After that, Arashi began walking slowly through the rain.
Not running.Not rushing.Just… walking.
The rain had grown heavy—no, violent. Thick drops poured down from the sky, soaking him completely within seconds. His hair clung to his forehead, water running down his face, his clothes sticking uncomfortably to his skin. Thunder rumbled above, deep and restless, shaking the air as dark clouds roared in the sky.
But Arashi didn't react.
His mind was blank.
Completely empty—like someone had wiped every thought away and left nothing behind.
People passed by him on the street, umbrellas raised, coats pulled tight. Some of them slowed down when they noticed him—this boy walking aimlessly in the storm, drenched from head to toe.
"Hey!" someone called out from across the road."Come under the shelter!" another voice shouted."You'll catch a cold!"
But Arashi didn't hear them.
Or maybe he did… and simply didn't care.
His legs kept moving on their own, carrying him forward step by step, while his mind lagged far behind—trapped somewhere in the moment Ayane had pushed his hand away.
Just… leave me alone.
The words echoed endlessly in his head.
"What happens now…?""What am I supposed to do…?"
He didn't know.
He didn't even know where he was going anymore.
His thoughts finally began to stir—not clearly, not logically, but in fragments that hurt more than silence ever could.
"Where is she now…?""Did she go home…?""Is she okay…?"
The rain kept falling harder, as if the sky itself had decided not to hold back.
What if she slipped again?What if something happened and I wasn't there?
His chest tightened painfully.
"Why did I try to say something right then…?""Why couldn't I just stay quiet like she asked?"
He clenched his fists as he walked, water dripping from his fingers.
I don't even know what I feel… so why did I chase her like I did?
The thunder roared again, louder this time, but Arashi barely flinched.
He kept walking.
Time passed—how much, he couldn't tell. Minutes blurred together as the rain swallowed the streets and washed away any sense of direction. His shoes were soaked, his steps heavy, his body exhausted—but he didn't stop.
Eventually, without realizing how or when, familiar streets began to appear.
Streetlights he recognized.Corners he had turned a thousand times before.
And then—
He was there.
Home.
Arashi stopped in front of the house, rain still pouring down on him, his chest rising and falling unevenly. He stared at the door for a long moment, as if unsure whether he should go inside or just stand there forever.
"She might already be here…Or maybe she isn't…"
The uncertainty gnawed at him.
Slowly, mechanically, he reached for the door and stepped inside.
The moment the door closed behind him, the sound of rain was muffled—but the weight inside his chest only grew heavier.
He stood there, soaked and motionless, water pooling at his feet.
Ayane's absence—or presence—was something he wasn't ready to face yet.
And deep down, he knew one thing for sure:
Whatever came next…Nothing was going to be simple anymore.
Arashi stepped inside the house, water dripping quietly from his clothes onto the floor.
Without stopping, without even taking off his shoes properly, he walked straight toward Ayane's room.
His hand paused for just a second in front of her door.
Slowly, he slid it open.
Inside, the lights were off. The room was dim, quiet—too quiet. Ayane was already there, lying on her bed, turned slightly to one side. Her back faced the door, her breathing slow and steady.
She was asleep.
Or at least, she looked like she was.
Arashi stood there for a moment, watching her silently. He didn't step inside. He didn't call her name. He didn't try to wake her.
Seeing her like that—safe, unmoving—eased something in his chest, even as it tightened something else.
"She made it home…" he thought.
That was enough.
Carefully, as if afraid even the sound might disturb her, he closed the door.
Then he turned away and walked to his own room.
He didn't bother changing his clothes. He didn't dry his hair. He simply collapsed onto his bed and closed his eyes.
Sleep took him almost immediately.
After that…
Time became strange.
One day passed—but it was hard to say how.
The house remained quiet.
Too quiet.
Arashi and Ayane didn't speak at all. Not a single word. Not even by accident.
Ayane didn't come out of her room. Meals were left untouched, or taken silently when no one else was around. Even when Arashi was home, she stayed hidden behind that closed door.
And Arashi…
He didn't knock.
He didn't know what to say.
The weight of that rainy day lingered between them, heavy and unresolved.
And then—
School reopened.
The morning of the first day came quietly.
Arashi stood in the hallway for a moment, staring at Ayane's door. He took a breath and knocked gently.
"Ayane… it's morning."
No response.
He knocked again, a little firmer this time.
She eventually opened the door, looking tired but dressed, her expression unreadable.
Without saying much, Arashi handed her his phone.
"Your mom sent a message," he said calmly. "She said that after school starts, you need to go to the principal's office first. They'll show you your class from there."
Ayane read the message silently, then nodded.
"Okay," she said quietly.
That was all.
They left the house together shortly after.
The walk to school was silent.
No awkwardness.No arguments.Just… distance.
When they reached the school gates, students were already pouring in, voices filling the air, laughter echoing across the grounds.
Arashi stopped walking.
"The principal's office is that way," he said, pointing down one of the corridors. "You won't get lost."
Ayane followed his gaze and nodded again.
"…Thanks," she said softly.
Then she turned and walked off.
Arashi watched her for a second longer than necessary.
Then he turned in the opposite direction.
