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The spring rain seemed to shower endlessly covering the streets of Tokyo in sheets of grey. Nothing was saved by the inches of downpour, nothing at all. I looked up, stretching my hand to the sky.
It doesn’t seem like it’ll end any time soon.
No good.
The weather forecast previously said that there was a 5% chance of rain today.
Guess he was wrong.
Sigh. You really can’t trust the weather man nowadays. Gloomy clouds seemed to stretch on for miles and miles as only the droplets fell harder onto the ground.
I fought back the urge to pretend to be sick and picked up an old but questionably trusty clear umbrella in defeat.
The last thing that was on my mind was attending another miserable Monday at school.
However knowing my little sister, Kaju would be disappointed to see her big brother lie for his own selfishness.
My heart ached to return binge reading light novels all day. On a rainy day like this would be any man’s dream come true.
Unfortunately, I can’t do that unless I’d like to have another earful from Kaju.
On my walk to school I slowly forget about the fact I’m forced to go outside.
The class door swings open abruptly and an hoard of girls seemingly surround Karen. I can already sense Yanami’s laser eyes burning holes through the back of her head. Poor girl, I mutter to myself praying for Karen’s safety.
In a soft pout, Karen pulls off far away look into the distance.
“I hope the rain stops soon, Sosuke said he’ll take us out to a study cafe after school. We had hoped to plan on celebrating our 100th day anniversary together and it would be shame if it was cancelled so suddenly.”
The rest of the girls shared their condolences with her except for one little otter in the corner of the classroom.
Yanami rolls her eyes. “Shame my butt homewreaker.” She tsked, sweeping the floors in an even more aggressive manner than before.
It’s a miracle the broomstick hasn’t already snapped in half from the sheer pressure of her hold.
Hardheaded and jealous as ever the blue haired girl refused joining the pity party for her best friend. I only watch in amusement from where I was, enjoying the scene that was being played out before my eyes of course.
I’ll get my light novels one way or another even if it comes at the cost of seeing it in real life.
Yanami finished sweeping, wiping the sweat off her brow. Seeing her like this was odd. She normally to me would always be the glutton who looks for every chance to extort my money but right now watching her diligently work hard was a nice change of pace.
Once the homeroom teacher arrived the students broke apart and took their assigned seats.
I sat in my desk facing the front as Yanami takes the desk in front of me a few rows ahead.
Her behaviour always seemed to stand out to me from the very beginning. Even in the past her presence seemed to make the entire room light up. Although I’d keep to myself the blue haired girl never fail to surprise me.
She must still be hung up on the 8k couple though. Based off her slouched shoulders and sighs every minute, Yanami seemed to be feeling down more than usual.
There was no telling what she’ll do next.
But I hoped it didn’t involve me.
I spin my mechanical pencil around in boredom, the sound of the teacher’s voice gets drowned out inside of my head.
Now thinking about, it must be nice going to a study cafe. Of course I’m not too worried about my grades, I can do well on exams just fine on my own but the cozy atmosphere seemed quite relaxing and almost tempting.
Considering you get to stay inside and look out at the rain, I see that as a win-win scenario for me.
No people, no distractions, no more getting roped into random shenanigans.
Maybe I should go to one too?
Plus, I need a good excuse to get away from Kaju’s pestering.
Perhaps I could also bring back some new books for the literature club too?
The rain seemed to calm down a bit in the afternoon, the school bell rung as students began exiting the building and packing up. I opened my clear umbrella however there was only one problem.
While there wasn’t as much rain as before the walk to the study cafe was still 15 minutes away and who knows how long this old umbrella would last?
I hope it can withstand in the afternoon at the very least.
“Nukumizu! Hey wait for me!”
Just as I was about to step off of school grounds.
I soon began regretting my decisions to come to school at all today.
Yanami awkwardly chuckled, fiddling with her fingers. This girl was definitely plotting to rope me in another one of her crazy antics again.
“I promise, it’s not a big favour or anything but could you possibly walk me home, I kind of forgot my umbrella? Hehe!”
