109 - I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City

**Academy City Human Rights Character - Chapter 109** "Though it can't be considered a proper reunion, let us celebrate the survival of our fellow students and take a moment of respite." "..." Leaving her words hanging in the air, Juyeon departed the room. With a decisive click, she closed the infirmary door behind her. Rohan felt a slight twinge of abandonment as he was left in the awkward silence, alone with the echo of her words. 'Ah, it's so embarrassing. I want to run away.' Noa's tail swayed gently as she watched him with the predator's piercing gaze. Rohan couldn't decipher the meaning behind her expression. Ichinose directed her face his way, her eyes concealed, yet the weight of her presence was palpable and formidable. "..." Silence wavered in the thin curtain of stillness that draped over the room. Ichinose rose gracefully from her seat, with Noa following suit. Seeing the two girls stride confidently towards him, Rohan held his breath. Click! Stopping in front of the sickbed, Ichinose cradled her sword and bowed with precision. Noa also hurriedly offered her best attempt at a respectful gesture. "Setting everything else aside, I want to express my gratitude to you, Rohan. Thank you. And... I'm relieved that you're safe." "Thank you. I survived thanks to you." Though he wanted to downplay his actions as mere impulse-driven behavior unsuited for gratitude, he recalled the now-exposed conversation with Juyeon. "I'm glad you two are safe as well." Feeling his response sounded rather awkward, Rohan masked it with a nervous smile. enN1WnIzcFhHMVJuR0JvdkNPc013MkZPR0g4Z1AyT3BJK1FXQ0RQUk5uZld0TWgyMzZON29EeENzZlJXa2xtVg "We didn't eavesdrop on the conversation with the instructor... We merely didn't want to interrupt until it finished." "Exactly! That's why we stayed quiet." Rohan understood what they meant to convey. After all, listening in on Juyeon's conversation was something impossible for students to achieve. "I had just woken up, so I was still out of it. How's Corin doing?" Avoiding further awkward topics, Rohan shifted the conversation. After a brief hesitation, Ichinose replied. "The examination showed no issues. She woke up and ate a meal with us earlier. Now, she's resting normally." "Corin must be tired from following me around on the island!" Noa joked lightly, hoping to lift the fuzzy tension. Ichinose softly shared the pertinent information with Rohan. "It's been about six hours since you fell asleep. The instructor removed the sticker." Ah, that's right. I forgot about that. Rohan touched his neck, realizing the troublesome object was gone. "The Kangseol-75 handgun is completely destroyed. I assume it couldn't withstand the mana." "I managed to fire it properly once. It served its purpose well." Going back, I'd need to procure a more reliable handgun. He thought he'd seek advice from Shion and Clara. "Honestly, there's much I wish to say to you, Rohan. Many questions, and I want to express my gratitude properly." "Yeah! Me too!" Noa nodded vigorously in agreement with Ichinose. "But I'll hold back for now. As the instructor said, I understand you need rest, Rohan." "Treat me to something delicious next time. We can talk then." Rohan suggested, flashing his usual smile. Acknowledging with a slight nod, Ichinose agreed. "I never forget favors. The meal is separate, but I'll repay you somehow." "Me too! Dad always said forgetting a favor makes you a beast! I'm not a beast, I'm a beastkin, so I'll remember!" With those words, the girls left in a flurry before Rohan could reject their offer. Rohan quietly watched the door through which Ichinose and Noa exited, then closed his eyes. "...." Click. Click. Click. Ichinose and Noa walked down the long corridor away from the infirmary. Their steps headed towards the area where students gathered to rest. As they walked, Noa, looking up at the ceiling, suddenly gave a faint chuckle before speaking her mind. "Haha! It's the first time I thought a man other than Dad looked cool." Ichinose halted, startled by the abrupt confession. Turning her stiff neck with a creak towards Noa, she asked as if she had misheard. "Noa, what did you just say...?" "Why? Isn't it true? He's way better than those who pretend to be macho." "That's..." Although Noa got along well with everyone, Ichinose had never heard her openly praise a man like that before. Her excited expression didn't seem like a mere jest. "It's just a simple impression. My heart quite skipped a beat." "..." "While everyone talks about risking their lives, I'd never actually seen such firm resolve and spirit before." "I understand what you mean." "And it's annoying! I'm too weak! Can't even beat up an old geezer like that… Dad would’ve finished him with one punch! Once we return, training, training, and more training!" Ichinose admired Noa for her resolute determination. Announcing such feelings openly to others; it's something Ichinose could never do herself. How could she be so honest? She envied it. ... ... The transport ship was currently en route to Academy City. Rohan, having finished his rest in the infirmary, joined Class 1 and retrieved his stored phone. 