"That’s... That’s not how you play it!"
Rohan's Operation Fresh Water yielded results far beyond his expectations.
"Stay calm."
He knew this fleeting mont and her next words could open up a significant opportunity.
"What exactly do you an?"
"Your company has to reach rank 5 at least, or you’ll lose too many resources! You should make Iroha and Kiki your tanks and start with the supply dungeons...!"
As Clara poured out the words she had been holding back, a mix of relief and regret washed over her face.
Rohan could see her growing flustered, so he replied lightly, trying to ease her nerves.
"The company? Oh, that’s right! You’re a Company Wave player too, aren’t you?"
Pretending as though the mory had just co back to him, he offered his response. Clara nodded ever so slightly.
Rohan kept his expression neutral, quickly analyzing the situation.
"The fact that she stayed and didn’t imdiately run off ans the flow isn’t bad so far."
At least, that’s what he assud.
Continuing to mop the floor, Rohan considered questions that might prompt Clara to speak further, even if just a little.
"Would it be alright if I ask a few questions?"
"Ah, y-yes!"
"How about we..."
Rohan glanced at the clock on the wall. Clara followed his gaze.
"It’s almost closing ti, so let finish up here. Once I lock up, let’s head to a nearby café—my treat."
"!?"
Clara looked shocked, her face flushing with surprise.
Rohan pretended not to notice.
"At tis like this, you have to play the clueless idiot."
Instead of phrasing it as a suggestion, it was better to make it a direct invitation.
Based on both Abyss City lore and his own experiences, Rohan knew that for soone like Clara, it was best to present decisions as a foregone conclusion rather than offering options.
"Just wait a mont. I’ll wrap this up quickly."
"A-Alright..."
Clara, overwheld, froze in place, her head slightly lowered.
Rohan hurried to finish mopping the floor and prepared to close the shop.
***
"Thank you for waiting."
“...”
Rohan locked up the bookstore, placing the keys in his pocket.
Leaving them under the flowerpot in front of the store wouldn’t be appropriate with Clara present.
He decided he would return later to drop them off.
"Shall we go?"
"Y-yes..."
Rohan walked slightly ahead, and Clara followed quietly behind him.
It didn’t take long to leave the narrow alley where the bookstore was located and step onto the bustling main street lined with cafés.
The short travel ti left little room for awkward silence.
"If she’s really uncomfortable, she might just slip away quietly."
That was Rohan’s thought.
Though Clara wasn’t particularly outgoing, she had enough resolve to protect herself if necessary.
"Let’s pick a place where we can also grab a bite to eat."
“...”
Rohan figured Clara hadn’t eaten dinner yet.
She had spent most of the afternoon and evening tucked away in the corner of the bookstore, after all.
He glanced around, taking in the lively, well-lit eateries along the main street.
"A café is fine, but maybe a burger place would work too."
For their casual conversation about the ga, either setting would suffice.
"I guess it wouldn’t hurt to ask where she’d prefer."
Turning toward Clara, who stood blinking beside him, Rohan finally posed the question.
"Where would you like to go?"
"A-anywhere is fine..."
"Do you like burgers?"
Clara glanced around quickly, her gaze darting left and right before she shyly nodded.
That was all Rohan needed.
Beep! Beep!
The automatic doors slid open, welcoming them into the bright interior.
A familiar kiosk stood ready, prompting them to place their order.
"They use kiosks here too, huh?"
It struck Rohan as a unique mont for himself.
This was his first ti eating fast food in Academy City.
"I used to live off burgers and kimbap while traveling. Funny how this feels new again."
Standing before the machine, Rohan gestured toward Clara.
"Consider it a learning expense. Order whatever you’d like."
"T-thank you..."
Perhaps realizing it was pointless to refuse at this stage, Clara bowed slightly, her gaze darting nervously across the screen.
"All done?"
"Yes."
Rohan observed as Clara selected a single cheeseburger and imdiately stopped, her hand folding neatly as if that was sufficient.
It was clear she still wasn’t entirely comfortable.
With a quiet sigh, Rohan upgraded her single burger to a set al and added a variety of sides.
"Burgers are fine, but a single serving of fries is never enough for . Two would be overkill, though."
“...”
With the order placed and paid for, they waited briefly until their number was called.
Grabbing the tray, Rohan led Clara to a nearby table.
"Let’s dig in."
"Thank you for the al..."
"Eat as much as you like. Let know if you want more."
