Chapter 38: The Long-Awaited Progress (3)

Clara had guaranteed it.

That no one would find her personal history interesting.

So, she’d hesitated greatly to even bring it up as a topic of conversation.

However, Rohan listened to her circumstances more earnestly than any government official ever had.

And as if acting spoiled for the first time in her life, Clara shared more than she’d initially intended to.

Strangely, whenever she talked to Rohan, her mouth couldn’t help but open up and spill everything out.

“Hmm.”

Rohan fell into deep thought after listening to her story.

What could he be thinking about?

“…”

Clara sipped her drink through a straw, glancing at Rohan from time to time.

As she savored the sweetness while pondering about his thoughts, he called out to her.

“Clara.”

“Yeees… Ah! Uh, yes?”

“If you’re uncomfortable using informal speech, you don’t have to force yourself. You can mix and match however you feel comfortable.”

Though it seemed like that wasn’t the main point, Rohan addressed it lightly.

Nod, nod.

Clara was curious about what Rohan would say after pondering for so long.

So, she nodded, her twin tails swaying like a tail, signaling her understanding. Rohan then continued.

“The Dormitory room provided by the Academy has hot water and it’s not cold, right? The washing machine also works fine, it’s just a bit small.”

A story to be envied.

Clara listened attentively to Rohan’s voice.

“I’m usually out from dawn until before work ends on weekdays. So, the room is empty during that time, right?”

“…?”

“You can wash up there. You can also take a nap if you’re feeling sleepy, or just use the washing machine and leave.”

“!!!”

Rohan spoke with a nonchalant expression, as if it wasn’t a big deal, but as the understanding gradually dawned on her, Clara froze as if she were struck by lightning.

Her eyes widened as much as they could.

“It might be a bit awkward since it’s a guy’s room, but I clean it regularly.”

“E-even so…”

“It’s not good to wash with cold water and sleep on a cold floor when the weather hasn’t fully warmed up, right?”

Rohan ended his sentence with a rhetorical question seeking agreement.

He picked up a bread knife to cut the muffin he’d bought with the drink.

Fshhk.

The soft cut muffin was placed in front of Clara.

The girl watched him quietly, then raised her head.

“…Rohan Oppa.”

“Yeah.”

“Can I ask you just one thing?”

“Even two or three, feel free to ask as many questions as you like.”

Clara gazed at Rohan with an incredibly serious expression. Her gaze seemed to pierce right through him.

Her voice lowered slightly, and she wasn’t as helplessly withdrawn as usual.

A cool sharpness and vigilance flickered beneath her eyes.

Rohan could see it.

“…Why are you being so nice to me?”

Certainly, unmotivated kindness would be suspicious. It was a valid question.

It was right to be doubtful of a situation that was inexplicably favorable.

So, how should he explain it?

He crossed his arms and thought for a moment, then chuckled.

“Thinking back, it sounds strange even to me. It seems I got too carried away.”

“…”

“If I were Clara, I would have refused. It would be unsettling to be suddenly told to use a man’s room freely.”

Clara blinked at his frank admission.

The sharp aura she’d been unconsciously exuding subsided.

“Of course, it’s not like I have ulterior motives or… no, saying that would make it even weirder.”

“…”

Rohan cleared his throat with an ahem! and finished off his drink.

Clara gulped nervously.

Slide.

Rohan, who had been tapping his fingers with his arms crossed, leaned forward.

He put weight into his voice as if he’d concluded this was the only way.

“Clara. Would it be okay even if I don’t have any tangible proof? I’ll be honest.”

“I-if you’re honest…”

It was rather welcome.

The girl was confident she could read the malice in a person.

So, she indicated her agreement, and Rohan reached out.

He gently took hold of one of Clara’s slender fingers.

“I wish to get closer to Clara.”

“Huh!?”

“This might sound creepy, but… I was being overly meddlesome because I feel uncomfortable knowing that you’re living in such a place. I’m sorry if it was burdensome.”

“It’sokayit’sokayit’sokayit’sokay… R-really…”

The girl mumbled, losing her composure at his apology.

The sincerity in Rohan’s apology made her feel like she was the one at fault, making her even more flustered.

The vigilance she’d harbored evaporated the moment he took her finger.

Right now, Clara’s face was just burning hot.

Her consciousness spun with the heat.

…

This feeling was completely different from when an Instructor grabbed her wrist and threw her down during her training at Zeno.

