A Tiger Rolled Into My Life, Bringing Chaos With It - Chapter 25

“Can I ask for directions?”

Ah.

At this simple question, Tinya felt the tension drain from her entire body. He was just a shifter who had lost his way. She carefully posed a question.

“Where are you trying to go?”

“To the center of District 1. I’ve been walking, but only see forest with no path in sight.”

He must have been wandering for quite some time, as the hem of his pants was stained with dirt. The forest wasn’t that extensive, but with the trees intertwined, it was easy for first-time visitors to lose their bearings.

“I’ll guide you. I happen to be going that way too.”

“Thanks. I thought I might end up sleeping in the forest again.”

When he smiled lightly, a gentle atmosphere spread around them. He had a presence that put others at ease. Tinya found herself smiling back without realizing it. Meanwhile, a question crossed her mind: ‘Was he sleeping in the tree last time because he had lost his way?’

As Tinya started walking, he fell into step beside her. She discreetly turned her head to glance at him. His faded brown hair was loosely tied, with a few strands naturally falling down. His calm green eyes showed neither wariness nor tension. Even his clothes were loose and comfortable, as though the word “relaxed” had taken this man’s form.

Seeing him walk so naturally, it seemed he fortunately hadn’t realized she was the one who had been singing that day. Relieved that such an embarrassing moment hadn’t been discovered, Tinya quietly exhaled in her mind.

The only sound as they exited the forest was that of leaves crunching underfoot. Tinya wasn’t normally chatty, and the man beside her showed no signs of wanting to initiate conversation either. Though an awkward silence hung in the air, Tinya actually felt comfortable.

Before long, a main road appeared before them.

“You said you wanted to go to the center? If you follow this main road straight ahead, you’ll get there.”

“……”

Though she had finished her explanation, he remained silent. He just quietly looked at Tinya. Somehow, his gaze seemed to be fixed on the banana in her hand. Just as an ominous feeling began to creep in, his mouth opened slowly.

“You’re not giving it to me this time?”

“Pardon?”

“The banana.”

“What…?”

“I thought you were carrying it to give to me. Was I mistaken?”

A chill ran down her spine. Could it be? Did he remember?

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

She turned her gaze away with an awkward smile, but she couldn’t hide the cold sweat forming. It couldn’t be. He had definitely had his back turned at that time. Desperately clinging to this thought, Tinya consistently pretended not to know. However, her wavering pupils and trembling voice were a clear confession to anyone watching.

His eyebrow twitched.

“Welcome to Greyden~”

“Aack!”

As that melody finally burst from his lips, Tinya flailed like a fish thrown onto land. The banana was instantly transferred to his arms.

“Eat it! Eat it all!”

Just please stop that melody!

Tinya’s face quickly turned as red as a carrot. Having been caught after trying so hard to pretend not to know was utterly humiliating. Unlike her, he looked down at the banana with a nonchalant expression.

“Thanks.”

His bright smile made her feel inexplicably annoyed. Both bringing up the melody and mentioning the banana… he clearly knew it was her from the start.

“I’ve been starving today.”

Tinya, who had been fanning her heated face, paused. The image of him sleeping in the tree last time and wandering in the forest today overlapped, and a thought occurred to her.

“…Are you perhaps homeless?”

She asked carefully, concerned it might offend him, but he answered with a shrug as if it were nothing.

“Hmm. Not exactly, I’m just running away from home.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he skillfully peeled the banana and bit off half of the exposed flesh in one go. Before she could even wonder if he was chewing, the other half disappeared into his mouth just as quickly. Tinya’s eyes blinked at the astonishing speed. For her, who ate in small bites, it would have taken at least 5 minutes.

“Where do I throw away this trash?”

Having already swallowed it, he waved the empty peel. Somehow, she felt her mind going blank, just like when she first met Cher. Tinya mechanically opened her mouth.

“…There should be public trash cans along the main road.”

“Really? I’ll find one on my way then. I’ll be going now. Thanks for the directions.”

He waved his hand lightly, then casually turned his back and walked away. Stunned with bewilderment, Tinya stared blankly at his retreating figure. By the time she came to her senses, the entire situation had already passed. She stroked her dizzy head and started walking again.

…Indeed, all unfamiliar shifters are dangerous.

Suddenly, fatigue washed over her. Tinya entered the alley with a tired expression. After trudging along, the front door of her house soon came into view. The moment she placed her hand on the doorknob, she froze.

