School’s out. Sky is overcast. Students rush out with umbrellas. Haruka stands at the gate, looking up at the sky with her sketchbook held tight.

Narration (Haruka):
“I drew the clouds today. They looked heavy. Like someone was holding back tears.”

It starts to drizzle. Haruka opens her sketchbook slightly. Inside—new sketches of Yuuji. She smiles softly, then hears a voice behind her.

Yuuji:
“You’re gonna ruin your drawings.”

She turns. Yuuji’s standing there with an umbrella. Calm, as always, but his eyes linger on her smile just a second longer than usual.

Haruka (gently teasing):
“You always show up when the rain does.”

Yuuji walks her home. They share the umbrella. Their shoulders almost touch. The silence isn’t awkward—it’s… soft. Comfortable.

Narration (Yuuji):
“I never liked silence. Until her silence felt safe.”

They pause at a crossing. A truck rushes by, splashing a puddle that almost hits Haruka. Yuuji instinctively pulls her close. Their eyes meet. A beat of silence.

Haruka (surprised, softly):
“...Thank you.”

From across the street, in the crowd: Kanae. She sees them under the umbrella. Her grip tightens on her bag. Her face unreadable. But her eyes… not.

Narration (Kanae):
“She’s reaching him.”