The classroom buzzed with noise.
It was a free period—no teacher, no lessons, just scattered conversations filling every corner of the room. Some students leaned over desks chatting, others scrolled through their phones, while a few simply rested their heads, enjoying the rare moment of peace.
Near the window—
Kentarou sat in his usual seat, his gaze drifting outside. The sky was clear again, just like yesterday.
Calm.
Quiet.
"…Oi, Kentarou."
A familiar voice pulled him back.
Senku had already turned his chair around, resting his arms on the desk with his usual lazy grin.
"You're doing it again."
"…Doing what?"
"Staring at the sky like it's gonna answer your life problems."
"It's peaceful."
"It's boring," Senku corrected.
Kentarou didn't argue.
For a moment, both of them sat in silence, the distant chatter of their classmates filling the space between them.
Then—
Senku leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if he was about to reveal something important.
"You know what I've realized?"
"…What?"
Senku sighed dramatically.
"Our class is unlucky."
Kentarou blinked once.
"…Unlucky?"
"Yeah," Senku nodded seriously. "Most of the beautiful girls are in the other section."
Kentarou stared at him.
"…That's what you've been thinking about?"
"Of course!" Senku said without hesitation. "I mean, look around!"
Kentarou didn't need to.
He already knew.
"There are only like… two or three girls here who are actually cute," Senku continued, counting on his fingers. "And even they barely talk to anyone."
"…You notice a lot."
"It's called observation," Senku smirked.
"…I thought you only observed snacks."
"Hey, that's important too."
Kentarou let out a faint sigh, resting his chin on his hand again.
Senku leaned back slightly, still looking dissatisfied.
"Seriously though… we got the short end of the stick."
"…It doesn't matter."
"Huh?"
Kentarou's eyes shifted slightly toward the window again.
"…I'm not really interested."
Senku narrowed his eyes, studying him carefully.
"…You're thinking about her again, aren't you?"
Kentarou didn't respond.
But that silence—
Was answer enough.
Senku smirked.
"Man… long-distance crush, huh… sounds tough."
"…It's nothing like that."
"Yeah, yeah," Senku waved it off. "Keep telling yourself that."
A short pause followed.
Then Senku stretched his arms lazily.
"Well, whatever. Still doesn't change the fact that our class is lacking."
"…You're hopeless."
"And you're too serious."
For a moment—
Both of them fell silent again.
The noise of the classroom continued around them, unchanged.
A normal day.
An ordinary moment.
________________________
The final bell rang, echoing through the school halls as students quickly packed their bags, eager to leave.
Outside—
The sky had changed.
Dark clouds had gathered, covering the once clear blue, and by the time students stepped out of the gates…
Rain had already begun to fall.
Soft at first—
Then steady.
Students hurried, running, others opening umbrellas as the streets slowly turned glossy under the rain.
Kentarou stepped out calmly.
Without rushing.
Without panic.
Tap.
With a simple motion, he opened his umbrella, the soft sound blending with the rhythm of falling rain.
For a moment, he looked up at the grey sky.
Raindrops tapped gently against the fabric above him.
"…Good thing I brought this."
A small thought crossed his mind.
Thanks, Mom.
He didn't say it out loud.
But it was there.
Quiet.
Sincere.
Around him, the шум of students faded as everyone went their own way. Senku had already left earlier, leaving Kentarou alone this time.
And somehow—
He didn't mind.
The streets of Seoul felt different in the rain.
Quieter.
Softer.
The usual noise was replaced by the calming sound of raindrops hitting the ground, rooftops, and passing cars. Reflections of neon lights shimmered on the wet roads, creating a peaceful yet slightly lonely atmosphere.
Kentarou walked steadily, his footsteps light.
People passed by him, some talking, some rushing, some completely lost in their own worlds.
Just like him.
Alone.
Yet not lonely.
His umbrella shielded him from the rain, creating a small, quiet space around him as he continued walking through the streets.
Step by step—
He made his way toward the supermarket again.
The same place.
The same routine.
But today—
With the rain falling endlessly around him—
The soft chime of the automatic door echoed as Kentarou stepped inside the supermarket.
Warm air greeted him, a contrast to the cool rain outside.
He walked through the aisles without much thought, his movements calm and familiar. After a short while, he stopped in front of the drinks section, scanning the shelves.
