Chapter Thirty: A Romantic Rain

Rena Ikeda actually has a rather extroverted personality.

Yes, Rena appears pessimistic, vigilant, sharp, and spirited. She cannot get along with anyone normally and is known as the "boss-killer." But this is merely a mask she uses to protect herself, because she does not have a single true friend.

In Japan, especially among Japanese women, there is a specific term called "reading the air." It means knowing how to perfectly blend into a crowd, to merge with others, and to refuse to stand out or act uniquely. This is a lesson almost every middle and high school girl must learn; otherwise, they risk being ostracized or bullied.

However, Rena Ikeda was born unable to "read the air." With her exotic appearance and her giant stature of 170 centimeters, she stands out everywhere she goes, much like a piece of Wangwang snow cracker dropped into a bowl of tiny Wangzai rice balls—she is simply too eye-catching.

Few men can resist having impure thoughts about her, and among other women, few are not jealous or prone to gossiping about her. Those who could rival Rena in looks and figure are, without exception, arrogant and aloof. Consequently, after repeated setbacks, Rena has become extremely cautious and guarded toward the outside world. She is not the only one; even Muneyuki Uesugi is one of her victims.

But that is fine. The more cautious and guarded Rena is, the more it signifies the position Muneyuki Uesugi holds in her heart.

The tall beauty followed Muneyuki to the car without hesitation. Once they sat down in the Lexus, Rena asked in surprise, "Is this your car?"

"I couldn't afford a car like this on my salary... This is my father's car," Muneyuki laughed. "He keeps saying he doesn't drive it anymore and wants me to take it, but I just haven't."

"You actually know how to drive?" Rena thought back to the past month. It had always been her driving, while Muneyuki sat in the passenger seat with complete peace of mind. She couldn't help but complain, "You should take turns occasionally. You always make me drive."

"I just don't like driving; that doesn't mean I don't know how," Muneyuki said casually. "There is still some time before the banquet. Let's go buy you an outfit first. You aren't planning on going to the traditional restaurant wearing that, are you?"

"I haven't agreed to go yet," Rena Ikeda replied, feeling instinctively conflicted. She stretched out her long, beautiful legs in the passenger seat; even in her suit trousers, one could see how straight and slender they were, with the clear muscle definition of her thighs visible.

*What a waste,* Muneyuki muttered to himself.

Only once, during the case of the abandoned body on the train, had Muneyuki been lucky enough to see Rena wearing a police skirt, stockings, and high heels. Although they had met almost every workday for the past month since then, Rena had never dressed that way again, opting for the same standard suit trousers and leather shoes, which left Muneyuki slightly disappointed.

"Give me a chance to thank you," Muneyuki said naturally. "We’ve been partners for a month now. My parents also want to know who the policewoman partnering with me is. I’ve received so much care from you, so please, Lady Ikeda, do accept the invitation from my family."

"..." Rena Ikeda looked at the earnest, pleading look on Muneyuki's face, and the resistance on her features softened.

*He really is sincere. He came to the police station in person to ask, cleared my name, and even though he doesn't like driving, he came to pick me up.* Thinking this, Rena felt a faint sweetness in her heart. Especially when she saw that Muneyuki’s trouser cuffs were soaked from coming to get her, Rena lowered her head, silent, and gave up her resistance.

Silence is also an answer. Muneyuki started the car immediately.

Heaven seemed to be favoring the two of them. Shortly after they set off, the rain intensified dramatically. Amidst lightning and thunder, the light drizzle transformed into a deluge. Water poured from the sky like pillars; amidst the howling wind, the rain swirled, sometimes slamming into the windshield, sometimes hitting the roof, and sometimes battering the side windows.

Yet, inside the car, the environment was peaceful. The scent of cologne lingered in the air, and Muneyuki chatted calmly with Rena about the case and other interesting topics, even managing to elicit a genuine smile from her. The tall beauty’s tension slowly dissipated, and she began to enjoy this relaxed atmosphere. Being alone with Muneyuki always made her involuntarily drop her facade and her heavy defenses.

However, this atmosphere lasted only ten minutes before they arrived.

Muneyuki parked the car, opened his door, and stepped out to open his umbrella. He jogged over to the other side to welcome Rena out. In the pouring rain, the two stood close together—the man cool and stern, the woman tall and sharp. To anyone watching, they looked like a couple. Muneyuki’s actions drew murmurs of admiration from the people sheltering from the rain at the mall entrance, especially from couples and women who felt a subconscious sense of envy.

*That is what you call boyfriend material!*
*That is what you call a qualified boyfriend!*

Muneyuki’s temperament was already cold and imposing; his 185-centimeter height in a suit, bolstered by the aura of the Aizen Myoo, was full of charm. As he held the umbrella for Rena, the two formed a picturesque scene in the rain.

