Rain tapped steadily against the windows.
The sky was gray, heavy, calm.
School was officially closed.
Emma sat on her bed, hoodie on, staring out at the glass as if she already knew what was coming.
She counted quietly.
"5."
The rain fell harder.
"4."
A shape moved outside.
"3."
Footsteps splashed in a puddle.
"2."
A shadow leaned back.
"1."
A water balloon exploded against her window, bursting into a messy splash that slid down the glass.
Emma didn't flinch.
She simply looked down.
Outside—
Diana.
Soaked.
Grinning like a maniac.
Holding a bag full of water balloons.
She waved both arms wildly, mouthing:
LET'S GO OUT.
Emma opened the window just enough to lean out.
"…You're insane," she said calmly.
Diana pumped her fist. "RAIN DAY! NO SCHOOL! PERFECT TIME FOR CHAOS!"
Another balloon flew—missed—and hit the wall.
Ethan's voice echoed from downstairs. "WHY IS THE HOUSE UNDER ATTACK."
Emma glanced back inside. "…I'll be back."
She grabbed her jacket.
Asuka appeared in the hallway, half-asleep. "Emma? Why is there splashing?"
"Diana."
Asuka sighed. "Of course."
Outside, Diana was already preparing another throw.
Emma stepped out into the rain.
For a moment, they just stood there—rain soaking them, street empty, quiet except for water hitting pavement.
Then—
Emma picked up a balloon from the bag.
Diana's eyes widened. "WAIT—"
SPLASH.
Direct hit.
Diana screamed. "SHE JOINED."
They both burst into laughter, rain mixing with water balloons, the gray day suddenly loud and alive.
Diana suddenly froze mid–water-balloon reload.
"Wait."
Emma looked at her. "…What."
"Let's go check Valeria."
Emma stared at the rain. Then at Diana. "…Fine."
---
They ran through the rain and reached Valeria's house, dripping wet. Diana didn't even knock—she shoved the door open.
"VALERIA—"
Inside was chaos.
Curtains closed.
Lights off.
TV volume MAX.
On the screen: wrestling.
Valeria was sitting way too close to the TV, wrapped in a blanket like it was a sacred ritual.
"SHHHH," Valeria snapped without looking back. "THIS IS THE FINAL MOVE."
Emma and Diana stood behind her.
On-screen, Valeria's favorite wrestler charged—
And then.
Got slammed.
Pinned.
One…
Two…
Three.
The crowd on TV roared.
Valeria went silent.
For exactly one second.
Then she stood up, turned around, bent forward, and pointed her ass at the TV.
"YOU'RE BAD," she screamed. "TRASH. ABSOLUTE TRASH."
Emma blinked.
Diana covered her mouth. "BRO—"
Valeria shook her fist at the screen. "I BELIEVED IN YOU."
Emma said calmly, "…Why are you insulting the television."
Valeria whipped around. "EMMA?! DIANA?! WHEN DID YOU GET HERE?!"
"Just now," Diana said, crying laughing. "WHY DID YOU MOON THE TV."
"It deserved it."
Emma sighed. "…You skipped school again."
"It was raining," Valeria said. "The universe told me to stay home and watch wrestling."
The TV replayed the loss.
Valeria pointed at it again. "DON'T SHOW IT AGAIN."
Emma turned to Diana. "…Everyone I know is unstable."
Diana nodded proudly. "And yet… you love us."
Emma didn't answer.
But she didn't leave either.
For half a second, the room was silent.
Then Diana grinned.
"Oh nah," she said. "If we're doing this—"
She walked up next to Valeria, turned toward the TV, and also bent over giving her ass to the TV, pointing dramatically.
"YEAH. YOU SOLD," Diana yelled at the screen. "ABSOLUTE FRAUD."
Emma stared.
"…Both of you," she said calmly, "are embarrassing the concept of friendship."
Valeria laughed so hard she doubled over—
And then—
Valeria farted.
A very real.
Very loud.
Very undeniable sound.
The room froze.
The TV commentary kept going.
Emma slowly turned her head.
Diana's eyes widened. "…NO WAY."
Valeria's face went red instantly. "WAIT—THAT WAS NOT—"
Diana jumped back like she'd been attacked. "BRO YOU JUST COMMITTED A WAR CRIME."
Emma covered her nose with her sleeve, completely deadpan. "…Open a window."
Valeria panicked. "IT SLIPPED. I WAS LAUGHING."
Diana gagged dramatically. "THIS HOUSE IS CONTAMINATED."
Valeria pointed at the TV, desperate to redirect blame. "IT WAS HIS FAULT. HE LOST."
Emma walked to the window and opened it, rain air rushing in. "…I regret coming here."
Diana burst out laughing, holding her stomach. "RAIN DAY JUST GOT WORSE."
Valeria collapsed onto the couch, face buried in a pillow. "I'm never watching wrestling again."
Emma glanced at both of them.
Then—very quietly—
"…I will remember this forever."
Diana laughed harder.
The laughter slowly died down.
The TV volume dropped.
Rain kept tapping against the window.
Emma stood near the couch, arms crossed, expression neutral again.
"…Hey, Valeria," she asked quietly.
Valeria lifted her head from the pillow, hair messy, cheeks still red from embarrassment. "Yeah?"
"When are your parents coming back."
Valeria blinked.
She stared at the ceiling for a moment, thinking.
"…I don't know," she said casually. "Probably after a few months."
Diana paused mid-snack. "Huh?"
"They're working out of town again," Valeria shrugged. "Same as always. AND HEY THAT'S MY SNACK DIANA-"
Diana tries to speak while the food is in her mouth
Emma watched her carefully.
"…You're alone," Emma said.
Valeria waved it off. "Nah. I've got food, TV, and you idiots breaking into my house."
Swallows, "We didn't break in," Diana said. "You never lock the door."
"Exactly."
The rain outside grew heavier.
Emma's gaze softened—just a little.
"…You can come over anytime," she said. "If you need."
Valeria looked at her, surprised.
Then she smiled. A real one. "Yeah. I know."
Diana leaned back dramatically. "Wow. Look at Emma being responsible."
Emma shot her a look. "…Don't ruin it."
Valeria laughed quietly and hugged a pillow. "It's fine. I'm used to it."
Emma didn't respond.
But she stayed.
And for Valeria, that said enough.
There was a quiet moment.
Rain.
TV noise.
Valeria hugging her pillow.
Emma standing there, calm.
Then—
Diana farted.
Diana froze.
Her eyes widened slowly. "…Uh."
Emma turned her head.
Valeria lifted her face.
Silence.
"…Diana," Emma said flatly.
Valeria sniffed the air. "…NO WAY."
Diana panicked instantly. "WAIT—WAIT—THIS IS DIFFERENT—THIS ONE WAS AN ACCIDENT."
Valeria shot up from the couch. "YOU HAD THE AUDACITY AFTER ME?!"
Emma pinched the bridge of her nose. "…Both of you. Outside."
Diana waved her hands. "IT WAS THE SNACKS—"
Valeria grabbed a cushion and threw it at her. "GET OUT."
Diana dodged, laughing. "IT'S A FART HOUSE NOW."
Emma opened another window, dead serious. "This place is uninhabitable."
Valeria groaned dramatically and flopped back onto the couch. "I hate rain days."
Diana wiped tears from laughing too hard. "Worth it."
Emma looked at them—two idiots, absolute chaos—
…and shook her head.
"…I need better friends."
Neither of them believed her for a second.
Chapter end