It was Saturday.
This weekend, Red Spider Lily Bookstore was closed.
The store owner had shut it down, telling Rohan to focus on studying for his exams.
Of course, it was obvious that more than half of the reason was that he wanted to go on a trip with his grandson.
Still, Rohan appreciated the goodwill.
"I should send the manager some gifts now and then. And buy more books too."
He had already informed him that he would likely have to quit soon.
Even though he hadn’t worked there long, the manager had simply smiled, understood, and told him to drop by whenever he wanted.
That kind of generosity made Rohan feel like bowing in gratitude.
Knowing that he could leave on good terms made him feel at ease.
"Clara, this is the right bus, yeah?"
"Yup!"
"Seats 11A and 11B... You take the window seat."
"I-I don’t mind sitting by the aisle! Wouldn’t you be more comfortable inside...?"
"Just sit by the window. Keeping my legs tucked in is more annoying."
Thus, on the weekend before midterms—one final moment of freedom—
Rohan and Clara boarded a bus to the station.
They were, of course, on their way to pick up Shion, who was returning from Tigrova.
"Here, have some water, oppa."
"Thanks. You good? Not too cramped?"
"I’m fine! What about you?"
"I’ve got plenty of space. This bus has some nice seats."
Feeling relaxed, Rohan chatted with Clara.
He had put off reviewing and memorizing material for his midterm exams.
Lately, the sheer amount of studying he had been forced to endure had left his brain overloaded.
This break came at just the right time—he felt like he needed to let his dried-up mind absorb some moisture again.
"On the way back, you and Shion should sit together. I’ll take a solo seat."
Clara nodded in agreement, her violet twin tails bouncing.
She would have loved to sit with Rohan in the middle, but the seating arrangement didn’t allow it.
"Clara, if you get sleepy, go ahead and take a nap. I’ll wake you when we get there."
"Aren’t you the one who’s sleep-deprived from studying? I’ve seen your late-night messages."
Rohan chuckled and pulled out his smartphone.
─ Company Wave!
Lowering the volume, he launched the game they played together.
Clara’s eyes gleamed with excitement as she leaned in.
"I just need a bit more currency to finish my third party. What do you think?"
"Oppa... You leveled up so fast. I feel like crying..."
Clara had watched him play for a while, but there was nothing to nitpick.
His gameplay was clean.
That clumsy style that used to trigger her inner coach was completely gone.
Now, it was just a matter of time before he broke through to the top ranks.
His progress was genuinely satisfying to see.
"Oh, did you get a call from Shion yesterday?"
Updat𝓮d from frёewebnoѵēl.com.
"Yeah! I felt relieved hearing everything worked out. O-Oppa, you talked to her too, right...?"
"Of course. Out of nowhere, she asked me what cologne I use."
"..."
Clara recalled Shion’s voice from that call.
That moment when she learned that Rohan didn’t wear any cologne—
The sheer confusion and realization that had hit her like a truck.
She had finally become aware of what she had been obsessed with.
"Clara."
"...Yeah?"
"I should’ve told you earlier, but my Academy exams are coming up."
"Mhm! I know."
"Next Monday, after the written test, the practical exams start immediately. I won’t be in the dorms until they’re over."
Clara’s eyes widened.
Her voice instinctively grew louder and shaky.
"H-How long will you be gone? A day? Two...?"
"Unfortunately, not that short. The current schedule is Monday through Friday."
"!!!"
Rohan wasn’t just leaving for a day or two—
He was gone for the entire weekdays.
The sheer despair crushed Clara in an instant.
It felt like plummeting into an endless abyss.
"There’s plenty of food in the fridge, so make sure you and Shion eat well, alright?"
"..."
Clara couldn’t even respond.
She barely even heard him.
"O-Oppa won’t be here next week...?"
Looking back at how she had been living lately, the thought of being apart from Rohan for that long was unthinkable.
Even if someone accused her of being addicted or dependent, she wouldn’t be able to refute it.
"Uwaahh..."
As the girl sat there, leaking her soul through her lips—
Rohan carefully reached out his hand.
"This is a bit sudden, but here. A gift for you, Clara."
"...?!"
The click! sound brought life back into her dead eyes.
"I thought it’d suit you, so I bought it. It’s not super expensive, but—"
"Huh?"
She reached up, touching her hair.
She could tell what it was just by touch.
The smooth material.
The tiny heart-shaped charm dangling at the end.
"O-Oppa...!"
"I picked it myself, so don’t feel pressured to wear it all the time."
