The school bell rang, signaling the end of the day, but the weather had taken a sudden turn. The morning sun had vanished, replaced by heavy, dark clouds. As Haruki reached the main gate, a torrential downpour began.
"Great... the one day I forget my umbrella," Haruki muttered to himself, watching the rain splash against the pavement.
He stood under the porch, waiting for the rain to let up. That's when he noticed Aimi standing a few feet away. She didn't have an umbrella either and looked distressed, checking her watch repeatedly as if she were in a hurry.
Haruki walked over to her. "Aimi? Did you get caught in the rain too?"
Aimi nodded sheepishly. "Yeah... my mom said it wouldn't rain today, so I didn't bring one."
Suddenly, Hana came running up behind them, holding a bright pink umbrella. "Haruki-kun! Come with me, I'll walk you home!" she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Then she noticed Aimi. Hana's expression faltered for a second, but she tried to be kind. "Aimi, you can join us... but my umbrella is a bit small for three people."
The air grew thick with awkwardness. Just then, Rin walked past them, holding a sleek, classy black umbrella. Without stopping, she said coolly, "Haruki, if you don't want to get soaked, come with me. My driver is waiting just a block away."
Three girls were now looking at Haruki:
Hana: Offering her small umbrella, hoping the proximity would bring them closer.
Aimi: Standing silently, but with a look of quiet hope in her eyes.
Rin: Acting indifferent as always, yet offering a ride for the first time.
Haruki took a deep breath. He noticed Aimi shivering slightly in the cold wind. He took off his school blazer and draped it over her shoulders. "Aimi, you go with Hana. Hana, please make sure she gets home safely."
Both Hana and Aimi were stunned. "What about you?" they asked in unison.
Haruki looked at Rin. "I'll go with Rin."
As they stepped into the rain, the world outside the black umbrella seemed to disappear. The sound of the heavy downpour hitting the fabric above them created a private, intimate space. Rin held the handle firmly, her knuckles slightly pale.
"You're always so soft-hearted, Haruki," Rin whispered, her voice barely audible over the rain. "Giving your blazer away like that... you'll catch a cold."
"I'll be fine," Haruki replied. But as he looked down, he realized Rin was shivering. She was leaning away from him to give him more space, and as a result, the rain was drenching her shoulder.
Without thinking, Haruki reached out and took the umbrella from her hand. His fingers brushed against hers, and for a second, time seemed to stop. He pulled her closer, bringing her fully under the dry center of the umbrella.
Rin froze, her breath catching in her throat. Her usual "ice queen" composure shattered as she looked up at him, her eyes wide and reflecting the gray sky.
"Stay close," Haruki said softly, his voice steady. "I'm not letting you get wet just to save me."
Rin didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned in, her head almost touching his shoulder. The cold wind was blowing, but between them, there was a sudden, intense warmth.
"Dummy..." she murmured, but this time, there was no bite in her words. She reached out and lightly grabbed the sleeve of his shirt, as if making sure he wouldn't move away.
As they walked toward the car, the rain became a background melody to the loud, rhythmic thumping of their hearts. Haruki realized that under this one umbrella, the distance between him and Rin had finally started to vanish.
Next Chapter: # Chapter 7: The Unspoken Truths in the Backseat