Julius Seaton nodded to himself as he typed. He might not know much about romance, but he understood the science of attraction.

Physical activity releases endorphins.

Endorphins created positive associations.

Positive associations led to bonding.

It was simple logic.

NotBookworm: @General search heart thumping moments in StarNet

Pete Rowan offered this advice while hunched over a microscope at the Imperial Research Institute, barely glancing at his light brain.

Dating advice was not his specialty.

Research was.

But even he knew that the StarNet had answers for everything.

—Five Minutes Later—

General: ...

General: @NotBookworm It makes you sick. Causes stress and anxiety

BigSis: @General, what did you even look at?

General: @BigSis Search: heart thumping moments

EternalYouth: facepalm @General just search romantic moments hyung.

Ciel Erskine Marchesi, a colonel and also Grayson’s cousin, facepalmed hard enough that his aide asked if he was alright.

Grayson was a genius. But when it came to anything remotely related to emotions, the man had the processing power of a broken calculator.

General: @EternalYouth oh.

EternalYouth: @General, I’m concerned for your date.

EternalYouth: @Genera,l Really concerned. conveying long-distance sincerity

TheDarkness: @General Did you find anything good?

General: @TheDarkness Too many results on romantic moments.

General: @TheDarkness, I don’t have time to read them all.

Fox: @General You DON’T need to read them ALL.

General: @Fox, how else would I know which advice is accurate?

No.1Traitor: @General Ah~This is really adorable.

No.1Traitor: @General In a very VERY sad way.

BigSis: @General, Just pick one activity and build around it.

BigSis: @General, What does your secretary even like?

General: @BigSis He likes cooking, reading, and his job.

General: @BigSis He doesn’t go out much. But he likes taking pictures when he comes out.

PrettiestLily: A homebody? raised an eyebrow

PrettiestLily: How boring.

BigSis: @PrettiestLily One more and I’ll tell Sarah exactly what you did to your new assistant.

PrettiestLily: @BigSis I said nothing wrong.

PrettiestLily: @BigSis Fine. zips her mouth shut

EternalYouth: @General If he doesn’t go out much, new experiences might overwhelm him.

EternalYouth: Start with something active but not straining.

EternalYouth: The adult playground near the shopping center has those zero-gravity obstacle courses. Popular with couples.

TheDarkness: @EternalYouth, how did you know that? 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

EternalYouth: @TheDarkness secret

No.1Traitor: @BigSis, the youngest as a secret now! sparkling eyes

BigSis: @No.1Traitor I know. I’m a proud mom.

EternalYouth: eye roll, whatever.

EternalYouth: @General There’s an aquarium in the adjacent building, with dim lighting. Lots of opportunities to stand close while looking at the same thing.

EternalYouth: End with something memorable.

EternalYouth: @NotBookworm There’s a meteor shower this weekend, right?

NotBookworm: @EternalYouth, how did you know?

Fox: @EternalYouth ...that’s actually good advice.

EternalYouth: @Fox I know~ rose petals for confetti

LoyalDog: @EternalYouth, are you dating?

No.1Traitor: gasp @EternalYouth did uncle know?!

EternalYouth: @No.1Traitor, if you know, then keep your mouth shut, old man.

No.1Traitor: heartbroken @EternalYouth seems like someone’s going to get an earful tonight.

EternalYouth: @No.1Traitor YAH!

General: @No.1Traitor spare the kid

No.1Traitor: @General, then don’t spoil the kid!

General: @No.1Traitor just this one

No.1Traitor: @General shook his head

General: @EternalYouth, how are you sure this is going to work?

EternalYouth: I do have some experience with dating.

EternalYouth: Unlike some people.

BigSis: @EternalYouth cheeky, but helpful.

BigSis: @General He’s right, though.

BigSis: Active first. Gets the blood pumping, shedding the awkwardness. Then something immersive like the aquarium. Gives you things to talk about. Then something special. Meteor showers are inherently romantic.

BigSis: You can’t possibly mess that up.

General: @BigSis, I see.

NotBookworm: @General, You could also show off by destroying him in mecha combat and asserting dominance.

Fox: @NotBookworm @General That is one example of terrible dating advice.

NotBookworm: @Fox I’m a researcher, not a relationship counselor.

