A Rainy Day
Ai’s Pov
“Please let me off here.”
I ask Kuroi to let me off before we reach Kitchen Aono.
“But it will take a little more time from here.”
I know that. But I needed some time to collect myself before returning to that warm place.
“Please. I want to clear my head while I breathe some fresh air.”
“Understood.”
I slowly got out of the car. The air outside was still hot; it felt like summer.
Walking through the crowd. Everyone is walking happily. I’m probably the only one with a cloudy face.
My dear father and my present father. He has changed so much that I can’t believe he is the same person. If this continues, I’ll end up alone. I don’t want to be alone. So I went to that place that would welcome me warmly.
I have to change my mood before I get there so that no one will worry.
I must quickly return to my usual self.
Only my feelings were impatient while my feet kept moving forward.
Raindrops drip down and wet my hair.
“Ah, rain. Let’s hurry to the station.”
A woman nearby screamed. I also can see a salaryman taking a folding umbrella out of his bag.
Ah. I forgot my umbrella. But it’s a blessing for me right now.
Because it’s perfect for hiding my tear-stained face.
I can cry while walking and no one will notice. Thanks to this weather, I can be a child again.
Why do I have to go through this?
I’ve always been a good student. I’ve never caused my parents any trouble. They were both busy, so I put up with a lot. I also worked hard. I wanted to make them happy. So why did I have to endure such bullying? Why do I have to be separated from my father, whom I wanted to be with?
My emotions exploded, and my heart gradually turned black.
The balance of my heart, which had been stable since I met my Senpai, was finally broken.
I want to see him. I want to see him. I want to see him.
At that moment, the rain that had been pouring down began to wash away from my body.
I could hear the sound of water bouncing off the umbrella above my head. It took me a moment to realize that someone was holding an umbrella for me. I quickly turned around. My beloved person was looking at me with a worried expression, holding a shopping bag in his left hand.
“What are you doing, walking around in the rain without an umbrella?”
“Senpai, why are you here?”
“Mom asked me to get some extra lettuce for the salad because we might run out. I was just on my way back.”
He seemed to have gone shopping without even changing out of his uniform. He looked like the familiar Senpai I knew.
“I see.”
I couldn’t help but smile, feeling relieved like a lost child who had found her parents. I had cursed God for being cruel, but I changed my mind.
The timing of my encounters with my Senpai is always perfect.
“Are you crying?”
I couldn’t help but feel startled.
“I’m not crying. It’s probably just the rain.”
He laughed at my poor excuse. And then he said the same thing I had said before, “I see.” He must have guessed what had happened because he knew I was having dinner with my father.
“Let’s just say it was the rain. Anyway, let’s go to my place. You’ll catch a cold if you stay out here. What about dinner?”
“I’ve already finished.”
“Then how about some hot tea?”
He spoke to me gently. I couldn’t help but say “Okay.”
Thanks to his umbrella, I, who was on the verge of collapsing a while ago, was back to my usual self. He gave me his handkerchief too.
“It was just like the first time we met. It was raining that day, and I borrowed your towel.”
“Yes. Unlike that day, Ai-san is dressed up quite nicely. Is that okay? It must be expensive, right?”
“It is, but it’s okay. Consider it my tuition. Achoo.”
I tried to be a little tough, but I couldn’t win against the cold after feeling relieved.
When I sneezed, he took off his jacket and put it over me.
“I don’t have anything else, so this is all I can do.”
He said shyly.
“This is the best.”
I could feel his scent and his slight body temperature. Cherishing this happiness, we walked slowly forward.