Using the Tiger as a Stepping Stone - 4
Ziiing—!!!
The vibration had become so familiar it felt almost affectionate.
Rohan, perched on the indoor ladder and rifling through the top shelf of the bookcase, slipped a hand into his apron pocket.
A rare message without any emoticons, giving off an impulsive vibe.
Of course it was fine. The timing was a bit odd, but it looked like she'd finally made up her mind.
Rohan replied Of course and went back to what he was doing.
"Author Guwol's Monster Fang Classification Chart. There's one left here."
"Thank you. I'll pay right now."
As he headed to the register with the customer, Rohan started planning his after-work routine.
Should I grab some snacks for the room too?
He'd tell her the academy dorm's location today and leave the window unlocked.
At Clara's level, scaling the wall would be no issue, and she'd slip in quieter than anyone.
"I'll be back."
"Thank you! Take care!"
With the last customer gone, Flower Lily Bookstore returned to its usual quiet.
The earlier bustle felt like a lie.
What was this, a lunch rush at a diner?
It was the first time customers had swarmed like that, but he'd handled it pretty well, right?
"Hoo..."
Exhaling the breath he'd been holding, Rohan headed to the corner where the two were waiting.
He'd been wondering how Noah and Clara were getting along.
"You two doing okay?"
As Rohan spoke up and appeared, their gazes naturally turned his way.
Their smiles, each colored by their own personalities, were a nice sight.
"Finally got some breathing room, huh?"
"G-Good work...!"
Clara's message might've been the result of consulting with Noah, but no need to bring it up in front of everyone.
Watching Rohan casually tidy a nearby shelf, Noah waved to catch his eye.
"Hey! Just one question."
"Eek..."
The girl beside her, who knew what Noah was about to say, froze in tension, holding her breath.
Rohan just felt puzzled by Clara's inexplicable dodging of his gaze.
"What's up?"
As if a beastkin girl like her would beat around the bush.
Noah wagged her tail in waves and cut straight to it.
"Isn't Clara pretty? Like a doll, right?"
"..."
What would Rohan say to Noah's question?
Clara listened with half expectation, half dread.
Rohan let out a dry chuckle, as if it were a letdown question, then resumed tidying with his paused hand.
"Thought it was something big... Of course she's pretty."
"!!!"
Clara's head snapped up. Her flushed cheeks turned red.
This has to be the right answer, yeah?
In that split second, countless thoughts flashed through Rohan's mind.
Would Clara find "pretty" overwhelming, given her personality? Saying no or being vague might hurt her.
But she was sitting there without running away—maybe a straightforward answer was fine.
Noah and Clara wouldn't know the answer came after all those options clashed in his head.
"Oho! Straight shooter, huh?"
"Anything else would be an obvious lie."
"Fair point."
Noah nodded right away at Rohan's remark.
Even if she wasn't Rohan's type, calling Clara's flawless face ugly would be a blatant lie.
But is this really okay?
Clara's gaze had dropped again.
Worried she might feel burdened, Rohan tried lightening the mood with a joke.
"This isn't bullying Clara, is it? If it is, I'll tell Ichinose and make you do workbooks."
"Bullying? I'm just telling her 'cause she lacks confidence in herself!"
"Hmm..."
"For real!"
As Noah protested her innocence, Rohan eyed her suspiciously.
He could picture the gist from her words.
"Even so, this approach might burden Clara—"
Ding-a-ling—!
Before Rohan could finish, a customer opened the bookstore door.
— Excuse me? Is there a staff member around?
"Yes! Coming!"
Rohan told them to hang tight for now and hurried to the register.
Today was weirdly nonstop busy.
"Sorry. Must've been tough waiting till closing."
"N-No, it's fine..."
Rohan walked the darkening street with Clara.
Just the two of them. Noah wasn't here.
The beastkin girl, who'd been reading comics, suddenly said she was hungry, called Ichinose, and bolted up to leave.
She'd boomed that she'd come back next time, but by the time Rohan reacted, she was already out the door.
