Perhaps Right Now
“Hmm?”
Noah narrows her eyes. She stares at Rohan as he finishes preparing and steps out.
The beastkin's gaze isn't on the food piled in his hands—it's on his face.
She catches the somehow joyful expression on Rohan's face.
“What? You snuck some tasty stuff inside by yourself!”
“As if I ate anything.”
“Then why are you grinning like that?”
“I smile a lot normally. Pretty loose with it, right?”
“That's not the same kind of smile. You can't fool me!”
Noah cups her hands into circles and presses them to her eyes like a telescope.
The girl's sharp intuition hits home. Rohan is impressed.
He ponders how to respond.
His gaze drifts past the ice cream and meat, up to the sky for a moment.
The answer comes easier than expected.
“I've got a new motivation in life.”
“Huh? Did you bump your head in the fridge?”
“Nah. Nothing motivates like a primal urge.”
“You...! You're teasing me by being all vague, thinking I won't get it! I'm not that dumb!”
Alcohol wafts from Noah's indignant, bouncing tone.
She's gotten tipsier in just a few minutes.
“I needed some fuel to make training even harsher, and I just found it. Something like that.”
Noah pouts at Rohan's reply and clings to Clara.
“Clara~ Rohan's broken! Fix him~”
“Ahh... E-even if you ask me...”
Rohan hands ice cream to the pair cuddling so amiably and heads to the grill.
Now that only he and Noah are left for meat, he adds less than before.
He starts grilling a variety of the veggies that have been selling surprisingly well.
“Rohan. What happened?”
“...That obvious on my face?”
“Hard to explain, but I can feel it.”
Noah isn't the only one who notices Rohan's subtle change.
Ichinose and Sion watch him curiously too. Even Clara, caught by Noah, perks up her ears.
“Just some everyday realization. Made me appreciate how happy I am right now.”
“Ah...”
“I get it.”
Once they've each grasped it in their own way, the topic shifts.
Rohan's eyes catch the empty glasses.
“More drinks?”
His question is for everyone.
They all nod without hesitation.
“I can handle more.”
“You hold your liquor well. Ichinose, you strong with booze normally?”
“Not really. I'm just pushing the buzz back and controlling it.”
“Smart.”
“...I just feel bad for not fully enjoying the party.”
Baby Yui chose based on her personality.
More than regret, she's most worried about making a fool of herself in front of Rohan.
Before their conversation can continue, Sion steps up and takes both of Rohan's hands.
She guides them to her cheeks.
“Rohan. How hot are my cheeks?”
“Like fireballs. Your face is pretty flushed too.”
“Guess I'm not the type who handles alcohol well. But can I have more?”
“You want some?”
“Yeah.”
Sion nods, cuter than usual. She even beams at him.
A look that would make any guy wave the white flag.
Rohan has no choice but to say yes. The best he can do is mentally promise to cut back on the whiskey in her highball.
“Just one more.”
“Heehee, your hands feel cool and nice.”
Rohan smiles back at her. Nothing makes him happier than seeing Sion happy.
Watching her enjoy this free life away from the elders warms his heart.
“O-oppa... Can I have more too...?”
Clara, escaped from Noah's embrace, tugs at his sleeve from the side.
Rohan can't help but stare at the twin-tailed girl holding ice cream in one hand.
“Clara's okay? You don't seem drunk.”
“I-I'm not sure... My cheeks feel hot too...?”
At Clara's words, Sion smiles faintly and steps back.
His now-empty hands naturally move to Clara's soft cheeks.
“Clara's even hotter than Sion's.”
“Ah, oppa's hand is cool...”
Clara rubs her face against his hand. Her movements are catlike, following his palm.
He could stay like this all day, but Rohan has work to do.
“...Rohan. Isn't the meat burning?”
“Don't worry. Time to flip it now.”
“Burn it and you're dead!”
Look at that growling tiger. Time to focus on grilling.
“More to drink!”
“No booze left.”
Rohan shows her the empty whiskey bottle.