"I’ll wear it for the rest of my life...!"
Clara’s dramatic proclamation.
Rohan chuckled and countered.
"Don’t you want to at least check the color and design? If you prefer another one, I’ll go with you to exchange it."
"No, this one is perfect!"
There was no need to unwrap it or check the design.
Rohan had chosen it—so this was the right one.
No alternatives. No exchanges. Absolutely not.
The happiness brought by the hairpin nestled in her violet locks—
It lifted Clara’s spirits from rock bottom to soaring heights.
If she could hold onto this joy like a tiny ember in her chest, maybe...
Maybe she could survive the five Rohan-less weekdays without freezing to death.
Sky Train Station
The station wasn’t as grand as one might expect.
Still, it felt similar to waiting for an airplane at an airport.
"Ah! Oppa, look...!"
Through the glass windows, a Sky Train was descending from above.
Judging by the timing, Shion must be on that one, Clara guessed excitedly, pointing.
As the arrival announcement played, they headed toward the exit gates.
Rohan grabbed a large sheet of paper and a marker from a nearby counter.
"Let’s make a sign that says ‘Shion’ and hold it up while we wait."
"W-Won’t that make her uncomfortable...?"
"That’s the point. She’ll either have a great reaction or no reaction at all."
With his infamous messy handwriting, Rohan scrawled "시" in large letters, then "온" right beside it.
Handing Clara one half, they both held up their makeshift banners at the exit.
Not even five minutes later—
A wave of passengers flooded out of the train gates.
And among them—
Shion.
Wearing Rohan’s outer coat.
Her distinct beauty made her stand out like a beacon.
Even among the bustling crowd, Rohan and Clara spotted her instantly.
Shion twitched her ears slightly, scanning the area—
And immediately locked eyes with them.
Then, she saw the huge signs with her name in their hands.
She let out a soft, amused scoff.
"Welcome back. You did great."
"Unnie, welcome home...!"
As Shion approached them, the quiet chuckle vanished—
And a gentle smile took its place.
"Thanks for the... grand welcome."
Something about her felt different—
Like her aura had deepened after returning from Tigrova.
There were details that the phone calls hadn’t captured—
Stories he wanted to hear in full.
"Let’s head back first."
Bus Ride to Academy City
They talked the entire way back.
Even as the bus neared its final stop, their chatter didn’t fade.
"Yuhora mentioned she was worried I’d jump at him the moment I entered the audience chamber."
It was a valid concern—
But Shion had already seen the pathetic display of the High Elders.
And through that, she had learned a lot.
The White Tiger Grand Duke pursued his goals directly—but always maintained a rational balance.
To cling to bitterness and blindly blame him for what happened—
That would only tarnish her parents’ name.
Shion understood the flow of the world.
"The White Tiger Grand Duke doesn’t avoid challenges. He’s lived every day prepared for them."
Maybe it was because she had already settled her emotions when she pulled the trigger on the High Elder’s head—
But lately, Shion felt like her perspective had broadened.
"Or maybe..."
Her gaze naturally shifted to Rohan.
A man whose observations made her heart pound.
Because of Rohan—
She now knew exactly where to aim her gun.
"Oh! We’re here."
As the bus came to a stop, Rohan instinctively grabbed Shion’s bag and stepped off first.
Now empty-handed, Shion naturally took Clara’s hand.
"So."
"Hm?"
"How was he in person?"
Rohan had no need to clarify who he was referring to.
If someone had the ambition to reach the top, they would always be curious.
Even Clara listened closely.
"A monster. One that no method could kill—one that felt like he could never die."
That was Shion’s honest impression.
And that was all Rohan needed.
He simply nodded and kept walking—showing no further curiosity.
"Let’s drop off our bags at the dorm and go get an early dinner. My treat."
"Rohan, wait."
Shion stopped walking.
Since she was holding Clara’s hand, Clara also halted.
Rohan turned back.
"I want to buy dinner."
"...?"
For once, Rohan blinked, momentarily speechless.
It made sense.
Shion hadn’t mentioned inheriting her family’s wealth yet.
As far as he knew, she had been broke—to the point of borrowing his credit card for food.
So now she was saying she wanted to pay for dinner?
The situation was odd.
"Remember when I said I had something to show you when I got back?"
"Yesterday?"
"Y-Yes, you did...!"
Rohan and Clara both recalled her words from the phone call.
Now, something was about to be revealed.
They waited.
Shion reached into her pocket—
Pulled out her smartphone—
And displayed the bank account Yuhora had deposited her inheritance into.