Chapter 44: Relationships Are Built on Tigers (5)

“I’ll leave the cup and spoons here. The bright color makes them easy to find.”

“Okay…!”

Having washed and placed the spare cup and spoons for Clara to use, Rohan started to move his hands to the other side.

He took out the instant rice and ingredients for side dishes that he had put on the shelf for cooking.

“It’ll take some time, so if you’re bored, watch TV or something. I’ll call you when it’s done.”

“Mm, I want to watch you.”

Seemingly curious about the cooking process, Clara stood next to Rohan and continued to observe with a delighted face.

Come to think of it, I haven’t cooked much since coming here.

With that thought, Rohan washed the vegetables in water and piled them neatly on the cutting board.

He shook off the water from his hands and grabbed a kitchen knife.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

The onions, carrots, and green onions on the cutting board were chopped up quickly.

Clara, watching the smoothly progressing process, asked in a cheerful voice,

“Oppa, do you like cooking?”

“It’s not that I like cooking, but I thought controlling food expenses is efficient if I want to save on living expenses.”

“Ooh…!”

This was a story focused on his past life.

But even in Academy City Elysium, things weren’t much different in that regard.

“These days, I only cook on weekends. I can manage at the Academy during the week.”

It would definitely have been financially difficult if there wasn’t the affordable Academy Cafeteria for Cadets.

Without that option, he might have wasted Points from the Shop Skill to forget his hunger.

I don’t want to be obsessed with money… but I need a certain amount to have peace of mind.

He had experienced poverty enough before becoming a Hunter. To the point of being weary of the deprivation itself.

Thus, he knew how much material hardship could wear a person down.

That was why he hated poverty.

If his wallet became thinner than now, he would have had to calculate the balance in his head when buying Clara delicious food, and giving a gift to the bookstore manager would have required repeated deliberation.

It was an unpleasant picture to even imagine.

He didn’t want to be stingy in that regard.

“Rohan Oppa.”

“Yes?”

“When I get a status in Academy City and live in a house with a kitchen… would it be good to cook for myself?”

That meant Clara’s current residence didn’t even have a kitchen.

Rohan felt sorry for that.

“If Clara wants to, cooking is a good hobby. But I don’t think you have to force yourself to do it if you don’t want to.”

“I, I want to try it if I know how… but I’ve never tried it before…”

“Shall we do it together next time? Just follow the recipe.”

“!”

Nod, nod, nod, nod.

Clara nodded vigorously with a look of eagerness. Her Twin Tail swayed back and forth.

Rohan linked pinkies with her as she requested, and then continued cooking.

Once he heated the instant rice in the microwave and put it in a bowl, the preparations were complete.

Feeling the special warmth that could only be realized when sitting across from each other at the table, the two naturally smiled.

“Thanks for the food!”

“Eat a lot.”

“You eat a lot too, Oppa! Hehe…”

Clara hummed a tune and picked up her spoon, enjoying the meal Rohan had lightly prepared.

The girl tasted the food with a face clearly expressing joy.

Then her eyes widened.

“Oppa’s cooking is delicious…!”

“That compliment alone makes it worth the effort.”

From Rohan’s perspective, he was just grateful that she enjoyed the simply prepared food so much.

Seeing her admire it so much made him worry about what she usually ate.

And one person who would refrain from eating what she wanted.

Shion.

The aloof Princess flashed through Rohan’s Consciousness.

But this wasn’t something to bring up with Clara right now.

Talking about serious stuff during a meal can cause indigestion.

It was alright to bring up the main topic after the necessary tasks were finished.

Shouldn’t eating be comfortable?

After finishing the meal with small talk, Clara let out a breath filled with satiety, rubbing her flat stomach.

“Huu… I’m full…”

“Did you eat a lot?”

“Yes! Thanks for the food!”

“I’ll put the remaining side dishes in a container and keep them in the refrigerator, so come and eat whenever you’re hungry. Just heat it up like I showed you.”

Having cleared the dishes, Rohan placed the manga from Noa and the items he bought and continued with his explanation to the girl.

In particular, the washing machine was a different model from the one in Clara’s room, so a simple explanation was needed.

“Fill the detergent only up to this line. The fabric softener goes in the compartment next to it.”

“Yes, yes! I understand.”

“Put clothes that need to be hand-washed, or clothes with zippers and decorations, in the laundry net I bought and wash them. They’ll be less damaged.”

