Rain fell steadily over the quiet town, tapping softly against the windows of the old school building. The corridors were empty, the lights dimmed, and the sound of raindrops echoed through the halls.
Takamine stood by the classroom window, watching the rain slide slowly down the glass.
Behind him, the door creaked open.
"You're still here?" a calm voice asked.
Takamine didn't turn immediately."I could ask you the same thing, Sirota."
Sirota stepped inside, shaking a few drops of rain from his jacket. His expression was relaxed, but his sharp eyes scanned the empty room.
"You left your bag," he said, placing it on the desk.
Takamine glanced at it briefly. "I noticed."
Silence settled between them for a moment, filled only by the quiet rhythm of the rain.
Sirota leaned against a desk.
"You've been distracted lately," he said.
Takamine finally turned toward him.
"That obvious?"
"Only to someone paying attention."
Takamine gave a faint smile.
Outside, thunder rumbled softly in the distance.
"Do you ever feel like something strange is happening around here?" Takamine asked.
Sirota raised an eyebrow."That's vague."
Takamine looked back toward the rain.
"Yesterday, when the rain started… I heard something."
"What kind of something?"
"A whisper."
Sirota didn't laugh.
Instead, his eyes narrowed slightly.
"From where?"
Takamine hesitated.
"The courtyard."
The rain grew heavier outside, drumming harder against the roof.
Sirota crossed his arms.
"You're not the first person to say that."
Takamine turned quickly.
"Someone else heard it?"
Sirota nodded slowly.
"A first-year student. She said she heard someone calling her name between the raindrops."
Takamine felt a chill crawl up his spine.
"That's exactly what it felt like," he said quietly. "Like the rain was… hiding the voice."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The classroom lights flickered once.
Then again.
Sirota glanced at the ceiling.
"That shouldn't happen," he muttered.
The lights steadied, but the room suddenly felt colder.
Takamine frowned.
"Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
Takamine stepped closer to the window.
Through the rain-covered glass, the courtyard looked blurred and distant.
But for a brief moment—
He thought he saw someone standing near the old tree.
Just a dark shape in the rain.
"Someone's out there," Takamine whispered.
Sirota walked beside him and looked outside.
There was nothing.
Just rain.
"You're imagining things," Sirota said calmly.
But as he turned away—
A faint whisper drifted through the open window.
"…Takamine…"
Both of them froze.
The voice was soft.
Almost hidden within the sound of the rain.
Sirota slowly closed the window.
Neither of them spoke for several seconds.
Finally, Takamine broke the silence.
"You heard it too, didn't you?"
Sirota didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked toward the dark hallway outside the classroom.
His voice was quiet when he finally spoke.
"Yes."
Another whisper passed through the rain outside.
And this time…
It sounded closer.