Chapter 219 Under One Umbrella

Under One Umbrella

We walk home together, under one umbrella, trying to match our pace.

I tilt the umbrella a little, pointing it more toward her.

“Senpai, your shoulder is getting wet. Don’t worry about me; I’m already soaked.”

It seems I’ve been found out easily.

“No, I can’t let that go on….”

“I like that gentle side of you, but it makes me feel guilty, so please stop.”

Well, if you say so, I can’t help it. I held the umbrella straight up.

“You’re not going to ask what happened?”

“No. I won’t ask.”

“Why?”

“Maybe because when I was at my worst, Ai-san did the same for me.”

She didn’t try to go into an area I didn’t want her to go into. I’m just doing the same thing.

“I see. Thank you.”

She continues to look apologetic.

“Besides, I trust you.”

“Trust?”

“Even if you have a secret, our relationship isn’t so fragile that it would break because of that, is it?”

When I looked sideways, I saw her with a bright red face, but also with a somewhat happy expression. It’s a miracle that I was able to meet a woman I could trust so much, especially after such an incident.

“…”

“What’s wrong? Are you cold?”

She shook her head.

“It’s the opposite. I’m so happy; I’m hot now. If I wasn’t soaking wet from the rain, I’d want to hug you….”

She must have realized that she had said too much. Her face turned red, and she looked down shyly.

“Maybe you should wait a bit before saying that.”

When I teased her like that, her face turned even redder.

“Did you hear that?”

“Well, who knows?”

“You are mean, Senpai no baka. Even if you heard it, please pretend you didn’t.”

I’m glad she’s acting like a normal teenager for once. This time, when we’re teasing each other like this, I feel incredibly happy. She shook her head vigorously and looked ahead. It seems that she’s managed to change her mood a bit.

“Whenever something bad happens, I become so self-destructive. I hate the part of me that doesn’t grow.”

The fact that she said that so casually makes me happy to know that she really trusts me.

“Is that so? At least you’re relying on someone now, unlike before.”

“That’s because you’re here for me. Because you promised to always be by my side….”

Her words trickle out, wet with emotion.

“Because you gave me the words I’ve always wanted, I’m able to move forward.”

It’s the same for me. Since that day, she’s been protecting me, even lowering her own status. Thanks to her getting back my important manuscript and pushing me forward, I am who I am now. I’m determined to make her happy.

“Oh, sorry. Your uniform jacket is wet. You’ll have to wear it tomorrow.”

She begins to calm down.

“It’s okay, I have another one at home.”

“Thank you.”

She said that and hugged my jacket tightly, looking a little cold. After that, we had a short conversation, confirming that we care for each other without saying much.

Ai’s PoV

I can smell Senpai’s scent.

Feeling a sense of security and embarrassment, I realize that my conversation is becoming incoherent and that I’m acting strangely. I’m no longer the depressed girl I was a moment ago, but just a normal girl enjoying a happy time with her boyfriend.

I realized that there’s no need to think about difficult things.

Right now, I just want to bask in this happy moment as a high school student.

Instead of hugging him, I hugged his jacket tightly.