The bell rang, and students left school. The rain grew louder and louder.
Usami, the only one without an umbrella, stood waiting for it to stop.
Just then, Mahiru appeared, umbrella in hand.
"My umbrella is too big for one," she said, looking away.
Usami froze. Sharing an umbrella… with Mahiru? He had no choice but to accept.
As they walked, Usami remembered the other day.
"Why did you even have an umbrella then? It was too hot," he asked.
Mahiru replied calmly, "In the Philippines, people always carry umbrellas on sunny days."
Usami stopped in shock. She's from the Philippines?
Mahiru explained she was half Filipino, half Japanese.
Soon, they reached their village and said goodbye.
When Mahiru entered her home, her heart raced uncontrollably.
What is this feeling…?
---
Scene shift.
Lunch time at school.
Haruto walked down the hallway, planning to go to the cafeteria, when he noticed two boys cornering a girl.
Without hesitation, he stepped in.
One boy shoved Haruto to the ground.
As he fell, the girl—Yumi—caught a glimpse of Haruto's face.
Haruto's gaze darkened. His eyes cut through the boys, sending shivers down their spines.
In a blink, one boy was punched, then the other. They fled the scene.
Yumi bowed. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Haruto replied, walking off.
Yumi couldn't help but think of his face behind those bangs.
---
Later, after school.
Usami was walking home when he ran into Mahiru, heading the same way.
"Hi," she said.
"Hi," Usami replied.
They walked together again.
But Usami wasn't feeling well. Despite that, he still endured the day at school.
Mahiru noticed.
"Are your parents home?" she asked.
"They went to a business meeting. They'll be back tomorrow," Usami explained.
Mahiru stopped, then asked, "Can I stay at your house for a bit?"
Usami blinked in shock. "Why…?"
Her face grew annoyed. "Because I want to take care of you."
"Why?" Usami asked again.
Mahiru looked away, guilty. "Do you want it or not?"
Usami hesitated, but eventually agreed.
---
At his house, Mahiru quickly took charge.
She checked his temperature, placed a wet towel on his forehead, and cooked porridge.
Usami ate, then gave her a sincere, "Thank you."
Hearing that, Mahiru remembered cooking class. She smiled faintly and said, "No problem."
Then, without another word, she left in a hurry.
As the door closed, Usami lay back, his thoughts drifting.
Those red eyes… Mahiru was looking at me like that again.