Storm, Maybach, ( )( )( )

The last time it rained, Yuki Kurokawa had seen Qiluo leaving the school gates holding that transparent plastic umbrella.

The ribs of the umbrella had been blown inside out by the wind. Qiluo had stood in the rain, bending them back into place with her hands before continuing on her way as if nothing had happened.

Yuki had been standing across the street at the time, almost running over to her.

But back then, they only shared a "cookie-gifting relationship," and she felt she had no right to rush over and offer her a ride home.

It was different now.

That was why she could wait for Qiluo at the corner of the hallway after school without feeling like she was overstepping.

On a rainy day, who wouldn't want a private ride home?

“Then I won't stand on ceremony. Thank you, Yuki.”

Yuki Kurokawa shook her head, turning to lead Qiluo down the small path beside the gymnasium.

Qiluo followed behind, noticing that Yuki's steps were much lighter and brisker than usual.

Her thoughtfulness really made me feel a bit... How should I put it? It actually felt quite nice to be cared for.

Since she had summoned the courage to wait for me here, I should respond in kind.

A black Maybach sat quietly on the path beside the gymnasium, its windshield wipers sweeping back and forth as its headlights cast a soft, warm glow.

The driver, a middle-aged man in a uniform, got out to hold an umbrella for them as they approached, opening the rear door.

Once the door shut, the torrential rain was sealed away outside. The warmth of the heater brought feeling back to Qiluo's slightly stiff, cold fingers.

The scent of leather seats mingled with a very faint car air freshener.

Ah, is this the life of the rich?

It would be great if Yuki Kurokawa could support me.

Though in a certain sense, she technically was already supporting her.

Qiluo rested her schoolbag on her lap and glanced sideways at Yuki, who was fastening her seatbelt.

Yuki pulled the belt across and buckled it with an incredibly earnest expression.

The car smoothly glided out of the path beside the gymnasium and merged onto the main road.

“Where do you live? I'll have the driver take you home first,” Yuki said, turning her head and asking in as natural a tone as possible.

After speaking, she felt her heart beat slightly faster than usual. In the dim cabin, the tips of her ears quietly flushed a very faint pink.

Sitting in the Kurokawa family's luxury car, the warm air made Qiluo feel a bit drowsy.

Qiluo drew her gaze away from the window and glanced over at her.

“Near the convenience store by the station. I have to work this evening, so heading back to change before going to the store works out perfectly.”

Qiluo pointed out the window with her index finger. “It's that apartment building right next to the shopping district.”

Yuki nodded upon hearing this. She instructed the driver to head to the address Qiluo mentioned, then turned her gaze back to the window.

She didn't want Qiluo to think she was memorizing her address, but she absolutely was.

“Can I visit you at the convenience store next time?” Yuki suddenly spoke up.

“Sure, but the evening shift gets really busy, and there's usually a line at the register. When you come, I might be restocking shelves, so I might not be able to chat with you.”

How could she refuse her? However, as Lightweaver, she also had to be careful.

Star-trail could provide early warnings. In case Yuki happened to drop by right when she was about to transform after work, she would have time to adjust.

“It's fine. I'll just be buying things,” she paused, then added, “and visiting you.”

She might not be able to chat, but she didn't tell me not to come.

“Then message me beforehand when you plan to come. I'll save some oden for you. What do you like to eat?”

“Daikon radish,” Yuki's voice finally steadied. “And no spice in the broth. Eggs are fine too, but the daikon radish is the best.”

She pulled her gaze back from the window and looked into Qiluo's eyes. “I've never had convenience store oden before.”

She regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth, as they made her sound like a sheltered young lady completely out of touch with the real world.

“Then you definitely have to come. It's my treat—employees get a discount.” The curve of Qiluo's lips was hard to see in the dim cabin, but her voice carried a clear warmth.

The car came to a steady stop at the entrance of the alley below the apartment building.

Qiluo unbuckled her seatbelt. Just as her fingers touched the door handle, her other hand was gently caught.

