It was a rainy Friday, the day of the scheduled photoshoot.
Akira got out of bed and pulled back the curtains, seeing the continuous light rain outside.
He felt as if the rain outside had reawakened his sleepiness, and a lazy feeling arose in his heart.
Akira got out of bed, left his bedroom, finished washing up, and stood in the living room, staring blankly at the rain outside.
If it hadn't rained, he could have rushed to Sajuna's house for breakfast, but now, it looked like he would have to make it himself.
He took out his phone and sent a message to Sajuna, telling her not to prepare breakfast for him.
Akira walked into the kitchen, took a few eggs out of the refrigerator, boiled some water, and prepared to make himself a bowl of steamed egg custard.
He leisurely prepared breakfast, not needing to rush, as there was still a long time until the scheduled appointment, and he didn't need to go early and wait.
The rain outside seemed to be gradually intensifying.
What had initially looked like fine, continuous drizzle now appeared like streaks of rain, falling impatiently from the sky.
Akira felt that if he were to use his transparent umbrella in this kind of weather, he would probably constantly hear the pattering of raindrops on the umbrella's surface.
If the rain were to get even heavier and he wasn't careful with his grip, the umbrella's surface might even be blown askew by the falling rain.
However, that was no longer very likely.
Akira now preferred to use the large black umbrella that could cover two people.
Just walking in the rain with Sajuna made Akira feel a warmth in his heart, transforming into a feeling of happiness.
Holding an oil-paper umbrella, alone,
Wandering in a long, long,
And lonely rainy alley,
I hope to meet
A girl like a lilac,
Tied with sorrow.
She has
The color of a lilac,
The fragrance of a lilac,
The sorrow of a lilac.
Akira interrupted his thoughts.
It wasn't appropriate; he couldn't fully imagine Sajuna wandering sorrowfully in the rain.
He was clearly right beside Sajuna, and this modern poem made him seem a bit deliberately melancholic.
Akira finished breakfast, picked up his cosplay costume bag.
To prevent the clothes from getting wet, Akira had specifically found a plastic bag to put them in before placing them inside the main bag.
Akira changed into his outdoor shoes at the entrance, tapping his toes twice on the floor to adjust for comfort, then picked up the black umbrella placed nearby and the bag containing his clothes, leaving the house.
When Sajuna opened the door, she saw Akira in this state.
He was holding a large black umbrella that could cover two people, and in such gloomy and overcast weather, he appeared cold, yet Sajuna couldn't help but recall the time she had sheltered under Akira's umbrella.
Akira was wearing a common white T-shirt for summer, with sports pants and athletic shoes.
It seemed he hadn't paid too much attention to Sajuna's appearance, yet his entire being exuded an efficient aura that made people want to get closer to him.
"Why are you still standing there! Come in, Aki-Kun!"
Sajuna called out to Akira, who was standing at the door, feeling anxious at his dazed expression.
"Seeing Sajuna makes me feel how wonderful the world is, and I couldn't help but look a little longer."
Akira stepped into the room, shook off the rainwater from his umbrella, and then placed it into the umbrella stand nearby.
"You're wearing such thin clothes in the rain today; what if you catch a cold?"
Sajuna looked worried, circling Akira twice.
She only relaxed when she found no wet clothes, but then she reached out and touched Akira's arm.
Finding no goosebumps, she gave up the idea of continuing to lecture her boyfriend.
Akira watched Sajuna's actions and couldn't help but touch his own clothes.
The slight coolness of his skin and the humidity in the air made Akira feel that his clothes were damp, and he regretted not wearing an extra jacket.
But he certainly wouldn't catch a cold.
Akira then inquired about Shinju.
"Shinju is home, right?"
"Yes, she's waiting for Aki-Kun to come so we can go to the photoshoot together."
Walking into the living room, Akira saw Sayouye's mom busy and greeted her, feeling that his mother-in-law's gaze towards him was noticeably more approving than before.
Sajuna's Dad had to go on a business trip a few days ago, so he wasn't home temporarily, which made Akira feel a sense of relief.
"Good morning, Akira Gege!"
"Shinju, good morning."
After greeting Shinju, Akira and Sajuna sat on the sofa, waiting for the rain outside to slowly lessen.
Shinju and Sayouye's mom also started to get busy with their own things.
The rain outside continued to fall with a rustling sound, showing no signs of stopping.
Akira then decided with Sajuna to head directly to Shinmisato Station, without waiting for the rain to subside.
As the three of them stepped outside the house, they realized the rain had lessened considerably, falling in fine, scattered drops onto the umbrella's surface and then rolling off the edges without making much sound.
They got on the train and arrived at Shinmisato Station.
After walking a few hundred meters in the rain, they saw the abandoned hospital, and it was almost the scheduled time.
Soon after, Wakana and Marin also arrived.
Wakana still had that gentle, smiling demeanor, while Kitagawa looked much more disappointed.
"Waaah! I was really looking forward to the on-site photoshoot!"
"There's nothing we can do about it. In this season, you never know when it's going to rain..."
Wakana comforted Marin with a helpless expression.
"Waaah, it's really..."
The five of them swiped their cards to enter the abandoned hospital, walked to the chosen photography location, and then headed to the changing room inside the abandoned hospital to put on their respective cosplay costumes.
Akira then put on Sakuya's cosplay costume, donned the wig, and walked out of the changing room.
Sajuna was already waiting for Akira to come out.
Seeing Akira in his changed clothes, she couldn't help but exclaim.
"Aki-Kun, you look really handsome like this too."
"I haven't even put on makeup yet, and I don't really look like Sakuya."
Akira said helplessly.
"But you are really handsome, and if you were completely Shokuya Oni-san, it would feel a bit strange for me to take photos with Aki-Kun."
It seemed Sajuna was still concerned that the characters they were cosplaying were not in a romantic relationship.
As the two talked, Akira began to do Sajuna's makeup.
Shinju's makeup nearby seemed to be already done, probably by Sajuna, who had left her own makeup undone, saving it for her boyfriend to do.
Akira felt a little touched in his heart, truly not afraid that he would mess it up.
Wakana also finished Marin's makeup, and Marin immediately ran to Sajuna's side, watching Sajuna, who was almost done with her makeup.
"Juju-sama's cosplay of Ko-Shion is absolutely adorable!"
"Even with her eyes closed, the cuteness is already overflowing!"
"Juju-sama really becomes whatever she cosplays!"
Marin couldn't help but cheer as she looked at Sajuna in front of her.
"Can you calm down for a bit?"
Sajuna opened her eyes helplessly.
"I'm just so happy!"
Sajuna waved her hand and then ran to Shinju, who was holding the camera.
"Shinju's cosplay is super cool too! It's really spot on."
"Shinju, let's take a picture!"
Marin said this, and Shinju, standing nearby, was also startled for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
"Shinju! Look at the camera!"
Kitagawa made a peace sign, and Shinju beside her smiled shyly.
Click!