Sudden Downpour -2-
Whoosh───!!!
Thick sheets of rain lash roughly against my skin.
In an instant, it's like someone upended a bucket—the downpour soaks us through in seconds, turning us into drowned rats.
The torrent is so fierce I can barely keep my eyes open.
Yet neither Rohan nor Ichinose budges from their spots.
No point rushing around to dodge it; there's nowhere to go anyway.
"This is gonna slow us down even more."
"…."
The weather's a problem for Rohan, sure, but it's hitting Ichinose just as hard.
Even without relying on sight, a storm like this scrambles your other senses.
Not good.
"Wanna keep pushing on for now?"
Rohan carves a rough mark into a tree with his sword, then presses forward.
Ichinose nods and follows close behind.
…Feels kinda refreshing.
Rainwater slipping past the girl's lips quenches her thirst, just a little.
Her hair and clothes cling heavy and sodden, but oddly enough, after gulping down a bit of water, her body feels lighter than before.
First time she's ever felt good standing in the rain.
Splash! Splish! Splosh!
Trudging through the mud-slick ground in the pitch-black forest, they spot a spot where massive boulders interlock like a natural roof.
Slipping underneath, the rain's fury dulls to a vague patter.
Not quite a cave, but it'll do in a pinch. They both let out sighs of relief in unison.
"Phew!"
"Hoo…."
They exchange glances and chuckle.
The absurdity of it all, plus their thoroughly drenched states, is just too ridiculous.
"Blocks the wind decently too. Not bad for a random find."
"This'll make a fine base camp."
As Ichinose draws her sword to shake off the water,
Rohan shrugs off his jacket, wrings it out with a shlorp!, and spreads it on the ground.
"Sit here."
"…How can I sit on your clothes? I'll use my own, so put it back on quick."
Ichinose starts peeling off her top, but Rohan stops her in a hurry.
"Your stuff's half my size anyway."
"It's plenty big enough for me to sit on."
"No. Take off your shoes and socks. Go rinse 'em in the rain."
"Pardon?"
His words cut clean, no room for argument, followed by the unexpected request.
No chance to circle back to the jacket debate now.
"They're caked in mud. Better wash and dry 'em proper. Don't wanna be crunching sand grains in your boots tomorrow."
"I can handle that myself. I'm your equal here as a cadet—not some damsel needing protection."
Rohan smirks at Ichinose, her voice dropping with a hint of offense.
She's got that unyielding warrior pride, clear as day.
"Nah, it's not about protecting or coddling. Just splitting tasks efficiently."
He channels a tiny flame at his fingertip with mana.
An application made possible by his fire-affinity unique skill, Heavenly Sun Holy Judgment Sword.
"Can you keep the fire going while I'm out? If you haven't before, I got it."
"I can manage. Fire's just… keep feeding it fuel, right? I'll fan it too."
The rocky space is deeper and wider than it looks,
and in the wind-sheltered bend, they find dry grass, twigs, and old animal fur scattered about—perfect kindling.
"Not wrong, but starting a fire's trickier than it seems?"
"…."
Ichinose opens her eyes, sensing something off.
Rohan's tone and expression aren't dismissive or scolding.
Unlike those who unconsciously lace their words and looks with condescension.
He's not sneering at her small stature or femininity, her complexes.
It's more like a doting dad out camping with his precious daughter.
A warmth that's almost bewildering.
"Socks and shoes first. Hurry up."
"D-don't rush me… Turn around for a sec."
Rohan keeps smiling as he leans his longsword against the jagged wall
and grabs a spare supply dagger.
Ichinose glances repeatedly at Rohan, who's facing away gathering firewood,
then peels off her muddied slippers and sodden socks, butt planted firmly on the ground.
Small, pale feet, still soft despite the soaking.
Somehow, it doesn't feel like a part to show a guy, so she wiggles her toes nonstop.
"Ahem… Here."
"Cool, I'll spark the fire and head out then?"
"Got it."
Even when she tries to help, his practiced hands leave no room.
Anything she attempts just gets in the way.