I cross my arms, not falling for her lies. “What is it this time?”
Anna looks up at me begging me with her best puppy dog eyes.
“Can you help me spy on Karen and Sosuke!?”
I turn away from her eyes in an attempt to stop myself from agreeing. “Why do I have to always be the one you go to for these things? I thought you said no more after the last time. If I remember correctly a no means no, Yanami.”
“But Nukumizu if we don’t trail that backstabbing two-faced liar then I’ll never know what she might do to Sosuke!”
“Like what exactly?”
“Like what if Sosuke starts tutoring her and then she ends up sleeping on his shoulder or what if they end up sharing a drink together with two straws or what if the two of them begin touching each other in secret underneath the table!”
To be fair, I wouldn’t be surprised if Sosuke and Karen had done all those corny dating tropes already the moment they began going out.
But touching each other in secret? What kind of light novels had she been reading lately?
Regardless why does she keep picking these fights if she’ll lose anyways?
“I said no and that’s final.”
“Nukumizu?”
“No.”
“Nukumizu pretty please?”
“I said no!”
I raised my voice a little too loud catching passing students off guard.
Yanami lets out a deep sigh in defeat.
“Fine, Nukumizu have it your way. I guess I’ll have to walk in the rain without an umbrella all alone.”
Will she really walk all the way to the study cafe like that? She can’t be serious, Yanami could end up catching a cold.
How reckless could she be?!
Yanami began walking with her head down low. It was a sorry sight to see. Anyone around us could feel bad for the poor girl.
And completely mistaken everything to be my fault.
It seemed she got it all planned out.
Acting like the victim yet again, her specialty. In the end I somehow end up being the bad guy in each of her scenarios.
If things couldn’t get any worse the crowd that began forming around me started badgering me to help Yanami.
Hearing the toss up of insults; “douche”, “dirtbag”, and “waste of space” left a sour taste in mouth.
Guess I have no other choice?
I walked into the rain holding out my umbrella. Before anymore droplets hit the top of her head the clear umbrella blocked that from happening.
I also didn’t want to be the one responsible if she had become sick the next day.
“Nukumizu!” She smiled brightly. “You finally came to your senses! I knew you had it in you, you big softie!” She bumps shoulders with me.
“I had to for your sake. Don’t go off thinking I’m here to help you whenever you want now, Yanami. Whatever sabotage you came up with this time consider this a favour.”
A knowing grin appeared on Yanami’s face.
“Aye aye captain! You won’t have to worry about a thing.”
The clear umbrella barely fit the two of us.
Walking in the rain was a common cliche used in light novels. There’s a saying that goes whoever’s names that are written beside the shaft it’s said would magically lead the two to fall in love.
To put it quite plainly, the ideal situation would bring a moment of closeness.
However, if I’d known previously that it would result in me getting the short end of stick the situation quickly became less romantic with each passing second.
The sidewalk allowed for only two people, Yanami coincidentally stayed on the inside. Usually I walked closer to the road. It’s habit I do whenever I’m walking with Kaju to keep her on the safe side.
“How does it feel sharing an umbrella with a cute girl?”
“Is it usually supposed to feel this cramped?”
“Cramped?!”
Yanami steps on my shoe in retaliation.
“Is that how you’re supposed to treat a girl! Nevermind that but you can’t see this as an opportunity to live out to the fullest potential of your light novel dreams?”
Who said it was my dream to share an umbrella with you?
Nonetheless I gave a curt but polite smile back instead in my uneasiness. In order to save my poor toe from Yanami’s wrath.
“I can’t quite say this what I had in mind exactly?”
“Well what did you have in mind exactly then?”
I scratched my cheek awkwardly trying to come up with a reason.
“For starters I don’t think I’d even be the hero in these scenarios.”
“What makes you say that?”
I paused in my tracks to face Yanami, her question suddenly caught me off guard.
To my surprise it became silent briefly, normally Yanami would continue to tease me or make a joke to make light of the situation but she didn’t.
