The rain had finally stopped.
Morning light slipped through the curtains in pale streaks, softer than usual, as if the sky was trying to make up for yesterday. Zane's alarm shattered the calm anyway—sharp, insistent, impossible to ignore.
He groaned and rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling.
Something feels... wrong.
The thought lingered no matter how hard he tried to shake it. Not fear exactly. Not sadness either. Just a quiet pressure beneath his ribs, like his body knew something his mind didn't.
He dragged himself out of bed and headed for the bathroom.
The shower was cold—on purpose. The shock of it stole the air from his lungs, made his thoughts scatter. Water rushed over his shoulders, down his spine, grounding him in the moment.
Still, the feeling didn't leave.
By the time he finished, his skin was flushed and his hands were shaking slightly. He dressed in his school uniform, movements automatic, then headed downstairs when his mom called his name.
Breakfast was simple and familiar—steamed rice, miso soup, grilled fish, tamagoyaki. His mom moved around the kitchen quietly while his sister talked about nothing in particular, filling the space with noise.
Zane listened more than he spoke.
Before leaving, he paused in front of the small altar in the corner of the room.
He set fresh fruit down carefully and bowed his head.
"Hey, Dad," he murmured.
"Um... there's someone I want to tell you about."
He hesitated, then smiled faintly.
"Her name is Heaven. She's really kind. And her eyes—" He exhaled softly. "They're blue. Like the ocean."
For a moment, the house felt still.
"I think you'd like her."
Zane straightened, slung his bag over his shoulder—and tucked Heaven's umbrella carefully inside before stepping outside.
The streets were damp but bright, sunlight catching on puddles as he walked toward the bus stop.
Halfway there, he spotted her.
Heaven stood ahead, adjusting the strap of her bag, hair catching the light now that the clouds were gone.
His chest eased.
"Hey," he said as he caught up to her.
She turned, smiling instantly. "Morning."
"I, um—" He stopped, then took a breath. "I wanted
to thank you. For yesterday. And for the umbrella."
He pulled it out of his bag and held it out to her.
She blinked, then laughed softly. "No problem. Really. If you ever need anything, I've got you."
The words settled somewhere warm in his chest.
They walked together the rest of the way, talking easily—about sport day, about how nervous he was and how excited she was to watch.
At the bus stop, they sat side by side as the city moved around them.
"I like sport day," Heaven said. "It feels... different. Like everyone forgets how stressed they are for a bit."
Zane nodded. "I'm nervous. But kind of happy too."
The bus arrived with a hiss of air, and they climbed on, taking a seat together near the window.
Conversation drifted—music, food, places they liked. When Heaven mentioned the rooftop she always went to, Zane swallowed hard before admitting he liked to write.
"Can I see sometime?" she asked gently.
He froze.
"I—maybe," he said, heart racing.
Before she could ask more, her friends piled onto the bus, voices loud and familiar. Talk shifted to sport day, then to spring break—ideas bouncing everywhere.
"Why don't we do something together?" Heaven suggested.
Everyone agreed instantly.
"What about you, Zane?" Haruto Kagawa asked. "Any ideas?"
He hesitated, then said quietly, "The beach."
For once, no one ignored him.
"That's perfect," Miyu Sato said.
By the time the bus stopped at school, laughter filled the air.
They spilled out together, but as usual, everyone split off—except Heaven and Zane.
Same class.
They took their seats just as the teacher entered, a stack of papers in hand.
"Alright," the teacher said, passing them out. "Choose which sport you want to participate in today."
Zane stared down at the paper.
Outside, the sky was clear.
Too clear.
He couldn't explain why—but as he lifted his pen, that strange feeling returned.
And this time, it stayed.