Without a word, Rohan gathers kindling, builds the base,
tucks her muddy shoes and socks under his arm,
and heads out with the honbird and dagger in hand.
He'd been humming about washing off the blood, excited at the chance.
Striding toward the entrance, he tosses one more thought over his shoulder.
"Wrinkle your clothes all you want, but wring 'em out once. Don't just trust your mana and catch a cold."
His footsteps fade.
Ichinose watches the fledgling fire and rises silently.
He's right… To keep body heat up, better wring the clothes at least…
She steps away from the flames, grabs the hem of her skirt, and squeezes. Water streams down.
Then it hits her.
A sight only visible if you're looking.
White shirt… underwear shows through…
Even with the tee underneath, the outline is faintly there.
Dark as it is, anyone with mana vision would see it clear enough.
Has Rohan been seeing this the whole time?
"…."
Her hands tremble as she undoes the shirt.
Is that why he cut her off earlier and told her not to take it off?
Pop! Pop!
She unbuttons while lost in thought.
Embarrassed, but she can't afford to tense up.
Out there in her undies? There's a line to crossing.
"Huuuuuh…."
Still, she's no stranger to composure.
She exhales the rising heat, steadies her mind.
Act natural…
Before woman, she's the proud heir of Cheonoecheon, a warrior.
Shrink from torn clothes in battle? That's begging for death.
Stay calm.
She needs a level head.
Make a fuss and show it, and it'll awkward out both of them.
*****
"Phew."
Rohan hustles through the rain.
Cleans her shoes and socks as best he can, sets them somewhere dry,
and slices tough banana-like leaves to rig a rainwater catch.
Now the dagger. Dismantles the honbird.
Cuts big chunks, rinses 'em. Quite a haul.
Wonder how it'll taste.
He'd chew anything to fill his gut.
But for Ichinose, it'd better mimic chicken or turkey.
He loads sliced honbird onto a huge leaf,
grabs her socks and shoes in one hand,
and calls from the entrance.
"Ichinose. Cool to come in?"
─ C-come on in for now!
Her consent carries a frantic edge.
Only inside does Rohan get why.
"!"
The fire's smothered—stuffed carelessly with too much wood.
Just gray smoke wisping up faintly.
"I-it's… um…."
Ichinose looks up from frantically blowing phoo! phoo! at the fire.
Golden eyes rippling with guilt. Cute curled toes.
Rohan can't help bursting out laughing at the sight.
…
…
The fire roars back to life under Rohan's touch.
Cooking follows right after.
Longsword as spit, skewering honbird chunks.
Scorching Blade and campfire for the grill.
Thirst quenched with the water Rohan brought, Ichinose can't tear her eyes from the browning meat.
Her gaze holds hesitation at monster meat,
but her throat bobs with swallows, endlessly tickling Rohan's funny bone.
She's just oblivious to it herself.
Time passes without breaking her focus,
and Rohan slits the belly with his dagger to check doneness.
Carves off a leg, plates it on the leaf, sets it before her.
Takes the first bite himself, playing taste-tester.
"Not quite chicken, but decent enough? Give it a shot."
"I-itadakimasu."
She hesitates with the meat, then slips it slowly into her mouth.
Small bites, hamster-like chomps.
Chews a few times, blinks in surprise—better than expected. Chews more, gulp.
"Edible?"
"…."
Maybe embarrassed by her initial reluctance.
Face flushing, she nods shyly.
"Eat up. Meat alone's a feast when you're starving."
"…That rings true."
Ichinose thanks him softly and they eat together, filling their bellies.
A moment to realize how precious the comforts she'd taken for granted were—and how terrifying true hunger and thirst could be.
He's tireless.
Ichinose's inner thought.
Rohan's a machine. Never slacks, always working.
She'd tried to pitch in, but didn't know where to start.
Unable to decide, she wipes the moisture and grease from his longsword clean,
and once done, calls to Rohan, who's still at it.
"Rohan."
"Yeah?"
He turns at his name—uncannily like a big dog.
Ichinose smiles faintly, shifts her hips aside, and pats his jacket.
"Sit here."