Feeding the Tiger
“This fork’s kinda awkward. Would’ve been nice if the supplies included chopsticks too.”
Ramen bubbled vigorously in the half-helmet.
A mouthwatering aroma wafted up in lazy curls.
“...”
Ichinose swallowed involuntarily.
Ramen wasn’t even something she particularly liked.
Was it the sticker on her nape? The smell felt irresistibly tantalizing, seductive even.
“Okay! The noodles are perfect now.”
Rohan scooped heaps of noodles onto the half-helmet lid with the fork from the supplies, then poured a stream of broth over them before handing it to Ichinose.
“Order up?”
“Thanks, I’ll dig in.”
Ichinose took the lid with a silent smile.
She hadn’t shown this much pride even in flawless combat. It felt almost like artisan craftsmanship.
“Ichinose, want me to whittle you some chopsticks? Fork’s gotta be annoying, right?”
“It’s fine. There’s that pasta joint by Orion Academy that drowns everything in broth but still gives you a fork.”
“Huh.”
Was he thinking of carving twigs or something?
Rohan fiddled with his dagger, scanned the ground, then plopped back down on his butt.
“But if you give me this lid, what’re you gonna eat out of?”
“Hold on.”
He tore open the empty ramen packet, folded and layered it neatly.
A minimalist silver-lined broth bowl emerged. The childhood trick of turning cup noodle lids into dishes hadn’t faded.
“Ta-da.”
“...Never seen that method before.”
“It’s pretty common. Anyway, let’s eat before it gets cold. I’m starving.”
Rohan grinned and urged her on.
Compared to the tough, unsalted honbird meat they’d choked down, this was luxury incarnate.
No point letting it cool.
“Whew!”
Ichinose cooled the forkful of ramen with a soft breath, then parted her lips.
Slurp! The noodles vanished between her small lips as she chewed thoughtfully.
Next, she lifted the lid and sipped the broth.
Whoa...
It was indescribably good.
So good it drew a gasp.
How is it this delicious...?
The ramen itself wasn’t special.
It was just standard convenience store stuff from the supplies.
She’d watched the whole process up close—no secret ingredients or fancy sauces.
“...”
The sound reached her ears.
Her partner Rohan ate without surprise, like it was routine.
Then...
Only one conclusion.
Was this the “ramen-tastes-amazing” situation Rohan had mentioned?
Unable to hold back, Ichinose gripped the lid with both hands and gulped down the remaining broth.
“Haa...!”
A sigh escaped naturally.
It seeped into her whole body. Hyperbole aside, it resonated with her soul.
Before she knew it, the lid was spotless.
Rohan, sensing it like a ghost, asked,
“More?”
“Is... is there any left?”
“Of course.”
Ichinose stifled a laugh at Rohan’s proud tone as he served her another round.
Is he my dad or something?
Something she’d never say aloud, but fair game in her head.
“Eat up.”
“Thanks.”
As Ichinose focused on the fresh serving, a memory surfaced.
I’ve never thought of ramen as gourmet before...
Ichinose Yui knew herself well.
Her tastes were picky.
Not a picky eater, per se.
Like in this exam, she could stomach most things for survival.
But “picky” meant she drew a hard line between delicious and not, with sky-high standards for true gourmet bliss.
By those measures, this ramen?
Undeniably the best thing she’d eaten in years.
Far superior to famed chefs’ signature dishes at top restaurants.
What if I crave this after the exam’s over?
How would she cope with the longing?
If it tied to those “ramen-tastes-amazing” conditions, could she recreate it herself?
It was a gustatory shock that already had her fretting the future.
As the two slurped away in the shelter—slurp, slurp!—filling the air with satisfied sounds,
they both paused mid-bite and turned toward the entrance.
This visitor made no attempt at stealth: Noah Frozenheart.
“Ramen smell led me right here like a compass.”
“I’ll go check. Finish up.”
“Nah. Let’s go together.”
They grabbed their weapons, stood, and headed out.
Spotting Noah collapsing right in front, Rohan and Ichinose darted to her side.
“Noah! You okay?”
“No visible wounds...”
Did she relax upon recognizing them inside?
“Nose... I can’t even move a finger...”
Her voice was a weak mumble, to boot.
—Groooowl! Noah’s stomach roared in confirmation.
“Guys! Sorry for dropping in like this...!”