“Ah…!”

Things the girl, who had only received espionage training and escaped from Zeno, didn’t know.

Clara understood the purpose of the laundry net and nodded, listening attentively to Rohan’s instructions.

“I guess that’s about it. If I’m not here, don’t open the door even if someone knocks. Got it?”

“Got it!”

Rohan, quietly watching the girl excited over the small things, experienced a change of heart.

Even if bringing Clara in as a comrade didn’t go as planned, he decided to just let her live comfortably.

Because this was reality, not a game.

If she didn’t have the will to do it, forcing her might be too harsh for what was to come.

“Clara.”

“Yes?”

The girl turned around with a smile, as if asking if he had called her.

Rohan smiled bitterly at her innocent reaction and suggested,

“Hmm… shall we go out for a walk to help with digestion?”

···

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The two walked with drinks in their hands.

Rohan had coffee, and Clara had fruit juice, just in case.

“You said you’d use the hot water starting Monday, right?”

“Yes. Is it okay to use it…?”

Rohan nodded affirmatively, as if it were natural.

“Anytime is fine. I’ll keep the window lock unlocked.”

“Heehee.”

Clara smiled happily at the reaffirmed permission.

“Even if I’m away for a long time, feel free to use it.”

“Away for a long time…? Because of the Academy?”

“The Academy doesn’t have any training plans scheduled for that long yet. It’s just… I might be away for a few days because of other work.”

Clara blinked, trying to understand Rohan’s words.

Taking her lips off the straw, the girl expressed her question.

“Oppa, do you work anywhere else besides The Flower Bookstore?”

“If you consider it work…? I guess you could see it that way.”

“Hmm?”

Clara tilted her head in question at Rohan’s unusually vague response.

“There’s a direction I’m focusing on, trying to make it my main occupation. My part-time job at the bookstore is also part of the foundation for that work.”

“Is it okay to ask what kind of work you’re trying to do?”

“I haven’t told anyone around me yet, but it’s ultimately related to force.”

“Then am I the first to hear about Oppa’s story…?”

“Right. That’s how it is.”

Hearing that it was related to force made her think it might be something serious.

But she couldn’t deny that she was happy to be the first person to hear it.

“Want to hear it?”

“If Oppa is okay with it…!”

Seeing Clara answer without a moment’s hesitation, Rohan smiled.

After confirming that there was no one around, he stopped walking. They were in a quiet alley near the Dormitory.

“As you know, Clara, I came from the Southern Region, right?”

“…Yes.”

“The most common path for Cadets who graduate from Orion Academy is to return to their home countries and join a renowned force.”

Rohan wet his throat with coffee and continued his story.

“That doesn’t mean there’s no path for Cadets like me who have nowhere to go back to after graduation. It’s not uncommon for graduates to immigrate to other countries.”

“…”

“There are only two years left until I graduate. It’s a short time if there’s a lot to prepare for, and a long time if you just let it go.”

He said only two years, so did that mean there was a lot to prepare for?

Clara nibbled on her straw and stared blankly at Rohan’s mouth as his voice flowed out.

“I’m considering two options.”

“Two…”

“One is to join another country’s force after graduation.”

“What’s the other one?”

At Clara’s question, Rohan paused for a moment.

After a brief pause, drinking his coffee, Rohan met the girl’s eyes and announced,

“Staying in Academy City. As a Peacekeeper or a Freelancer.”

“!”

Then she could continue to see him.

That thought naturally came to Clara’s mind.

“What I want to achieve now is the latter. I like Academy City, and working independently suits me well.”

It was as if he had gone through all sorts of hardships and completely finished reflecting on and reviewing himself.

The girl blinked silently.

There wasn’t much of an age difference between them, but Clara could only admire how clear he was about the direction he wanted to go.

“Clara.”

“Yes?”

“Do you have anything you want to do in the future?”

“I, I don’t know…”

Shake, shake.

The girl shook her head weakly.

The path ahead was so dark that she had never experienced imagining beyond it.

“It’s okay. Clara, you’ve worked hard so far. It’s enough to find your future path slowly.”

“…”

It was too convincing to be empty words, as if he knew everything.

Clara felt a surge of emotion swirling within her chest.

“Clara.”

“Y-Yes!”

Her voice was laced with moisture. Clara answered in a small voice, embarrassed.

Rohan gently curved his lips upwards and asked,

“Until you find what you want to do in the future, do you want to stick with me?”