Leaning against the window-facing bar counter, Lucia played the video clip on her phone.
It was that “loli in the restroom” caught on a drone live stream near the Monument Plaza’s public square…
Of course, it was playing silently.
Although many days had passed, the related videos were still easily searchable, even paired with silly sound effects and subtitles, spreading as a joke on short video platforms.
The internet was a garbage dump, filled with people who had no sense of boundaries or decency.
Because the shot was from above, all that could be seen was a girl wearing a white wool coat; nothing else was clear. Yet every time Clara recalled it, her cheeks burned hot. Now her little face flushed red, as if she was about to cry…
But compared to having Lucia discover her identity, this outcome was…
Surprisingly, somewhat bearable?
“Yeah, that really was me…”
So Clara admitted softly.
She even pouted, complaining, “Usually, even if someone recognizes you, they wouldn’t just blurt it out, right? Sis, shouldn’t you be sparing my pride a little?”
Only then did Lucia put away her phone and clasp her hands together apologetically.
“Sorry, I was really careful when I asked~”
Seeing her like this, Clara didn’t have much to say—after all, she was still her little sister—and whispered, “Then maybe you shouldn’t ask…”
When it was clear Clara wasn’t angry, Lucia immediately put on a cheeky grin.
“I’m just curious~ And you must feel bad about this too, right? Now that I know, you can vent to me. I promise I won’t tell anyone else~”
“Even if you say that, I just want to forget this embarrassing thing~”
But at least it was a relief.
Though the embarrassing incident was discovered, at least her own sister hadn’t recognized her yet…
Sipping her warm milk tea, Clara enjoyed the cozy heat of the tea shop’s air conditioning, which made her cheeks look even rosier.
Because her feet couldn’t reach the footrest, her two slender legs swung lightly on the high stool as she chewed on the pearls in her milk tea.
Clara rested her chin on the bar counter, squinting her tired eyes.
“Phew~ It’s nice to waste time like this once in a while~”
Going out always meant spending money, so she usually stayed home right after work, with her only expense being art supplies for her manga. She wouldn’t even touch something like milk tea.
After all that had happened, her once monotonous black-and-white life suddenly gained new color.
Was this thanks to Nyx?
“Clara, don’t fall asleep, okay? We have to enter the venue at nine.”
Lucia, treating Clara’s cuteness like a snack, reminded her this way.
“I won’t fall asleep~”
Just as Clara replied, a familiar white-haired boy passed by the tea shop.
He wore a white hooded down jacket and a plain mask.
When Clara sat up in surprise, the boy also noticed her and stopped, expressionless, locking eyes with her through the window.
“Jun…”
The handsome boy outside was none other than Pure White Storm. Clara quickly shut her mouth.
“Jun?”
Lucia didn’t understand, but Clara didn’t intend to explain.
If Lucia found out who he was, with her money-loving personality, she’d probably ask for an autograph on the spot, which might cause unnecessary trouble.
After all, heroes couldn’t just sign autographs without permission from their company or manager—Clara understood those rules, but Lucia might not.
Pure White Storm had once chased her down and given her that white baseball cap with his signature on it. Clara was grateful and didn’t want to trouble him…
There were no complicated feelings involved. Although she would never like a man romantically, a man could still feel a sense of camaraderie with another man, right?
Yes, exactly—camaraderie!
Pure White Storm was a man she recognized, and that was all.
Not sure who she was explaining to, Clara’s thoughts churned fiercely.
Then, just when she thought he was merely passing by, Pure White Storm adjusted his hood and pressed down his mask…
And then, he actually pushed open the door and came in.
“Huh?!”
He even walked straight toward the stunned Clara and reached out to pat her head.
Like a cat slave attracted by a cat in a cat café—completely involuntary.
Pure White Storm spoke first:
“We meet again. We really are fated.”
“Don’t just touch my head every time we meet! The president’s not that short!”
Clara waved off Pure White Storm’s hand. She didn’t want to be treated like a little girl.
“Are you here to visit the Radiance Hero Festival?” Pure White Storm asked again.
“Of course. There’s no other reason to come to the Expo Center at a time like this, right?”
Lucia patted Clara’s shoulder curiously and asked, “Clara, who’s this handsome boy?”
Surprisingly, Lucia didn’t recognize him, which caught Clara off guard.
She’d been constantly nagging for a Sigma Series autograph, and now the real deal was right in front of her—hood and mask aside, surely she should have recognized him up close?
But on second thought, Clara understood.
Lucia wasn’t interested in heroes themselves; she only wanted the autographs to sell. She didn’t pay much attention to what the heroes looked like.
Plus, Pure White Storm’s cold demeanor and the fact that he wasn’t in “performance mode” now made him very different from his stage presence. It wasn’t impossible for Lucia to miss who he was.
“This is Lucia. She’s my colleague.”
Clara left the introduction to Pure White Storm.
“…Maybe you should introduce yourself too?”
“Hmm.”
Pure White Storm thought for a moment and nodded.
“My name is Sista. I’m… Clara’s ‘friend’.”
Clara hadn’t said her own name before—it was only from Lucia’s words that Sista had learned it.
Maybe he looked wooden, but he was actually pretty sharp?
“Hello, Mr. Sista.”
Lucia nodded politely, murmuring under her breath.
Sista? Isn’t that a woman’s name?
Clara explained from the side, “Sista is from another hero company. He should be able to get in early too…”
“You guys are from a hero company as well?”
Clara nodded.
“Yeah~ It’s called Sweet Dream Witch Staffing Agency, but we haven’t officially started working yet… Sista, want some milk tea?”
She meant for Sista to buy his own milk tea, but he seemed to misunderstand.
“Well, then I won’t refuse.”
Pure White Storm said this, leaned down slightly, pulled down his mask, and gently brushed back the hair falling over his forehead…
Finally, he took a big sip from Clara’s milk tea cup.
Of course, using the same straw.
“Wah! What are you doing?!”
Once again, a reminder: this story’s direction involves transformation.