Noah’s partner, Corin, pushed through the brush a beat later.
Not close, but seeing a fellow Class 1 student felt welcoming.
“You two aren’t hurt, right?”
Rohan asked Corin on Noah’s behalf—she looked too drained to speak.
“We’re not injured!”
“Food? Eaten anything?”
“Just water... Supplies dropped way too far, and we haven’t run into monsters or animals...”
Rain water, then.
Rohan could guess why they’d missed wildlife or monsters.
Noah’s energy radiates without restraint. Most beasts and monsters probably fled.
His gaze shifted to the prone beastkin girl.
Sticker plus Noah’s hunger? Her stomach must feel like a black hole.
“You holding up okay, Corin?”
Corin nodded at Ichinose’s question—she could last a bit longer.
Priority: the collapsed Noah.
Rohan eyed his partner silently. Ichinose had tough choices ahead.
She wanted to help, but peeling the sticker was an option.
Teamed up, they couldn’t just share supplies freely.
Worried her kindness might burden him? Her mind must be a whirlwind.
Rohan got it.
And knew stepping up was best, so he spoke first.
“Ichinose.”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s feed Noah my ramen and canned stuff.”
“!”
Ichinose’s shoulders twitched.
She hesitated, words caught. Neither yes nor no came easy.
“This won’t burden you, I promise.”
No hunger-induced slip-ups or condition drops to drag her down.
Rohan vowed it.
He had the Shop as backup, after all.
Plus, Noah wasn’t Gilbert or Dick.
When your beloved tiger girl collapses from hunger, feeding her is obvious.
No debate. Pure logic. Absolute truth.
“Wait, then just give her mine instead!”
“No. That’d just mean I’m forcing you to burn through your rations.”
“...”
Half-bullying, but perfect timing with her speechless.
Rohan cut the talk, returned to the shelter, scooped half his ramen onto Ichinose’s lid,
grabbed the full half-helmet,
and knelt before Noah with fork in hand, cracking a can.
“Ugh...”
Noah, sprawled on the ground, lifted her head to stare.
Ramen and tuna in his grip.
The savory scent pulsed.
“Here, I’ll feed you. Just open wide.”
“Aaaah...”
Under Rohan’s gaze, her sharp fangs and soft tongue flashed bare.
He popped in a chunk of tuna.
Crunch crunch. Gulp. Her tail swished lazily.
“Corin... come inside with me.”
“Huh?”
“Rohan, this is my call. I wasn’t swayed.”
“Got it. I’ll take your word.”
“...”
Ichinose led Corin inside—probably to share a meal.
Rohan praised her inwardly while feeding Noah steadily.
“Last of the tuna.”
“Nom nom...”
She polished off the can, then the ramen helmet.
Noah devoured noodles like a vacuum—her suction was unreal.
“Nom, this debt I’ll... smack! repay somehow... nom!”
“Forget it. Just eat.”
Like that black-legged chef serving fried rice to pirates.
Satisfying to see her perk up mid-bite.
“Ugh! I’ll live...!”
Noah drained the can and broth clean, then flopped flat—energy returning.
Stomach still rumbling, but color back in her face.
Rohan stood to tidy up,
set the helmet by the shelter, grabbed his longsword. Fluttering wings and faint cries echoed from the brush.
Odd call—not honbird?
“Noah, rest up.”
“Mrrph...”
Already asleep?
Noah lay spread-eagled, tail flicking, mumbling nonsense.
..
..
After asking Ichinose to watch Noah and Corin,
Rohan tracked the fluttering to a bizarre scene.
—Screee!
—Skree! Skrik!
Two honbirds shrieked, locked in a brutal brawl.
Claws and beaks flashing like true monsters.
Real honbirds? Two of ‘em?
What luck. Rohan gripped his sword hilt.
Monsters this close to Noah?
Dull ones, maybe.
Poised to cleave both in one swing—
“...”
—Déjà vu halted him.
—SKREEEE!!!
—Skrick! Skreek!
Their eyes bloodshot like burst veins.
Watching, their moves seemed off.
Overly aggressive, thrashing in agony.
Different individuals, but eerily like Abyss City.
That monster unease.
Rohan’s eyes widened at his conclusion.
Hex...? Rage factor...!
The Boundary Between Science and Skills
30P
It shattered their pleasant time.
An ill omen.