Many people find rain and thunder calming.
It has a certain rhythm in which all worries fade away into the mist.
It offers comfort to those who seek it.

Bookworms take the chance to read, curling up under blankets with warm tea or hot chocolate. Sleepy souls crawl beneath their sheets, hoping to feel better when they wake.

But what happens to those who fear the rain?
That unfortunate category of people finds no comfort in it. For them, it brings darkness — a darkness that unleashes their deepest fears and memories they wish to forget. It’s like a curse, one with no known cure. An endless spiral of misfortune.

And this case was no different.
Or was it?

When Saya was younger, she used to love the rain.
She danced beneath the heavy drops that washed away every worry. When it drizzled, it tickled her pale skin and made her laugh uncontrollably. Saya would often imagine romantic scenes beneath the rain — it gave her a sense of devotion she could never quite explain.

But how can one crash change everything?
Change your perception of the world — and of yourself?

Saya didn’t understand those words until one tragic day.
Fate played a cruel joke on her family — a joke that cost lives, leaving behind wounds and scars that would never heal.

Reality turned harsh and unforgiving. The realization struck the young girl like lightning — cold, unwelcome, and deceiving. People played the most deceptive roles. Those she trusted lied, turned their backs, and stabbed her in the heart. Events followed one another relentlessly, leaving no time to breathe, no space to heal.

In the midst of that chaos, Saya wondered,
“Where did I go wrong? How did everything end up like this?”

She had no choice but to hide. That seemed like the only solution — hide, pretend nothing happened… disappear.
But did it actually work?

No.

It only created a new Saya.
And with the new Saya came a new world — one stripped of laughter, joy, and anticipation for the next rainfall.
There were no dances in the rain anymore. Tears replaced raindrops, and screams of despair were drowned out by thunder.
Rain became a quiet echo of the past — a glimpse of someone she once was, someone she used to know.

And Saya was fine with that. She accepted it. The new reality offered peace in silence — freedom of mind, even.
It opened new prospects and chances.

Everything seemed fine.

Until it wasn’t.

Her confusion was understandable. Because at that very moment, it was pouring.
The rain left no corner of the land dry. Its rhythm was chaotic, uneven, rebellious — much like her heartbeat.
Saya was very aware of that. Her chest felt as though it might burst as she found herself pinned — her back against the wall, a man standing close before her.

There was no escape. He blocked her path.

But Saya didn’t want to run. The fire in his eyes was something new to her — a foreign determination mixed with an emotion she couldn’t name. His gaze burned against her skin. Her cheeks flushed, her ears turned warm. Her hands, pressed weakly against his chest, were powerless against his solid frame.

It was too much. Overwhelming. She couldn’t meet his eyes — but he wasn’t giving in to her silence. The young man gently lifted her chin, forcing her to face him. He was done playing tug-of-war. As he leaned in, Saya’s mind went blank. The rain faded into a faint whisper in the background.
The only sound she heard was the pounding of her heart — and the soft, involuntary moan that escaped her lips just before he kissed her.