Instead her eyes were searching mine, looking for a serious answer.
I gulped. Feeling oddly uncomfortable. I began acting instinctively defensive having to justify my reasoning.
“Who says I need to be the hero all the time?”
“But isn’t it your life? Shouldn’t you be the hero in your own story?”
“I don’t see the problem in it.”
“Do you really?”
“Why would there be?”
Thunder cracks in the background. Breaking the tension apart.
She seemed to have finally taken the sign, I managed to stop Yanami from pushing for more.
It became a little awkward but Yanami filled the silence with her laughter.
I didn’t realize how easily the sound of her laughter eased my tense shoulders.
I quickly felt relieved but Yanami’s expression said otherwise.
“That’s no good, I’m kind of starting to feel bad for you now Nukumizu.”
If you were truly feeling bad for me you wouldn’t force me to join you. Although it’d already be too late.
Yanami started humming. “Say if that’s the case then how about I spoil you this time. For everything you’ve done for me so far.”
Yanami got to the study cafe first without a single drenched spot on her uniform I however had no luck.
The wet spot on my shoulder doesn’t seem to dry any faster even though we’re finally inside.
I didn’t know why I couldn’t control myself in the moment. I usually was able to handle my emotions but it seemed like they got the better of me this time.
Had a let myself become too loose around Yanami overtime?
Strange. It’s funny to think how much I’ve grown to become familiar with her presence now.
I thought she would forget her wallet yet again but this time Yanami already paid for our drinks.
I sipped a bit of my tea in deep thought. Yanami had ordered a strawberry milkshake for herself finished with a fat dollop of whip cream and a cherry on top.
I tried to enjoy my drink but I could still feel a pair of eyes watching me carefully across the table.
Confirming my suspicions. I looked up at Yanami.
Guess the awkwardness didn’t disappear right away.
I mean whatever happened back there got pretty tense. I didn’t know what to say still.
The words all got stuck inside of my throat when she asked and I was glad Yanami backed down from asking further but I must have made her feel bad in the end.
“I’m sorry for how I acted earlier. I shouldn’t have said that to you.”
Yanami gave a soft smile.
“It’s fine, Nukumizu. I was the one who kept pushing. I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I was just wondering why would you think about yourself that way?
Because honestly Nukumizu, I think you’re a pretty good person, more than you realize it actually.”
I looked down at my cup of tea. It wasn’t as if I tried to hide it on purpose but I don’t enjoy having to talk about preferring to be alone.
“I’ve grown to be comfortable with myself and I never thought about being with others that much, I just became used to to it always. I hadn’t had much friends in middle school besides my sister, actually it wasn’t for you I didn’t think I’d meet this many people.
It’s strange to think about how I’m surrounded by everyone that I guess the past me wouldn’t believe it.”
I looked up at Yanami.
“I, all this time I just like to be in the background. Maybe I felt a little awkward when you asked so suddenly. For some reason I still think I’m just part of a mob.”
Yanami pondered for a moment. “It doesn’t seem all that fun to be one though.”
“You don’t get in much trouble being a part of a mob.”
“Then what if something changes? What happens where you’re in a situation where you would have to act?”
I blink in response to her question. Unknowing how to answer.
“Well, then I think I’d do my best to try and make the right choices. If it means having to do a bit more than I usually do.”
I fidget with my hands together. Feeling that odd feeling in my chest again.
What was she insinuating?
I don’t do main character business at all.
However, Yanami seems to be the exact opposite of me, she stars in the center of the show. I don’t have a role to play unlike her.
Yanami pursed her lips together, she had been stirring the straw in her milkshake the moment we sat down.
Her eyes widen recognizing the couple approaching behind me.
“Here they come!”
She ducked her head forcing me down with her. We both hid beneath the table as their footsteps approach to be seated near the window.
They were sitting a few tables away from us but we had the perfect view to watch them from where we were.
Karen and Sosuke were giggling together, ordering a single milkshake to share amongst themselves.
