"Seriously? You're going out of town for summer break?" Rio Takahashi said half-heartedly, resting his elbow on the desk and his head against his hand.
"Yeah… I think it's about time I go back to my hometown to visit my parents. Would you be willing to come over? I told them about getting a new friend, and they've been nonstop pestering me about bringing you along," Takumi Hayashi said in a calm tone.
He stood up, pulled his hands from the pockets of his white hoodie, and sighed before placing an arm around Rio's shoulders.
Takumi Hayashi was an average-looking guy with short brown hair who always wore hoodies to class. Don't let his plain appearance and casual outfit choices deceive you. As the ace of the tennis club, he was quite popular with the girls in school—but little did they know, he was only interested in 2D girls.
"So, how about it? Are you coming?"
"…I can name a hundred better things to do with my time than be with you, honestly."
"Ouch! That hurts my feelings, man. Come on, it'd be fun to get out for once!"
Rio glanced up at Hayashi and closed his eyes.
"Oh?" Hayashi said with a grin, "Someone's thinking about it!"
His smile brightened as he chuckled and sat back down in front of Rio.
The two of them were currently in the tennis club's clubroom, discussing plans for summer break since it was starting in just a few days.
"Alright, fine. It can't be that bad, can it?" Rio finally replied, looking down in slight defeat.
"Let's go! When we get there, what would you like to do first?"
"Uh… where even is your hometown? You haven't told me yet."
"I haven't?" Hayashi asked, rubbing his chin in confusion. "I thought I did."
"You haven't told me much about yourself since I transferred in, if it helps."
Hayashi turned his attention to Rio and nodded. "I see… well, if that's the case! I grew up in Kamakura."
Rio tilted his head, intrigued. "Kamakura… huh. Sounds kind of nice."
"Nice? It's awesome! You'll see. And hey, I promise my parents aren't boring—they'll probably try to feed you nonstop, though," Hayashi added with a laugh.
"I see..."
...
As morning arrived all too quickly, Rio Takahashi reached for his phone, which stood upright on the wooden table in the living room of his small apartment. One glance at the caller ID was enough—he answered without hesitation.
"Yes, Hayashi? To what do I owe the pleasure of such an enthusiastic call at the entirely reasonable hour of six in the morning?"
"Hey, Takahashi! I was wondering if you wanted to head out later with me. I've got a list of things to buy—plus some birthday gifts. After that, I'll even cover dinner, if you don't already have plans."
Rio allowed a brief silence to settle between them, weighing the proposition.
He had plans—or rather, he would have preferred to claim that he did. In truth, he simply had no desire to be out in public.
Yet declining someone who had shown him consistent kindness since his transfer… that was equally unappealing.
"Very well," Rio replied at last. "I will accompany you. When and where?"
"How about noon? At the mall. I can get most of what I need there anyway."
"Noon, then... I'll message you when I get there."
"Got it, friend!" The call ended.
On the other end, Hayashi rose from his bed, already organizing the day in his mind—intent on moving efficiently so he could return early and continue packing for his trip home.
Rio, meanwhile, remained still.
He turned toward the window, sunlight spilling across the room in soft, quiet strokes. Rising from the couch, he walked over, his gaze drifting outward.
He could not say with certainty whether the choices he had made thus far were correct.
Then again… neither could he claim they were mistakes.
Since transferring, not a single day had passed in which he felt as though he truly belonged.
Despite everything his upbringing had instilled in him, integrating into a life like this felt… foreign.
To be called a friend…
His gaze lowered slightly.
Friend…
It was a word people used so casually, as though its meaning were universally understood.
Yet, in his experience, words were rarely so simple.
Acquaintance. Ally. Companion.
Each carried its own subtle distinction, its own expectations.
If he were to define it, perhaps it was not the word itself that held meaning, but the intention behind it.
Rio remained there for a long while, unmoving.
A fleeting impulse surfaced within him—to call Hayashi back and withdraw, to fabricate an excuse and retreat into the comfort of solitude.
But that was not entirely accurate.
If he were honest… what he felt was something else entirely. A quiet, almost instinctive urge to return home.
His hand tightened slightly at his side. Then, just as quickly, he dismissed the thought.
That was not what he wanted, but that is what he felt.
...
