Pure Water Before Stagnant Water -2-
“Th-that’s not how you do it…”
The Pure Water Before Stagnant Water strategy worked better than I’d expected.
Stay calm.
I had to play it cool.
I knew this split-second moment and my next words could lead to a huge opportunity.
“What do you mean by that?”
“The company won’t take a hit on major resources until it hits rank 5…! Put Rohan and Kiki up front as tanks and clear the Supply Dungeons first!”
Once she spilled all the advice she’d been holding back, did a wave of relief mix with regret?
I could see Clara fidgeting instantly, so I answered as casually as possible.
“Company? Oh, right! You’re a Company Wave player too, huh?”
She gave a tiny nod, like she remembered our run-in before.
I kept a straight face and racked my brain.
She didn’t just say her piece and bolt, so the vibe’s not bad.
Probably.
I resumed swishing the mop around while picking a question that might coax even a one-word answer from the now-silent Clara.
“Mind if I ask a couple things I’m curious about?”
“O-okay!”
“What time is…?”
My eyes flicked to the clock on the wall.
Hers followed.
“Closing time’s almost here, so let me just finish up. My treat—let’s lock up and hit the café nearby.”
“!?”
Clara looked shocked, her face flushing with panic.
I pretended not to notice.
In moments like this, you gotta play the oblivious guy.
Suggesting “somewhere” was a no-go. Had to specify the café.
Setting aside Abyss City character tropes, my personal experience told me girls like Clara needed firm, concrete invites.
Until you were close enough for easy chit-chat and jokes, hold off on giving options—unless it was something super light.
“Hang on a sec. I’ll be quick.”
“Uh-uhh…”
I kept my eyes off her frozen, flustered form.
And hurried to mop the bookstore floor, rushing through closing.
…
…
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“…”
I locked up the bookstore and pocketed the key.
Hiding it under the flowerpot in front of a customer felt wrong anyway.
I’d swing by on the way back.
“Shall we?”
“Y-yeah…”
I took the lead by a step, and Clara followed with quiet footsteps.
Once we left the alley with Flower Lily Bookstore and hit the main street, cafés were everywhere.
Short walk. No time for awkward silence to build.
If she really couldn’t handle it, she’d slip away without a sound.
That’s what I figured.
Clara wasn’t super proactive, but she had plenty of self-preservation instinct.
“Let’s grab somewhere we can fill our stomachs too.”
“…”
I’d scarfed a cheap meal at the academy cafeteria before work.
But Clara had been holed up in the bookstore corner from afternoon till night.
I could guess her situation. Dinner? No way she’d eaten.
I scanned the street from the sidewalk.
Most spots in view were lively and bright—not a bad vibe.
“Café’s fine, but burgers sound good too.”
Not a heavy topic.
For game talk, café or fast food—anywhere worked.
Asking her preference between the two should be safe.
I glanced at Clara blinking beside me.
She peeked back, sensing my gaze.
That’s when I asked.
“Which sounds good to you?”
“A-anywhere’s fine for me…”
“You like burgers?”
Clara’s eyes darted side to side, then she gave a shy little nod.
That was enough for me.
*Beep! Beep!*
The automatic doors slid open, welcoming us to a brightly lit interior unlike the dark outside.
A familiar kiosk machine waited, ready for orders.
‘They use kiosks here too, huh.’
This was a rare treat for me too.
First fast food in Academy City.
Back home, it was nothing but burgers and kimbap on the go. First time here too.
I stood at the machine and offered it to Clara.
“This is on me for the lesson. Pick whatever you want.”
“…Th-thank you.”
Maybe she felt it was too late to back out now.
Clara bowed quickly, her eyes flicking over the menu in short bursts.
“All done?”
“Y-yeah.”
I stared at her—she’d just tapped a plain cheeseburger.
Still too cautious.
I upgraded her single to a set, tossed in sides galore.
“I’m not huge on burgers, but one fries isn’t enough. Two’s too many.”
“…”
Order placed, paid.
