Chapter 89: Girls at Risk of Being Left Alone for 5 Days (2)

Saturday.

The Flower Bookstore was closed this weekend. The manager had closed shop, telling Rohan to prepare for his exams.

It seemed that the manager’s real purpose was to go out with his grandson, but Rohan was grateful for the kindness.

I should send the manager gifts more often. And buy a lot of books.

He had also informed him that he would probably have to quit his part-time job soon.

He hadn’t worked there long, and yet when he brought it up, the manager simply smiled in understanding and told him to come visit anytime, making Rohan want to bow deeply in gratitude.

The thought of being able to end things cleanly made him feel lighter.

“Clara. This is the right bus, right?”

“Yes!”

“Seats 11A and 11B… the window seat is yours, Clara.”

“I, I’m okay with the aisle seat? Wouldn’t it be more comfortable for you to sit inside…?”

“Just sit inside~ It’s more uncomfortable for me to keep my legs together.”

And so, the weekend before the midterms, the last granted respite.

Rohan boarded the bus to the station with Clara.

Needless to say, they were going to pick up Shion, who was coming from Tigrova.

“Oppa. Here’s some water.”

“Thanks. Are you cramped?”

“I’m fine! Are you?”

“I have plenty of room too. These bus seats are nice and luxurious.”

Rohan chatted comfortably with Clara.

He’d put aside reviewing and memorizing for the midterm exams for a while.

His brain was overloaded from recently accepting studies he’d never imagined doing.

Rohan felt that he needed time to moisten his parched mind, so he felt the timing of this current trip was perfect.

“On the way back, Shion and Clara will sit together. I think I should sit in a single seat.”

Clara nodded, agreeing with him. Her purple twin tails swayed.

As much as she wanted to sit with Rohan in the middle, the seat configuration made it impossible.

“Clara. You can sleep if you’re tired. I’ll wake you up when we arrive.”

“Aren’t you sleepy because of all the studying, Oppa? You’ve been staying up late texting.”

Rohan chuckled and pulled out his smartphone.

─ Company Wave!

He turned the volume down as low as possible and started the game he played with Clara.

The girl’s eyes sparkled with interest as she leaned closer to Rohan.

“Now, with enough resources, I can complete the 3rd party. What do you think?”

“Oppa… you leveled up so fast. I think I’m going to cry…”

Clara had been watching closely, but Rohan’s gameplay was impeccable.

Clean. The past him who provoked backseat gaming was nowhere to be seen.

It was clear that with enough time investment, he would break through to the top. Truly satisfying growth.

“Ah, did you get a call from Shion yesterday?”

“Yes! I was relieved to hear things went well. Oh, you also talked to Unni, right…?”

“Yeah. She suddenly asked me what perfume I use.”

“…”

Clara remembered Shion’s voice over the phone.

The deep bewilderment in her single sentence about discovering that Rohan doesn’t wear perfume.

It seemed as though she had finally realized that it was Rohan’s scent she had been obsessed with.

“Clara.”

“Yes…?”

“I should’ve told you sooner, but I have my Academy exams coming up, right?”

“Yes, yes! I know.”

“The practical exam starts right away after the written exam on Monday. So I won’t be at the dormitory until the practical exam is over.”

Clara’s eyes widened.

Her voice involuntarily rose and trembled.

“H, How long will you be gone…? One day? Two days, perhaps…?”

“Unfortunately, it won’t be that short. The current schedule is from Monday to Friday.”

“!!!”

The despair of Rohan being absent not just for a day or two, but the entire week.

Clara felt herself plummeting into a bottomless abyss at Rohan’s words.

“There’s plenty of food in the fridge, so make sure you and Shion eat well. Okay?”

“…”

Clara couldn’t respond.

She hadn’t really heard him.

N, Next week, Oppa won’t be here…?

Looking back at her recent life, the thought of being separated from Rohan for that long was unimaginable.

If someone were to accuse her of being dependent or addicted, she wouldn’t be able to refute them.

“Wahhh…”

Watching the girl who was on the verge of losing her soul from between her lips in a daze, Rohan carefully extended his hand.

“And this is a little out of the blue, but it’s a gift for you, Clara.”

“…?!”

A clicking sound brought the light back to Clara’s dead eyes.

“I thought it would suit you, so I bought it. It’s not that expensive, but…”

“Huh?”

The girl fumbled with her hand and touched the accessory in her hair.

Just by touch, she could tell what it was. The smooth material and the heart-shaped decoration at the end.

