Wuthering Waves: I Was Hired by Carlotta Montelli

Early morning.

Ray dragged his somewhat weary steps and finally made it back to his residence.

The storm stirred up by Capollo had left a mountain of unresolved mess within the Montelli family. Naturally, Carlotta couldn't get away, and he had stayed by her side to help until dawn.

He rubbed his temples, which were starting to throb, and slid the key into the lock.

The moment he pushed the door open, a light and lilting hum drifted out from inside.

It was Ciaccona's voice.

"Da~ da la da da la da da~ da da la da da~"

Though he couldn't make out any actual lyrics, the melody was so airy and sweet that Ray felt his exhaustion begin to ease, just a little.

"Ciaccona?"

Following the sound, he stepped inside and found Ciaccona standing in the kitchen, expertly frying eggs.

"You're back?" The girl turned at the sound of his voice and beamed a sweet smile at the young man.

Ray shook his head with a helpless chuckle.

He walked closer and leaned against the kitchen doorframe. "Shouldn't I be the one asking you that? You're still wanted by the Order, and yet you dare to go waltzing around so openly…"

"Because staying cooped up in the room gets so stuffy." Ciaccona scratched her head, smiling a little sheepishly. "Besides, you don't need to worry too much about me. Sure, the Order is after me, but not every single member knows my face. Actually, I've snuck into Ragunna plenty of times before to go shopping."

"So, where have you been these past couple of days?"

"Just wandered around near Fenglian Waterside." She flipped the fried egg with practiced ease. "I didn't dare go too far, since you might need my help at any moment, you know. Oh, by the way, I saw a gorgeous meteor shower the night before last. Such a shame you weren't there."

"Meteor shower?"

"Mhm!" Ciaccona turned around, her eyes sparkling. "It was so beautiful! Especially the moment those meteors streaked across the sky, it felt like all my worries were just swept away! Next time, let's go try our luck together, okay? We can bring Carlotta too!"

She paused briefly, as if something had just occurred to her, and added,

"Maybe… we could invite Phrolova as well?"

Granted, she and Phrolova weren't particularly close. They'd barely even met a handful of times.

But that was fine. Wasn't friendship something you built by spending time together?

"Yeah, when we have the time," Ray agreed with a light laugh.

"Then it's settled!" Ciaccona said as she plated the food. "Oh, you haven't had breakfast yet, have you? It's just simple fried eggs and bacon, and I did help myself to the ingredients in your kitchen… Want to eat together?"

"You don't need to be so polite. Just treat this place like your own home," Ray said, absently touching his stomach.

Come to think of it, his last proper meal had been the night before last. He seemed to recall eating only a few pieces of bread and some pastries.

Right now, he was indeed feeling a bit hungry.

"Sure, let's eat together then."

The morning light was just perfect, bathing the room in a warm, golden hue.

The two sat facing each other, and even a simple breakfast became exceptionally delicious amidst their chatter and laughter.

"Wait, that actually happened?"

"But if it's Carlotta, she should be able to handle it."

Ray shared the events of the previous night as casual breakfast conversation with Ciaccona.

In turn, she revealed to him that she had actually known Carlotta since childhood though for reasons she wasn't willing to divulge, Ciaccona remained reluctant to share too much about her own past.

After breakfast, Ciaccona retreated to her room. She mentioned that she'd only gotten back about half an hour before he did, and with drowsiness washing over her, she desperately needed to catch up on sleep.

Ray finished a quick wash and was just about to rest himself when Phrolova's door clicked open.

The girl stood in the doorway, visibly startled when she spotted him in the living room. Then, her wine-red eyes fixed on him with an intense stare, swirling with an inexplicable, unspoken resentment.

"Uh…"

Pierced by that almost tangible gaze, Ray shifted uncomfortably and raised a hand in an awkward wave.

"What's wrong? Did I… get something on my face?"

"Nothing." Phrolova gave a light huff and stubbornly turned her face away. Only her faintly puffed cheeks betrayed her emotions. In a deliberately measured, even tone, she murmured, "I was just looking at a heartless, thoughtless jerk."

She seemed angry.

But why?

Ray had no idea.

Could it be that she'd been holding a grudge over what happened yesterday all this time?

Well, he had left in such a hurry yesterday that he hadn't had the chance to apologize properly. That was on him, admittedly.

"Still mad about yesterday?" His tone carried a note of helpless indulgence. "Do you need me to formally apologize?"

"I wouldn't be so petty as to dwell on something like that." Phrolova's voice remained cool, but the slight quiver of her lashes gave her true feelings away.

Ray couldn't help but chuckle. "You're clearly upset, though."

Phrolova folded her arms and slowly turned her head back toward him.

She tilted her head slightly, her ash hair cascading like a waterfall over her shoulder, a complicated light flickering in her eyes. "And if I am… how do you plan to make it up to me?"

"I was indeed thoughtless yesterday." Ray considered it seriously, and his mind suddenly went to the meteor shower Ciaccona had mentioned. "Once I have some free time, how about I take you out somewhere to clear your head? You must be pretty bored, cooped up in your room all day."

Take me out to clear my head?

Phrolova latched onto this key phrase with razor precision. Her frostbitten expression slowly began to thaw, a hint of playful amusement tugging at the corner of her lips. "Sounds nice. So, where do you plan to take me?"

"Fenglian Waterside." Ray met her gaze. "Apparently, there's going to be a meteor shower there sometime soon."

The moment those words left his mouth, the smile on the girl's face froze solid.

Her slender fingers slowly curled inward, the knuckles turning faintly white from the pressure. She bit down lightly on her lower lip, her expression darkening in an instant.

Then, abruptly, she spun around, her movement tracing a sharp, resolute arc and shut the door behind her without so much as a backward glance.

In the empty living room, Ray was left standing alone, utterly bewildered.

"Why is she angry again? Did I say something wrong?"

No, he hadn't.

Inviting a girl to watch a meteor shower, wasn't that supposed to be a rather romantic thing to do?

Anyone else would be happy about it, wouldn't they?

So why was Phrolova acting so completely out of character?

Try as he might, Ray simply couldn't wrap his head around it.

Before he could puzzle it out any further, the tightly shut door suddenly creaked open a crack.

Phrolova leaned halfway out from behind the door, her reproachful gaze landing squarely on him.

"About taking me out to clear my head, I'm holding you to that."

Her voice was muffled, tinged with a pouty, petulant edge.

"As for when we go, and where we go… that's for me to decide."

With that, she shut the door once more.

Seeing this, Ray could only shrug helplessly and let out a long sigh.

"Honestly, women are such a hassle."