The Stormy Lunchtime -1-
“Everyone, pay attention. Gilbert, if your body's thawed out, get back to your seat.”
“Urghhh...”
The morning assembly continued with talk about me.
Juyeon praised and encouraged me in front of everyone for doing a good deed, but she made it clear that the most important part was contacting the guardian instructor right away.
And thank goodness it all worked out.
She emphasized that it could have been extremely dangerous otherwise, wrapping up the unusually long morning assembly.
As soon as Juyeon left, Gilbert craned his neck around with a groan.
“My friend! You've done a splendid deed!”
“Thanks. Nice not to have you yelling for once.”
Maybe getting trapped in ice had calmed his excitement a bit.
His voice was still louder than a normal person's, but for Gilbert, this counted as whispering.
“You still don't get it. The depth of praise isn't measured in decibels!”
“This guy's gotta know that and still...”
“But! A hearty bellow can sometimes be an irreplaceable spice!”
And there it was—his habit of roaring mid-sentence wasn't going anywhere.
After chatting a bit more with friends chiming in, I pulled out my textbook to prep for class. That's when Ichinose and Noah, passing by in the hallway, stopped and called out to me.
“You truly deserve the praise. Well done.”
“Cut it out. It's embarrassing, and no need to keep bringing it up.”
Ichinose shook her head, eyes still closed at my words.
“Whether it was instinct or not, not just anyone could have done that.”
“Isn't she basically a beastkin deep down?”
Ichinose cracked an eye at Noah like, What are you even saying?
“That's part of it, but I also heard you helped Noah study over the weekend.”
“Oh, that? I get bored studying alone anyway.”
Noah's tail twitched like she'd just remembered something crucial, poking Ichinose with it like a tattletale.
“Nose! Rohan tried to torture me with workbook reviews! Scold him quick!”
“Rohan handled it perfectly. Good job. If there's another chance like that, please do the same.”
“You got it. I'll make sure of it.”
Noah tried hugging Ichinose from behind, whining that it was too much, but...
Ichinose sidestepped the embrace without even opening her eyes—her movements like a small animal dodging a tiger's pounce.
They're playing well together.
To me, their antics were like a comedy routine, warm and endearing.
Noah Frozenheart probably knew Ichinose would react this way. Maybe she just needed an excuse to hug her friend.
“Torture's banned by Samhwa Nation law! How can you encourage such inhumane treatment?”
“...Stop memorizing only the stuff you like and learn the rest too.”
Noah reached out with both arms, but Ichinose slipped away again.
The three of us kept up the light banter as we naturally split off.
Rest time was over anyway.
“Is everyone here? Take your seats.”
Juyeon returned with her textbook and dove right into the theory lesson like nothing had happened.
Noah's tail swished as she tried memorizing formulas, groaning and clutching her head.
Ichinose answered Juyeon's questions flawlessly without a hitch. I was busy just keeping up with notes.
Business as usual.
Theory time finally ended, ushering in the lunch break I'd been waiting for.
Heading to the academy cafeteria like always, I checked my phone.
“!”
I froze at the message from Clara, then turned on my heel and bolted for the dorms.
*****
Sion Testarosa.
The girl worried if this visit would burden Rohan.
He'd said to come anytime, but showing up after just one day on the strength of that felt pushy from his side.
That's what she thought. Her resolve was firm, at least in her mind.
With that determination, she hung up the payphone receiver and returned to her cold abode, lying back on the chill bedding.
So cold...
The stark difference hit her anew.
Even after so long, the frigid space refused adaptation, a far cry from the warmth in her casual chat with Rohan at the academy city's payphone.
The gap between joy and sorrow felt vast—like the agony of falling from a galloping warhorse.
She'd burned through every token she had just to make the call.
But she didn't regret it.
Those 30 minutes or so chatting with Rohan had let her look away from the despair ahead, if only briefly.
She couldn't hold back anymore.
That's why Sion had come to Academy City Elysium today too.
She'd tried to endure, but Rohan's encouragement over the phone sparked the thought that maybe it was okay to visit.
“...”
A weekday at 11:50 a.m.
Who'd be at the academy dorms now? The area was bright yet deserted as midnight.
Still, Sion checked multiple times for onlookers.
Thud! She extended her foot, scaling the academy dorm wall with graceful precision.
The closer she got to the window, the more ridiculous her actions seemed, drawing a wry chuckle.
Wasn't this absurd?
Back when she first met Rohan, she'd coldly shot down his offer to call if anything happened, insisting nothing would. How had it come to this?
Creak—
Sion felt relief at the unlocked window and perched on the sill.
Before stepping inside, she kicked off her thick combat boots and scanned the room.
“Rohan?”
She called out clearly, not too loud.
No reply from Rohan. Not even a hint of presence.
I sensed it from outside... but he's really not here?
Come to think of it, Rohan didn't seem to be infiltrating the academy. Maybe he was diligently in class.
Sion set her boots down, closed the window, and turned back.
Before deciding whether to leave or wait, basic courtesy first.
She neatly placed her boots in the shoe rack and glanced around.
“...?”
Rohan's room, empty of its owner.
Staring at the vacant space, Sion narrowed her eyes and crouched low.
Her right hand inched toward her weapon.
A subtle wrongness hung in the silent room.
An unfamiliar thread caught in the realm of instinct she couldn't put into words.
Her senses rivaled a beastkin's—not from that, but from her honed combat style.
Those who hid desperately to avoid detection poured everything into concealment.
Snipers and assassins excelled at spotting the hidden for that very reason. That's what sparked her suspicion here.
Clara's imperfect breath-holding in that split-second had tipped the scales.
How long had Sion frozen, breath held?
“Um, excuse me...”
“!”
There was someone. Her instincts were spot-on.
One thing was clear: not Rohan's voice.
Sion whipped out her dagger from her waist with a sharp shing!
Click-clack! Clara unfolded her balisong with flashy handwork.
Right side!
Sion pinpointed the thin metallic rasp with her pointed ears.
She slashed toward the hidden figure's position.
Clang!
The short blades met with a grinding scraaaape!!!
Clara blocked the strike and flashed back.
This must be the one Oppa mentioned yesterday...?
She remembered every word of yesterday's long message.
It mentioned an elf, but not a woman. Certainly not this stunning beauty.
Oppa, seriously...
Clara unwittingly pouted, cheeks puffing.
Even as she sulked at absent Rohan, she noted Sion's dagger was reversed—no killing intent, just intent to subdue.
Sion leaped back low instead of pressing the attack, spinning her reverse grip to normal and observing the mystery woman.
“W-wait just a sec...!”
A twin-tailed girl appeared, fumbling to button up what looked like skimpy lingerie—or was it clothes?
The bizarre sight heightened Sion's wariness.
Strong. Can I win with my current gear? And... she's wearing shoes.
Probably an intruder. High likelihood.
Maybe even targeting Rohan.
From Clara's view, it was instinct to erase traces, but that wouldn't fly as an excuse.
Sion drew her pistol in her empty hand and demanded,
“Who are you?”