’m just really stressed out about this upcoming festival.

When I get like this I usually just lock myself in my room and play RPGs all weekend to forget about the world.

Do you... do you do anything like that to unwind?"

Lilly’s eyes lit up a soft genuine smile instantly replacing her nervous expression.

She recognized the genuine anxiety in his voice and decided to throw him a lifeline "I actually play a lot of cozy simulation and strategy games" said Lilly her voice clear and completely welcoming "The library gets very quiet during the late shifts so when all my work is done I like to manage my virtual farms.

What kind of games do you usually play?"

Ben’s tense shoulders suddenly dropped and a massive wave of relief washed over his face as his eyes lit up "I completely get you!" said Ben his voice full of sudden genuine excitement "I absolutely love cozy simulation games too!

When the competitive multiplayer games get too toxic there is literally nothing better than just zoning out listening to the lo-fi soundtrack and managing a massive virtual farm.

Right now I’m trying to optimize my greenhouse layout to maximize my ancient fruit production.

What kind of layout do you usually go for?"