A hand had tugged at the hem of her school uniform blazer. The pull was incredibly light—so light that if she hadn't stopped, those fingers would have naturally slipped away.

“The umbrella.” Yuki held out the deep blue umbrella, her arm stretched perfectly straight, as if she feared that if she didn't offer it quickly enough, Qiluo would open the door and run off.

Qiluo took the umbrella. The handle still retained the warmth of Yuki's hand from holding it the entire ride.

“Thank you. See you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow,” Yuki murmured, enunciating each word slowly.

The car door shut once more, and the vehicle's taillights gradually blurred into the curtain of rain.

Yuki didn't immediately tell the driver to start moving. She sat in the back seat, her gaze lingering on the alley entrance where Qiluo had vanished.

Outside, the rain poured down in sheets. A few leaves beaten down by the storm clung to the window before being swept away by the rhythm of the wipers.

She pulled her phone from her pocket and opened her chat with Qiluo, staring at it over and over.

In the end, she only sent a single line.

Yuki: 【Let me know when you get inside. The rain is too heavy, so be careful.】

The message marked as read.

Qiluo replied with a nodding emoji, followed by an OK.

Yuki stared at the emoji for a moment, then turned her phone face down on her lap and spoke to the driver. “Let's head back.”

Meanwhile, Qiluo had already dashed up the apartment stairwell, taking the steps two at a time. She shook the water droplets from her hair as she leaned against the hallway wall, closing the deep blue umbrella.

She changed into her convenience store uniform and tied her long hair into a low ponytail in front of the mirror.

Just as a precaution, she would focus more of her attention on Star-trail today.

Just as she arrived at the convenience store, Nishikawa poked half his body out of the storeroom door. “Tian Gong, we're closing early today. The Store Owner said there's a red warning for heavy rain, so we're shutting down at eight tonight. Don't push yourself.”

“Okay, thank you, Senpai,” Qiluo replied, tying her apron and stepping behind the register.

The convenience store on a stormy day was far quieter than usual. The chime of the automatic doors rang only a handful of times, and the few customers who did come in hurriedly grabbed a couple of items and left.

After the evening shift change, Qiluo was the only one left in the store.

Before leaving, Nishikawa-senpai had even gone out of way to place an emergency flashlight on the counter. How thoughtful.

But Qiluo's mind wasn't on the storm right now; it was on Yuki.

The sensory feedback from Star-trail was growing clearer by the second. The Association's alarms were blaring one after another, all of them signals of spawning Erosion Bodies—and their numbers were several times higher than usual.

If Yuki was going to fight in this weather, she had to be there to support her.

Untying her apron and hanging it in her locker, she sat on the high stool behind the register, switching her primary consciousness over to Star-trail.

Star-trail was currently floating high above Tokyo. The torrential rain passed right through its translucent body, the trajectory of every single raindrop crystal clear within its perception.

On the streets below, Snowrealm had just pulled her straight sword from the core of a low-tier Erosion Body.

“That's the fifth one,” Snowrealm said, shaking the black mist off her straight sword. Her voice carried through the curtain of rain, accompanied by light panting. “The Observation Department just sent new spawn locations. There are two mid-tiers to the east.”

“Understood. You take the left, I'll take the right. Nuomi, cover us from the center,” Mingyue said, tapping the ground with the haft of her scythe. The ambient water was sent rippling by a wave of mana.

Nuomi crouched on her shoulder, its golden shockwaves forming a temporary protective barrier around them.

“This weather is brutal,” Shizuru grunted, wiping the rain from her face with the back of her hand. Her deep blue ponytail in her transformed state was completely soaked and plastered to her back.

“The last time it rained this hard was during last year's typhoon season. I ended up with a fever for two days after going home.”

Qiluo took in the entire battlefield through Star-trail's perspective.

It was exactly as she had predicted last night. The storm had thrown the mana density into chaos, causing Erosion Bodies to pop up like mushrooms after rain.