Still, Noah doesn't look disappointed. She wags her tail more energetically and holds out her glass.
“Anything's fine! Not just booze!”
“Drink water then.”
Glug glug. As the water fills up, Noah looks satisfied.
The party's winding down now.
It ends when the booze runs out.
Soda water's left, but no alcohol. Nothing left to munch on either.
“Haa~ That hit the spot!”
Look at her, the tiger patting her full belly in satisfaction.
If Noah's stuffed, no need to explain how much they ate.
Each with a flushed face and ice cream in hand, they wrap it up.
Not bad. Nice and moderate.
Rohan feels fine. Just a slight heaviness in his body.
He wasn't much of a lightweight before either—highballs don't get him drunk.
Matching the girls' pace meant he barely drank.
“Everyone head up and rest. Brush before bed!”
“Great eats today! Good boy~ Our pack mule did well!”
Noah ruffles Rohan's hair, booze on her breath.
Rohan chuckles at her drunken antics and glances at Ichinose.
She's shaken off her buzz and grabs Noah's arm.
“Noah. Time to wash up.”
“No-se! Sleep with me tonight~”
“Your room's huge—why cuddle?”
“Eeeek!”
Ichinose grimaces at Noah's aegyo and drags her along.
“Rohan... I'll head up first. See you tomorrow.”
“Night.”
“G-good night...!”
Exchanging goodbyes, Ichinose twitches her cheeks, thanks Rohan for the great meal, and hauls Noah upstairs.
Sion and Clara dispel their buzz with mana, leaving just a bit, and bid Rohan goodnight.
“O-oppa... Message before bed!”
“Night, Rohan.”
He waves to Sion and Clara, who keep looking back as they climb the stairs.
“Night.”
...
...
Rohan watches the group head to the second floor and turns.
Not toward the third floor—he heads for the beach. He wants a walk before washing up.
The blue sea under the sun is tempting, but the pitch-black depths have their own allure.
Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.
Stepping firmly into the moonlit sand feels nice as he strolls by the night sea.
The black waves crash as he ambles leisurely.
Wandering slowly like that, he senses a presence and glances back.
“Rohan. Out for a walk?”
“M-me too, oppa... I wanna walk with you...!”
Sion and Clara, who were supposed to be in bed, appear out of nowhere. Rohan blinks.
“Huh? Why'd you come back down?”
At his question, Sion and Clara exchange looks.
They let out disbelieving snickers.
“We were gonna wash and sleep, but Noah sis...”
“What about Noah?”
“She lost control of her mana and froze half the shower. No space, so we have to go in shifts.”
Rohan's jaw drops at Sion's matter-of-fact report.
Didn't expect that much chaos in so little time.
“She froze it herself—can't she just thaw it?”
“She... seems too drunk to control it. Looks like she's enjoying the buzz too much to bother.”
“Ichinose sis said she'd handle it somehow, just wait a bit...”
He strains his ears and hears Noah's booming Wahaha!!!
Obviously making Ichinose's life hell.
“Want me to go melt it with fire?”
“Noah sis is, um, naked right now, so oppa can't go in...”
“Yeah, can't do that.”
Quick surrender. Hope Ichinose hangs in there.
As he resumes walking, Sion and Clara naturally join him.
“How's the buzz for you two?”
“Just a faint feeling left. Used some mana.”
“I'm fine...”
A brief silence follows their replies. It's not awkward.
The girls are just tense, wondering if Rohan can hear their pounding hearts.
“Still got tomorrow, but today was fun?”
Sion and Clara nod vigorously at Rohan's question.
“One of the happiest times of my life.”
“M-me too...!”
He knows their pasts.
Rohan wants to give them so much more in the future.
“Glad to hear it. We'll have plenty more like this.”
Sion and Clara gaze blankly at Rohan's voice and smile.
Today, his emotions feel crystal clear.
Just looking makes their hearts feel like bursting.
“...”
“...”
One thought floods Sion and Clara's minds.
Perhaps right now.
It feels okay to let their feelings out.