Lazy day, let’s shop!

After everyone finished eating, there was a lot of back and forth debating between the four of them on what to do next.

Finally, by the time it was three they all decided to go shop for the upcoming party during the weekend.

"You never told us if it's Saturday or Sunday." Erin pointed out, turning his attention to Rhys. To tell the truth, even he himself didn't know.

"I'll call my mom really quickly to confirm the plan, hold on." Rhys said, hoping they wouldn't question him too much into it.

"Turn on the speaker, too! Reece's." Xavier exclaimed crawling into Rhys' lap to turn it on for him, before he could even more.

"You're too close!" Rhys stammered out as his mom picked up the phone, causing her to laugh on her end, following laughter from the targets as well.

"You're way too shy with close contact! We're you really friendless?!" Xavier snickered, getting off of Rhys.

"I don't need friends! And secondly, why are you laughing, you don't even get close to people!" Rhys said turning to Erin, seeming to forget he was on the phone for a moment.

In response, Erin rolled back his eyes. "I don't want to get dirty. And I was laughing at your reaction, you look like a cherry tomato," he laughed before continuing, "essentially you look stupid."

Coughing on her end, the woman spoke up, satisfied enough with teasing her son. "Rhys, dear, why did you call me?"

Focusing his attention back on her, Rhys was unsure exactly how to ask, but just went through with it. "For this weekend, since I'm bringing my friends, is there anything specific you want me to do? Like come early by a day, so we're not tired after arriving or?"

"Good job evading the question, host." Kane sarcastically commented. What a bad way to say he didn't even know if it was on Saturday or Sunday.

"My, what a great idea! Why don't you come here during Friday, catch up with family and prepare yourself on Saturday, and have the show on Sunday, then?" She said.

Rhys was thankful the woman was kind and warm, it would of been much harder to complete the world if his parents were also going to cause him trouble at an obligatory mission.

The two talked a bit back and forth about how Rhys had been, and how they were going to pick up something to wear first before hanging up.

"I'll grab my wallet and we can get going, be right back." Rhys said as he left for his room, leaving the three boys to not so discreetly discuss what Rhys' family could be like.

"What are you two looking like that for? It's just two people." Erin said, looking at the two of them. Xavier could barely contain his energy, while Seth looked as if he was going to meet his girlfriend's family for the first time.

"We're going to meet Reece's parents! We're finally going to know how he grew up, have you noticed he doesn't mention a lot about them, and he doesn't bring up his home life unless I ask!" Xavier pouted, Erin nodded along just realising what he said was true.

"I'm just worried how to talk to them, they're probably some mature and well worked out couple." Seth said, a small sigh escaping his lips.

"If they're anything like Rhys, it's probably the opposite, a couple who still act like their own their first date each time they see each other." Erin responded, calming Seth a bit.

"Ah you don't look like an anxious boyfriend meeting his girlfriend's parents anymore." Erin commented, pointing at Seth.

"Huh?!" Seth squeaked out in surprise, did he really look that way? He himself hadn't even realised.

When Rhys returned downstairs, he noticed the targets were all having fun with teasing and talking each other, he nearly felt bad interrupting them.

"Alright, if you guys are done, let's head out." Rhys called, making his way to the front, the targets following suit.

"It feels like you're a clique leader, like in those movies, host." Kane commented, watching the four boys head over to the car.

"Shut up." Rhys growled in his head, as they made their way in, Erin throwing a snide remark about how much cleaner it is now that Rhys was forced to tidy up.

It was about about a forty minute drive to the nearest shopping mall, where the four wandered around for a bit, much to Erin's dismay.

"Do you know how dirty malls are?" He said which seemed to be every five minutes. At this rate, the whole mall probably new.

"Cheer up! There's not too many people here on a Wednesday, it's better we came today than Friday, right?" Rhys said with his smiling skill, internally tired of hearing Erin's whines.

"Why do we even have to buy clothes, though? Aren't ours good enough?" Seth asked shyly, unsure how to phrase it.

"Hmm, unless you have a couple of suits just laying around, then I think we have too Sethy." Xavier chimed in.

