Chapter 3:The Umbrella In The Rain

The sky turned dark grey very quickly, covering the sun completely. Dark clouds gathered, and before dismissal time, heavy rain started pouring down heavily. Tap-tap-tap the sound against the window was loud and constant, like drums beating in the quiet classroom. It looked like it wasn't going to stop anytime soon.

I stood by the school gate, hugging my books tightly to my chest to protect them from the splashing water. I had forgotten my umbrella at home that morning. I bit my lip, feeling a little anxious and helpless. I didn't want to get wet and catch a cold, but I was too shy to ask anyone for a ride or to share an umbrella. Even with my friends, I would just smile and say "It's okay, go ahead, I'll wait" and let them leave, preferring to wait alone rather than being a burden.

"Hey. Why are you just standing there like an idiot?"

I jumped slightly at the sound of the voice, nearly dropping my books. Turning around slowly, I saw Haru. He was alone, holding a large black umbrella in his hand. He usually walked home early with his group of friends, but today, for some reason, he was still there, standing behind me.

I didn't say anything, just looked at him nervously, my heart starting to beat fast, ready to be teased or scolded again like usual.

He didn't walk away. Instead, he walked closer until he was right in front of me, blocking the wind. Then, without saying a word, he moved his umbrella so that it covered my head completely. The sound of the rain stopped above me instantly, but I could hear it hitting hard and loudly on his side, soaking his uniform shoulder.

He was sharing his umbrella with me. He was protecting me.

"You're so useless. Can't even prepare an umbrella properly," he grumbled, looking grumpy as usual, but his voice wasn't loud or angry this time. It was low and soft, almost gentle. "If you get sick and miss school... then who am I going to bother? Don't make things difficult for me."

I looked up at him in complete shock. His face was slightly red, dusted with a faint blush, and he was looking away to the side, not daring to make direct eye contact with me. His hand was holding the handle tightly, pushing the umbrella as far to my side as possible, not caring that his own body was getting wet and cold.

"..." I was speechless. My mind went blank. The boy who always acted like my enemy, the boy who was loud and mean and annoying... was actually being kind to me. He was sharing his warmth with me.

"Thank... you..." I whispered, my voice barely audible, but it felt loud enough for him to hear.

He heard it. He looked down at me, and his expression softened completely, losing all that toughness he usually showed. For the first time, no names were called. no tough act was shown. It was just him and me.

"Mio..." he started, his voice serious and deep. "Tell me the truth. Why are you so shy? Why are you so quiet only when you're with me? Am I really that scary to you?"

I took a deep breath, gathering all my courage to speak properly. "Because... you're too loud... and... I don't know... how to act... around you..."

He stared at me for a long moment, and then suddenly, a small, genuine smile appeared on his face. Not the annoying smirk, but a real, warm smile that made him look handsome and soft.

"Heh. So you're not ignoring me because you hate me?"

"...No..."

That day, under the pouring rain, the thick wall between us started to crack and break apart. He wasn't just my noisy enemy anymore, and I realized that his feelings for me were much deeper and warmer than I had ever thought possible.

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