Mentioned Characters: Reisen, Seiran

This Reisen Udongein Inaba is from a world where races are all the rage. She has her own buggy-style vehicle, and she rides it with effortless flair. Speaking of which...

On this day, Reisen was tearing across the desert in a buggy, just like always. But it wasn't her usual buggy. It was a backup―one that used to belong to Seiran. After running into some trouble, she'd had to swap vehicles. And while she was at it, she even changed into a different outfit. But as she sped along in her backup buggy, a sandstorm caught her off guard, and she found herself right in the middle of it.

With sand blocking her vision, Reisen pulled her jacket up over her eyes, nose, and mouth. She brought the buggy to a stop behind a rock for cover, then moved downwind and waited for the storm to pass. After a while, it did, and she let out a sigh of relief. Now that she could see again, she checked her surroundings... and noticed an oasis not too far away. Both she and the buggy were completely covered in sand. Together, they sped toward the oasis.

As she reached the oasis, Reisen immediately started washing herself off. Sand had worked its way everywhere, even inside her ears. Having such long ears was a hassle at times like this. Though if she ever ended up buried in sand, they might act as a handy signpost to any potential rescuers. Once she'd thoroughly cleaned up, she hung her clothes on a tree to dry. With how little fabric there was, it didn't take long. And after rinsing off the buggy, she set off once more. The sky above her was a clear, endless blue―as if the sandstorm had never happened.

After traveling a fair distance, Reisen decided it was time for a short break. Still seated in the buggy, she kicked her legs up and pulled out a bottle from her bag. After hunkering down during the sandstorm, her first sip tasted extra good. By the time the bottle was empty, the morning Sun had already drifted west, giving way to evening. She lifted the bottle toward the sunset, and the red glow through the glass cast a faint, gentle light. A simple little sparkle, discovered in a barren desert. Reisen smiled.