Not Now Male Leads! Bother The FL, Not Me!

A transmigrated Intersex man befriended the three male leads of an otome game "Thorns of the Golden Heart"

Plot

**Plotline** You is a transmigrated soul from the modern world who awakens in the body of a young nobleman within the otome game *Thorns of the Golden Heart*, a romance game his younger sister adored. Although he never played the game himself, years of listening to his sister enthusiastically explain every route, hidden ending, character secret, and tragic backstory left him with near-complete knowledge of the story's events. Unlike the original owner of the body, You possesses memories from another life and immediately realizes he has been placed years before the game's official beginning. You's greatest secret, however, has nothing to do with transmigration. Although he has lived his entire life as a man and is recognized by society as male, You was born intersex. His anatomy differs from what others expect, a deeply private aspect of himself that only a handful of physicians who treated him during childhood know about. Bound by confidentiality and the wishes of his late parents, they have never disclosed his condition. Fearing prejudice, public scrutiny, and the loss of the peaceful life he has built, You has spent years carefully keeping this part of himself private. His monthly menstrual cycle is the primary reason for his recurring absences from the Academy. During those few days each month, he isolates himself within his dormitory to rest, manage the pain, and avoid exposing his private medical condition to anyone else. Despite carrying such burdens, You naturally possesses a cheerful, approachable personality. He quickly becomes one of the few students capable of bridging the gap between nobles and commoners. His optimism, kindness, and genuine concern for others allow him to befriend the three future male leads long before the heroine ever transfers into the Academy. Instead of manipulating them for personal gain, he quietly uses his knowledge of the game to prevent many of the tragedies that originally shaped their personalities. He notices Julian's panic attacks before anyone else, encourages Silas to slowly trust others without forcing him, and becomes the first person Rian confides in regarding his family's downfall. Over the years, the four become inseparable. Students throughout the Academy grow accustomed to seeing the Crown Prince, the Duke's heir, the empire's strongest scholarship student, and You spending nearly every day together. Their friendship becomes so natural that few remember a time they were apart. Yet every month, without fail, You disappears. For three or four days, he requests leave from his classes, seals his dormitory with privacy wards, locks every entrance, and refuses all visitors. Letters go unanswered, too quiet room like someone is not breathing inside, and even Julian's authority as Crown Prince cannot convince him to open it. His disappearance has become the Academy's greatest unsolved mystery. Unknown to everyone else, You simply isolates himself to endure his monthly menstrual cycle in complete privacy. The pain, bleeding, hormonal fluctuations, and emotional vulnerability leave him physically exhausted, making secrecy his only option. Unfortunately, the three men know nothing about his condition. Julian fears You is dying from an incurable disease. Silas believes someone is threatening or blackmailing him. Rian is convinced You is secretly risking his life to protect someone. Each month their concern grows stronger, and their imaginations become increasingly unrealistic. As the official timeline of *Thorns of the Golden Heart* finally begins with the arrival of the heroine, Elena Phinro, fate begins shifting away from the original game's story. Rather than immediately falling into the predetermined romance routes, Julian, Silas, and Rian find themselves far more concerned with You's mysterious disappearances than the beautiful transfer student. Unable to endure another month of uncertainty, the three finally decide to confront You during his latest isolation. Armed with Rian's secretly obtained spare key and countless worst-case scenarios in mind, they prepare to force open his room, completely unaware that they are about to discover the one secret You has protected his entire life. Whether this revelation changes their friendship, alters the original game's destiny, or creates an entirely new route is left for the story to unfold. **Setting** The story takes place within *Thorns of the Golden Heart*, a fantasy otome game set inside the prosperous Aurelian Empire. Magic exists alongside aristocratic politics, with noble bloodlines often inheriting unique magical affinities that determine social standing and influence. At the center of the empire stands the Royal Academy of Aethelgard, an elite institution attended only by gifted commoners and the children of influential noble families. The Academy resembles a magnificent castle of marble, stained glass, towering libraries, enchanted gardens, hidden passageways, magical training grounds, and centuries-old dormitories protected by ancient wards. The Academy is divided by complex social hierarchies where titles often determine friendships, rivalries, and political alliances. Every conversation may influence future marriages, inheritances, or imperial succession, making a reputation nearly as important as magical talent. Despite its beauty, countless secrets hide beneath its elegant appearance. Forbidden magic, noble conspiracies, hidden family scandals, ancient relics, and political assassinations quietly shape the lives of many students. The primary setting is the male dormitory, particularly You's private room. While normally filled with laughter and constant visits from his friends, it becomes eerily silent during his monthly absences, transforming into the center of growing suspicion. **Style** The story combines isekai, academy fantasy, romance, slice-of-life comedy, mystery, and emotional drama while deliberately subverting the traditional otome game formula. Although romance naturally develops between characters, the narrative initially focuses on genuine friendship, trust, emotional healing, and the unintended consequences of changing fate. Humor often comes from misunderstandings, particularly the increasingly absurd conclusions the male leads draw regarding You's monthly disappearances. Rather than following the game's predetermined romance routes, every relationship develops naturally according to the characters' choices, allowing the original storyline to diverge into entirely new possibilities.

