The Taste of the Photo

[Shop list has been updated]

That one thing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠everyone had but I didn't.

The thing I had no clue how to get because there was no space to shove in cash or special goods.

⋯Exclusive Weapon!

The item I'd been longing for had finally appeared.

The shop skill even seemed to gleam with a shine.

This update is seriously generous. Not just one, but multiple big ones.

Just the exclusive weapon alone was enough to make my eyes spin, and now unique skill level up too.

The price had ballooned compared to the first level up, but this exceeded expectations.

"Hey, you zoning out? Class is starting."

Noah poked my arm with her tail as she passed by, snapping me out of it.

Thanks to her, I came to my senses and stumbled back to the classroom. Sitting down, I continued my careful deliberations.

Points⋯.

After clearing the Sion-related quests and grabbing those rewards, my remaining points were pretty stacked. Just a bit more to save up.

I was torn between buying the exclusive weapon or the skill level up first, but either choice had its merits, and getting both didn't seem too far off.

Opportunities to farm shop currency—points—would keep coming.

Wasn't the practical exam sending us to an uninhabited island teeming with breeding monsters and ecosystems? For me, where monsters convert straight to points, it was basically a festival.

If it's like before, quests will tag along for the practical too.

The written exam was a great chance to revive my dried-up image by pouring some life into it.

The practical was an opportunity to snag both scores and points.

I was seriously mapping out my schedule like that,

sketching plans within what's feasible,

when—

"Young lad⋯. Do you have worries? Brood deeper still. Profound reflection is the pinnacle of human excellence."

"Ah, this lunatic."

Gilbert's shadowy mug shattered the mood.

Seeing me lean my upper body away in dismay, Gilbert freely unleashed his inner thoughts.

"Rohan. What think you of this practical exam change?"

"No particular thoughts."

"A bold resolve to follow fate whither it leads? A splendid, hearty reply!"

"This bastard's at it again⋯."

No matter how fed up I sounded, Gilbert crossed his arms with a solemn face.

The academy uniform—criiieak!—groaned in protest as it strained.

The giant's pressure made it seem like the clothes would burst any second, but enduring even that expansion was the academy uniform's sturdiness.

"A regrettable shift due to disaster, yet we first-years, able to prepare in advance, are in a sense blessed cadets."

"I know. Don't go picking up weird crap to eat after crash-landing on the island."

With Gilbert's illustrious history of bizarre eats, that's what came to mind first.

Dick Wikitree, summarizing key points at his seat, naturally joined the convo.

"Instructors'll save you from monsters, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but scavenging weird stuff on your own? They can't babysit that far."

"Still, the academy won't let cadets roam solo, right? Class always stresses teamwork, and for management ease, teams are at least two people minimum."

I tossed out my subtle conviction,

and Gilbert shot Dick a glare.

"Breathing spectacle perch. Team up with me, and I'll temper that frail gut with rock stew and mud cookies thrice daily."

"Team with a caveman? Better off solo."

Dick shoved up his glasses with just his middle finger, pointedly for Gilbert.

I was sick of their pissing contest and prayed these two would get grouped together.

No clue who I'll end up with, but it'd be nice if it's someone halfway normal.

In Abyss City, you pick from owned characters to team up, but here it was pure unpredictability—down to sheer luck.

So I briefly turned instant devotee and sent a prayer skyward.

"⋯."

Sitting in her sky train seat, Sion hugged her bag against the jolts.

Passengers passing through the car shot her glances, but she ignored it. It was fine.

She'd snagged a seat where she could sit alone, so she felt good.

Hope I can sit alone on the way back too.

With that thought, she gazed out the window. Lower than the clouds, but pretty high above land.

Sea came into view, along with scattered unidentified structures and buildings.

Lots of novel sights for Sion's first time, but no companion to chat about it with, so she just stared blankly.

Eleven hours like this, huh.

Sitting still, the wait wouldn't be easy.

Sion pulled out her smartphone to review Tigrova's geography again and solidify etiquette one more time.

Mid-deep dive into the info,

a group message from Clara popped up.

"Heh⋯."

A smile bloomed on Sion's lips at Clara's message.

How'd she mash those emoticons into that shape?

Sion fiddled with the keyboard a bit before giving up and deciding to snap the view outside and send it.

Click!

Her clumsy shot got an adorable reply from Clara.

Sion was thinking the exact same.

Chatting without Rohan, who couldn't join due to class.

Class over already?

Rohan had sent a pic showing his spot—his face barely in frame.

Background was obviously the academy classroom.

Can't really see his face⋯.

Sion mulled her regret that the face was clearer than the background,

when—

Viiiing! Viiiing!

Her smartphone rang.

"!"

Startled, Sion whipped around, half-expecting someone watching.

She moved to the aisle to take the call.

"Ahem!"

Clearing her throat with water, the girl finally answered.

Not her first call with Rohan, yet her heart fluttered oddly.

"⋯Call connected."

—Were you sleeping? I didn't wake you, right?

"No such thing. Just took time getting out of the cabin."

—Ah, that'd be a hassle. Should've just messaged.

"It's fine. I still prefer calls over messages."

Rohan's call wasn't for anything grand.

Just checking if she was doing okay, no health issues—a simple welfare check.

—Grab proper food if you get hungry en route. Don't skimp and hunt cheap stuff to save cash.

"⋯."

He'd read her actions and thoughts completely. Yet instead of chills, it felt good.

Emphasized how well he got her.

—And stick to main roads as much as possible. No late-night treks to hurry. Grab lodging when sun sets and sleep early.

"Treating me like a little kid."

Sion chuckled, focusing on his voice.

Ridiculous treatment, but it felt great.

—Ah, instructor's coming. Anyway, call if anything's up. Even if not, keep in touch.

"Yeah⋯ Got it."

After hanging up, she eyed the screen.

Thanks to settings from Rohan and Clara, auto-recording kicked in.

Loved this feature.

Loop it 10 times for an hour. Repeat 100 from now, and I'll be there.

The trip to Tigrova wouldn't be boring.

Likewise, another girl aboard a ride.

Clara, heading back by bus, jolted at the messages.

'O-oh, oppa photo⋯?!'

She'd always wanted one—what a sudden gift.

Not her as the subject, but just having him in it thrilled Clara.

Save to gallery first. Move to hidden folder.

Password-protect for safety.

"⋯."

Procedures done, now savor time.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Head against the window, the girl gazed at Rohan's photo.

And recalled.

What Sion had done in the dorm and on the bus just now.

⋯Jealous.

Short time, epic feats. Shamelessly bold desire, even without realizing—super enviable.

How nice if she could do that too.

'M-me too⋯?'

Always hesitating, but seeing Sion go all-in right in front of her,

the girl's reason started wobbling to instinct. Felt like missing out by not doing it.

Of course, no Rohan clothes like Sion.

Just pondering his sent photo.

"⋯."

Clara double-checked the quiet, sparsely occupied bus.

Bent at the waist, out of driver's sight.

Then stuck out her tongue like a cat.

Clara lightly licked the screen with Rohan's photo.

"Haa⋯."

Obviously no taste.

But the realization of doing something insanely wild? Crystal clear.