As the four finally made their way into one of the stores, Rhys took the opportunity to show off his good side.

"I'll help you guys pick out suits, this department is my speciality, after all." Rhys gave a smile to them, confidence emanating from him.

It took a bit of time for all three to agree, mainly Erin looking at Rhys in disbelief. But in the end, Rhys managed to convince him.

"I've worn suits for years, I know what looks good and what doesn't." Rhys pouted, causing him to internally cringe.

"I've gotten way too used to acting like this that it's become muscle memory, this is your fault, you damn system!" Rhys swore in his head.

"Seems like the actor has subconsciously picked up habits from his role." Kane laughed as he listened to the obscenities Rhys threw at him.

When Rhys was done, he went back to helping the targets. In truth, he was genuinely much more helpful than most of the employees available to help others.

He debated between fabric and colour, along with the style of suit, there were plenty, and which would fit each target best, along with one for himself. "Though I'd look good in any suit." Rhys insisted to Kane, who was forced to endure it.

In Xavier's case, Rhys picked out a white polo undershirt with a dark red ribbon. Over the shirt was a greyish white sweater, and a black suit jacket open over top, pairing black shorts. the closest thing to a suit Xavier would wear.

"Are you sure you want to wear that?" Rhys questioned with an eyebrow raised, he knew he should question Xavier's weird taste, but it wasn't even a suit anymore.

"The ones you kept showing me are uncomfortable! I'll just wear it like this! It's so much easier to move now, especially without those stupid suit pants." Xavier pouted, pleased with how it looked.

"At least I managed to get him to wear half of the suit." Rhys said to himself before moving on to picking out Seth's suit.

In contrast to Seth's bright white hair, Rhys chose a jet black suit, with a white undershirt and black tie for him. The jacket was left open, but had a small golden brooch with a blue gem in the middle to match his eyes.

"Why do they just scream male leads? Who even carries these kind of brooches in the mall?" Rhys cried to Kane. Although it seemed like he was complaining, he wasn't.

"The law of the novel dictates male leads need to look perfect, I guess." Kane said while looking at Seth.

"You should of picked the fantasy world. You have no taste for regular clothes but you seem like you'd fit in well with fantasy-aristocratic clothes." Kane said, making Rhys want to strangle him.

"These are basic suits! And of course I have taste for suits, I always wear them!" Rhys retorted now moving on to find Erin.

"Sure, sure. Seth looks like he's the one getting married while Xavier just looks like a spoiled elementary school student." Kane muttered to himself.

As Rhys finally found Kane, he was disappointed to see he had already picked out a basic navy blue suit, and didn't even inform Rhys.

"You took too long, so I left. Also, you talk too much." Erin told Rhys, although it sounded mean, there was a hint of playfulness in his voice.

"Maybe if you waited you could of had a better looking suit instead of something basic!" Rhys clicked his tongue, as the two exchanged playful banter in the form of slight insults.

Finally, it was Rhys' turn to pick a suit. He decided on nothing fancy since he was going to play the piano, and chose a white undershirt and black tie. Over it was a cream suit, without the jacket. He figured the short sleeves of the suit shirt would still be fine, along with cream pants.

"Good enough, I look good in anything suit related no matter which body I'm in, and I'm tired." Rhys said as a small yawn escaped his lips.

As he changed back into his regular clothes, he went up to the line and waited for his turn to check out. "Why does the store even have such a large collection of suits available?" Rhys asked, causing the three boys to shrug.

"Maybe a lot of people need suits for interviews or work?" Seth gave his best guess as to why as well.

"Oh well." Rhys said as it was his turn to check out, paying for all of the suits and propping them into a bag.

"Let me carry them." Seth smiled to Rhys, his affection going up by two now placing him at sixteen.

"I guess my suit picking skills are top tier." Rhys pridefully said to Kane in his head while thanking Seth for his kindness.

"Is there anything else you guys need to do? I still have to order in some flowers ahead of time." Rhys asked, although they weren't his real parents, he figured he should at least show them some curtesy.

The three boys shook their heads, not thinking of anywhere they need to go. "After this we can get some food though, right?" Xavier asked.