Rohan doubted Clara would request more food, even if she were still hungry.
Once the burgers were gone, leaving only fries and drinks, Rohan shifted the conversation to the ga.
The mont Company Wave beca the topic, Clara began speaking clearly and steadily.
"Have you joined a guild yet?"
"Not yet."
"You should join one with at least level 10 benefits. The attendance rewards are significantly better."
"So as long as the guild’s level is 10, any guild will do?"
"Yes, but empty slots are rare these days. It’s best to look through the community boards, but... um..."
"Is there another way?"
Clara hesitated when Rohan asked.
He patiently waited, not pressuring her. Eventually, Clara’s energetic deanor from monts ago dimd, and she lowered her gaze.
"W-would you like to join the guild I created? It’s... well... there’s plenty of room, but... it’s not much since it’s just managing it..."
"Oh! Can I really join? That’d be an honor."
"Then... here..."
When Clara recited her guild ID, Rohan quickly entered it into the search bar.
[Clara Company]
▷ Level: Max
▷ mbers: 1/50
▷ Total Contribution: 35,899,000
"Clara Company? Does the na an anything special?"
"N-no! I just used my na..."
Clara’s face turned red with embarrassnt, her explanation faltering.
Watching her flustered expression alone made Rohan’s day.
"It felt odd to keep calling you 'custor,' so it’s nice to officially et you. I’m Rohan."
"Oh... I’ll rember that!"
Grateful for the natural flow of the conversation, Rohan continued.
"Did you level up the guild all on your own?"
"Y-yes..."
Praising her efforts, Rohan seamlessly brought the conversation back to the ga.
"Geralds are great even at S-rank, but their utility is limited early on. Using resources to develop them at that stage isn’t worth it. Do you have any friends to borrow one from?"
"No, I don’t. Seems like mobile gas are a niche interest."
"Oh..."
"Honestly, I was considering quitting because I didn’t have anyone to talk to about it."
Clara nodded fervently, her twin tails swaying with the motion, fully resonating with Rohan’s sentint.
"But now that you’re helping , I’ll stick with it. It’s more fun with a friend, after all."
"R-right!"
Buoyed by Rohan’s enthusiasm, Clara continued explaining strategies, allowing him to naturally add her as a friend in the ga.
"The support slots are limited to three, so when we move to the next area, I’ll swap in a different support character for you. Use it only when you hit a tough spot."
"Can friends ssage each other in-ga?"
"No, there’s no ssaging function. Friends can only offer support."
"So when I clear a stage, I’ll have to wait until you visit the bookstore to let you know? If our schedules don’t align, I might have to wait days."
"Oh, um..."
Clara hesitated, briefly at a loss for words.
Following his instincts, Rohan smiled and extended his phone playfully.
"President Clara, how about sharing your number instead?"
He asked casually, as if it were no big deal, but his heart pounded with nervous anticipation.
If she refused, it could strain their budding connection.
"Please..."
He realized how desperate he’d been only after the words were out.
Clara hesitated but didn’t take long to type in her number.
Rohan barely restrained himself from leaping out of his chair in triumph.
"I’ll give you a call so you can save my number too."
After entering her number into his phone, Rohan returned it to his pocket, glancing at Clara as she nibbled on a fry.
"By the way, there’s sothing I wanted to tell you..."
Rohan leaned forward, encouraging her to speak freely.
With a hint of the confidence she’d shown when giving her initial advice, Clara declared,
"C-Company Wave has an amazing story!"
"Does it? I guess I’ll have to start paying more attention to it."
"There are a lot of proper nouns, so the first three chapters can feel like a barrier to entry, but... once you get past that..."
"Don’t worry. I’ll see it through to the end."
"...!"
Clara’s expression lit up, her mouth slightly open in surprise.
At that mont, she looked happier than she had at any other point that evening.
"This is nice."
Rohan completely understood Clara’s enthusiasm.
When a ga’s story resonates deeply, you can’t help but want others to experience it too.
***
Their discussion went on much longer than Rohan had anticipated.
By the ti they parted ways, they’d spent hours chatting.
After bidding Clara goodnight, Rohan returned to the bookstore, tucked the keys under the flowerpot, and headed back to the dormitory.
Buzz!
On his way, a ssage arrived.
[Clara: Rule #1 of Clara Company! Until max level, focus on supply dungeons! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧]
"She’s so lively over ssages."
Rohan smiled at the charming contrast in her deanor.
His phone’s contact list now had one more entry: Clara.
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