Rio Takahashi pulled out his phone as he stood at the front of the mall and sent a text to Hayashi. Just as he hit send, he heard the buzz of a phone beside him.
"Hayashi?" he asked, turning to face the man standing next to him, wearing a blue and green sweater, a black hat with an eagle logo, and black pants with white straps running down the left side.
"Yo!" Hayashi replied, taking off his hat and laughing. "Bet that surprised you, huh?"
Rio Takahashi let out a quiet chuckle, eyeing his outfit. "Surely… this isn't the tennis club's ace… is it?"
"You bet it is, Takahashi!"
Rio rolled his eyes and sighed, though a faint smile lingered. "Our first time meeting outside of school, and you chose to present yourself like this?"
"What can I say? I do what I must."
"And what, exactly, does that entail?"
"No point in asking. I won't tell."
The two of them walked into the mall and began moving from store to store, browsing various items until Rio paused and pointed something out.
"What about this keychain as a birthday gift?"
Hayashi glanced down at the blue keychain displayed inside a glass case, narrowing his eyes slightly. "I suppose that could work for my younger brother. He did mention wanting one a while back… though I never got around to buying it."
After a few more moments of consideration, Hayashi decided to purchase it. The two continued wandering through the mall, stopping at different stores, until they eventually lost track of time.
Rio paused and glanced up at the mall's glass ceiling. Only then did he realize how much time had passed. Coming to a stop, he turned to face Hayashi.
"It's already getting quite late. I should be getting home."
Hayashi followed his gaze upward, noticing the dimming sky beyond the glass. "Oh… yeah, it really is getting dark, huh? Well, alright. Honestly, I didn't plan on staying out this long either. I still need to pack—and I've got to contact the club members about a few practice sessions before summer break."
"I see. Then I'll leave you to it." Rio turned slightly, preparing to walk away, before adding, "I do appreciate the invitation, however. It was… entertaining, watching you get thoroughly defeated in the arcade."
"Hey! That was rigged!"
Rio allowed himself a small, quiet smile as he began walking away, heading back toward his apartment.
After nearly an hour of walking, he finally found the correct exit. As he stepped outside, a soft rain began to fall, tapping lightly against the pavement.
Glancing around, Rio walked over to the first person he saw and asked, "Do you know a store where I could buy an umbrella?"
"They should be selling them on the second floor," the man replied. "I was planning on heading there myself since I didn't bring one. I'll show you where it is."
"If that's fine with you, then please do," Rio said politely.
The man began walking toward the nearest elevator and pressed the button for the doors to open. It only took a few seconds before they slid wide, and the two of them stepped inside.
"So, what's your name? I'm Alan Smith."
"Rio Takahashi. If you don't mind me asking, what brought you here?"
"Straightforward, huh? Well, I don't mind. I'm here on an exchange student program my school does."
"I see… well, I appreciate you showing me where to buy an umbrella. This is the first time I've been to this mall."
Alan glanced at Rio, a little surprised. "Really? I come here every weekend. With how many people there are at all times, I assumed this was just one of the main spots around here."
Rio nodded. "It did seem quite packed today. And, yes, really. First time for everything, right?"
"You're not wrong, that's for sure."
Suddenly, the elevator came to a stop and the doors opened. Alan Smith and Rio stepped out, and Rio followed Alan to a small store in the corner that sold umbrellas.
They walked in and looked around for a moment before Alan made his way to the counter. He paid for his umbrella and waved goodbye to Rio from a distance.
Rio waved back in a friendly manner, still searching for an umbrella he liked. Eventually, he decided to just grab one rather than linger and look foolish.
I better just take this one and get out of here. If I stall any longer, I won't even wake up for school tomorrow… ugh.
...
He stepped out of the mall and raised his umbrella, letting it shield him from the steady drizzle.
As he walked home, a quiet sigh escaped him. The light drizzle that had been falling since he left the mall thickened, transforming into a heavy downpour.
Raindrops splashed against his umbrella, soaking the ground around him. His thoughts, however, remained tangled with the question of which club to join—or whether he even wanted to join one at all.
I could probably get into the tennis club, considering I know Takumi Hayashi… but honestly, I don't think I'd be any good at that.
He raised his left hand and scratched the back of his head, brushing his short black hair aside. Then, out of the corner of his vision, he saw her.
It was Yuzu Hoshimura.
