"Ziiiiing──!!!"
A vibration that's become familiar to the point of feeling nostalgic.
Rohan, who was up on the indoor ladder rummaging through the top shelf of the bookcase, reached into his apron pocket.
[Clara: Oppa. Is it okay if I use hot water on Monday...?]
A message that, unusually, contained no emoticons, giving it an impulsive feel.
Of course it's okay. The timing is a bit strange, but she's finally made her decision.
Rohan replied that it was fine, then continued what he was doing.
"Author Guwol's Monster Fang Classification Chart. There's one left here."
"Thank you. I'd like to pay for it right away."
As he moved to the counter with the customer, he began planning for after work.
'Maybe I should stock up on some food in the room.'
Today he needed to show her the academy dormitory location and unlock the window.
Someone of Clara's ability should have no problem climbing walls, and she could probably enter more quietly than anyone.
"I'll come again."
"Thank you! Please take care!"
After seeing off the last customer, Kkonmureut Bookstore became quiet as usual.
The earlier commotion seemed like a lie.
'This isn't a lunch rush at a restaurant.'
It was the first time customers had flocked in like that, but he handled it pretty well, didn't he?
"Phew..."
After letting out the breath he'd been holding, Rohan walked over to the corner where the two people were.
He'd been curious about how Noah and Clara were doing.
"Are you two doing okay?"
When Rohan appeared and spoke, both of them naturally turned to look at him.
Their smiles, each reflecting their own personality, were pleasant to see.
"Finally got some free time, I see?"
"Y-you worked hard...!"
Clara's message might have been the result of consulting with Noah, but there was no need to mention the content in front of a third party.
As Rohan leisurely organized a nearby bookshelf, Noah waved her hand to get his attention.
"Hey! Let me ask you something."
"Hiss..."
The girl sitting next to Noah, knowing what she was about to say, held her breath in tension.
Rohan could only wonder about the mysterious atmosphere as Clara avoided his gaze.
"What is it?"
As if a beast-person girl would beat around the bush.
Noah, her tail swaying from side to side, asked directly.
"Isn't Clara pretty? Like a doll?"
"..."
What would Rohan answer to Noah's question?
Clara listened intently, half expectant and half fearful.
Rohan let out a small laugh as if he'd heard a silly question, then continued organizing where he had left off.
"I was wondering what you were going to ask... Of course she's pretty."
"!!!"
Clara's head shot up. Her flushed cheeks turned red.
'This should be the right answer, right?'
Many thoughts flashed through Rohan's mind in the split second it took to give this answer.
Would Clara find being called pretty uncomfortable given her personality? But wouldn't it hurt her feelings to say no or give an ambiguous answer?
But since she was sitting here now without running away, wouldn't it be okay to give a straightforward answer?
Noah and Clara wouldn't know that his answer came after numerous options had clashed in his consciousness.
"Oh! How refreshingly direct!"
"Any other response would be an obvious lie."
"True."
Noah immediately accepted Rohan's words.
Even if she wasn't someone's type, saying Clara's flawless face was ugly would be a blatant lie.
'Is this really okay though?'
Clara's gaze was directed downward again.
Worried that Clara might be feeling uncomfortable, Rohan tried to lighten the mood playfully.
"But wait, are you bullying Clara? If you are, I'll tell Ichinose and have her make you solve workbooks."
"Bullying? No way! Clara lacks confidence in herself, so I was just letting her know!"
"Hmm..."
"It's true!"
When Noah expressed her indignation, Rohan withdrew his suspicious gaze.
He could see the general picture from those words.
"Even so, this approach might make Clara feel pressured—"
Ding-a-ling─!
Before Rohan could finish his sentence, a customer opened the bookstore door.
─ Excuse me? Is there an employee here?
"Yes! Coming!"
Rohan quickly told them to continue relaxing and hurried to the counter.
Today was unusually busy for some reason.
*****
"Sorry. Was it hard waiting until closing time?"
"N-no, not at all..."
Rohan walked with Clara along the street as the sun was setting.
Two people, not three. Noah wasn't with them now.
The beast-person girl who had been reading comics suddenly said she was hungry, called Ichinose, then abruptly stood up and left.
She loudly announced she'd come again next time, but by the time Rohan could respond, she had already disappeared outside the bookstore.
Afterward, Rohan approached Clara, who was now alone, and told her he would show her the dormitory.
So the girl ended up waiting until Rohan's closing time, as they were now.
"Rohan oppa."
"Yes?"
Clara's gaze turned to the paper bag occupying one of Rohan's hands.