I waited while Clara fidgeted, hands clasped tight, saying nothing.
Our number was called quick. We grabbed a nearby table.
“Thanks for the food…”
“Dig in. Order more if you want.”
She wouldn’t, even if I said that.
Hungry or not.
Once we demolished the burgers, leaving just fries and drinks.
I steered to game talk.
With games at the center, Clara started chatting steadily with me.
“You in a guild yet?”
“Not yet.”
“Join one at level 10, no question. Check-in rewards make a huge difference.”
“Just hit 10 and anywhere works?”
“Yeah. Spots are rare these days, though, so community boards are safe… but, uh…”
“Other ways?”
Clara hesitated at my question, not answering right away.
Whatever she wanted to say, I waited.
After a few beats of that.
She shrank from her earlier fervor, averting her eyes like usual, murmuring softly.
“W-would you join the guild I made? Spots are all open… b-but it’s run by someone like me…”
“Oh! Can I? It’d be an honor.”
“Then… here.”
I punched in the number she recited. A guild popped up.
[Clara Company]
▷ Level: Max
▷ Members: 1/50
▷ Total Contribution: 35,899,000
“Clara Company? Meaning behind it?”
“N-no! Just slapped my name on it…”
Her face heated up, embarrassed by the details.
I was having fun just watching.
“Calling you ‘customer’ from outside felt off. Nice to know you properly now. I’m Rohan.”
“O-oh… I’ll remember!”
I seized the natural opening, thanking her smoothly, and kept the talk flowing.
“You leveled it to 10 solo?”
“Y-yeah…”
I praised her, firmly anchoring back to the game.
Clara answered every question smoothly, explaining away.
“Gerald’s S-rank, but niche, so don’t waste growth resources early. Borrow instead… got friends to lend?”
“Nope. Only certain folks play mobile games.”
“U-uhh…”
“I was thinking of quitting—no one to talk this stuff with.”
She nodded, twin-tails swaying, face dead serious—like she felt it deep.
“But you’re helping, so I’ll stick it out. Way more fun with someone else, right?”
“Y-yeah!”
Beaming, Clara launched into more explanation.
I naturally added her to my game friends list.
“Support slots max at 3, so next region, I’ll swap in another. Use only where you’re stuck.”
“Can game friends message?”
“No messaging. Friends are support only.”
“So when I clear a stage, tell you next bookstore visit? Might wait days if days off clash.”
“Uh, th-that…”
Clara froze, words stuck.
I grinned on instinct, holding out my smartphone.
“President Clara. Number, at least?”
I tossed it out playfully, like no big deal.
But inside, my heart was pounding like it’d burst from nerves.
Rejection here, and she might never show at the store again.
Please!
I’d blurted on perfect timing, but realized after how desperate it sounded.
“…”
Unlike my overblown worry.
Clara didn’t hesitate long—just tapped out her number.
I nearly jumped up yelling in joy, but clamped down hard, holding still.
“Lemme call you real quick.”
I dialed her phone after punching mine in.
Clara munched a leftover fry, drawing my eye.
“And… something I wanna say…”
I leaned in, ready for anything.
She spoke up, weirdly pumped like her first advice.
“C-Company Wave has a really good story!”
“Yeah? Still early, so I’ll pay attention from here.”
“Lots of proper nouns, so chapter 3’s the hurdle… but once past that…”
“Don’t worry. I’ll push through—trust me.”
“…!”
Clara’s mouth parted at my words.
She looked happiest all day.
This hits nice.
I got her feelings perfectly.
That itch to share a story-rich game’s payoffs, foreshadowing, and emotional highs.
…
…
Two game diehards met, so talk stretched longer than expected.
I spent way more time bullshitting with Clara than planned.
Wrapping with “see you tomorrow,” I headed back, stashed the key under the flowerpot, then dorm-bound.
*Bzzz—!*
On the way.
A message from Clara.
Lively over text.
That cute gap made me smile.
One new contact in my phonebook.