A few hours after Raizen first arrived at the cat cafe, he walked through the rain with Professor Eiden at his side.
The sun had already set, leaving the world a darker shade of gray. Ukai's lights glowed softer through the downpour, blurred by water on glass and thin mist in the air. Their umbrellas tapped steadily as rain struck them, and the sound felt strangely comforting now.
Raizen didn't realize how much tension had left his shoulders until he noticed how easy it was to breathe.
Eiden walked at an even pace, hands calm, posture relaxed. He didn't look like he carried the weight of secret files and hidden identities for a living. Right now, he just looked like a tired man enjoying a quiet walk after a long day.
Raizen glanced at him. "Thanks"
Eiden raised an eyebrow. "Ha? For what?"
"For helping me with the prototype, of course!" Raizen said. "I didn't realize you'd… think about it that much."
