It was just another ordinary afternoon in class, with Alex staring out the window and idly doodling in the margins of his notebook, when the classroom door suddenly slid open.
A teenager with spiky black hair and sharp, assessing eyes stepped inside. He scanned the room in a single, practiced motion before his gaze locked onto Alex. A subtle change crossed his face, smoothing out his hard edge—if only by a fraction.
"Excuse me," the newcomer said, addressing the teacher with calm politeness. "May I speak with Alex Luciano for a moment?"
A chill crept down Alex's spine. There was an intense, dangerous aura about the boy that made him instantly uneasy. Swallowing hard, Alex pushed his chair back and made his way to the front of the room under the gaze of his classmates.
The boy extended a hand. "My name is Hayato Kanzaki. I'm here to serve as your Storm Guardian."
"My... what?" Alex blinked, completely caught off guard.
"Your Storm Guardian," Hayato repeated smoothly. "I was dispatched by the Luciano family to protect you and assist in your training."
Alex's stomach dropped. Part of him had still been holding onto the desperate hope that Vincenzo's visit yesterday was just a bad dream. But standing face-to-face with Hayato made the reality undeniable.
"I don't... I really don't understand any of this," Alex muttered, feeling the room tilt slightly as overwhelm set in.
Hayato's expression softened, his strict posture relaxing a bit. "I know it's sudden, and it's a lot to throw at you. But trust me—I'm here to support you. You have a vital role to play in the family, and my job is to make sure you're ready for whatever comes next."
Looking into Hayato's steady eyes, Alex felt a strange wave of relief wash over the initial panic. So I'm not doing this completely alone.
"You too, huh?" Alex murmured with a faint, wry smile.
Before Hayato could answer, the silence in the hallway broke as whispers erupted from the classroom behind them. Several students were leaning out the doorway, wildly speculating about why a striking new transfer student was wasting his time talking to someone as unremarkable as Alex. Ignoring the sudden commotion, Hayato simply motioned for Alex to return to his desk until the final bell rang.
Once school let out, the two walked together down the bustling commercial strip. They hadn't gone far when a commotion near a corner convenience store caught Hayato's attention. A loud voice was shouting, accompanied by the distinct, metallic thunk of a aluminum baseball bat striking the pavement.
"What's going on over there?" Hayato asked, his eyes narrowing as he fell into a protective stance.
"I'm not sure," Alex said, his instincts telling him to check it out. "Let's see."
As they closed the distance, Alex recognized the teenager holding the bat. It was Angelo, a guy from their grade known for his hot temper and easygoing charm. He was currently leaning over the counter, red-faced, arguing animatedly with the shopkeeper over the price of a bag of chips.
"Angelo? What's the problem?" Alex called out, stepping between the teenager and the visibly shaken store clerk.
Angelo spun around, bat resting on his shoulder, but his angry expression instantly melted when he saw Alex. "Oh—hey, Alex! And... who's this?" He lowered the bat. "Just having a little quality-control debate with this guy. He's trying to charge double for a basic snack."
Alex looked at the price tag on the shelf, then back to the clerk. It was definitely marked up, but escalating it wasn't worth the scene. Pulling a few coins from his pocket, Alex tossed them onto the register to cover the difference.
"Here, let's just pay the rest and call it a day," Alex said smoothly, offering a gentle smile to diffuse the tension.
Angelo blinked, then let out a laugh, handing over his portion of the cash. "Alright, alright. Thanks, Alex."
As the three of them turned to walk down the sidewalk, Hayato glanced over at the bat resting casually against Angelo's shoulder. "Nice form with the bat back there. You move like someone who knows how to use it."
Angelo grinned, twirling the metal aluminum grip between his fingers with ease. "Thanks. I put in a lot of practice."
"We should probably keep moving," Hayato mentioned, checking the fading daylight.
Alex nodded, then looked back at Angelo. "Hey, you heading in our direction? Want to walk with us?"
"Really? Sure, I'm down," Angelo said, swinging into step beside them.
The trio chatted comfortably until they reached the intersection near Angelo's neighborhood, where they traded quick goodbyes. But as Angelo turned down his street, Alex paused, looking back at his friend's retreating profile. Something clicked in his mind—a sudden, clear intuition.
"Hey, Angelo! Hold up a second," Alex called out, jogging to catch up.
Angelo stopped, looking back in surprise. "What's up, Alex?"
Alex caught his breath and looked Angelo squarely in the eye, his usual timid demeanor giving way to a sudden, striking seriousness. "I have a question for you. Would you be willing to be my Rain Guardian?"
Angelo stared at him, entirely bewildered by the phrase. Yet, seeing the unwavering earnestness in Alex's eyes, he couldn't just laugh it off.
"Rain Guardian?" Angelo echoed, scratching the back of his neck. "I have no idea what that means, man... but what does a Rain Guardian actually do?"
Alex smiled, a quiet confidence stealing into his voice. "You'll find out when the time comes. But I promise you—you won't regret saying yes."
Angelo looked at him for a long moment before letting out a bright, infectious laugh. "Alright, count me in then!"
With smiles shared and a newfound bond quietly forged, the two parted ways for the evening.