The Girl's Nest
“Is it okay if I head to Tigrova right away today? I'll make it quick.”
“Of course it's fine. Do whatever you want.”
Rohan responded brightly to Sion, who was practically glowing with transparent excitement.
He also expressed his gratitude to Ichinose Yui and Noah, who had been watching the situation unfold.
“Thanks for your help. I'll make sure to repay you properly.”
The two girls, having received Rohan's thanks, fixed him with persistent stares demanding an explanation.
But Rohan had nothing particular to say on that front, so he did his best to play dumb and brush it off.
Did they pick up on even the tiniest hint of awkwardness in his actions and the flow of conversation?
The beastkin girl watching Rohan intently felt her curiosity piqued even more.
“Hmmm...”
Having grown up wild and free in Tigrova, Noah wasn't skilled at hiding or suppressing her emotions like Ichinose Yui.
Caught between the intangible walls of curiosity and propriety, she wrestled with herself.
Her eyes fixed on Rohan's group and her twitching lips looked ready to fire off a blunt question at any moment.
“Noah. It looks like that person's business is done, so shall we head to the restaurant now?”
“Eek!”
Ichinose Yui, who noticed it first, grabbed Noah's arm and swiftly pulled her away from the scene.
This was part of what Noah's father had asked of her, after all.
— Nose! Wait just a sec...! Really, just a moment!
— That's exactly why it's a no.
Confirming the two girls striding away quickly, Rohan let out a deep breath.
“Phew...”
He hadn't expected a chance encounter to yield results so swiftly.
It was a development that would have been impossible in Abyss City, where Sion wasn't even a playable character to begin with.
He knew some info related to the Snow Tiger Emperor, so he wasn't too worried, but a sliver of anxiety made him ask,
“Sion. Want us to go to Tigrova with you?”
“No. I'll go alone.”
Sion shook her head with a smile at Rohan's question.
She knew now.
It wasn't something she couldn't handle by herself, and the moment she accepted their guidance, it would disrupt the daily life Rohan had been maintaining because of her.
Being treated like baggage wasn't the picture she wanted, either.
“It's true I lack experience with the outside world... but traveling by myself is no issue. I'm not a child.”
“...”
“Besides, you said your academy exams are right around the corner. Absolutely not.”
At Sion's firm tone, Rohan and Clara naturally shifted away from trying to persuade her.
They were worried, but she seemed like she'd manage just fine.
“Then we should get you a phone before you go. You'll spare some time for that, right? Let's grab lunch together too.”
“Y-Yeah, sis! I'll look up the route, so let's eat together...!”
Even after declaring in front of everyone that she'd leave today, how could Sion refuse something like this?
She expressed her intent to prepare thoroughly and go, then followed Rohan, led by the hand by Clara.
Along the way,
Her tightly shut lips finally parted.
“And... I'm ashamed to ask, but... could we postpone tonight's plans? I'm really sorry...”
The thrill of unexpectedly resolving one of her long-standing dilemmas at such an unforeseen moment.
Caught up in it, she'd selfishly pushed aside Rohan's prior commitment and declared she'd head to Tigrova today.
Aware of her own faux pas, the girl now wanted to show her companions that she was eagerly looking forward to their evening together.
That she hadn't taken it lightly at all.
'How do I even... say this...'
Sion's throat tightened and her mind went blank white as she faced her own guilt.
“Why apologize for something like that? We can celebrate your return too when you get back.”
“Exactly!”
Rohan and Clara reacted in perfect sync, as if sharing the same thoughts.
“...”
Every time she faced their kindness, Sion felt her emotions surging beyond her control.
It was a stark contrast to her dark life up until now, as if it had all been a lie.
It was too warm for a girl who had only just gained her freedom to accept at face value.
“Let's have something delicious for lunch to give you strength for the trip.”
“Yeah...!”
The three walked on in a cheerful mood.
During the meal, Rohan and Clara avoided heavy topics.
They filled their bellies with a warm broth that could aptly be called kindly flavored in the relaxed atmosphere.
After eating, they headed straight to their next stop without hesitation.
Rohan signed up for an extra phone in his name and handed it to Sion.
“...”
Sion held her brand-new smartphone reverently in both hands, staring at it intently.
Her lips were as impassive as ever, but her eyes sparkled with interest, perfectly conveying her inner feelings.