"…This one."
He picked up a simple bottled drink and headed to the counter.
A quick payment—
And he was back outside.
The rain hadn't stopped.
If anything, it had grown heavier.
Kentarou stood near the entrance, just beneath the small shelter that extended from the supermarket roof. Raindrops fell endlessly in front of him, creating a curtain of water that blurred the view of the street.
Click.
He opened the bottle and took a small sip.
Cold.
Refreshing.
Leaning slightly against the wall, he watched the rain in silence.
People rushed past, some without umbrellas, some laughing as they ran through the downpour. Cars passed by, their headlights reflecting on the wet road.
Everything moved.
Everything flowed.
But Kentarou stayed still.
Quietly observing.
Then—
A sudden movement caught his attention.
From across the street—
A girl.
She was running.
Her footsteps splashed against the wet ground as she hurried toward the supermarket, trying to escape the rain. Her hair, slightly damp, moved with her as she got closer and closer.
And in that moment—
A cold wind blew past Kentarou.
He felt it.
Not just on his skin—
But somewhere deeper.
His eyes followed her without realizing it.
Time seemed to slow for just a second.
Thump.
A faint sound echoed in his chest.
"…Huh…"
Something felt… different.
Unfamiliar.
Yet strangely clear.
Love at first sight.
The thought came without permission.
And it startled him.
"…What… was that…"
For a brief moment, his brows furrowed slightly.
Then—
Another thought surfaced.
Have I… seen her before?
He couldn't place it.
A memory that almost existed.
But not quite.
The girl finally reached the entrance, slightly out of breath, and quickly stepped inside the supermarket, disappearing from his sight.
Just like that—
She was gone.
The space in front of him felt empty again.
Only the rain remained.
Kentarou stood there, silent.
The feeling lingered.
But—
"…It's nothing."
He took another sip of his drink, his expression returning to normal.
"…Just my imagination."
He turned his gaze back toward the rain, as if nothing had happened.
And slowly—
He chose to ignore it.
The feeling.
The moment.
Her.
As if it never existed at all.
Kentarou took one last sip of his drink.
The rain hadn't slowed.
"…Guess I should go."
He adjusted his grip on the umbrella, stepping slightly forward, ready to leave the shelter.
"Um… excuse me—"
A soft voice called out from behind him.
Kentarou stopped.
For a brief second—
His heart reacted before he even turned around.
He slowly looked back.
And there she was.
The same girl.
The one who had run into the supermarket just moments ago.
Standing there, slightly hesitant, her fingers gently holding onto the strap of her bag. A few strands of her hair still clung lightly to her face, damp from the rain.
"…You…"
The word almost slipped out.
But he stopped himself.
The girl gave a small, polite bow.
"Sorry to bother you," she said softly. "I… didn't bring an umbrella."
Kentarou blinked once.
"I was wondering… if it's okay… could I share yours?"
Her voice was calm.
Careful.
Respectful.
Not demanding.
Just asking.
For a moment, Kentarou said nothing.
The sound of rain filled the silence between them.
Then—
"…It's fine."
A simple answer.
But genuine.
The girl's expression softened immediately.
"Thank you so much."
Kentarou gave a small nod, slightly adjusting his umbrella to make space.
"…Let's go."
They stepped out together.
The rain greeted them instantly, tapping softly against the umbrella as they began to walk.
Side by side.
Not too close.
Not too far.
Just enough distance to keep things… careful.
For a while—
Neither of them spoke.
Only the sound of rain accompanied their footsteps.
Kentarou could feel it again.
That strange awareness.
The presence beside him.
"…Where are you going?" he finally asked, breaking the silence.
"Just a little further ahead," she replied. "Near the next street."
"…I see."
Silence returned once more.
But this time—
It didn't feel awkward.
Just quiet.
Kentarou glanced slightly to the side.
Only for a moment.
She was walking calmly, her gaze forward, her expression gentle.
A normal girl.
Nothing unusual.
And yet—
His chest felt… different.
"…Strange," he thought.
He tightened his grip on the umbrella slightly.
The rain continued to fall around them.
But beneath that small space they shared—
Something had quietly begun.
The rain continued to fall as they walked together under the same umbrella.
Step by step—
The distance between them remained careful, yet the silence between them felt strangely comfortable.
