It’s Saturday.
This weekend, Flowering Chrysanthemum Bookstore is closed. The manager shut the store down, telling Rohan to study for his exams.
Though it seemed like the manager’s main goal was to go out and play with his grandson, Rohan was still grateful for the kindness.
“I should send the manager gifts more often. And buy more books too.”
He also mentioned that he might have to quit his part-time job soon.
Even though he hadn’t worked there long, the manager just smiled and understood, telling him to come visit anytime. Rohan felt like bowing deeply in gratitude.
Thinking that things could end on a good note made him feel lighter.
—
“Clara, is this the right bus?”
“Yep!”
“Seats 11A and 11B… Clara, you take the window seat.”
“I-I don’t mind sitting on the aisle side though? Wouldn’t it be more comfortable for you to sit inside…?”
“Just sit inside already~ I find it more uncomfortable to keep my legs tucked in.”
And so, on the weekend before midterms, their last bit of free time.
Rohan boarded the bus to the station with Clara.
No need to explain—they were on their way to pick up Sion, who was arriving from Tigroba.
—
“Oppa, here’s some water.”
“Thanks. Is it too cramped?”
“Nope! How about you?”
“I’m fine too. The bus seats are pretty fancy, huh?”
Rohan chatted comfortably with Clara.
He decided to put off reviewing and memorizing for midterms for a little while.
—
Lately, his brain had been overloaded from studying, something he never thought he’d do.
Rohan felt like he needed time to rehydrate his dried-up brain, so the timing of this trip felt just right.
—
“On the way back, Sion and Clara should sit together. I’ll take a single seat.”
Clara nodded in agreement, her purple twin tails swaying.
Though she selfishly wanted to sit with Rohan in the middle, the seating arrangement made that impossible.
—
“Clara, if you’re sleepy, it’s okay to nap. I’ll wake you up when we arrive.”
“Aren’t you sleepy from studying? I saw your messages lately—you’ve been staying up late.”
Rohan chuckled and pulled out his smartphone.
—
─ Company Wave!
He turned on a game to play with Clara, keeping the volume low.
The girl’s eyes sparkled with interest as she leaned closer to Rohan.
—
“Now, if we just have enough currency, the third party will be complete. How’s that?”
“Oppa… you leveled up so fast. I might cry…”
Clara had been watching, but there was nothing to criticize about Rohan’s gameplay.
It was clean. Gone were the days when he needed advice.
Now, it was clear that with just a bit more time, he’d break through to the top. Truly a satisfying growth.
“Oh, did you get a call from Sion yesterday?”
“Yeah! I was relieved it went well. Oh, did you talk to her too, oppa?”
“I did. She suddenly asked me what cologne I use.”
“…”
Clara remembers Sion’s voice from the phone call.
The thick awkwardness that came from the realization that Rohan doesn’t wear cologne.
It was as if she had just realized that the scent she was obsessed with was Rohan’s.
“Clara.”
“Yeah…?”
“I know it’s late to bring this up, but I have the academy exams coming up, right?”
“Yeah, yeah! I know.”
“Next Monday, after the written exam, the practical exam starts right away. So I won’t be in the dormitory until the practical is over.”
Clara’s eyes widened.
Her voice unconsciously grew louder and started to tremble.
“W-wait, how long are you going for…? A day? Don’t tell me two days…?”
“Sadly, it’s not that short. The schedule is set from Monday to Friday.”
“!!!”
The despair of Rohan being gone not just for a day or two, but for the entire week.
Clara felt like she was plummeting into an endless abyss at Rohan’s words.
“If you check the fridge, there’s plenty of side dishes, so make sure to eat well with Sion. Got it?”
“…”
Clara couldn’t find the words to respond.
In fact, she couldn’t even hear him properly.
‘W-wait, oppa’s going to be gone starting next week…?’
Looking back at her recent life, she couldn’t even imagine being apart from Rohan for that long.
Even if someone pointed out that she had dependency or addiction issues, she couldn’t argue.
“Uwaaah…”
As the girl’s soul seemed to slip through her lips, Rohan carefully reached out his hand.
“And this is a bit sudden, but here’s a gift for you, Clara.”
“…?!”
At the clicking sound, light returned to Clara’s lifeless eyes.
“I thought it would suit you, so I bought it. It’s not super expensive or anything.”
“Huh?”
The girl fumbled to touch the accessory in her hair.
Just by the feel of it, she could tell what it was. Smooth material with a heart decoration at the end.
“O-oppa…!”
