Chapter 07 – The Rainbow

I am sharing an umbrella with Nijima Koharu again. She had given her umbrella to her friend, so she came to me. But thinking about it for a moment, they could've shared hers instead.

So why has she purposely done this?

C-could it be that she likes me!?

My head keeps thinking about these things when our shoulders suddenly touch. She doesn't really need to stick that close since my umbrella can accommodate two people, but she does, nonetheless. With each passing moment, I can't help but have thoughts that wander on the idea that she likes me back.

The person herself is smiling as we go on, looking as if she is enjoying my inner turmoil. Yes, I think she’s definitely teasing me. But they say girls like teasing those they are interested in, right?

…it’s too soon to rush into conclusions.

The two of us fall quiet as we walk wordlessly. Eventually, Koharu's smile also disappears as she wears a complicated expression.

The rain keeps pouring down. The rhythmic thumping sounds of the water droplets against the umbrella are all that I can hear. My shoes step into a small puddle of water, creating an insignificant splash, and then I step with my other feet again, repeating the same process.

Koharu's steps, matching mine—as I match hers—are different from mine. Her strides are small, and she walks a little bit faster, unlike my lanky long strides. Her white shoes are dirtied with mud and her black socks, as far as I can see, have no mud on them yet.

Her unblemished legs—

“Why are you staring at my legs, pervert.”

“S-sorry! I-I didn’t mean to!”

In my sudden movements, I unintentionally move the umbrella away from her. She responds immediately, reaching for the umbrella's handle.

“H-hey—"

Her word is cut short as her hand touches mine.

Our eyes meet…

We stare at each other for a moment, unable to speak a word. I can feel the warmth transmitting from her fingers, and her gaze is soft, like a strawberry-flavored ice cream that will melt once I touch it.

She blinks, and she reflexively retracts her hand.

“S-sorry,” I say, positioning the umbrella above us again.

“It’s okay,” she says, but she looks down and refuses to face me.

The rain envelops us in its silent folds again and we both walk. There are no other people around and I cannot hear any other sounds aside from my heartbeat, the rain, and our unsteady footsteps.

It’s awkward…

I am uneasy about what to say or how I am supposed to act. At the same time, my heart is being pounded hard by a drummer who sounds like he's performing live. My body temperature keeps rising, my breathing becomes uncontrollable, and my heart rate becomes unsteady.

It’s awkward, I look lame and it’s embarrassing…

I glance at her profile: she is still looking down. Then she pursed her lips—that alone made my heart skip a beat.

If a chance like this will never come again… No. What I must do isn’t going to change either way.

A lone cherry tree nearby is coming into our sight, and it signals the imminent corner. This is the tree where I always have stopped to watch her figure go away in the corner. My mind goes frenzy, my chest tightens from the anxiety. I step firm, and I step no more.

I stand under the cherry tree.

“Nijima-san—”

“Amemiya-kun—”

Our voice overlaps.

She says my name at the exact moment and now we stare at each other. Her face turns red and then we both turn away.

My thoughts and momentum are all thrown off and I certainly lose the guts to say that I like her. I look around, searching for something to speak out but it is no use. We stand on the sidewalk, for seconds, dozens of seconds, and then into a minute.

I am getting impatient with myself. I want to do something immediately, but I don't know what I should do.

That's when something noticeably changes—not for us both, but for the rain.

The drop of water starts to hit less against the umbrella until it becomes nonexistent. The previously dim light that surrounds us has now become brighter. I gather my thoughts and find my composure.

I lift the red canopy and peeks.

“…Rainbow," Nijima Koharu softly mutters.

What spread out between the clearing clouds is the vast orange sky; the scattered clouds are no longer dark, and from the gaps between them, a series of colorful arches lie atop one another; their colors are vivid and distinct, even lively.

Nijima Koharu also gazes in the spectacle.

As I hold my breath, looking at Koharu, I realize how much I have been watching her all this time.

When she didn't do good on her exams, I saw her become even more determined. When our class lost a competition, she smiled despite putting in more effort than anybody. I still recall the day I witnessed her sobbing out of frustration on the way home. I think that's when my interest in her turned into love.

Even though I didn't say anything to her, she smiled at me and said, "I'll do better next time. Wish me luck. I wish you luck too, Amemiya-kun.”

After facing the things that came to her and overcoming them, Nijima Koharu returned stronger and more vibrant.

Almost, like a rainbow.

“Nijima-san, I like you.”

Her shoulders jump and she turns at me slowly. Her moist eyes gaze at me intently, her cheeks flush as she smiles sweetly. She is more beautiful than I ever witnessed before.

I hold my breath.

“I know,” she says quietly, in a whisper. Her hands gingerly clasps mine as she brings them over her chest. “Or more like, you were pretty obvious.”

“Eh…” I turn stiff. “Y-yeah.”

I think anxiously of her reply, as my heart races.

Koharu tiptoes and slowly brings her face closer until her lips almost touch my cheek. Her perfume's smell makes my heart jump in response, and my face grows hot when her breath caresses my ears.

In a warm, soft voice, she whispers.

“I like you too, Amemiya-kun.”

My body jolts as she pulls back.

“T-that means…”

“Yes… Uhm... We…are now dating...I guess," she says as she looks down, embarrassed.

My mind is processing slowly as I wonder if this is still a dream. My heart is beating like crazy, and it doesn’t just feel real.

“…A-are you sure about me?” I ask again.

“Geez. Even though I already said it…” she pauses. “Yes.”

“I-I see. Thanks.”

Our eyes meet again, and we immediately turn away.

“Good... Now let’s go home,” Koharu initiates, seemingly embarrassed.

However, it’s also the same for me. The things that transpired in an instant have left me paralyzed. I get fuzzy feelings inside of me and I am restless at the same time. I have no idea how to behave with a girlfriend. 

Even so, I muster up my courage once more and hold her hand tenderly; she seems startled but she takes it with grace.

I look up at the sky and the rainbow above us, as I hold her hands for the first time.

~ Fin