Spring in Halewood was always full of surprises.
Some days were bright and breezy, others a swirl of wind and sudden clouds. On one particular afternoon, the sky, which had smiled all morning, darkened just as the school bell rang.
Thunder grumbled faintly in the distance.Clouds rolled in like quiet waves.
And then—Rain.
Big, soft droplets began to fall, smattering windows and soaking the pavement.
Inside Class 1-B, the children squealed in surprise and delight.
Some had umbrellas. Some didn't.
Caelum stood by the front doors, calm as always, his small backpack snug across his shoulders.He hadn't brought an umbrella.
Lysia rushed up beside him, clutching a tiny umbrella patterned with ducks and stars.It was barely big enough for her.
She looked up at him.
Then at the umbrella.
Then back at him.
"Let's share," she said brightly.
Too Small for Two
They stepped into the rain together.
Immediately, the umbrella tilted—Lysia on tiptoe, trying to keep it over both their heads.But the moment Caelum adjusted even slightly, his left sleeve got soaked.
"Oops!" Lysia giggled.
Caelum looked down at his wet arm.
Then at her, clumsily angling the handle toward him.
"It's okay," he said gently, holding his hand over her head instead. "You stay dry."
"But then you'll get wet!"
"I don't mind."
She frowned and tugged at his wrist.Then, with a determined little nod, she stepped closer—much closer—until their shoulders touched.
Now the umbrella just barely shielded them both.But their arms were pressed together.And their cheeks nearly brushed.
Lysia looked up at him shyly.
"I'll protect you from the rain too," she said.
He smiled.
Puddle Adventures
The walk home took twice as long.
Not because of the rain.
Because Lysia kept stopping to jump in puddles and point out "rain fairies" dancing on leaves.
Caelum walked behind her quietly, his socks growing damp, his shoes squishing a little more with every step.
But her laughter echoed like wind chimes.
And somehow, even with wet feet and dripping bangs—
He felt light.
At the Gate
They reached the white fence between their homes just as the rain began to slow.
Lysia turned to him, umbrella now folded.
Her hair was frizzy. Her cheeks pink. Her tiny nose a little red.
"I had fun," she said.
"Even with wet socks?"
She laughed. "Especially with wet socks."
A pause. She shifted from foot to foot.
"…You can borrow one of my umbrellas next time," she mumbled. "Or… we can just share again."
He nodded.
"Let's always share."
A Towel and a Thought
That evening, Lysia's mother handed her a towel as she came in.
In the hallway mirror, Lysia paused—hair damp, clothes rumpled.
She touched her cheeks.
"…My heart beat really fast today," she whispered, not understanding why.
From her bedroom window, she peeked across the yard.
Caelum sat at his desk, already changed into dry clothes.He looked up.
Their eyes met.
She waved.
He waved back.
Then, as she pulled the curtain closed, she whispered to herself:
"I think… I love walking with him. Even in the rain."
Caelum's Thoughts
In his room, Caelum unwrapped the system screen in silence.
[GENESIS CORE – OBSERVER MODE]— Shared Umbrella Moment Logged— Emotional Stability: Secure— Subject LYSIA GREY: Physical Contact Level 1 Approved— Soul Recovery: 0.5% (+0.2%)— Timeline: Undisturbed
He stared at the words.
But they didn't matter.
Only one thing did:
He'd walked beside her.And she'd chosen to stay close.