"We literally just ate." Erin groaned and lightly glared at Xavier, who in return stuck out his tongue and laughed.

"So? You could use the extra weight." He replied clinging onto Rhys' arm, something Rhys was now a little bit more used too, only a small blush on his face.

Although he didn't want to ask, he just couldn't help it. "Why are you holding my hand?"

"Do you want me to let go? Rin doesn't like to be touched and Sethy is holding the bags." Xavier answered, as Rhys shook his head no, he didn't mind.

Xavier's affection point soon raised by one, putting his at twenty-one. "I swear these targets get a sick thrill out of harassing me.

Rhys cried in his head.

"It's really fun, though." Kane poked fun at Rhys, who only grumbled in return, making his way to the florist.

As they entered, Xavier wandered around and Seth chased after him, while Erin and Rhys picked out some flowers.

"Could I ask you to prepare a bouquet of peony's, lavender, hydrangeas for a later date?" Rhys asked the woman at the counter with a smile.

Blushing, she nodded and wrote down what he wanted, taking peeks at the two men. "Could I have your numbers," she stuttered. "For the pick up of course!" She tried to make a believable reason.

As Rhys was about to give her his number, Erin stopped him and gave a small glare to the woman. "We'll pick it up on Friday, that's all."

"Oh, of course!" She said with a small smile, her face flushed with embarrassment before trying to make small talk.

"Who are these flowers for? It's a pretty purple pink bouquet so do you have a girlfriend who's favourite colour is purple?" She asked Rhys.

Although Rhys was about to explain, Erin's temper took over once more. "He doesn't have a girlfriend nor is he interested." he spat, emphasising the last word.

"What he said is true, but I'm giving these to my dad. It's merely conincidence they're purple and pinkish, I chose them based off their meanings." Rhys said, trying not to embarrass the woman further. Although he had no interest in her, he felt a little bad from Erin's behaviour.

With it being done, Rhys paid ahead of time and made his way with Erin to find Xavier and Seth. "By the way, what did the flowers mean?" Erin questioned.

Slightly shocked, Rhys tried to contain it and answered normally with his smile skill. "Peony's in this case refers to happy marriage or prosperity, while lavender means calmness, and pink hydrangeas basically mean strong emotion." He explained, remembering how happy he was when he first started gardening.

"You sure do know a lot about flowers, you have the weirdest hobbies." Erin responded as they found Seth and Xavier, ready to go.

Just then, Erin's affection rose by two putting him at fifteen. "Did he like flowers that much?" Rhys thought, obvious to how he raised Erin's affection.

"You really don't understand flirting or romance." Kane rolled his eyes, sitting atop of Rhys head as the four made their way around, stopping by a random food court.

"Normally I'd try not to eat out when I can, but I guess it wouldn't hurt." Rhys sighed to himself, worried about whether or not he'd gain weight, or if his skin would be greasy.

"You worry too much! Just because you can cook doesn't mean you need to constantly do it, okay?" Xavier said with a smile as he and Rhys went to take orders, Seth and Erin finding seats.

"You know what, you're going to get a milkshake too!" Xavier declared, clinging onto Rhys' arms.

"This system is really too much with assigning such clingy targets." Rhys muttered in his head to Kane, accepting his fate of constantly being touched by Xavier.

As they took their orders, the man behind the counter noticed Xavier linking arms with Rhys, and sent them off with a "have a nice date."

Rhys once again, blushed, just when he thought he was used to it. "Good job, Rhys! You're doing so well people think you're a couple already." Kane teased.

"I hate this damn system! I never should of accepted even if I was dying! Targets I need to capture? It's more like the opposite! They're forcing themselves on me!" Rhys complained to Kane.

"Right, stay in your denial period for as long as you need host, the phase will probably end by world five." Kane responded.

"Ah just shut up you good for nothing system, dragging me into this mess! I hate you." Rhys responded as he and Xavier took their seats opposite of each other, placing down the food.

Checking his phone, it read 7:02, a lot of time had passed since they left, much to Rhys surprise. Smiling a little to himself just the tiniest bit, he put his phone down and engaged in the conversation.