The night after the rain felt unusually quiet. The storm had passed, but its memory clung to the air, sweet with the scent of wet earth and petals.
In his room, Ren lay on his futon, staring at the wooden beams of the ceiling. Outside, a breeze stirred the curtains, carrying with it the faint smell of damp grass and distant rivers.
Why can't I stop thinking about her? he wondered, his heart fluttering again as if he were still standing in that rain-washed park. He could see her so clearly — the way her hair clung to her skin, the way the raindrops had traced the soft curve of her cheek. That smile…
Ren shifted, pulling the blanket up to his chin though the night wasn't cold. I said she was beautiful. I meant it. But… what if that made her uncomfortable? Did I sound weird?
Across town, Aoi sat at her desk, absently twirling a pencil as she gazed out the window. The moonlight filtered through the thin clouds, silvering the rooftops and the still-wet streets.
Ren-kun saw me dance. All that time… and I didn't notice him. Her cheeks warmed at the memory, her fingers brushing her damp hair where petals had once clung. And he said I was beautiful…
Her heart leapt again, soft and quick, like a bird startled from its nest. Does he really think that? Or was he just being kind?
Sleep came late for them both, dreams touched with rain and shy glances.
The world awoke washed clean. The storm had left behind puddles like mirrors in the streets, where the pale blue morning sky and scattered cherry petals floated together. Birds called brightly from the park's dripping branches, and the air smelled of earth, fresh grass, and the soft sweetness of fallen blooms.
Ren walked to school, his shoes splashing through shallow puddles. His uniform blazer felt warm in the gentle sun, but his heart was unsteady. I can still see her, dancing beneath the rain. He glanced at the park as he passed — the cherry trees glistening, their blossoms renewed. Was it a dream?
Aoi arrived at school just behind him, her hair tied loosely, strands still damp where they'd escaped the towel. She moved lightly, her smile soft as she listened to Mina chatter beside her. But her thoughts drifted — back to the rain, back to Ren's quiet voice and the way his gaze had held hers.
At the school gate, their eyes met. Just for a second. A second that stretched, filled with all the unspoken words of the night before.
"Ah—morning, Ren-kun," Aoi said, breaking the spell, looking away quickly as warmth rushed to her cheeks.
Ren managed a smile, rubbing the back of his neck. "Morning, Aoi-san."
The courtyard shimmered with sunlight on damp stone. Flowers along the fence nodded in the breeze, scattering tiny droplets like diamonds.
---
In class, Haruto flopped into the seat beside Ren. "Oi, Ren! What's up with you? You look like you didn't sleep."
Ren tried to act normal, flipping open his notebook. "It's nothing."
Haruto leaned in, grinning. "Don't lie! You're acting weird. Don't tell me you fell for someone?"
Meanwhile, Mina poked Aoi gently. "Aoi-chan, you've been staring at the window all morning. Did the rain wash your brain away?"
Aoi blinked, flustered. "I was just thinking about… um… the weather!"
"The weather?" Mina smirked. "Since when does weather make you blush?"
---
Later that day, fate placed Ren and Aoi in the library for clean-up duty. The room smelled of polished wood and ink, the light filtering through tall windows onto rows of books like silent guardians. Outside, sparrows sang, and a breeze stirred the cherry trees beyond the glass.
Ren gathered stray books, his fingers brushing the worn covers. Say something. You're alone with her. This is your chance.
Aoi traced her finger along the spines of the novels, glancing at him from under her lashes. Why does my heart feel so loud? What if he thinks I'm strange?
Ren cleared his throat. The sound seemed too loud in the hush of the room. "Aoi-san… about yesterday…"
Aoi froze, then looked at him. His eyes were sincere, a little nervous.
"I didn't mean to watch you without saying anything. I just… I didn't want to interrupt. You looked… happy. Like you belonged in that moment."
Aoi's breath caught. Her cheeks warmed. "I didn't know anyone was there. It was… silly, wasn't it?"
"No!" Ren said quickly. He stepped closer, voice low. "It wasn't silly. You were… beautiful. I couldn't look away."
The words hung between them, soft and true. Aoi's fingers trembled slightly where they rested on the shelf.
"Do you really mean that?" she whispered.
Ren nodded, his heart pounding. "I do."
She smiled then, the kind of smile that made his chest ache in a way he didn't understand. "Thank you. That… that means a lot."
They stood like that for a moment, surrounded by the soft scent of paper and wood, the golden light painting patterns on the floor. Outside, the breeze lifted petals into the air, and the world felt still.
---
When the bell rang for lunch, the spell broke.
Haruto slung an arm around Ren's shoulder the instant he returned. "So? You and Aoi-san, alone in the library, huh? Tell me, did you declare your undying love?"
Ren laughed, shaking his head. "It wasn't like that."
"Oh? Then why are you grinning like a fool?"
Across the room, Mina cornered Aoi. "What did he say? What did you say? Don't keep me in suspense!"
"It was nothing…" Aoi began, but her voice trailed off as she remembered his words, and her face betrayed her.
"Liar! Look at that face!" Mina giggled. "You're in trouble now, Aoi-chan."
The lunchroom buzzed with chatter, the smell of bento and fresh rice filling the air. Sunlight streamed through the windows, and from the garden outside came the hum of bees and the rustle of leaves.
Ren and Aoi exchanged a glance
across the room — shy, warm, full of promise — and then quickly looked away, hearts racing.