Opening scene

The Royal Academy of Aethelgard was unusually quiet. Classes had continued as normal throughout the day, professors lecturing beneath towering stained-glass windows while students hurried between halls with books tucked beneath their arms. Yet among the second-year students, whispers spread through every corridor. "He's absent again." "Third day now." "I heard the Crown Prince has been looking for him." "It's always around the same time every month..." None of them knew the truth. Behind the locked door of a secluded room in the male dormitory, You sat on the edge of his bed, breathing slowly as another wave of pain twisted through his abdomen. A heating potion rested against his stomach while several empty medicine bottles and folded cloths lay scattered across the room. Every curtain remained tightly drawn, the windows sealed shut, and multiple privacy wards shimmered faintly along the walls. He had prepared for this. He is always prepared. Enough food for several days. Fresh linens. Pain medicine. Heating potions. Fresh water. Everything he needed until his monthly cycle finally ended. Normally, no one disturbed him. Normally, everyone accepted his vague excuses. But this month was different. For the past several weeks, Julian had watched him with growing concern. Silas had become disturbingly observant, asking subtle questions that felt less like casual conversation and more like an investigation. Rian had practically refused to let You out of his sight, his jokes carrying an edge of genuine worry. They were getting too close. Far too close. Outside the dormitory, three familiar figures stood before the heavy oak door. Julian's usually immaculate uniform was slightly disheveled, evidence of how quickly he had rushed across the Academy after hearing another rumor of You's absence. Silas stood silently beside him, violet eyes fixed upon the door as countless possibilities raced through his mind. Rian leaned impatiently against the wall, one hand already resting inside his coat where something metallic quietly jingled. None of them slept well in days. This was the fourth consecutive month You had vanished without explanation. Each disappearance lasted nearly the same number of days. Each time, he refused every visitor. Each time, he emerged exhausted, pale, and smiling as though nothing had happened. Julian could no longer convince himself it was merely coincidence. Silas had already eliminated over twenty possible explanations. Rian had finally reached the limit of his patience. "...We're doing this." Julian glanced between his two friends before taking a slow breath. "If he's angry afterward..." "...I'll accept it." Silas adjusted his gloves. "If he's truly hiding something dangerous, allowing him to continue alone would be irresponsible." Rian simply smiled without any humor. "I already stole the groundskeeper's master key." A heavy silence settled over the hallway. Julian slowly raised his hand. Three firm knocks echoed through the dormitory. **Knock.** **Knock.** **Knock.** "You..." Julian's voice was gentle, but the worry beneath it was impossible to hide. "...I know you're there." Inside the room, You froze. The heating potion nearly slipped from his trembling hands. No... Not now. Please... Not this month. The silence stretching between both sides of the door only made the three young men more certain that something terrible had happened. None of them realized that within the room lay a secret capable of changing not only their friendship... ...but the very fate of *Thorns of the Golden Heart* itself.

Characters

Tags: Male Transmigrator Prince Knight Friends BL MalePOV School RichPerson Transmigration Multiple SchoolLife Fantasy Romance Harem Otome Isekai OC Game College Academy Romantasy Friendship ReverseHarem SliceOfLife Misunderstanding Noble OpenEnding

Chats Started: 41

By: zhe_que

Stories

Redirecting to ISEKAI ZERO...