“O, Oppa…!”

“I bought it on my own, so you don’t have to force yourself to wear it.”

“I’ll wear it forever…!”

Clara’s declaration was grand. Rohan laughed and asked,

“Shouldn’t you at least check the color and shape? If you have a color you want, I’ll go with you to exchange it.”

“I like this one!”

There’s no need to unwrap it and check the design or color.

Rohan chose it, so this was perfect. Nothing else is needed. Absolutely no changing it.

The happiness brought by the hairpin nestled in her hair.

The girl’s spirits, previously stuck to the floor, soared to the heavens.

Embracing this happiness as a spark, she felt like she could endure the weekdays without Rohan, without freezing to death.

The station for the Sky Train.

It felt more modest than expected, but it was like waiting for a plane at the airport.

“Ah! Oppa, look at that…!”

Through the window, they could see the Sky Train descending from the sky.

Clara pointed, saying Shion should be on it, judging by the time.

Heading towards the entrance where the announcements played.

Rohan grabbed a large piece of paper and a pen from the table.

“Let’s write ‘Shion’ on a placard and wait.”

“Uh, won’t Unnie find it embarrassing…?”

“That’s the fun of it. I think she’ll either react really well or not at all.”

Rohan used his squiggly, poor handwriting to write a large [Shi] and [on].

They each took one and stood at the entrance.

Not even five minutes later.

Passengers poured out of the entrance.

Shion emerged from the entrance, wearing Rohan’s coat.

Truly unique beauty. She seemed to shine alone, immediately catching Rohan and Clara’s eyes.

Shion tilted her head, twitching her ears, and immediately spotted Rohan and Clara waiting for her.

Seeing her name on the signs they held, she chuckled.

“Welcome back. You’ve worked hard.”

“Unnie, welcome back…!”

Approaching Rohan and Clara, Shion erased her smile and then softly curled her lips upwards.

“Thanks for the grand welcome.”

After visiting Tigrova, the air of composure around her seemed to have deepened.

He wanted to hear the detailed stories he couldn’t hear over the phone.

“Let’s go back first.”

··

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They talked a lot on the bus to Academy City.

Even as they neared their destination, the three of them continued their chatter.

“Yoho-nim said he was worried I’d rush in and attack as soon as I saw him.”

The girl had seen the elders’ disgraceful behavior, so she wouldn’t act like that.

Thanks to that, she had learned many things.

That the Grand Emperor of Snow pursued his goals directly while adhering to reasonable boundaries.

That clinging to that and emotionally blaming him for the mutually agreed-upon usurpation process would also tarnish her parents’ names.

Shion understands that much about how the world works.

‘I’ve heard the Grand Emperor of Snow doesn’t avoid challenges. He must be living each day prepared.’

Perhaps it was because she had settled her petty feelings by pulling the trigger on the Chief Elder’s head.

Recently, Shion felt her perspective had broadened.

If that’s not the reason…

Naturally, her gaze fell on Rohan.

An excellent observer who made her heart race.

Thanks to Rohan, she now knows exactly where to aim.

“Oh! We’re here.”

As the bus stopped, Rohan naturally took Shion’s bag and led the way.

Her hands now empty, Shion held Clara’s hand.

“So.”

“Hmm?”

“What was it like seeing him in person?”

Rohan’s question after getting off the bus. Shion knew his curiosity referred to the Grand Emperor of Snow.

Anyone with the ambition to rise to the top would be curious.

Clara was also listening intently.

“A monster that couldn’t be killed by any means… someone who seemed absolutely immortal.”

Shion’s honest impression. Was that enough?

Rohan nodded and continued walking. He didn’t show any further curiosity.

“Let’s just drop our luggage off at the dormitory. And then have an early dinner? I’ll buy you something delicious.”

“Rohan. Wait a moment.”

Shion stopped walking as she spoke.

Clara, holding her hand, also stopped, and Rohan turned around.

“I want to buy dinner.”

“…?”

Rohan blinked. A rare moment of hesitation, unsure of what to say.

She hadn’t told him about inheriting the legacy, so it was understandable.

It would look strange for her to offer to buy food after borrowing his card because she was broke.

“There was something I said I’d show you when I got back. Do you remember?”

“What you said yesterday?”

“Y-yes, there was…”

He remembered what Shion had said on the phone.

With a feeling that something was coming, Rohan and Clara waited quietly.

Shion rummaged through her pocket with one hand and pulled out her smartphone.

She then showed him the account where Yoho had deposited the money.