"Rain… please don't let anything happen to you."
Dimaria was driving the magic-guided quad, her lips pressed tightly together. She didn't say anything more, but the worry written across her face was impossible to hide.
Her concern for Rain was no less than Erza's.
For Dimaria, Rain's appearance in her life had been like a ray of light—quietly breaking through the darkness, filling the emptiness she had carried for so long.
Because of that, letting go was never an option.
She couldn't even imagine what she would become if Rain were to disappear.
"Don't worry, Dimaria."
At that moment, Erza reached out and gently held Dimaria's free hand.
"Erza…?"
Dimaria turned to look at her.
Erza met her gaze calmly. "You saw her strength too. If that woman truly meant to harm Rain, she wouldn't need to separate us in the first place."
She paused, her voice steady.
"With her power, she could have wiped us all out. There would've been no reason to let us leave."
Dimaria's breathing gradually steadied.
"So for now," Erza continued, "you need to rest. When we find Rain, you'll need your strength too."
"I… I understand."
Dimaria nodded slowly.
Not long after, Erza took over driving the magic-guided quad, allowing Dimaria to rest and recover her magic.
After Erza, Brandish took her turn.
She pushed the magic-guided vehicle to its limits, racing toward the place where they had been separated from Rain.
Even Brandish—who always acted carefree—never once considered using this chance to escape.
Instead, she kept accelerating.
As if her body already knew what her mouth would never admit.
...
Ishgar Continent
Magnolia Town
Rain had been gone for three months.
Lying on the bed in Rain's room, Mirajane stared at the ceiling, her thoughts drifting.
"I wonder how he's doing now…"
Since childhood—since the very day they met—this was the first time Rain had been away for so long.
"Mm…"
Mirajane tilted her head slightly, then frowned.
"Why does this feel like when your kid leaves home for the first time…?"
The thought made her expression turn strange.
"…No, no, forget it."
She shook her head quickly.
"Let's see if Rain left any interesting secrets behind."
A mischievous smile crept onto her face.
Rain might have grown into a proper young man now—but that didn't mean he couldn't have his own private hobbies.
And if she knew more about him, she could make him happier when he came back… right?
With that thought, Mirajane began searching the room.
There were no suspicious magazines.
No strange books.
Instead, she found a small box tucked away neatly.
"…This box."
She froze for a second.
"Wasn't this where the Devil Fruit was kept?"
Her eyes widened slightly.
"That's right—Rain brought back two Devil Fruits. One of them should still be here."
She opened the box.
"Mythical Zoan Fruit – Human Model…?"
Mirajane stared at the label, utterly baffled.
"Turn into a human…? But humans eating this would become… what? A super-human among humans?"
She couldn't help but mutter.
Then—
"…Huh?"
The box was empty.
"What?!"
Mirajane stiffened.
"…Did someone eat it?"
Her expression immediately turned serious, but then she frowned again.
"No… Lisanna already ate one, and I don't even know if you can eat a second. Elfman's been out on jobs for a long time…"
Her eyes narrowed.
"…A thief?"
But the idea made no sense.
Who would steal nothing else—and only take a fruit?
"…That's just weird."
After thinking for a long while, Mirajane sighed.
"There's nothing I can do now."
Whatever happened had already happened.
"I'll ask Rain about it when he comes back."
...
Two months passed in the blink of an eye.
By Irene's side, Rain devoted himself entirely to learning magic.
And before he even realized it—
Two months were gone.
"…That should be enough."
On this day, sensing that Erza and the others were drawing close—and that Rain's magic training had reached its limit—Irene stopped.
She looked at Rain, a trace of regret hidden in her eyes.
"Irene-neechan…?"
Rain froze, confused by her expression.
Then realization struck him.
"Are you leaving?"
Rain's voice softened.
"Irene-neechan… are you going?"
He had always known she couldn't stay by his side forever.
But knowing something… and truly facing it… were two very different things.
"…Yes."
Irene nodded gently.
"I'll be leaving."
Rain exhaled slowly.
Even though he expected it, hearing it out loud still made his chest feel tight.
"Don't look so sad," Irene said softly, her expression warm. "This is only a temporary parting."
"We'll meet again."
"…We will?"
Rain's eyes lit up immediately.
Hope returned to them like sunlight breaking through clouds.
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