'I wonder how Shion and Clara are doing.' With the exam concluding quicker than anticipated, the faces of Shion and Clara appeared in his thoughts with concern. Imagining the two girls possibly in the dormitory, Rohan booted up his smartphone. As Academy City began to emerge in the transport ship windows, the cellular signal connected. Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzzz! The phone vibrated wildly. Startled, Rohan hurried to turn off the vibration and checked his phone. A flood of messages from the group chat poured in. [Clara: Shion unnie wanted her own cup and utensils, so we're heading out to buy some! ☆ﾐ(o*･ω･)ﾉ] [Shion: Had burgers for lunch with Clara.] [Clara: (*•؎ •)] [Shion: Photo] ... ... [Clara: Back at the dormitory! Today, Shion unnie was scouted 12 times on the street! Even a famous agency approached! (¬‿¬)] [Shion: Clara managed to keep a low profile for over three hours... When she finally spoke to order a burger, the staff asked for her number.] [Clara: It's tough to walk around! I need a brother! ✘_✘] [Shion: Agreed] ... ... [Shion: I received some honorary position from Tigrova.] [Shion: The old CCTV footage linking me to Monolith is no longer an issue. Yoo-ho said it would be handled within Tigrova.] 'How many more of these are there?' He hadn't even reached the halfway point. Clearly, there were at least a few hundred messages piled up. Before Rohan could reply that he was on his way back, he leisurely read through the messages, contented to see how well the two had been getting along. Just as he made it halfway, new messages started popping up in real-time. [Clara: Σ(ʘωʘﾉ)ﾉ Brother is reading!!!] [Shion: Rohan? Have you been granted some rest?] Laughing quietly, Rohan continued typing. He informed them that the exam ended early, and he was on his way back, adding that he was almost there. He decided to call them to hear their voices when suddenly, Juyeon began an announcement. ─ Attention to all Class 1 cadets. The transport ship will land in five minutes. Please remain seated and await further instructions. Their destination was Orion Academy. As the cadets poured out of the transport ship, Juyeon gathered Class 1 for a final debriefing. "Although this isn't something that will dissipate in a single day, everyone is to attend school tomorrow. There will be no lectures, but after that, you'll be guaranteed proper rest." Considering that the exam concluded amidst chaos, this was anticipated by all. Seeing no voices of dissent, Juyeon continued. "Today, your focus should be on returning to your dorms to alleviate fatigue. Should any issues arise, don't hesitate to contact an instructor." In light of the incident, the Academy couldn't afford to remain idle. They'd have to gather as much testimony as possible from the cadets and take appropriate measures for those with even minor injuries. "Then, dismissed." “““Thank you for your hard work!!!””” The cadets shouted robustly before dispersing. ***** Ichinose decided to follow Juyeon's advice and focus on recuperation. At the dormitory, she soaked her body in warm water, talking to her parents on speakerphone while stretching. Noa, seemingly exhausted, didn't respond to any messages upon arrival, likely having fallen asleep immediately. 'Ramen...' As hunger struck, her thoughts unexpectedly turned to ramen. This was a first. Heading to the convenience store, she bought some ramen. She tried her best to make it alone, but the result was unsatisfactory—far from delicious. If Rohan's creation rated a perfect score, hers would be around a measly ten. Unpalatable. She decided to brush her teeth and turn in for the night. "Uugh..." A soft, warm bed. Laying on it with eyes closed for three minutes, Ichinose sat up in bewilderment. 'What's this? Why does the pillow feel off?' The pillow she'd used for so long presented a subtle discomfort she'd never experienced before. Pondering whether the shape of her head had altered, she sat and felt her head. It's round. No problems to speak of. She'd been blessed with a well-shaped head. "Ha!" With a sigh, she lay back down, clutching a line of plush toys for comfort. She could certainly sleep. Compared to the deserted island, this was paradise. Still, coldly assessing, this pillow only scored about 98 points. It lacked nothing. Yet, there was an inexplicable sense of longing. 'Aiming for a perfect score is greed. This is more than enough.' Such idle thoughts meandered on. Her mind drifted toward dreamland, weaving hazy images. She reflected on the unforgettable day. "..." Rohan's words and actions vividly resurfaced. As Noa said, her heart fluttered. Whoosh! Ichinose pulled the blanket up over her head.