Only children liked the heavy feel of coins.
Hoshino clenched the coin in her palm and stared at the misty spray ahead. Purple lightning surged magnificently through the rain.
She turned to look at the little fire dragon.
Ifrit was slowly taking off her cloak, letting rainwater slide down her body. She carefully folded it up, and the earnest, meticulous look on her face surprised Hoshino. Did this kid really care that much about this detective game?
"Why are you looking at me?"
Ifrit seemed somewhat regretful, mixed with the embarrassed irritation of someone caught red-handed.
"Nothing. I might need your help."
Hoshino had originally planned to leave Ifrit in the car to watch, but she changed her mind. She had to give Ifrit a sense of participation.
They were just one final step away.
Ifrit stepped into the water. Her transparent fireproof suit clung to her body like a raincoat, bedraggled and outlining her willow-slender frame. She irritably rubbed her wet hair, and steam rose from her body.
That was a sign of high temperatures.
"Didn't you tell me last time to think for myself about what flames are actually useful for?"
Ifrit raised her index finger and pointed toward the sky.
Since she had not brought her gun-shaped flame thrower, Ifrit could only use the power of fire in such a clumsy way.
But it was still effective.
A barrier formed of high temperatures rose out of thin air. It was Ifrit's fire. The moment raindrops approached that space, they were instantly evaporated. The cycle repeated over and over, as though it had created a domain that belonged solely to her.
Hoshino felt the heat.
This was the little fire dragon's loneliness. When her domain unfolded, none of the people she considered close could stand beside Ifrit.
Blaze