"Just here," the girl finally said, slowing down.
Kentarou stopped.
In front of them stood a small, quiet house, its lights softly glowing through the windows. The rain tapped gently against the roof, creating a calm atmosphere.
"…I see."
The girl turned toward him, her expression gentle.
"Thank you… for walking me home," she said, giving a small, polite bow.
Kentarou hesitated for a brief second.
"…It's fine."
Simple.
As always.
But his voice carried a quiet sincerity.
The girl smiled softly.
"Still… thank you."
For a moment—
Neither of them moved.
As if both were unsure what to say next.
Then—
"I'll go now," Kentarou said, breaking the silence.
"…Yes."
He turned around slowly, beginning to walk away.
The umbrella still shielding him from the rain.
He didn't look back.
Not even once.
And yet—
For some reason—
That moment stayed with him.
—
By the time Kentarou reached his house—
The rain had stopped.
The clouds had begun to clear, and the faint glow of the evening sky peeked through.
The ground was still wet, reflecting the dim lights around.
He stood at the entrance for a second, looking up.
"…It stopped."
A quiet observation.
Nothing more.
He folded his umbrella and stepped inside.
The door clicked softly as Kentarou stepped inside.
A warm aroma immediately filled the air.
From the kitchen—
"I'm back," he said calmly.
"Oh, welcome back," his mother replied, her voice gentle as she continued cooking. She glanced at him briefly. "You're wet. Go take a bath first."
"…Okay."
No questions.
No delay.
Kentarou quietly headed upstairs.
—
The sound of running water echoed softly in the bathroom.
Warm water washed away the dampness from the rain, the cold feeling slowly fading from his body. He stood there for a moment longer than usual, letting the warmth settle him.
But—
For some reason—
His mind drifted.
The rain.
The umbrella.
That girl.
"…What was that feeling…"
He frowned slightly, then shook his head.
"…It's nothing."
As if trying to convince himself.
—
A few minutes later—
Kentarou walked downstairs, his hair slightly damp, wearing fresh clothes.
"…I'm done."
As he reached the living room—
He stopped.
His father was there.
Sitting calmly, as if waiting.
"Kentarou," his father called. "Get ready. You're coming with us."
"…With you?"
"We're going to visit a colleague of ours," his mother added from the side. "Mrs. Kubo."
Kentarou blinked once.
"…Now?"
"Yes."
There was no room for refusal.
"…Okay."
—
A few minutes later—
The three of them stepped out of the house.
The rain had already stopped, leaving behind a cool breeze and wet streets that reflected the evening lights.
Kentarou walked quietly beside his parents.
Something felt… off.
Unfamiliar.
As they moved through the streets—
A sense of déjà vu began to creep in.
His eyes slowly scanned the surroundings.
"…This place…"
It felt familiar.
Too familiar.
Step by step—
The realization grew stronger.
"…Wait…"
His brows furrowed slightly.
Isn't this…
His footsteps slowed just a little.
This is the place where I…
"…dropped her."
The thought hit him clearly.
A quiet confusion settled inside him.
Why are we here…?
Before he could think further—
They stopped.
Right in front of a house.
The same house.
His heart skipped.
"…No way…"
His father stepped forward and rang the doorbell.
A few seconds later—
The door opened.
A woman stood there with a warm smile.
"Ah, you're here! Please, come in."
"Thank you, Mrs. Kubo," Kentarou's father replied.
Kentarou stood still for a brief second.
Then—
He followed them inside.
—
The house was warm.
Comfortable.
Almost exactly how he remembered it from earlier.
They sat down in the living room as polite conversations began between the adults.
Kentarou remained quiet, his mind still trying to process everything.
Then—
Mrs. Kubo turned slightly.
"Violet," she called. "Come here for a moment."
A pause.
Footsteps.
Soft.
Approaching.
Kentarou's heartbeat slowed.
Then—
She appeared.
The same girl.
From the rain.
From just a while ago.
Violet.
For a moment—
Everything disappeared.
The voices.
The room.
The world.
His eyes met hers.
And stayed there.
Her eyes—
They were different.
Clear.
Deep.
Beautiful in a way he couldn't explain.
For the first time in his life—
Kentarou didn't notice anything else.
Not his parents.
Not the conversation.
Not even himself.
Only her.
And that single moment—
Felt endless.