Chapter 4: Amid the Rain, the Black Rose Blooms
Renier entered the convenience store, watching the automatic door slide open smoothly at his approach. The cold white lighting inside contrasted sharply with the calm night outside, creating an almost impersonal, yet functional atmosphere. The shelves were stocked with meticulously arranged products, and the glass display case showcased a variety of items meant to catch the eye of any curious passerby.
As he walked toward the counter, his gaze fell upon the clerk—a nearly platinum blonde woman. Her features were mature but not harsh, and she wore thin glasses that highlighted the depth of her green eyes. There was something ethereal about her presence, a natural elegance that flowed effortlessly, even though she was dressed in the store’s simple uniform.
She’s really pretty... Renier thought, subtly observing her posture. Despite the plainness of the place, the woman radiated a quiet and, in some way, captivating beauty. Her charm was serene, yet undeniably engaging.
She greeted him with a soft smile, though her eyes briefly narrowed as she took note of him, as if reading more than what was visible. Her voice came smooth, laced with an adult charm Renier couldn't ignore.
— Good evening. What would you like? — she asked, her professionalism tinged with a natural friendliness, a warm tone that made even a simple request feel personal.
Without taking too long, Renier pointed at a snack in the display.
— I’ll take one of those pastries, please, and a soda.
The woman nodded slightly, moving with grace to prepare the order. While she worked, Renier allowed himself to take in the environment, feeling the calm that hovered around the store like an unshakable bubble. The soft clink of the shelves and the faint murmur of distant customers turned the place into a kind of silent refuge. He couldn’t help but wonder how someone with such a refined aura, almost out of place, ended up there.
But instead of probing further, he kept those thoughts to himself. Something in her demeanor made him feel it was better not to share his impressions. She assembled the order with a precise, contagious calm, and for a moment, Renier let himself be wrapped in the tranquility she exuded—as if the simple act of buying something offered a brief pause amid the chaos of his thoughts.
She handed him the snack with a smile, and Renier thanked her, grabbing the bag as effortlessly as he had entered. He turned and walked out of the store, the sound of the automatic doors shutting behind him. The night was damp and dark, and as he wandered through the empty streets, his mind was full of heavy thoughts. His duties as a Guardian, the new home, the uncertainty of the future… it was a lot to process, a heavy weight on his shoulders. How could he, just 16, handle all of it?
Renier frowned. It felt like the world, in all its vastness and complexity, didn’t care to offer any help. He was on his own, navigating without a clear map.
Lost in thought, he didn’t notice the rain starting to fall—a sudden downpour that caught him off guard. He looked up, annoyed, realizing there had been no forecast for rain, and of course, he hadn't brought an umbrella. The rain grew heavier, as if the weather was reacting to his frustration.
“Perfect…” he thought, quickening his pace in search of shelter.
But the rain quickly turned into a full-on storm, thunder echoing in the distance, making any refuge feel even further away. He stopped briefly in front of an empty playground, the swings soaked, seesaws now just silhouettes under the rain.
What really caught Renier’s attention wasn’t the ruined playground equipment—it was the lone figure on the swing. A girl, her hair dark as the night, soaked and sticking to her face, swung slowly as if it were the only thing that made sense in the storm. She wore the standard Japanese school uniform but was completely drenched, muddy shoes, her expression blank—as if nothing around her mattered.
Renier narrowed his eyes, trying to make sense of it. He activated his Eyes of Revelation, seeking insight, but all he found was a deep, inexplicable void. The girl was there, immersed in her solitude, and it intrigued him in a way he couldn’t explain. He hesitated, but approached calmly, curious, keeping a respectful distance.
She didn’t turn to him, didn’t even look his way, as if his presence was irrelevant. Her voice was low, almost indifferent, drowned in the sound of rain.
— Are you really going to just stand there in the rain? You'll catch a cold, you know?
Renier replied with the same calmness.
— Doesn’t that apply to you too?
The girl finally turned, meeting his gaze for the first time. Her eyes were dark, but in them shimmered a faint, deep violet hue. Something stirred inside Renier at the sight, though he didn’t show it. He was used to his own strange eyes, so it didn’t surprise him much to find someone else with equally peculiar ones. Still, her presence, the emptiness in her gaze, stirred something deeper in him.
He stayed, silently waiting, curious about who she was and what made her so distant, so detached from the storm and the world around her.
The girl looked at him, curious, then asked:
— What’s your name? — her voice barely audible through the rain.
Renier smiled and introduced himself.
— Renier Kanemoto. Or if you prefer, just call me Ren.
The name seemed to echo within her strangely. Kyouka whispered the surname “Kanemoto” as if it held some special meaning to her, but she said nothing more. After a brief pause, she looked up and introduced herself:
— Kyouka Nyami.
Renier repeated it, like he was etching the name into his memory.
— Kyouka... Nyami. — And then added, not hiding his curiosity: — So, what are you doing here, all alone, in this rain?
She sighed.
— I was coming back from school. Boring day.
Renier raised a brow.
— School hours ended a while ago. You left at night? That’s kinda dangerous.
Kyouka rolled her eyes with a faint smirk.
— I was in detention. — Her answer made him want to ask more, and he sat on the swing beside her. Kyouka watched him, intrigued. Neither of them seemed to notice or care about the pouring rain.
— Three guys ended up in the infirmary, — she said with a smirk, almost daring him to ask.
Renier laughed, surprised, and teased:
— What did they do to end up like that?
— Some guys push their luck, think I’m an easy target... When they tried to force something, I made sure they regretted it.
Renier whistled, impressed.
— Damn, you’re no joke. What’d you do to them?
Kyouka smiled, enjoying his casual tone.
— Slammed one’s head into a wall and used another's body to knock down the big one.
Renier laughed, clearly impressed by the story and her blunt way of telling it. That’s when he noticed something about her uniform—the same symbol from the uniform he’d be wearing the next day.
— I think I’ll be going to the same school as you tomorrow, — he said casually.
Kyouka raised an eyebrow, eyes narrowing with playful threat.
— Let’s make one thing clear, Kanemoto—if you try anything funny, I won’t hesitate to smash your face into the ground.
— I’d never lay a hand on a Black Rose like you, — Renier replied without missing a beat.
She looked at him, surprised, the hint of a smile forming.
— And why’d you call me that?
— Well... — He hesitated but decided to go on. — A rose is beautiful, a flower that looks delicate to the naive, but hides thorns for those who try to grab it by force. It hurts, but that’s what makes it so special. — He paused as Kyouka continued to listen with…
Continue…
