"Well... I have plans today, so it would be difficult."

"...!"

The girl froze like a statue.

Rohan had never seen Clara this shocked before.

She couldn't continue speaking, her lips trembling slightly.

What should he do here?

Rohan knows.

"Instead!"

Clara's courage had reached its limit with the first invitation, but he knew he shouldn't end the conversation there.

So with a cheerful heart, he sincerely offered an alternative.

This opportunity was precious to Rohan too.

"How about tomorrow? I'll buy you a drink. Or any other day when you're free."

"Y-you must be busy, there's no need to go out of your way for someone like me..."

"Someone like you? You shouldn't undervalue yourself like that."

By Rohan's intuition, Clara's mind was probably blank except for apologies.

And since he'd already made it clear that she should stop apologizing, she was at a loss for words.

Rohan spoke again and took action.

"Hold this."

"...?"

It wouldn't be right to grab such a delicate girl's hand and pull her along.

When Rohan offered his apron like reins, Clara, though looking confused, gently took hold of it.

"Let's go."

"Um, where to?"

Rohan walked backward, maintaining eye contact with the timid Clara as he moved.

He led the girl to a table next to the counter.

And had her sit down.

He opened some snacks the manager had left for them and brewed warm tea, placing it in front of Clara.

The girl alternately looked at the refreshments before her and at Rohan. Those were eyes that didn't understand the situation at all.

"...What's this?"

"This is too much for one person to eat alone, isn't it? I was hoping you could help me."

Rohan casually handed her a snack.

Clara accepted it with hesitant hands and expressed her thanks.

Rohan watched the girl munching on the snack like a hamster.

And reconnected their broken conversation.

"I'm sorry. I'm really not usually someone with plans, but things just happened to work out this way."

"N-no! It's my fault for speaking without thinking..."

"How about tomorrow? Are you busy?"

Clara shook her head from side to side. She wasn't busy.

Her short twin tails and the ribbons on her clothes swayed together.

"Then I'll buy you something delicious tomorrow if you help me with the weekly boss."

When Rohan held out his finger as a sign of promise.

Clara hesitated briefly, then lowered her head and linked her finger with his.

*****

The princess told the elders, as always, that she was going to train.

She left her tracking device in the ruins and set foot in Elysium Academy City.

On the surface it was a deviation, but deep down it was a struggle to escape the doubts rooted in her heart.

Click!

Arriving at Area 2, the meeting place, the princess removed her goggles and placed them in their case.

She lowered the mask that had been pulled up to just below her eyes.

She knew she needed to blend in by making her outfit as natural as possible.

'...'

She raised her head on the street.

The brilliant signs and lights that came into view.

The princess was genuinely amazed at the prosperity of the academy city after sunset.

'Two hours...'

To the princess who had lived in the ruins without infrastructure, the academy city was nothing short of a bundle of interest and curiosity.

The two hours until her appointment was actually insufficient.

Looking around by herself, that much time would pass quickly.

Step. Step. Step.

She walks along the path, following pedestrians.

How should she describe her current state—a mixture of excitement and worry making her heart pound?

"..."

The girl who had been moving like that slowed her pace.

A small seed of wariness sprouted.

'What's lacking?'

The princess felt gazes with every step she took.

She remembered experiencing this before and thought she had dressed as naturally as possible, but she was still drawing attention.

'There's no hostility mixed in.'

Still, it bothered her.

Perhaps there was something unnatural about her that she hadn't considered, preventing her from blending in.

'...I should ask what's awkward about me when we meet.'

The princess naturally moved toward the shopping mall.

She had understood the currency system since childhood. Thanks to that, she carried a few coins for emergencies.

When wandering through monster-infested areas where people could no longer live, searching abandoned homes, she occasionally picked up dust-covered coins.

She continued her sightseeing, riding the escalator up the shopping mall, exploring each floor.

The princess got off at a lively floor and moved her head from side to side.

'There are many humans wearing similar clothes.'

She remembered hearing that it was the uniform of educational institutions called academies.

She concluded that this must be the floor selling school and office supplies.

How long had she been moving around exploring the floor?

"!"

The princess's excellent vision spotted a blue sign she remembered.

