---
A soft and plump feeling cushioned Rain's head. She slowly moved her head to the right, biting into another soft and fluffy object.
"Mgh..."
Rain nuzzled into it, the combination giving her a sense of security and comfort. It made her forget about her annoying homework and her parents' constant nagging not to overtrain, even if it was for preparing against another gate.
'Fools.'
That was what she thought at the time—how could they think they were safe just because her father was with the government?
But all of that didn't matter now. She nuzzled her nose into the comforting softness and let out a small sigh.
'This feels good...'
"Does it feel good?"
Rain's body froze mid-nuzzle. The next moment, she remembered where she was, what had happened, and why she had lost consciousness.
The soft, plump thing under her head—it wasn't an object! The same for what she was nuzzling into.
Suddenly, she felt her head being caressed, gentle fingers moving slowly through her dark hair, easing the tension in her body.
"You can rest a bit longer. Dinner isn't ready yet."
The gentle voice of a woman she knew well echoed in her ear. Her ear twitched at the sound, and she swallowed nervously, opening an eye and looking up.
'Mountains?'
She frowned slightly. The rays of light from the ceiling made it clear that she was in a well-lit room, so why was half her view, even with just one eye open, blocked?
Rain fully moved her head up, widening her eyes completely.
Blonde hair fell from the woman's face onto her shoulder. Her eyes were half-open, and she was smiling gently at Rain.
The woman who had been all over the news for the past two months, known as the "Right Hand" of the famous "Changing Star," still missing somewhere in dreamland.
The woman who commanded over three hundred Firekeepers, those who had lived the longest in dreamland as dormant people.
"Song of the Fallen..."
Rain muttered, staring at Cassie with wide eyes.
Cassie smiled a little more and chuckled.
"Now, now... I know that's my title, but please don't faint again, alright?"
Cassie gently stroked Rain's forehead.
"Are you feeling better?"
"Uh...huh."
Rain was still in a daze. Song of the Fallen... wait, if she could see Cassie's face from a low angle...
Rain's face turned bright red.
'A lap pillow?!'
Cassie gently brushed the hair off Rain's forehead and straightened her back after seeing three seconds into the future.
Rain let out a small yelp as she realized it and suddenly got up from Cassie's lap.
"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to—uhm!"
"Don't worry, it's alright. But please don't move so suddenly. If you do, you'll—"
"Agh!"
Rain felt a sudden pang in her head.
"...get a headache and feel dizzy."
Rain remained quiet for a moment.
'I want to die.'
Not only had she rested on the lap of the third person she admired most—Raised by Wolves being the second and Changing Star the first—but... Raised by...
Rain looked around the room. It was white, with a sofa, a coffee table, a TV, and some small decorations here and there.
"Where... am I?"
She looked at Cassie.
Cassie just smiled as she slowly got up.
"You are in Sunn—"
Cassie's throat went dry. She bit her lip a bit and then opened her mouth.
"—your teacher's living room."
Cassie wanted Sunny to be respected—at least by his new pupil. Yeah, that's it.
"Oh... and Raised by..."
"Oh? Effie should be with him. Shall we go see what they're doing? I'm sure your teacher is worried."
Cassie slowly stood up, summoned her wooden cane, and tapped it on the floor. She looked down in the direction she heard Rain's voice last time and slowly lowered her hand.
"Come on."
Rain's eyes widened.
Song of the Fallen was kind enough to take her to her teacher...
'A saint...'
Reluctantly, Rain took Cassie's hand.
---
When the two girls arrived at the kitchen, Rain was met with something she never would have guessed she'd see.
Dark hair, pale skin, and a white apron tied around his waist. His hair was swept over half of his face.
Her teacher was cooking dinner.
"Are you feeling better?"
Rain jolted at the sudden question. Sunny untied his apron and hung it on the oven door.
He looked at Rain, frowning when he saw her holding hands with Cassie.
"I see... you seem to be doing just fine?"
Sunny raised an eyebrow as he felt a vein twitch on his forehead.
'You dare take my freedom, you dare take my breath... and now you dare take my sister! Why is she so amazed by you and Effie?!'
Sunny had already seen Cassie patting Rain's head.
He felt angry... He wanted to be respected too! It was HIS sister, not hers. He continued cooking while his happy shadow watched them. He knew that shadow must have been making an "aww" face after returning to him. What's more, he felt strange... seeing Cassie care for Rain like a big sister... it felt like she was becoming part of his—
"Uh, teacher?"
"Huh?"
"What are we having for dinner?"
Sunny froze for a moment. Was his mind really in such turmoil because of...
"Dinner..."
He muttered as he looked at Cassie. For a moment, he stared at her lips—her smile, which he had only seen in black and white through his shadow, was even more astonishing in real life. Sunny bit his lip and looked at Rain.
"We have kimchi, and for dessert, a small cake that Kai brought."
Rain's eyes widened, and a big smile appeared on her face.
"Dessert?!"
Cassie chuckled, patting Rain's head. She didn't know why, but she liked patting her—it reminded her of Sunny.
Sunny nodded.
"Wait... who's—"
Sunny raised an eyebrow.
"Who?"
"Kai... Kai... If I ask who that is, you won't tell me it's Nighttale, right? The famous K-pop idol?"
Both Sunny and Cassie froze, gulping simultaneously. Rain saw this and made a shocked face.
"W-where—"
Sunny bit his lip, making an inward pout. Why didn't he get praised by his sister? He sighed.
"He's... in the kitchen with Ef—"
Whoosh!
Like the wind, Rain disappeared from his sight.
"Kids these days seem to have a lot of energy..."
Cassie smiled slightly, though it looked a bit sad—thinking that this energy might be put to much use if Rain really got into a nightmare.
"Yes... they do."
Sunny frowned at Cassie's smile. He knew what she was thinking—after all, he worried too, and that's why he decided to help Rain.
The sounds of an excited Rain and a worried Kai could be heard from the kitchen, but it didn't affect them.
Just the two of them, standing there, lost in their thoughts. It was an awkward moment—they hadn't had a proper conversation since that night.
Cassie bit her lip before speaking.
"Thank you."
"Huh?"
Sunny looked at her, surprised, then frowned.
"For what?"
He said coldly.
Cassie just smiled at his response.
"For saving me."
"There's no need... you saved me too."
Sunny looked away, gripping the counter tightly.
"Teacher! How do you know all the Forgotten Shore stars?!"
Both Cassie and Sunny were interrupted by Rain, with cake in her mouth.
Cassie, of course, couldn't see this, but she deduced it from Rain's muffled voice and the sweet scent.
"Because he's an amazing person who brought us together."
Sunny froze as he looked at the smiling Cassie who was looking at Rain.
"Hehe! Teacher's really amazing... wait, he actually did that?"
Rain questioned Cassie's words, which was understandable when looking at a guy like Sunny...
Meanwhile, Sunny was in pain.
He felt as though more drops of red were falling onto his dark soul core. His heart raced, and his breath was taken away. He trembled slightly, his pupils shaking—fortunately, Rain was too occupied talking to Cassie to notice. He... was happier to hear Cassie say he was amazing than to hear it from Rain, his own sister.
'I'm going insane.'
He was scared of this feeling, so once again, he misinterpreted it as hatred.