On the basketball court, Mukuro's mood was unsettled.
"That guy... will he still come?"
The early spring rain was cold, mixed with a bit of sleet and frost. As a cold wind swept across the court, Mukuro's body wasn't afraid of the cold, but she still felt somewhat lonely.
Her childhood had always been solitary. She had no memory of her parents.
After being taken in by Mio, Mukuro learned everything from her. But due to the loneliness within Mio's heart, Mukuro never felt any warmth from her.
It couldn't be helped, Mio's nature was simply like that. She was like Tiamat, Crimson Moon, or Hope… a being devoid of any emotion.
In Mio's heart, only Ryuya could stir any ripples. For him, she was willing to pay any price, including making Ryuya a Star God so he could stay by her side forever.
Her relationship with Mukuro was less like family and more like that of a guardian and ward. Feeling those familiar emotions from Ryuya, Mukuro, who had never experienced such lightness, tacit understanding, and sense of collaboration, only knew that she seemed different from before.
"It's raining. That guy probably won't come."
She and Ryuya hadn't exchanged contact information, and she didn't even know his name. Over the past three months, they had simply agreed upon the next meeting time each time, cycling over and over.
Gently fiddling with her fingers, Mukuro didn't know what she was expecting either.
As the rain intensified, feeling that Ryuya wouldn't come, she sighed softly. Memories from her childhood suddenly surfaced in her mind.
"Mio-nee."
"What is it?"
"Tomorrow... can you come pick me up early?"
"Why?"
"Hmm..."
Mukuro clearly remembered from her elementary school days, how parents would come early to pick up their children before class was even dismissed.
Although most children didn't get picked up and enjoy such special treatment every day, the worst might be once a month.
Only Mukuro never experienced this throughout her entire elementary school years.
Countless times, Mio was away on business and couldn't pick her up. In the desolate and empty basketball court, Mukuro inexplicably recalled these past memories.
"Why am I remembering this now?"
Her fondness for classical style was actually an expression of an inner lack of love. Because in those classical novels, Mukuro saw the sweetness of family, the love between parents and spouses.
She also wanted sweet romance, someone to protect her. Mukuro shook her head, discarding these absurd, strange thoughts.
Preparing to get up and go home, just as she started to move...
"Yo, buddy, aren't you afraid of the rain? You should've at least brought an umbrella."
The familiar, annoying voice of the person she hadn't beaten once in three months sounded.
Looking at the man standing beside her, holding an umbrella to shield her from the rain, Mukuro felt an inexplicable urge to cry.
Fortunately, it was still raining, and her face was already wet, so it wasn't obvious.
"Why are you so late?"
Still with a cold expression, she didn't reject Ryuya standing close, after all, there had been plenty of physical contact and minor actions during their basketball games over the past three months.
After saying this, she fell silent. Mukuro was actually quite nervous.
"Went to buy an umbrella. Anyway, no game today, right?"
During his time with Mukuro, Ryuya felt his spiritual power had also attached itself to her.
He believed Mio should know he and Mukuro were spending time together.
Feeling it was about time to meet Mio, he was preparing for their reunion.
Putting the basketball he was carrying into his backpack, Ryuya continued, "Come on, I'll walk you home."
"No nee… Whatever."
Initially wanting to refuse, but thinking about how Mio always acted indifferent towards outsiders, Mukuro felt bringing Ryuya back probably didn't matter much.
Instead, she seems holding some peculiar idea of wanting Mio to check him out for her, or something else.
Mukuro didn't speak, simply leading Ryuya towards the apartment she and Mio were temporarily renting.
"By the way, what's your name?"
"Me? I'm Takami Ryuya."
"Takami Ryuya?" Hearing the name, Mukuro paused. She knew Mio's full name was Takami Mio, and she remembered Mio would occasionally murmur something like 'Ryu'... but she didn't connect the dots fully yet.
She also told Ryuya her full name, "I'm Hoshimiya Mukuro."
"Hmm, Mukuro."
They walked in silence, Ryuya quietly accompanying her to the entrance of the apartment building.
"Ryuya, I..."
"Let's stop here for today."
The moment they reached the apartment, Ryuya detected Mio's presence, which then instantly vanished. He knew his wife might not be ready to see him yet.
Not rushing, he indicated that seeing her here was enough, and Mukuro could go in by herself.
"Hey..."
Watching Ryuya's retreating figure, Mukuro wanted to say something but didn't know how.
She initially didn't want to care about Ryuya leaving, but some words felt stuck in her heart, unbearable if not spoken.
Her mind struggled, her heart hesitated. Just as Mukuro was about to speak...
"Oh, right, Mukuro."
"Ah?"
"Let's exchange contact info. Call me next time we play ball."
"Oh... okay."
Squinting at Ryuya, Mukuro agreed instinctively, then felt it was improper, wondering if her behavior today was a bit strange.
Her face was finally full of conflict.
"Alright then, get some rest early. See you next time, Mukuro... buddy."
"Ryuya, you...!"
Staring angrily at Ryuya's retreating back, lightly biting her lower lip, Mukuro gathered all her complex emotions, indignation, shyness, anger, etc.… together, condensing them into a few strong words.
'Idiot Ryuya.'
Thinking this in her heart, her feet felt rooted to the spot, unable to move towards the apartment. Only after Ryuya's figure completely disappeared did Mukuro finally let out a long sigh.
"Goodbye, Ryuya... buddy."