“I bought it on a whim, so don’t feel pressured to wear it all the time.”
“I’ll wear it for the rest of my life…!”
Clara’s grand declaration. Rohan laughed and asked again.
“Don’t you want to check the color and design? If there’s a color you prefer, we can go exchange it together.”
“I like this one!”
There was no need to see the design or color.
If Rohan picked it, that was enough. She didn’t need anything else. She would never change it.
The accessory settled into her hair.
The happiness bestowed by a single hairpin.
The girl’s mood, which had been stuck to the ground, soared to the sky.
If she could hold onto this happiness like a spark, she felt she could survive the weekdays without Rohan without freezing to death.
The station for the sky train.
It felt simpler than expected, but it had the vibe of waiting for a plane at the airport.
“Ah! Oppa, look at that…!”
Through the window, the sky train descending from the heavens came into view.
Clara pointed, saying that Sion was probably on it, given the timing.
After heading towards the entrance where the announcement was made.
Rohan grabbed a large piece of paper and a pen placed on the table.
“Let’s write ‘Sion’ on the placard and wait.”
“Uh, won’t unnie feel burdened…?”
“That’s the fun of it. I think it’ll either get a great reaction or none at all.”
Rohan used his messy handwriting to write the characters [Si] and [On] in large letters.
Clara and he each held a sign and stood at the entrance.
Not even five minutes had passed.
Passengers started pouring out of the entrance.
Sion, who appeared at the entrance, was wearing Rohan’s coat.
Her beauty was truly unparalleled. She seemed to glow, immediately catching the eyes of Rohan and Clara.
Sion’s ears perked up, and she quickly spotted Rohan and Clara waiting for her.
Seeing her name on the signs they held, she let out a wry smile.
“Welcome back. You must be tired.”
“Unnie, welcome back…!”
As Sion approached Rohan and Clara, she suppressed a laugh.
Her lips curled softly.
“Thanks for the grand welcome.”
There was a sense of deepened composure after her trip to Tigroba.
I found myself wanting to hear the detailed stories I hadn’t caught over the phone.
“Let’s head back first.”
··
··
On the bus to the academy city, we shared many stories.
Even as we neared our destination, the trio’s chatter didn’t cease.
“Yuho mentioned he was worried you might rush in as soon as you had an audience.”
But the girl had seen the elders’ disgrace.
Thanks to that, she learned a lot.
Lord Seolho moved straight towards his goals while maintaining a fair line.
Arguing emotionally over the agreed-upon usurpation process, blaming it as wrong, would tarnish even his parents’ names.
Sion understood the flow of the world to that extent.
‘I heard Lord Seolho doesn’t shy away from challenges. He must be living with his resolve already set.’
The Grand Elder’s head was spinning.
Maybe it’s because I pulled the iron and cleared away the small emotions.
Lately, Sion has felt that her thoughts have broadened a bit.
‘If it’s not that reason…’
Naturally, her eyes turn to Rohan.
A great observer who makes her heart race.
Thanks to Rohan, she now knows exactly where to aim the gun.
“Oh! We’re here.”
As the bus stopped, Rohan naturally grabbed Sion’s bag and took the lead.
With both hands free, Sion held Clara’s hand.
“So.”
“Hmm?”
“How was it seeing him in person?”
Rohan’s question as he got off the front door. Sion knows that curiosity refers to Lord Seolho.
It’s something anyone with a goal-oriented mindset would be curious about.
Clara was also listening.
“He was a monster that couldn’t be killed by any means… someone who seemed absolutely immortal.”
Sion’s honest impression. Was that enough?
Rohan nodded and moved on. He didn’t show any further curiosity.
“Let’s just drop off our stuff at the dormitory. How about an early dinner? I’ll treat you to something good.”
“Rohan, wait a second.”
Sion spoke up and stopped walking.
Clara, who was holding her hand, also stopped, and Rohan turned around.
“I want to treat you to dinner.”
“…?”
Rohan blinked. He rarely hesitated, unsure of what to say.
It was natural since he hadn’t mentioned inheriting a fortune.
It must have seemed strange for someone who borrowed a card because they were broke to offer to buy food.
“I told you I’d show you something when I got back. Remember?”
“From yesterday?”
“Y-yeah, there was something…”
Sion remembered what she had said on the phone.
Rohan and Clara waited quietly, sensing that something was coming.
Sion rummaged through her pocket with one hand and pulled out her smartphone.
She showed them the account where Yuho had deposited the money.
