The rain came without warning.
Aki had been sitting alone in the waiting shed, his bicycle leaning against the wall, droplets sliding down its frame. He'd left his raincoat at home, and now the downpour showed no sign of stopping.
Through the curtain of rain, a sleek, black car pulled up in front of him. The passenger door swung open, and a man stepped out, a polished umbrella snapping open with a sharp flick. He jogged toward the campus gates, shoes splashing against shallow puddles. Seconds later, he reappeared~ this time with someone beside him.
Haru.
The man angled the umbrella carefully, shielding Haru from the rain as though guarding something precious. When they reached the car, he even held the door for him. For the briefest moment, Haru's eyes lifted and met Aki's.
Aki, sitting there in the shadows of the shed, drenched to the bone.
Haru, standing in the open, untouched by the rain.
A snowflake drifted down.
"It's snowing," Haru said, his voice carrying faint surprise.
Aki tilted his head upward. The sky had softened, white flakes dissolving into the silver threads of rain. The first snow of the year. When he looked back, Haru was reaching out, trying to catch the snow on his palm, his expression lit with quiet wonder.
Unknowingly, Aki realized he had seen Haru in both the first rain and the first snow of the year. And in both, Haru had looked beautiful.
"Indeed" Aki whispered.
Haru turned toward him, stepping closer. He brushed the snow from Aki's coat and hair, his eyes focused. Then his long, slender fingers slid down from Aki's coat to his own, brushing away the snow that continued to fall.
What a fool, Aki thought. Brushing it off when it's still snowing.
And what a fool I am, looking at him like he's mine, when he never will be.
"Alright then" Aki said, stepping back. "See you again, if possible. Take care."
He shoved his hands into his pockets and turned to leave without waiting for a reply.
But before he could take more than a step, a firm grip caught the back of his arm.
"Don't go, Aki."
His heart clenched. Slowly, he turned his head over his shoulder, eyes falling on the hand holding him and then on Haru's face.
"Why?" Aki asked.
"Well…" Haru hesitated. "I didn't bring my car. And the subway will be closed soon, so… I don't have anywhere to stay."
What a nice excuse, Aki thought.
He reached into his coat pocket, pulled out his wallet, and held out some bills. "There's a hotel nearby--"
But Haru stopped him, pushing his hand gently back.
"I don't want to stay at a hotel…" He stepped closer, his fingers curling around Aki's. "I want to stay at your place."
Aki's eyes widened. His pulse quickened.
What was Haru saying? Why would someone he hadn't spoken to in years, someone who'd barely shared more than a few words with him since,want to stay with him now?
Maybe he was thinking too much. Maybe it was just the part of him that still had feelings for Haru.
He freed his hand from Haru's grasp.
"Follow me."
He didn't say no. He couldn't.
Haru followed aki, like a small puppy wagging its tail.
And Aki, despite the cold, despite the snow, felt warmth spreading through his chest.
♥️