CHAPTER 24 — When the Sky Tests Resolve
📅 2 May, S.C. 1510
👦 Ren — 7
👦 Luffy — 5
👦 Kiro — 7–8
📍 Windmill Village → Beachside
Windmill Village woke to a quiet morning. The sea was calm, air warm, sky bright blue.
Ren stood beside his newly shaped clay basins, carefully checking the surfaces.
Smooth.
Strong.
No cracks so far.
He smiled softly.
Everything was going well.
Luffy rolled in the sand like a worm.
"I AM TRAINING MY BODY!"
Kiro kicked sand at him. "You're training to become dirt."
Luffy gasped. "DIRT IS STRONG!!"
Ren sighed. "Please don't encourage him."
Just as Ren bent down to inspect the clay, he felt a sudden sharp breeze.
Strange.
The morning wind was usually gentle.
He looked up.
Clouds.
Dark ones.
And more forming fast—much faster than normal.
Kiro squinted. "Ren… is it supposed to rain today?"
Ren shook his head slowly.
"No… the weather was clear last night."
Makino hurried down the slope toward them, apron fluttering.
"Ren! Kiro! Luffy! Inside the bar, quickly!"
Ren blinked. "Why? What's—"
BOOM—!!!
A sudden thunderclap shook the sky.
Wind blasted across the coastline, nearly knocking Luffy off his feet.
Luffy screamed, "THE SKY IS ANGRY!!"
Ren's eyes widened as the ocean shifted violently.
A storm was coming—
Fast.
Too fast.
PART 1 — PANIC AND PRIORITIES
Makino reached them, out of breath.
"The fishermen spotted dark clouds from the south! It's a sudden sea storm!"
Ren turned back toward his drying basins.
If the rain hit—
if the wind toppled them—
if the water seeped in—
All the work would be ruined.
Again.
Makino grabbed his wrist.
"Ren! Leave them!"
He shook his head.
"No… I need to cover them!"
Makino paused.
Worried.
But she knew Ren enough by now.
She nodded once.
"Kiro! Get the tarp from the shed! I'll help Ren!"
Kiro sprinted. "Got it!"
Luffy cupped his hands around his mouth.
"WHAT DO I DO?!"
Ren yelled,
"Scott the seagulls away!"
"OKAY!!!"
Luffy began screaming at birds like a miniature banshee.
The seagulls flew away in terror.
Ren admitted silently—
That actually helped.
PART 2 — THE FIRST STRIKE OF THE STORM
The wind grew harsher.
Sand whipped through the air.
Ren shielded his eyes as the first raindrops splashed onto the basins.
"No—no no—!"
Makino held the cloth for him. "Come on! Faster!"
They worked quickly:
✔ Ren placed stones around the basins
✔ Makino steadied the cloth
✔ Kiro arrived with rope
✔ Luffy chased a chicken for no reason
Rain intensified.
The first basin trembled as wind shoved it.
Ren dropped to his knees and held it with both arms.
"Ren!" Makino shouted.
"I've got it—!! Tie the rope!"
Kiro wrapped rope around the stones, pulling hard.
The cloth cover stretched taut, shielding the basins from the worst of the rain.
But the storm wasn't done.
Another strong gust—WHOOSH—lifted the cloth halfway off.
Makino grunted, holding the edge down with her whole weight.
Ren's hair whipped wildly in the air.
"This is insane—!" he shouted.
Lightning flashed in the distance.
Luffy dove behind a rock screaming,
"THE SKY IS TRYING TO KILL US!!!"
PART 3 — THE TURNING POINT
A loud cracking sound echoed.
Ren's heart jumped.
He spun around—
One of the support stones had toppled.
If the cloth collapsed—
The basins would be drenched—
Days of work lost—
Kiro yelled,
"I'll get it!"
He ran toward the fallen stone, but the wind pushed him back.
Makino clenched her teeth.
"Kiro, don't! It's too dangerous!"
Ren glanced from the basins to his friends.
He couldn't let them get hurt.
"Let me!"
Makino grabbed his sleeve.
"Ren—"
He met her eyes.
"I won't get close. I'll only fix the support."
Makino hesitated, then nodded tightly.
Ren crawled low, fighting the wind, reaching the fallen stone.
He planted it firmly and wedged smaller rocks around it.
The cloth steady again.
The basins protected.
Ren exhaled sharply, heart pounding.
Makino called,
"Ren, come back!"
He hurried back to her side.
Moments later, the rain lessened.
Thunder drifted away.
Clouds began moving north.
The storm was passing.
Slowly…
the wind died down.
PART 4 — AFTER THE STORM
Rainwater dripped from Ren's hair.
His clothes were soaked.
His hands trembled from exertion.
Makino placed a towel around his shoulders.
"You stubborn child," she murmured, brushing hair from his forehead.
"You scared me."
Ren whispered,
"I… I didn't want to lose everything again."
Kiro sat down beside him, panting.
"Hey. You didn't. We did it."
Luffy popped up behind them, dripping wet.
"REN WE FOUGHT THE SKY AND WON!!!"
Makino sighed. "Luffy… please stop yelling."
Ren stared at the basins from a distance.
Still covered.
Still protected.
Not a single crack.
His chest filled with relief.
"It worked…" he whispered.
Makino smiled warmly.
"Because you didn't give up."
PART 5 — NIGHTFALL LESSONS
Later at the bar, Ren scribbled quietly in his notebook:
Storm lesson:
Sudden weather changes → dangerous
Need stronger covers & storm-proof supports
Protection idea:
Weighted wooden frames + rope grid
Science isn't just building.
It's protecting what you build.
Ren paused.
Makino placed a cup of warm milk in front of him.
"You did well today," she said softly.
Ren looked up.
"…Thank you."
She ruffled his hair gently.
"And next time," she added, "we fight the sky together."
Ren smiled, small but genuine.
"…Together."
END OF CHAPTER 24