Afterward, he'd approached Clara, now alone, and said he'd tell her about the dorm.
That's how she ended up waiting till his shift ended.
"Rohan oppa."
"Yeah?"
Clara, walking beside him, eyed the bag occupying one of his hands.
Walking side-by-side instead of trailing behind was more thrilling than anything for Rohan.
"L-Let me carry that...!"
"Nah, it's not heavy."
The bag held 24 volumes of comics.
Noah had bought them, read them, recommended them to Rohan, and gifted the crisp new set before leaving.
Thus, Rohan carried a hefty paper bag in one hand.
Actually turned out convenient.
He'd stash them in the dorm unread.
Clara could read them when bored.
"You hungry?"
"No! I'm good."
"Still, gotta eat. Want me to whip something simple up at the dorm?"
"Y-You cooking...!?"
Clara's eyes went wide, as if to say Really?
Rohan met her gaze and smiled.
"Nothing fancy, but living alone taught me basics. Might not be tasty, but edible at least."
"...!"
"Or we could grab something nearby? That's guaranteed good."
As he stopped on the main street to scan for food spots,
Clara tugged his sleeve and whispered.
"I wanna eat what you make, oppa..."
"Then let's swing by the mart first."
"Yeah!"
They veered toward the nearby mart.
Unable to hold back her swirling curiosity, Clara voiced it.
"You and Noah unnie are super close, right...?"
"This was the first time I've really talked with her at length? Ran into her by chance while buying stuff for the boss."
"Eh!?"
How could that be?
In Clara's eyes, Rohan and Noah looked like besties.
Anything less seemed impossible. Yet Rohan casually downplayed it.
"Like you saw, she's just super outgoing. We're classmates, but I don't even have her number."
"R-Really...?"
Clara felt an inexplicable relief at his words.
The unknown emotion tugged at her lips.
"You swapped numbers with her earlier, right Clara?"
"Yeah..."
"If it was forced, I'll smooth things over. Don't push if it's too much."
"N-No, that's fine, but... I don't know how to reply to unnie..."
"Reply?"
Clara showed him her phone, asking him to check.
Rohan got it immediately.
Clara was fine with messages of clear length. But this was meaningless, so confusing.
"No real meaning—just her showing off she's a tiger beastkin, probably?"
"Is a normal greeting okay...? W-What if beastkin have message etiquette...?"
"Nah, nothing like that. Just relax."
He waited as she fumbled with the keyboard.
Then they moved on.
At the mart, they grabbed simple ingredients, plus containers for sides.
They needed cutlery and cups for Clara too, so picking and packing added up.
Now Rohan had bags in both hands, and Clara clutched some too.
"This is the academy boys' dorm building."
"Whoa...!"
"Entrance needs a student ID scan, plus cameras, so you'll have to come through the window. That okay? Or cover up with a big hoodie."
Clara gauged the height, touched the wall material, and nodded.
"Window should be fine..."
"Gimme the bags. I'll open up from inside—wait a sec."
...
...
Click! Rohan entered, flipped on the light to brighten the room.
Set down his bags, unlocked the window.
Slide.
Window open, Clara looked up from below.
He gestured wildly for her to come up and stepped aside.
Soundlessly, Clara climbed the frame.
"This is your room..."
Clara scanned every corner with curious eyes.
Sniffed with her perky nose too.
"Shoe rack's over there."
"Okay!"
Sitting on the frame, she slipped off her shoes with light grace and landed softly.
Placed her loafers in the rack and returned.
"Eat first? Then I'll show you where stuff goes."
"Whatever's comfy for you, oppa... I like anything."
"Let's wash the cups and utensils first."
As Rohan rustled through the plastic bags,
Clara spoke from behind.
"Rohan oppa."
"Yeah?"
"Since it's the academy boys' dorm, girls can't enter?"
"Not just girls—outsiders in general are banned."
"H-Hmm..."
Clara made a clumsy hum and wandered about.
Sensing her presence, Rohan thought.
Maybe today was perfect for a serious talk with Clara.
For each other. For the future.