Chapter 06 – The Umbrella

On the weekends, nothing noteworthy occurred.

Nothing exceptional is going to happen today either. I have my umbrella with me, and surely, she has hers as well. We're not going to share an umbrella again, whether it rain or shine.

That will never happen thrice.

Koharu arrives at the classroom a minute later than me. She immediately greets her seatmates and friends.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning, Haru-chan.”

She also glances at me and gives me a friendly smile. I smile in response and after that, she takes her seat.

Her smile is also a form of greeting. There is nothing more to it.

If nothing else, the weekend has allowed me to realize that us sharing an umbrella two days in a row is simply a miracle. If I misinterpret things there, I am simply getting full of myself. Why? That is because after she gave me back my umbrella, we didn't say anything to each other anymore.

This is fine. I had plenty of crushes before, all of whom I eventually forgot. Koharu is going to be one of them.

It is afternoon, the time when my focus dwindles. She is still, however, paying close attention to our teacher's tedious lessons, bobbing her head up and down gingerly as she takes note of the lesson. Seeing her trying her best like always relaxes me. I suddenly feel sleepy.

“Romance comes to volition,” I’ve read somewhere that it seems to be that way. I can talk to her when the classes end, but I won’t.

Just like this, I’ll keep watching her back. I’ll keep watching her, until my feelings fade…

I closed my eyes.

…

A monotone drum is playing, and its rhythm is gradually getting faster and beats getting uncountable. Pitter-patter, I realize that is the sound of the rain hitting against the window.

To my heavy eyelids, the classroom is gray all over again.

The sounds that everyone is making are getting drowned in the countless drops of rain, making them all simply noise. The instructor for our final period is likewise having trouble getting through. I look outside the window, yawning as I enjoy this gloomy atmosphere.

I shift my focus to her, and to my surprise, she is nodding off. Then she keeps her head straight. She seems fine now.

It is just a moment but just being able to witness that brings a warm fuzzy feeling inside me.

…Just like this. I’ll keep watching her.

Eventually, when the last period ends, the teacher leaves the classroom, and the students begin to depart. I hold my umbrella in my hand, watching the rain as I stand on the platform in front of the school building's entryway. Koharu is also there with her friend.

I am waiting for her to go home, and once she has traveled a reasonable distance, I will then also go.

Koharu is talking to her friend. I gaze up at the rainy sky, simply watching the raindrops fall to the trees and then to the ground.

I notice her movement out of the corner of my eye and turn to face her. To my surprise, she suddenly gives her foldable umbrella and says something to her friend, who is just as perplexed as I am.

She meets my gaze.

We are looking eye to eye as she smiles at me, making my heart skip a beat.

It is a different kind of smile. It is sweet and gentle, yet it is also demanding something. I just know it because she's coming towards me right now.

“Amemiya-kun,” she says my name.

“W-what is it, Nijima-san?”

“Can you share your umbrella with me?”