'With this, I can stay in touch even while going to and from Tigrova!'
The registered contacts numbered just two: Rohan and Clara.
Yet it didn't feel empty. To Sion, those two names filled her completely.
She'd learned the basics from them over lunch, so calls and messages would be no problem.
“Message as often as you can. We'll be waiting.”
“If anything confuses you or doesn't work, call anytime...! I can pick up whenever! A-And I can search stuff up quick too...!”
A group chat was formed where the three of them could exchange messages.
Sion flooded the space with random consonants and vowels to solidify her grasp on messaging, then lifted the corners of her mouth as she looked at the two.
“I'll report even the smallest details.”
“Perfect. And take this.”
Rohan handed over a card and some cash.
Sion accepted it without a word, solidifying her stance of empty hands.
Clutching it preciously to her chest, she firmed her resolve.
“Today's matter is personal, no matter what anyone says. I'll repay whatever's spent somehow when I return.”
“No interest, so do it at your own pace.”
Now she just needed to head back to the dorm, grab her usual clothes now that they were dry, and her weapons—then she could leave.
“Sion sis. Tigrova's cold, so dress warm...!”
“Mm, noted.”
She shared a natural embrace with Clara, who now felt like blood kin.
Parting after not even a full day together.
Looking back, it was almost funny.
'What an idiot—I declared I'd leave today right in front of Prozenheart.'
Now she had to go and resolve her long-held wish.
Sion keenly felt the weight of her steps.
As the girl dawdled, holding onto Clara to buy even a moment more,
Rohan, who had been watching quietly, reminded her of the facts.
“Sion.”
“Mm...?”
“The sooner you go, the sooner we can see you again.”
A single phrase laced with simple truth.
Her eyes snapped open at those words tracing back to reality.
⋯
⋯
“Sion sis! This is the bus!”
After preparing at Rohan's dorm, Sion boarded a bus in Academy City with Clara, who insisted on seeing her off to the station.
Rohan had wanted to come along too, but Sion and Clara firmly pushed him back, telling him not to skip afternoon classes.
'It would've been great if Rohan came too, obviously.'
But she knew this was the right choice.
Even knowing that, her heart wouldn't settle—maybe she should've figured out what cologne he used, she regretted.
Rohan's outer jacket, grabbed under the pretext of the cold right before departure, lay dormant in her bag.
Just recalling its presence calmed the ripples in her heart.
'Sky train, huh...'
Sion double-checked her mode of transport on the bus.
There were various routes and means to Tigrova.
By land, there were vehicles and railways. But they consumed absurdly long times compared to flying.
They weren't even that cheap, so unless you were a traveler or enjoyed overland trips, there was no reason to choose them.
Heading by sea led to Tigrova's icy docks via icebreaker ships.
But they ate up no small amount of time either.
Though popular for the spectacle of smashing through ice, they were out of the question for Sion, who wanted to finish her business as quickly as possible.
In the end, only one option remained.
She decided to take to the skies.
Using the app Rohan and Clara had set up, Sion booked a train floating through the heavens.
A specialty of the Sepia Archipelago using levistones.
Unlike airships, direct routes were still available, and above all, it was fast—which pleased her most.
She ignored reviews about intense shaking. Training, she figured, would suffice.
'Estimated travel time: 11 hours.'
Round trip alone would take a full day.
That was already longer than the time she'd had her freedom.
She'd heard Tigrova had a significant time difference from Academy City too.
“...”
A flurry of thoughts dominated her mind for a moment.
Rustle.
Sion pulled out Rohan's jacket and buried her face in it, breathing deeply over and over.
“S-Sis!?”
The passengers who had been eyeing her beautiful features, along with Clara beside her, were shocked—but Sion's breaths were heavy, her actions bold.
The elf girl's intermittent heaving even looked a fair bit aroused.
“Snuuuff...!”
She drew in a deep breath to steady her mind.
Filling her lungs and head with Rohan's scent, she vowed.
As quickly as possible.
Without letting impatience breed regrets.
She would hear the full story about her parents and wash away the disgrace staining the name of the Tigrova elves and Testarosa.
“Hoo...”
Exhaling onto Rohan's jacket, imprinting her breath, she reminded herself.
That her place to return was by Rohan and Clara's side.
'Sion Testarosa's nest exists nowhere else.'
The girl lifted her head from the jacket, her eyes gleaming sharply.