The fierce wind blew, messing up the tea-colored short hair by Rena’s ears. Her beautiful, striking face flushed with shyness due to the arm Muneyuki had placed around her waist. A rosy glow appeared on her cheeks, softening her naturally sharp gaze. Her light brown eyes held a hint of bashful annoyance, as if she were complaining about Muneyuki’s sudden intimacy, but she understood that without doing so, one umbrella couldn't cover them both. She could only mutter a complaint and let the man have his way.

Beautiful things are not obscured by the rain; instead, they shine even brighter through the revelation of one's true self.

At the mall entrance, the rain poured down, noisy and relentless. Under the umbrella, the two huddled together, locking eyes as if they had a premonition. Muneyuki raised his eyebrows, conveying, *My umbrella isn't bad, right? It's enough to cover both of us.*

"Pfft," Rena couldn't help but laugh. She rolled her eyes at him, too lazy to argue with this man.

***

*Is a rainy day not so bad after all?* Rena found that she was starting to like rainy days.

This mall was a place Muneyuki frequented for daily supplies, called "GACHIKUN," located in a small CBD in Bunkyo Ward. Because time was tight, Muneyuki took Rena directly to the Uniqlo inside to pick out an outfit for the banquet.

Uniqlo, the core brand of Fast Retailing, was founded in 1984 as a small shop selling men's suits. Now, it is a household name and a Fortune 500 company. The brand primarily sells affordable workwear and casual clothing. Since they carry a wide range of sizes, they were likely to have something that fit Rena. It couldn't be helped; Rena was so tall that finding clothes for her was usually difficult.

But this was where the difference between Muneyuki and a normal boyfriend showed. He caught Rena, who was naturally inclined to wander around the mall, pointed at the clock to remind her of the banquet, and without giving her a chance to browse, called over a clerk. He took it upon himself to choose a slightly more formal outfit and gestured for Rena to go try it on.

This simple, direct, and goal-oriented way of shopping for clothes was actually to Rena's liking, but for some reason, she felt a bit disappointed. It was a rare opportunity; she had wanted to walk around with Muneyuki. Since they were finally out together, she didn't want it to end so quickly; she was greedy for their time alone. However, she also didn't want to attract too much attention or gossip. With these complex emotions, she took the clothes from the clerk and went into the changing room.

As she unfolded them, Rena subconsciously frowned. Muneyuki had chosen a fine-knit wool crew-neck cardigan, a plain light-brown straight-cut skirt, a pair of thick, 20D ultra-sheer skin-colored tights, and a pair of white, low-cut, leather bow-tie heels in size 37—exactly her size.

Rena truly disliked wearing tights; she loathed the feeling of being constricted below the waist. But that wasn't the main point. Since she was attending a banquet, wearing work clothes would be disrespectful. He had handed them to her, so she would wear them. What made Rena frown was Muneyuki’s taste in clothes.

*This guy, why is he so skilled at this? How many women has he bought clothes for?*

Muneyuki waited outside the changing room for a while. Rena Ikeda emerged. The tall beauty moved quickly because Muneyuki was chatting happily with the female clerk outside, and Rena suspected that if she didn't come out, the clerk might have tried to swap contact information with him.

"I'm done," Rena interrupted their conversation.

Muneyuki’s eyes lit up. The tall beauty had changed into the dark gray crew-neck cardigan. The form-fitting shirt outlined her slender waist, and the cashmere neckline accentuated her high, magnificent bust, creating a soaring curve. Below her willow-like waist, which had faint muscle definition, was the knee-length, light-brown skirt. It pulled tightly across her waist and hips, extending down to her long legs wrapped in skin-colored tights.

Rena Ikeda was naturally tall, and her legs under the skirt were even more beautiful. The velvet tights were smooth and delicate; her calf muscles were taut, without a single ounce of excess fat, possessing clear, streamlined curves that were as alluring as a crescent moon. They seemed to cling perfectly to her skin, shimmering with a seductive sheen under the mall lights. Down at her ankles, only a microscopic wrinkle betrayed the presence of the stockings. The dainty white leather bow-tie heels made her look even more gentle.

The beautiful, tall, spirited woman stood gracefully in front of the changing room, looking absolutely stunning. Her refreshing tea-colored short hair looked capable and crisp, and her light brown eyes shone with a questioning gaze: *How is it?*

She received sufficient positive feedback immediately.

Muneyuki thought, *These legs are truly a masterpiece.* He leaned in to observe, looking at her rounded, slender legs wrapped in the ultra-sheer stockings, and he couldn't help but want to pick her up and stroke them carefully. It wasn't the plump, fleshy beauty of a mature woman, nor the thin, bony beauty of a young girl, but a healthy, toned, and firm beauty—full of elasticity, yet not lacking in delicate vitality. Her proportions were exquisite, perfectly balanced—simply perfect.

The meeting of the skirt and the stockings was better than anything else in the world.

"It's great, Ms. Ikeda. It suits you perfectly," Muneyuki nodded repeatedly, smiling. "Let's go with this one. Consider it my thanks for your care over the past month."

"Are we going straight there?" Rena Ikeda’s mood improved after receiving the man’s praise. She felt Muneyuki’s gaze lingering on a certain part of her body, but after spending so much time together, she