I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City

39 – Relationships as a Stepping Stone for Tigers -1-

“What are you doing…?”

“Huh?”

The relationship between Rohan and Noah is ambiguous.

It’s hard to say they are close. However, when they do talk, it’s not exactly distant either.

This was something that greatly deviated from Rohan’s expectations.

‘We’re in the same class, but I thought I’d get closer to Ichinose faster than Noah…’

Isn’t Noah Frozenheart supposed to have a straightforward and refreshing personality?

Rohan had expected to become friends with Noah the quickest among the main characters, but reality was not so easy.

In reality, Noah was a person with seemingly infinite stamina.

During breaks, he would wander around the academy, making it hard to find a moment to talk.

“Isn’t this Nos’s dawn partner?”

Myaa!

Noah picked up a cat that was lying flat on the ground.

And then, as if to show off, he dangles the cat and grins widely, revealing his sharp molars.

Rohan just lets out a hollow laugh at the words that could be misunderstood.

“…Well, it’s not wrong to say that I work out with Ichinose.”

“Are you coming back from working out with Nose today too? Where did Nose go?”

“Ichinose went back earlier than me. It’s the weekend, so I went a bit later.”

“Aha!”

Before continuing the conversation.

Noah put the cat he was holding down on the ground.

From Rohan’s perspective, he didn’t understand the meaning, but it seemed like the cat was well-trained.

“Go on! Be careful of cars from now on, okay?”

Meow!

The cats responded with cries and went somewhere.

Rohan, watching them, naturally asked out of curiosity.

“How do you talk to cats?”

“Huh? Do you want to learn how to talk to cats?”

“It would be nice if I could. I’m curious about what they usually say.”

Noah, wagging his tail gently, crossed his arms.

He moved his round ears as if shaking off fur and shook his head.

“Unfortunately, normal people can’t. Tigers are also part of the cat family, so it’s possible.”

“Oh… that’s how it works.”

“In fact, if you look at the details, it’s not a conversation, but more like issuing orders? Conveying intentions? Something like that.”

This was a story he had never heard before.

For Rohan, whose mind was mostly filled with information about Abyss City, it was new and interesting information.

“So, you’re saying the cats didn’t understand the language and act on it just now?”

“That’s right.”

Maybe he was bored, as Noah approached the horizontal bar and hung upside down like a bat.

Rohan, standing beside him, asked nonchalantly.

“How’s the theory study going? You’ve been working hard lately.”

“Ugh, the moment I open the book, it feels like my head is going to explode. I feel guilty for asking the instructor and Nose too many questions.”

“I feel the same way.”

Noah’s face showed an unhidden expression of pain.

Rohan thought the best he could do was empathize.

He wasn’t in a position to give advice on theory.

“I should buy something delicious for Nose, but where should I take him? The instructor won’t go even if I ask…”

“Are you thanking him for teaching you?”

“Yeah. Do you know a good place? Nose is a light eater, so if I go with my instincts, he’ll have a hard time.”

From Noah’s words, a certainty learned from experience could be felt.

Rohan, rubbing his chin in thought, answered.

“First, getting good results in the midterm exam is the first reward.”

“Is that so.”

“Material rewards can be thought of after achieving the first goal. For now, forget about it.”

“Hmm?”

The girl’s head, which had been staring straight ahead, turned towards Rohan.

Rohan’s gaze met Noah’s, who was hanging upside down. Her blue eyes had a deep, rich color.

As they silently held each other’s gaze for a brief moment,

Noah moved.

“Hyot!”

With a swift motion, she spun and landed gracefully.

It was an incredible display of agility.

“When and how did you become friends with Nose?”

“Suddenly?”

“Don’t worry about the small details, just tell me. I’m curious.”

“There wasn’t any significant event. Why are you curious about that?”

Noah placed her hands on her waist and laughed heartily.

Watching her, she felt transparent. It was clear she was recalling some past time.

“Nose didn’t play with boys since she was little. Even when she talked, she was polite and kept it to a minimum.”

“You’ve known Ichinose since a long time ago, huh?”

“Our parents know each other.”

Rohan asked, already knowing the answer.

It was just the natural flow of the conversation.

“So, how did you become friends with Nose?”

“Like I said earlier, it’s nothing special. We just started talking about swords and hit it off.”

“Aha!”

Noah exclaimed briefly, nodding with an understanding expression.

“Did you get that just now?”

“Roughly? You’re good with swords. Even if your magic is weak, you seem like you’d be good in a fight.”

Could there be a more straightforward form of praise? An unrefined chunk of compliment, neither trimmed nor polished.

But it wasn’t sarcasm.