‘I forgot to stop by the general store!’

An internal scream erupted at the belatedly remembered errand. She hadn’t forgotten even while giving directions… but after being hit by that melody attack, her mind had completely gone blank. Should she still go now? But Cher would have prepared dinner. While she was wavering for a brief moment, a voice dropped from above.

“What are you doing instead of coming in?”

Startled by the relatively close voice, Tinya jumped. Reflexively looking up toward the source of the sound, she saw Cher leaning against the edge of the rooftop, looking down at her.

“Why, why are you up there?”

“To collect the sheets. I had them drying.”

Sheets…? Ah!

Only then did Tinya remember, hastily opening the front door and practically running up the stairs. As she burst through the door, the wind suddenly swept through the air above the roof. Large sheets hanging on the clothesline fluttered, blocking her path like white waves.

“Why are you doing this alone, ugh, ah, really.”

Tinya, who had been trying to pass by, twisting her body, stopped in her tracks. A sudden gust of wind had caused one sheet to attack her face as if it were alive. The white cloth obscured her vision, and Cher’s silhouette flickered through the thin fabric.

At that moment, a firm hand lifted the sheet from beyond the cloth. Cher, who had approached without her noticing, was standing right in front of her, removing the sheet. His face was fully revealed to her.

Dark silver hair flowed down beneath his hood, its ends tinged with a soft reddish glow from the evening sunset. His yellow eyes, visible between the fine strands, gleamed vividly as if holding the last rays of sunlight.

His hair swayed lightly in the wind that seeped through the gap created by the lifted sheet. Standing amid the sunlight, wind, and movement of the cloth, he looked like a painting. For a moment, time seemed to flow more slowly.

However, that illusion was shattered by a single remark he made with a grin.

“At this rate, it would be better if I did it alone.”

At those words, Tinya came to her senses. Belatedly understanding his meaning, she made a pouty face.

“…The wind suddenly blew, that’s why.”

After making this excuse in a small voice, she turned sideways and grabbed a waterproof sheet hanging on another line. While her fingertips holding the sheet were stiff, her heart beat rapidly like a bouncing ball.

‘Did I come up too quickly? Why is my heart beating so fast?’

Worried that Cher might hear her heartbeat, which was loud enough to echo in her eardrums, Tinya deliberately moved a few steps away from him. But unaware of her inner thoughts, he actually moved closer to her, more than the distance she had retreated, naturally sticking close to her. Then, with his large hand, he lightly lifted the sheet, once again blocking the wind blowing toward her.

“I’ll take care of this; you go collect those clothes hanging over there.”

On the clothesline he pointed to with his chin, several tops and bottoms were hanging. Shirts with one end flipped by the wind and clothes of varying lengths were alternately hanging. Tinya moved over and gathered a shirt over her arm.

As she neatly collected the clothes, she thought. In her memory, she had neither washed these clothes nor hung them out. This meant that, in all likelihood, Cher had done the work alone. All this amount. Upon realizing this, Tinya found it difficult to dismiss what had been weighing on her mind throughout her commute home.

“Do you need anything?”

With most of the laundry collected, the fluttering sounds had subsided, and there was nothing to hinder their conversation. Cher paused and turned to look at her.

“Suddenly?”

Despite being taken aback by the unexpected question, Cher answered immediately.

“Not particularly. Why? Did you want something to eat? Should I buy you that grass again?”

“It’s not grass, it’s romaine, I… no, that’s not it. I mean things that you need, not me.”

Tinya moved, holding an armful of tops. Cher, with a sheet in each arm, only turned slowly to move with her after she came close.

“Why are you asking that?”

“I’ve received so much… You bought me oil, and you’re helping with housework like this. I want to repay…”

“This is just paying my dues for letting me stay here. I’d be trash if I didn’t do at least this much after asking you to do something illegal.”

Cher lightly opened the door handle with his sheet-holding hand and used his foot to prop the door open. When he gestured with his chin for Tinya to go first, she hurriedly went inside. Even while walking, Tinya didn’t stop the conversation.

“You’ve spent a lot of money.”

“I haven’t spent that much.”

Walking ahead, Tinya made a sulky face. Does he think I’m an idiot? Just the bed alone cost so much. Though he couldn’t see her expression, her puffed cheeks visible from behind gave away what kind of face she was making. She must be looking quite displeased. Cher silently snorted.