For Rohan, the most touching thing was that she was now walking beside him rather than following behind.
"That... please let me carry it...!"
"It's fine. It's not heavy."
Inside the bag were 24 comic books.
Noah had bought comics, read them, and recommended them to Rohan, saying they were fun.
Thanks to her gifting him the still-crisp comics, Rohan was carrying a hefty paper bag in one hand.
'This actually worked out well.'
Rohan decided to accept them even if he didn't read them and keep them in the dormitory.
Clara might want to read them when she's bored.
"Aren't you hungry?"
"No! I'm fine."
"Still, you should eat properly. When we get to the dorm, should I make something simple?"
"Y-you'll cook yourself...!?"
Clara opened her eyes wide as if asking if he was serious.
Rohan met her eyes and smiled.
"I can't make anything fancy, but I've learned basic cooking from living alone. It might not be delicious, but it won't be inedible."
"...!"
"Or should we just buy something nearby? That would guarantee good taste, actually."
Rohan stopped on the main street and looked around for restaurants.
Clara tugged at his collar and whispered softly.
"I want to eat what you make..."
"Then let's stop by the supermarket quickly before we go."
"Okay!"
As they veered slightly off course toward a nearby supermarket,
Clara couldn't contain her curiosity and voiced it aloud.
"Are you and Noah unnie really close...?"
"Actually, today was the first time I've had a proper conversation with Noah. We just happened to run into each other when I was buying a gift for the manager."
"Eh!?"
How could that be?
From Clara's perspective, Rohan and Noah seemed like close friends.
It seemed impossible to classify them as anything less. Yet Rohan calmly replied that they weren't that close.
"As you saw today, she's naturally friendly. We're in the same class, but I don't even know her number."
"I-I see..."
Clara felt an inexplicable sense of relief at Rohan's words.
This unknown emotion made the corners of her mouth twitch upward.
"Didn't you exchange numbers with Noah earlier, Clara?"
"Yes..."
"If she forced you to exchange numbers, I can talk to her about it, so don't worry. If it's uncomfortable, don't force yourself."
"T-that's fine, but I don't know how to reply to unnie..."
"Reply?"
Clara showed her phone to Rohan, asking him to look.
A fresh message that had just arrived was visible.
[Noah unnie: Rawr! ภՕﻕÕภ]
Rohan understood what the problem was.
Clara was fine with messages where a response path was clear. But this one was ambiguous, so she was confused.
"It doesn't really mean anything specific; she's just sending this because she's a tiger beast-person, don't you think?"
"Would it be okay to reply with a normal greeting...? What if there's some beast-person message etiquette I don't know about...?"
"There's nothing like that, so just be comfortable."
Rohan waited for Clara, who was frantically typing on her keyboard.
Then he started walking again.
At the supermarket, they bought simple ingredients and containers for side dishes.
Since they also needed utensils and cups for Clara to use, they ended up with quite a lot after considering various factors.
Now Rohan was carrying bags in both hands, and Clara was also holding some items.
"This is the academy's male dormitory building."
"Wow...!"
"You need to scan your student ID at the entrance, and there are cameras, so you'll have to come through the window. Is that okay? Or you could cover yourself with a big hoodie."
After looking at the building's height and feeling the wall's texture, Clara nodded.
"I don't think coming through the window will be a problem..."
"Give me your things. I'll go up and open it for you, so wait a moment."
..
..
Clunk! Rohan opened the door, entered, and turned on the lights to brighten the room.
Next, he put down the bags he was carrying and unlocked the window.
Slide.
When he opened the window, Clara was looking up at him from below.
He gestured for her to come up and moved aside.
Without making a sound, Clara climbed up to the windowsill.
"This is oppa's..."
Clara examined the room with interested eyes, looking into every corner.
She also checked the smell with her perky nose.
"The shoe rack is over there."
"Okay!"
Clara, sitting on the windowsill, took off her shoes and landed with a light movement.
She placed her shoes in the shoe rack and came back.
"Should we eat first? Then I'll show you where everything is."
"Whatever is convenient for you... I'm fine with anything."
"Let's start by washing the cups and utensils."
As Rohan rustled through the plastic bags looking for items,
Clara spoke from behind him.
"Rohan oppa."
"What?"
"Since this is the academy's male dormitory, are women not allowed in?"
"Not just women, but outside visitors in general are prohibited."
"H-hmm..."
Clara made an awkward humming sound as she wandered around.
Feeling Clara's presence, Rohan thought:
Today might be the perfect opportunity to have a serious conversation with Clara.
For both their sakes, and for the future.