Back then, her body had moved naturally to counterattack, but now, she couldn’t even move, even though he was only holding one of her fingers.

It was the same in Academy City.

There had been countless times when men she didn’t know approached her and tried to touch her, pretending to be friendly.

Every time, she’d only felt disgusted and wished they hadn’t interrupted her.

But being with Rohan was different.

The conclusion was: no response possible.

None of Clara’s past experiences could be compared to this situation.

“Hmm, what would be a good analogy…”

Rohan lowered his head and shared his thoughts as he looked at the silent Clara.

“The image of a guy like me being left on a cold floor is different from Clara being alone on a freezing floor, right?”

“Hyaa…”

“Anyway, just think about it. And if you need it, just let me know anytime. Okay?”

The girl affirmed with silence rather than a nod.

Rohan apologized once more and decided to change the subject.

Clara’s finger was still in Rohan’s hand.

“Since Clara shared her story today, how about I tell you mine? Of course, only if Clara wants to hear it.”

Only then did the girl flinch and react.

“I-I want to hear it…!”

“Thanks. I almost felt embarrassed.”

Rohan rummaged through his coat with his free hand and pulled out his Orion Academy student ID.

He handed it to Clara, gesturing for her to look.

“As it says there, my home country is the Southern Region. Not exactly from a powerful nation.”

“Southern? Southern Region…?”

The girl’s eyes widened in shock as she checked the letters on the ID.

She’d received education about foreign countries while at Zeno, so she knew how the Southern Region had fallen.

She also knew that there were very few survivors among its once numerous citizens.

The photos she’d seen in the materials were horrifying.

“Officially, I’m alone. Well, not just officially, but in reality too.”

“I-I’m the same…!”

“Clara and I have a lot in common.”

“Hee…”

Being an orphan with no place to call home wasn’t something to laugh about.

But she laughed anyway.

This was the first time this gloomy situation had made her smile.

“Hmm, what else should I tell you?”

“I… I like any story…”

“It might be boring, though?”

As Rohan smiled and uttered a line she’d heard somewhere before, Clara realized why Rohan had responded that way when she’d said those words.

So, she gathered her courage and spoke.

“O-Oppa! It’s not about being interesting, it’s about getting to know each other, right…?”

“That’s right. Clara’s right.”

The sweet atmosphere surrounding the two seemed to permit no intrusion.

However, there were those who couldn’t help but interrupt this conversation.

“Customers, it’s closing time for our dining area…”

A business-like smile that was truly apologetic.

When the Beastkin part-timer, whose ears were dropping from exhaustion, said so, Rohan and Clara had no choice but to tidy up.

“Huu…”

Returning to her small room, Clara exhaled a breath that was far from the coldness of the space.

The heat that had risen in her body was yet to subside.

In her arms were the macarons Rohan had given her, presenting them as a gift as if thrusting them upon her.

Clara hugged them tightly and lay down on her bed.

…

She wondered what they would have talked about if their conversation had continued.

She felt as though Rohan’s touch lingered on her finger.

─ I wish to get closer to Clara.

What does he mean?

The girl stared at the ceiling, replaying the tingling moment over and over.

─ The image of a guy like me being left on a cold floor is different from Clara being alone on a freezing floor, right?

And when she recalled those words, the answer came to her rather easily.

Perhaps it was likely kindness stemming from Rohan’s personality.

She couldn’t find even a trace of the malice or ill will she’d encountered so tiresomely throughout her life.

However,

If she were asked whether she liked this answer, aside from the sense of relief, well…

Buzz—!

A small vibration.

With a certain anticipation, Clara quickly checked her Smartphone.

The corners of her lips curved upwards in an unconscious smile.

Clara sent a reply at lightning speed.

Tomorrow…

She’d have to wait until tomorrow afternoon to see Rohan again.

The girl rolled around on her narrow bed, fluffy daydreams blooming in her mind.

What kind of expression should she make when they meet?

What should she say about his offer to use his Dormitory room?

“…Ah!”

She thought of a way to understand and learn more about Rohan.

Not just by investigating incidents with ulterior motives like at Zeno, but by learning about the Southern Region’s lifestyle and traditions.

Tap.

Since it was a former powerful nation, a flood of information appeared when she searched.

The girl scrolled down, reading about the characteristics of the Southern Region.

“!?”

Her finger stopped at a specific passage.

The girl, who had been lying on the bed reading, sat up abruptly.