Even now, his mind still hadn't caught up with everything that had happened. It felt like he was moving on autopilot—walking, breathing, existing—without really being present.
He entered his classroom and made his way to his seat, dropping his bag beside the desk and sitting down.
Just as he leaned back—
A hand suddenly covered his eyes from behind.
"Guess who is it?"
The voice was clearly male—but trying way too hard to sound like a girl.
Arashi didn't even flinch.
"Takumi," he said flatly. "Stop messing around."
The hand pulled away.
"Man, you're no fun," Takumi complained, laughing. "You could've at least played along. That was my best girl voice."
"Yeah, yeah," Arashi replied tiredly. "Class is about to start. Sit down."
Takumi grinned and moved back to his seat.
A moment later, Satoru appeared from behind, leaning slightly over Arashi's desk.
"Hey," he asked casually, "where's Ayane?"
Arashi glanced sideways at him.
"She had to go to the principal's office first," he replied. "She'll come to class after."
Satoru nodded, accepting the answer easily.
"Ah, got it."
He stepped away just as the bell rang.
Arashi leaned back in his chair and stared ahead, his expression calm—but his thoughts far from settled.
Even surrounded by noise, classmates, and familiar faces…
He felt strangely alone.
And somewhere else in the same building—
Ayane was walking her own path.
After that, Arashi and the rest of the students settled into their seats as the noise in the classroom slowly died down.
A moment later, the classroom door slid open.
The teacher walked in.
"Good morning, class," she said, placing her bag on the desk. "How is everyone today?"
The entire class replied in unison, loud and practiced,"Good morning, ma'am. We're fine."
"That's good," the teacher said with a small nod. "I hope you all enjoyed your holidays. But don't get too comfortable—your mid-term exams are coming up soon, so it's time to focus and study seriously."
A few students groaned quietly, but the teacher continued.
"Oh—and there's one more announcement," she added. "We have two new transfer students joining us. Since we still have quite a few empty seats, they'll be studying in this class."
A ripple of curiosity moved through the room.
"Now then," the teacher said, turning toward the door, "you can both come in."
The door opened.
Immediately, every pair of eyes in the classroom shifted toward the entrance.
The first person to step inside was a girl with a confident posture and bright eyes.
Mizuki.
She walked straight toward the front of the room and stopped beside the blackboard. Just behind her, another girl entered more quietly.
Ayane.
The moment the two of them appeared together, whispers erupted across the classroom.
"Whoa…""They're both so cute.""Are they models or something?""No way, both of them are transfer students?"
Boys and girls alike stared, clearly surprised.
The teacher cleared her throat lightly, silencing the room.
"Alright, settle down," she said. "Go ahead and introduce yourselves."
Mizuki smiled and stepped forward confidently.
"Hi, everyone," she said brightly. "My name is Mizuki. I'm new here, and I hope we all get along well. It's really nice to meet you all."
A few students murmured greetings in response.
The teacher nodded approvingly and then looked toward her.
"Okay, Mizuki," she said, gesturing toward the back of the room. "You can take the seat behind Arashi."
Arashi looked up slightly, surprised.
"And if you have any questions," the teacher continued, "you can ask Arashi. He'll help guide you."
She then turned her gaze directly to him.
"Arashi," she said firmly, "make sure you take care of her and help her settle in."
Arashi straightened slightly in his seat.
"…Yes, ma'am," he replied.
Behind him, Mizuki walked down the aisle, her steps light, her expression curious as she approached her new seat—directly behind him.
As she sat down, the classroom slowly returned to order.
But Arashi could feel it.
Something had shifted.
And Ayane…
She was still standing at the front of the room.
Waiting.
After that, the teacher turned her attention back to the front of the room.
"Alright," she said calmly, "now it's your turn."
Her eyes rested on Ayane.
For a full two seconds, Ayane didn't say anything.
She stood there, her hands clenched lightly at her sides, her gaze fixed somewhere just past the classroom floor. The quiet stretched, and a few students began to shift in their seats.
Then—
She spoke.
"H… h-hee—hello," she stammered."I… I am… A—Ayane."
That was all.
Her voice was small, uneven, but sincere.
The teacher studied her for a brief moment, then gave a gentle nod.
"This is Ayane, everyone," she said, addressing the class. "She'll be joining you as well, so make sure you behave yourselves."
A few students chuckled softly, others smiled—but no one said anything rude.
The teacher then pointed toward one of the seats near the middle of the classroom.
"You can sit over there, next to Hina," she instructed. "Hina will help guide you."
Hina looked up, surprised for a second, then smiled and nodded.
Ayane bowed her head slightly in acknowledgment and walked quietly toward the indicated seat. Her steps were careful, almost hesitant, as she made her way through the rows and sat down beside Hina.
She didn't look back.
Not even once.
The teacher turned back toward the board.
"Alright," she said, clapping her hands once. "Let's begin."
"Take out your books."
She glanced briefly toward the two new students.
"Do you both have your books?"
"Yes, ma'am," Mizuki replied immediately, her voice clear and confident.
Ayane didn't speak. She simply nodded.
"That's good," the teacher said. "Let's start."
The sound of pages turning filled the room as the lesson began.
Chalk scraped softly against the board.
Pens moved.
And just like that, class was in session.