[Water Drop Friends]

The princess moved with subtly quickened steps.

The corners of her mouth twitched, not matching her cool face.

'...I didn't know this store would be in Area 2 too.'

It was the same brand as the store where she had secretly purchased notebooks and pens with chubby dragon and innocent shark characters when she had snuck into the academy city in the past.

As the princess approached, the automatic door slid open.

Bubble-pop—as the bell that sounded like bubbles rang, the staff's attention turned to her.

"Welcome! This is Water Drop Friends!"

The princess's mind calmed a bit thanks to the staff's bright welcoming voices.

The princess bowed her head politely in response and stepped inside.

Most customers were women or children.

The princess mingled among them and looked at the merchandise.

'Ululi in a suit and fedora, how interesting.'

The princess moved sideways from section to section, taking in the characters dressed in various fashions.

Past the small cute products were large characters greeting her.

'Dolls?'

To be honest, she was tempted.

She wanted one so badly. But the return journey was the problem.

If such a doll suddenly appeared in her dark room, it would stand out too conspicuously, so no matter how much she wanted it, it was impossible.

'Can't be helped...'

It was truly regrettable that she could only be satisfied with looking at them now.

The princess couldn't leave the spot and kept poking the soft doll with her finger.

How long had she been standing there trying to console her disappointment?

A voice that made the princess's ears perk up was heard.

"That'll be 102 coins and 28 tokens."

"Please deliver everything to the address."

"Understood! Thank you as always!"

She wondered what could cost that much here.

The princess's head naturally turned toward the counter.

'...A blind person?'

It was an elegant girl with closed eyes.

The sword she held like a cane both suited her and created a sense of dissonance.

Watching her put away the card after payment and turn to leave.

The princess who glimpsed the girl's capabilities held her breath.

'She's strong.'

The girl moved her head as if sensing her presence from over there.

As the princess stood stiffly, the girl with closed eyes gave a gentle smile and a slight bow before disappearing.

"..."

The princess, who had reflexively bowed back, realized that there wasn't much time left until her meeting.

She hurried with her shopping.

"That'll be 1 coin and 10 tokens."

"Here..."

Jingle jingle.

After purchasing a new notebook, pen, and stickers, the princess left the store.

..

..

— I know where it is. I'll head there.

After ending the call with the man's response, the princess stood in front of the public phone and waited quietly.

There weren't many passersby, so she wasn't drawing attention, which put her at ease.

Thump.

Footsteps that seemed meant to be heard.

The princess's gaze shifted, and she faced the person she had been waiting for.

"I'm here."

The princess didn't think she was close enough to this man to exchange friendly greetings.

She still couldn't determine if he was an ally or enemy.

"Why are you dressed like that?"

If disguise was the goal, there would be less conspicuous outfits.

The princess thought there must be a purpose behind his appearance in what seemed to be a well-regarded academy uniform in the academy city.

"I came straight from work because I thought you'd have to wait if I went back to the dormitory."

"Are you also infiltrating the academy?"

In response to the princess's question, Rohan just smiled without further explanation.

"Let's move. There's a place where we can talk..."

"Wait, there's an issue we need to resolve first."

"Yes?"

The princess showed Rohan her outfit.

"Is there something strange about my appearance?"

"Not particularly strange."

"Hmm..."

No large sniper rifle, and she'd even hidden her goggles.

She had zipped her outer garment all the way up to hide the ammunition pouch inside.

Considering the evening weather, it wasn't such a strange appearance.

"Did you get stopped by security for questioning?"

"No, that's not it. It's just that I'm drawing an unusual amount of attention. If I don't resolve this issue, I might get questioned."

"Ah."

Rohan nodded slightly as if understanding.

"Do you know the reason?"

"You don't need to worry too much. It's a simple issue."

"Simple?"

The princess became more curious about the reason.

Not recognizing a simple problem could be dangerous.

"Answer me. What's the problem?"

To the princess glaring with sharp eyes, Rohan replied indifferently.

"It's because you're pretty."

"W-what...?"

"Your appearance is drawing attention."

Rohan told her the answer as if it was obvious.

And he started walking ahead, saying they should get going.