Knowing Noah was sincere, Rohan chuckled, thanking him.

“So, your curiosity is satisfied?”

As Rohan adjusted his clothes, as if to leave, Noah’s eyes widened.

“Where are you going! I’m bored, push me on the swing.”

“If you’re bored, go back and study. I’ll be studying until I go to work too.”

“You have a part-time job?!”

Noah’s blue eyes began to sparkle with interest, like jewels.

From that sparkle, Rohan sensed something had gone wrong.

‘I made a mistake.’

The words meant to stoke competitiveness seemed to have fueled something else.

“…Anyway, I’m going. See you on Monday.”

Rohan moved with a gift for the store manager in one hand.

He exited the park and looked back. Noah stood there with a playful expression.

“Why are you following me?”

“I’m not following you. Our paths just happened to overlap.”

“What are you, a kid?”

Rohan laughed in disbelief.

As he continued walking, Noah walked right beside him.

“You’re not planning to follow me to work, are you?”

“Are you embarrassed? I didn’t expect you to care about that.”

“…This is driving me crazy.”

So he uses this kind of tone too.

Noah laughed as if he found Rohan’s reaction amusing.

“I wanted to visit the store where my friend works! It sounds fun.”

“My workplace wouldn’t suit you. You said just looking at books gives you a headache.”

“Where do you work?”

“A bookstore.”

“Comic books are fine! I used to read them a lot when I was a kid!”

Rohan stopped walking.

He faced Noah in the alley and shook his head.

“Still, no.”

“Why! Why!”

“If a big shot like Frozen Heart shows up at the local bookstore, the manager will be surprised.”

“Even if they see me, they’ll think it’s just dyed hair. Hardly anyone recognizes me unless they’re from the academy.”

Rohan was flustered by Noah’s challenging gaze.

“No, but still… it’s a bookstore that sells books, not a manga cafe or rental shop.”

“I’ll buy them. If I want to see them, I can just buy them all, right?”

“…”

“I mainly look at the pictures in manga, so I read them quickly. If I buy dozens of volumes, it will be good for the store too.”

When a royal from a powerful country says that, it doesn’t sound like a joke.

Whether he buys a hundred or a thousand volumes, it would surely be pocket change for Noah.

“Still, no.”

“Tch…”

Noah’s ears and tail drooped, realizing it was no use arguing further.

‘This is driving me crazy.’

The problem with Noah’s dejected behavior was one thing.

The sight of Noah, a beloved character, looking genuinely pitiful in Rohan’s eyes.

“Huuu…”

Rohan let out a long sigh, scratched his head in frustration, and made a decision.

There is no parent who wins against their child, and no gamer who skips their favorite character.

Rohan pouted and flicked Noah’s ear, who was looking at the floor.

“Then I’ll talk to the manager. Promise me one thing.”

“!”

Noah blinked and wagged his tail as if urging him to speak quickly.

“Don’t invade the counter, and don’t do anything that interferes with business.”

“Then isn’t that two promises, not one?”

“…Don’t nitpick.”

“Got it! I won’t interfere at all!”

Noah instantly regained his energy, making Rohan wonder if his earlier dejection was just an act.

Rohan touched his eyes, feeling like he had been tricked.

He checked the time on his phone.

“Hmm… There’s still a long time before I have to go to work.”

“Do you want to go play in the mountains? Let’s have a game to see who reaches the top first!”

Rohan smiled at Noah’s excited voice.

He couldn’t grant all his wishes.

“We need to study. Where do you think you’re going?”

“…!”

“Until it’s time to go to work, we’ll study at the caf. If you don’t join me, there won’t be any bookstore visits, so keep that in mind.”

“T-taking hostages is a bad thing!”

“Didn’t you know? I’m a bad person by nature.”

As Rohan moved away, saying not to come if he wasn’t going to do it.

Noah hesitated, stomping his feet, then followed behind.

*

‘It’s 30 minutes until oppa’s shift…’

Clara, who was sitting in the corner of the bookstore, looked at the time and tried to calm her pounding heart.

There were 30 minutes left until the shift started, but he would probably come soon.

Rohan always came around this time to start preparing.

Ding!

The sound of the bell attached to the door shaking.

Just by the weight of the footsteps, it was clear who it was.

‘Oppa is here! Huh…?’

The footsteps overlapped with someone else’s. Did a customer come in together?

Clara looked towards the entrance through the gap.

“Manager. I’m here!”

“Wow! So this is the place!”

“Keep your promise. Or I’ll kick you out.”

“I got it!”

Rohan appeared.

Rohan, coming in closely attached to a beautiful beast-woman.

It was clearly visible in Clara’s eyes.