LoyalDog: @General Perhaps let him win?

General: @LoyalDog At what?

LoyalDog: @General ...anything?

General: @LoyalDog, Why should I do that?

No.1Traitor: @General, so he could like you more?

General: @No.1Traitor, I don’t want him to like me because I’m bad at things. I want him to like me because I’m good at things.

EternalYouth: @General Hyung, that’s not how dating works.

General: @EternalYouth Then how does it work?

EternalYouth: @General ...panics

EternalYouth: @General I actually don’t know either.

No.1Traitor: @EternalYouth Yah don’t act innocent now after showing off!

EternalYouth: @General I really didn’t know!

EternalYouth: @No.1Traitor I didn’t get asked out first, so I only know the spots, not how it works

Fox: @EternalYouth You’re a jerk.

EternalYouth: @Fox What does that have to do with anything?

EternalYouth: @Fox Now that you’re out of singlehood, you’re now part of the traitors!

—EternalYouth changed Fox’s nickname to No.2Traitor—

EternalYouth: @No.2Traitor You give the advice!

—Admin No.2Traitor changed his nickname to ImmortalFox—

ImmortalFox: @EternalYouth There are no details.

EternalYouth: @ImmortalFox LIAR.

TheDarkness: @ImmortalFox Who is it?

No.1Traitor: @ImmortalFox Yeah, who is it?

BigSis: @ImmortalFox The chat demands answers.

ImmortalFox: @BigSis This is supposed to be about @General.

BigSis: @ImmortalFox @General is hopeless. We’ve moved on to you.

ImmortalFox: @BigSis, my personal life is sealed in private.

EternalYouth: @ImmortalFox HYPOCRITE.

EternalYouth: @ImmortalFox Why are you helping @General with HIS personal life then?!

ImmortalFox: @EternalYouth That’s different.

No.1Traitor: @ImmortalFox How?

ImmortalFox: @No.1Traitor Because I actually graduated without problems after reading Auntie Gloria’s guidebook. Therefore, I can confidently say that I know what I’m doing. Meanwhile, @General already said that he finished it without learning a single thing from it. Who’s the hypocrite now?

PrettiestLily: @ImmortalFox The arrogance.

ImmortalFox: @PrettiestLily It’s not arrogance if it’s true.

General: @everyone Can we focus now?

General: @ImmortalFox, I also need to know what to wear.

The chat paused again.

TheDarkness: @General, You don’t know what to wear?

General: @TheDarkness No.

General: @TheDarkness, but I was too casual last time.

General: @ImmortalFox, do you wear something different on dates?

LoyalDog: @General, What did you wear before?

General: @LoyalDog A black turtleneck, pants, and a long tailcoat

General: @everyone, any suggestions?

ImmortalFox: @General, What are you thinking of wearing?

General: @ImmortalFox Suits.

No.1Traitor: @General And? snickering

General: @No.1Traitor Military uniforms.

BigSis: @General ...and?

General: @BigSis Workout clothes.

General: That’s it.

EternalYouth: @General Hyung.

EternalYouth: @General, please don’t.

General: @EternalYouth Then tell me what to wear.

NotBookworm: @General, I can’t believe you’re thinking of wearing a military uniform

General: @NotBookworm I’m just telling you what I have in mind, not really wearing it.

TheDarkness: @General This explains why you always look like you’re about to fire someone.

General: @TheDarkness I already told you guys, it’s just an idea.

TheDarkness: @General, an idea to wear on a DATE?

BigSis: @General Seriously?

No.1Traitor: @General Casual oversized shirt. Loose pants or jeans since it was a high activity itinerary. A zip-up hoodie may be used to cover your unnecessarily attractive face.

LoyalDog: @General, You do own stretchy jeans, right?

General: @LoyalDog ...

General: @LoyalDog I’ll purchase one if necessary.

TheDarkness: @General, I’ll send you my tailor’s information. Emergency rush orders are his specialty.

General: @No.1Traitor No need, I can just buy one online.

No.1Traitor: @General Gloria is going to lose her mind when she hears about this.

General: @No.1Traitor Do NOT tell mother.

No.1Traitor: @General Well, she’s also my MOTHER-in-law.

General: @No.1Traitor THIAGO.

No.1Traitor: @General Love you too, brother-in-law.