The final nail in the coffin was the dessert. Sosuke revealed a white box that had a cake inside written in brown icing, “Happy 100th Day Anniversary!”
Yanami began rising from the chair, the chair squeaked against the floorboards as she slowly standing up.
“Yanami! Don’t do it!” I whispered towards her.
Her stomach sank. Embarrassment rises to her cheeks.
Here she had spent her entire afternoon waiting for them to arrive to be ready to heckle at them but the only thing she felt inside was shame.
They were a couple celebrating together and here she was feeling bitter about their success.
Her childhood friends, the closest people she knows, she was in the end heartbroken to see the two of them together.
“Yanami?” I ask softer this time. Her eyes were wide as saucers. Of course, she should have known better but seeing it in person felt 10x worse.
It seemed like her jealousy had only brought back more pain in the end.
I raised my voice to reach her but it seemed like Yanami was still in shock.
“C’mon let’s just go. We shouldn’t interrupt.”
Yanami’s voice trembled.
She began marching towards Karen and Sosuke but I held firmly onto her hand, her body felt so fragile within my grasp, almost as if it was going to break any minute now.
The hardest part was watching the light fade away from her eyes. She never looked this emotionless. It felt painful to watch anymore.
I saw Yanami sank back down into her chair. Her eyes weren’t as bright as the blue sky anymore they were as dull as the rain.
The tears soon started pouring in. She covered her mouth to hide her cries.
Seeing Yanami breakdown was heart wrenching. I felt a knife twisting inside my heart. This girl who had always been a ray of sunshine was fighting back the urge to sob in public.
I was trying my best to figure out what to do, what could I say to comfort her, what could I do to cheer her up?
I reached for my handkerchief, the one Kaju made for me when we were kids and handed it to Yanami slowly.
She took it and blow hard.
There wasn’t a single thing she had said the next minutes. I waited silence till she finally felt ready to say something.
It took a while for Karen and Sosuke to leave but once they did, Yanami spoke up.
“Nukumizu, why can’t I have a happy ending? It seems like everyone around me can do it. Get a partner? I can’t even let go of Sosuke. At least he found someone to spend his life with and yet I feel so alone.
I just want to feel loved and appreciated, I want to be swept off my feet and cared for, it feels so impossible though. Does it even get better?”
I muster up the courage to speak.
“Even if you feel alone I’ll listen to you. Whatever comes to your mind I’ll be here. Time might not heal all wounds but it does make it a little easier if you feel like crying might help you let everything all out. We can go grab a quick dessert, only if you want to.”
Yanami ended up sniffling while nodding. Her mind was slightly taken away from the 8k couple but she had left the cafe with stained cheeks and puffy eyes.
I walked by her side to a local vendor that was selling ice cream. I took back a cone with a vanilla scoop and a cone with a chocolate scoop.
Yanami found a bench to sit on, her head still remained looking down.
“Thanks, Nukumizu. I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s no problem.” I sat beside Yanami. “I know it’s hard for you to see them together.”
“Yeah,” Her eyes were avoiding me. “If I had let myself go there I don’t know what could have happened.”
She laughed.
“You know Nukumizu, I don’t think I’d be able to hold back, I think I wouldn’t stop myself from yelling at them! That would have been really bad!”
Her voice cracks. Yanami looks down. “Now thinking about maybe it’s fine to be single. I mean I don’t need to always have a boyfriend. Maybe I can just work on myself for now.”
I stood up. Leaving Yanami to wonder. “I know it’s wrong for me to say this but I think you’ll find someone.”
Yanami’s eyes widened.
“I don’t know, if not now but maybe in the future.” A faint smile began to appear on Yanami’s face. Returning the spark back in her eyes.
The ray of sunlight peeked through the clouds.
“Are you sure?” She asked gently.
I reassured Yanami. “I don’t think you’ll be alone forever.”
Yanami steps up. She looks at me. “Promise?”
I smile at her. “Promise.”