"So—as girls, please give the troubled Marcos some advice!"
"Got it! Leave it to me!"
"I honestly can't tell if I should trust her or not. This is a very questionable selection of people..."
A short while after the Male Group finished their discussion, Yugo’s party visited the girls to seek their counsel. However, not everyone from the usual group was present.
"Well, maybe this lineup is actually decent. It might be a stroke of luck that the members who are sane—or at least seem capable of handling this sort of thing—are gathered here..."
The only women currently present were Melt and Raiha.
Anhel had been busy with various tasks in the Workshop lately and was absent due to her hectic schedule. Setsuna and Sakura were also away today, apparently contacting their fathers, who had caused a bit of trouble during the recent Heirs of Yamato Incident.
Naturally, they couldn't do something as pathetic as bringing this kind of consultation to Yui in the Elementary Division, so she and Fee had been excluded from the discussion group to chat among themselves.
Thinking about it that way, it was a relief to have Melt here; she had been with them the longest, they were on close terms, and she seemed more knowledgeable when it came to romantic relationships.
While Anhel didn't seem to possess a single maidenly thought, Setsuna’s values were slightly skewed, and Sakura’s were completely off the mark. Thus, having Raiha—the most sensible person among them—present could also be considered lucky.
"So? You’re worried about your relationship with Elena? I’m so happy for you, Marcos! You finally found someone like that...!"
"Don't get the wrong idea! It's not like that! Absolutely not! I'm simply trying to figure out how to talk to her so she'll understand!"
Marcos firmly reminded the inexplicably excited Melt that this was not a romance consultation. However, Melt lightly brushed off his shout and gave advice that sounded remarkably similar to what had been said earlier.
"Isn't the easiest way just to announce that she’s 'your woman'? That would keep the other boys from messing with Elena, too!"
"I told you, I am a noble! How could I do something so reckless? Besides, I keep telling you it isn't like that!"
"...Somehow, that's not much different from what we thought."
"Yeah. It proves we actually understand how girls think!"
Ryuga nodded quietly at his partner's words. "No doubt."
That was clearly not the case, but it didn't seem like the Dense Brothers XX would ever realize it.
Setting aside the easygoing duo, Marcos clutched his head, beginning to regret that bringing the consultation to these people had been a mistake in the first place. At first, he thought Melt would be a better choice, but perhaps due to the length of their acquaintance, she was teasing him quite freely. As he groaned in sheer embarrassment, Raiha spoke up with a hesitant demeanor.
"Um, may I say something? Marcos-san, you aren't trying to change how everyone else treats Elena-san, are you? You want Elena-san herself to become more cautious."
"Exactly! I've been saying that this whole time, yet these two...!"
"In that case, how about not worrying too much and just saying exactly what's on your mind? I think the issue is that your approach is half-hearted."
"H-Half... hearted...?"
Marcos groaned, his face twitching at Raiha’s opinion. As he struggled to gauge the meaning of her statement—a sentiment that didn't feel particularly positive—Melt spoke up next.
"I can see it now. Marcos, whenever you talk to Elena, you're picking your words so carefully because you don't want to hurt her, right? And the moment you see her looking shocked, you freeze up and can't say another word... something like that, isn't it?"
"Guh...!"
Marcos gasped in surprise, his breath hitching because she had perfectly described the scene. Shrugging her shoulders as if to say his actions were easy to read after their long friendship, Melt continued.
"Marcos, you're kind and helpful despite how you look, so it's only natural that you'd respond that way. But rather than ending the conversation half-heartedly, I think you should properly convey your feelings and thoughts to Elena."
"I believe if Elena-san understands that Marcos-san is dealing with her sincerely, she won't be hurt..."
"...In other words, what’s necessary is time and the opportunity to talk thoroughly."
Ryuga muttered in a small voice, succinctly summarizing the girls' opinions. Marcos also looked back on his actions, realizing that while he did lecture Elena, he might not have stepped in and had a truly deep conversation with her. At the same time, however, he harbored another concern.
"But even if I were to have that talk, how should I bring it up? I feel like if I speak in such a solemn atmosphere, I might intimidate Elena..."
"Marcos, rely on us for that! We're friends, so we'll lend a hand!"
Even if he were to talk to Elena properly, how should he start? To Marcos, who was worrying while hiding the fact that he—rather than her—would likely be the nervous one, Melt spoke forcefully with a kind smile. As a long-time friend, she surely intended to be of help.
While Marcos felt grateful to his friend who, despite the teasing, was being sympathetic in the end... Melt, still wearing that smile, turned toward the remaining members instead of him.
"And so... let’s go on a date with Elena and everyone here! Alright, it's deci-i-ided!!"