Positive little sun, magical girl, I am awesome

Summers in the city of Goredia are rainy.

The rain last night didn't stop until dawn. The rain was long and thorough, washing away the heat of the past few days. Unfortunately, most of the students at Goredia Academy had already left the school, and the wet streets were rather deserted.

So when Chloe was forced to open the door by the persistent knocking, she was somewhat surprised.

"...I thought you had already set off."

A stunningly beautiful blue-haired woman, wrapped in a huge veil, huddled behind the door watching her younger brother.

"Yes, it'll be in the next few days, so I came to bring you some ice."

Lucas was bent over by the weight on his back, which helped him avoid the awkward eye contact and try to pretend that the argument between the siblings had never happened.

Fred is now on the verge of bankruptcy, and given Chloe's personality, it's clearly impossible for her to spend her living expenses on ice cream. She'll definitely try to save money for her husband... He can't stand seeing his sister like this.

"No, no need..." Koro waved her hand to refuse.

Lucas paused for a moment, then stepped inside: "It weighs almost 100 pounds. Do you expect me to carry it back? I'm too tired."

Koro wanted to say something, but when the person passed by her, she saw her brother's back, which was covered in sweat, and the back of his neck, which was turned bluish-white from the cold air of the ice. She swallowed back the words that were already on the tip of her tongue.

Lucas had mentally prepared himself to meet Fred, but when he stepped into the porch, he found the house quiet. Perhaps because of the rain, the indoor air was as damp as the outdoor air, and it smelled rather unpleasant.

"Fred has already left?" Lucas had left early to avoid the ice melting, but he didn't expect his brother-in-law to leave even earlier. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief at the thought of not having to run into that guy.

A flicker of panic crossed Chloe's eyes, and she nodded hastily. But then, remembering that Lucas was turned away and couldn't see, she whispered, "Yes... he... he went out."

She then stepped forward to help her brother untie the knot on his shoulder: "Just leave it here, you go and do your work."

But Lucas continued walking towards the kitchen, saying, "That won't do. If it melts and makes water everywhere, the house will get damp—"

Lucas's voice stopped after he entered the kitchen. Chloe followed behind him in a panic, trying to stop him, but she could only move slowly by holding onto the wall, unable to keep up with the boy's agile steps.

"Lucas, Lucas..." Chloe called out to her brother, trembling, while clutching her gauze robe tightly.

“Koro…” Lucas stood at the kitchen doorway, looking at the scene inside with a puzzled expression. “What are you planning to do?”

Koro was speechless for a moment, and the atmosphere became awkward again.

Lucas remembered that there were buckets and basins in Chloe's kitchen, and he intended to find them to store ice. However, when he entered the kitchen, he found that all the basins and buckets were filled with water, and there was nowhere to step on or under the table.

Was this a notification that the water would be cut off? Lucas pondered as he slowly unloaded the ice onto the floor; no wonder the room felt unusually damp.

"It's been so dry these past few days," Chloe stammered as she explained.

Lucas looked at his sister with even more suspicion. He could tell she was uncomfortable. Perhaps Fred had said something to her that made her feel apprehensive or even resistant to his visit. Lucas pursed his lips, squatted down, and began to work on his own.

"...Where are your companions? Are they waiting for you outside?" Koro thought of the always smiling, beautiful lady, and of the pitying look in her eyes that seemed to see right through her, and glanced at the door with some fear.

“They’re going out of town to buy supplies these next few days, so we didn’t go with them. I bought this from a classmate at the academy; it didn’t cost much. This stone slab is engraved with stabilizing runes. Place it in the basin, and this basin of ice will last for about half a month. After it melts, you can buy more ice and put it back on top of it…”

With a stern face, Lucas explained the use of the miniature rune array to his sister, then picked up the dragon steel and the hammer by the wall, chiseled off a small piece of ice, put it in a small bucket, and handed it to his sister.

But Chloe, who was standing at the kitchen door, didn't answer. She just pulled the oversized scarf over herself and kept shrinking into the shadows, seemingly lost in thought.

Lucas waited a moment but received no response. Then he put down the bucket and said in a low voice, "...You know I would never really be angry with you, sister. I thought you would be the same."

“During those days of exile, if you hadn’t held my hand tightly at all times, I would have died long ago. In my heart, you are like a mother to me. I just wish you could live a freer life. You are a sea dweller, a daughter of the sea…”

Koro raised her head, her eyes slightly red.

“I am…the daughter of the sea…” she murmured, repeating Lucas’s words.

But Lucas said no more. He intended to hand the ice bucket to Chloe so she could take it to her bedroom, but Chloe didn't take it, so he carried the bucket to his bedroom himself.

After he placed the bucket in the corner and looked towards the bed, a strange feeling swept over him.

Koro is a hardworking person who is used to keeping her home spotless, as if only in this way can she prove her worth as a "good wife," but...

Lucas glanced back at Chloe, who was slowly walking towards him, leaning against the wall. Chloe was still wearing her nightgown under her scarf, but the bed was already neatly made, seemingly—

No one slept last night.

Lucas's face turned cold. "Fred didn't even come home last night, did he?"

Koro's face contorted in panic for a moment, and she quickly lowered her head and stopped walking.

"Is he having an affair—?"

“That’s not true.” Chloe quickly interrupted her brother’s speculation, forcing a pale smile. “Don’t talk about him like that, Lucas. We will always be loyal to each other.”

In this desolate home, such a vow-like proof seemed all the more absurd and pathetic, and Lucas's face grew even uglier; the damp air in his nostrils could not quell his anger.

“Koro.” Lucas took a few deep breaths to calm himself down, and he tried to soften his tone as he spoke gently, “Have you run into any trouble? Please tell me. I’m your family.”

Koro stood there, leaning against the wall with one hand, a struggle seemingly in her eyes.

Sure enough, he wasn't yet strong enough to be her support—Lucas noticed his sister's hesitation and remembered his plan to drop out of school and start a small business. He was torn between telling her now or waiting until things were settled, since his luck had never been good and he didn't want to make a decision too early…

“Let’s go back to Ozler, Lucas,” Chloe’s voice echoed softly in the quiet room.

"...What?" Chloe's words abruptly pulled Lucas from his thoughts. He wondered if his mind hadn't fully recovered, otherwise how could he have heard his sister say—

For the first time, Kokoro showed a hint of urgency, and she repeated herself:

"Let's go home, back to Ozle, back to the seaside!"