Even for someone like Rio, a transfer student in his first year of high school, her name had already reached every corner of the school. In the few months he had been attending, he had seen her every single day.
And yet, even for him, it was impossible to ignore her.
Her straight, meticulously groomed hair, platinum at the roots and fading into a soft pastel pink, was always a silky sheen. Her pale, milky-white skin seemed untouched by the sun, smooth and flawless.
It was no wonder she was so popular. Every detail—from her delicate, petite nose to her large, expressive eyes, framed by lashes that seemed too perfect to be real—was admired by everyone at school. In the eyes of others, she was the very definition of perfection.
...I see why everyone talks about her so much. She… really is pretty, but whatever she's doing out here doesn't concern me.
He began to walk away, but after only a few steps, he glanced back once more.
She was sitting alone on a bench, without an umbrella. Her eyes were nearly closed, her body completely soaked as the rain poured down relentlessly over her.
Rio clicked his tongue softly and shook his head.
Damn it all… Why do I care about others more than I'd like to admit? I already know this is going to be a pain.
"...Are you alright?"
He called out to her as casually as he could manage, keeping his tone even—non-threatening.
She lifted her head slightly, her long hair, now heavy with water, slipping back over her shoulder as she brushed it aside. When her gaze met his, his heart skipped without warning.
Even under the weight of the downpour, her beauty didn't falter—it only felt more striking.
Rain clung to her, tracing slow paths down her face, slipping from strands of her hair and along the curve of her cheeks. Her pale, milky-white skin seemed almost luminous despite the storm.
And then there were her lip. They carried a faint blush of rose, glossed over by rain, making them nearly impossible to ignore.
She looked up at him with large, striking eyes.
Yuzu likely recognized him, at least to an extent. They passed each other often on the way to school—they were neighbors, after all.
And yet…the look in her ruby-colored eyes said everything. She was still guarded and who wouldn't be? It was night, rain pouring, and a stranger had suddenly spoke to her out of nowhere.
"Takahashi? What is it?" Yuzu asked, staring up at Rio. Her voice was like buttercream—soft, calm, and soothing.
Rio stood there for a few moments, looking down at her. His teal-colored eyes met hers briefly before he shook his head.
He was surprised, honestly. He hadn't expected Yuzu to even know he existed. To hear his name from her lips felt like a strange kind of honor.
However, Rio didn't say anything at first and released a soft sigh, unable to ignore the quiet urge to protect someone who was clearly in some kind of disarray.
How did he know that? Rio had always been good at reading others' body language. It was something he had to learn.
"There's nothing I want, really. I just happened to walk by and saw you sitting here… Are you okay?" Rio asked, his voice softer this time.
Yuzu slowly nodded, just barely, but it was still obvious she had her guard up. It seemed like she didn't even want to speak to him at all.
"I appreciate your concern… but you can leave. If you must know, I'm out here because I wanted to be in the rain for a little."
Rio continued to gaze down at her before scratching the top of his head and giving a small nod to Yuzu Hoshimura. "…If that's really all it is."
Rio wasn't sure how long she had been out in the downpour, and despite wanting to walk away, he knew it would weigh on his conscience if she got sick and he did nothing. That was just the kind of person he was.
Rio crouched down in front of her. Realizing the chances of her accepting the umbrella were low, he carefully set it into the crook of the bench so it leaned against the backrest, shielding her from the rain.
He stood up and slipped his hands into the pockets of his gray hoodie.
As he turned to leave, he noticed Yuzu about to speak. He paused, pulling his right hand free and raising a single finger to his lips, gently cutting her off before tucking his hand back into his pocket.
"You don't have to explain or say anything to me," Rio said quietly. "Just… don't stay out here too long, okay? You'll catch a cold. Go home when you're ready… and keep the umbrella."
As Rio walked away, he could hear Yuzu's calm, soothing voice behind him, though he couldn't make out what she was saying over the heavy downpour, which had only grown stronger.
Droplets of rain clung to his shoulder-length black hair before falling to the pavement below. The cold seeped into his skin, each drop a reminder of how thoroughly soaked he had become.
Thunder rumbled overhead, low and distant at first, then louder—closer.
Rio exhaled softly and quickened his pace, footsteps echoing faintly against the slick ground as he made his way toward his apartment, the storm showing no signs of letting up.