The weather today is quite rainy.
Droplets of water falling from the gloomy sky drench this busy city. The atmosphere feels forced to pause and enjoy the coldness of this morning.
Kai walked to school after parting with Risa on the bus. His mind was full of plans for today. The initial plan was to tell Mrs. Maryn about the Student Council President registration, then in class maybe he would try befriends more with his classmates, and during lunch break, of course talk with Reva, lastly after school because Chloe had a part-time job, and since Kai felt like he was on slightly better terms with Caleb, maybe he could get to know Caleb and Daisy better to help improve their relationship.
Many plans ran through his mind, considering that in just a few months, summer would arrive and he would move up to second year. That year is when the male lead, Ren, entering the school if this world follows the game's plot.
"Kai~"
The wet sound of footsteps was heard quickly. Kai's steps stopped when a girl suddenly came to his side, making their umbrellas bump into each other, like their shoulders brushing together.
"Miss Camp— I mean Miss Lily?"
"Hehehe~ did I startle you?" Lily said with a wide smile, while closing her umbrella to share under Kai's.
Seeing that, Kai immediately switched his umbrella grip from right hand to left, so that it would be enough to covers both of them from the rain.
Lily beamed brightly when Kai did that. She didn't know what this feeling was, but honestly it felt warm and sweet. And Lily didn't want this moment to stop when they reached the school gate.
On Kai's side, he felt dizzy, as if all the plans in his mind suddenly disappeared just with the arrival of this "last boss".
As expected of Lily, her appearance and actions were very unpredictable. A cute girl, mysterious behavior with a love route that highly depends on timing.
"Miss Lily—"
"Just Lily."
"Lily... So why are you walking? I thought you'd be dropped off by car."
"Hmm... Why not? Walking is healthy in the morning."
"...That's if the sun is out, but it's raining."
"Ehh~ you're right, hahaha~"
What a strange girl. Kai's gaze went straight ahead again. Their footsteps squeaked from puddles, with the sound of raindrops accompanying their steps.
No conversation topic flowed like rain water because Kai was confused about what to talk about. He didn't really know Lily beyond the "Lily" from the game character, and honestly he didn't really know the characterization of "Lily" deeper. What he knew was that Lily was a girl with a weak, sickly body.
I'm confused... what should I do. Maybe ask about how the weather is today? But the weather is rainy, like there's anything to talk about rain.
"I like rain."
"I like rain."
"..."
Their eyes met after saying the same thing.
"Umm... hehehe, I guess we have something in common."
"Yeah."
"Hey... can you come closer?"
Kai's eyebrow raised at Lily's request. Closer? Oh, maybe because they were sharing the umbrella (even though it shouldn't be necessary since Lily also brought an umbrella), Kai thinking maybe Lily wanted to make sure he didn't get wet either.
So Kai moved closer to her side. Their shoulders touched, and out of the corner of his eye, Kai could see Lily quietly trying to lean on his shoulder.
⌈Even if the rain ends, stay close ok?⌋
Kai smiled a little sourly as that phrase appeared in his mind. Seeing Lily leaning on him as they walked while sharing an umbrella really reminded "Ryan" of his little sister Mimi.
When they were still little before their family moved to Brighton, they lived in London. In there it rained quite often so they were both always used to walking together under an umbrella, and Mimi would often do reckless things like flicking the rain droplets as the raindrops fell.
"Kai?"
"Hmm? What is it, Lily?"
"Want to skip school?"
Kai tilted his head, making sure he hadn't misheard. Did the word "skip" really come out of the mouth of a girl with such a pure, taintless image? From the look in her eyes, Lily seemed serious about what she just said.
"Skipping school? Are you sure?"
"Emm, yeah, I don't have any important classes today," Lily used her fingers to curl one by one as she explained why skipping today would be fine. "I have PE class, but it's okay if I don't take PE, then next is art class, I don't have a problem with that either, then chemistry class, I think it's fine to skipping that too."
"Where do you want to go if we skipping school?"
"You agree, Kai? About us skipping?"
'Us'? When did I agree? I just asked you.
"Yeah... it depends. Honestly, I don't mind skipping class either... I guess"
"Hehehe, you agree~" Kai reached and circled her arm around Kai's arm, as she leaned more close to cling. "The top two rankers of the first year, skipping. This is very naughty."
"So where are we going?"
Lily smiled widely and then directed them away from the school gate. Kai didn't know where she was taking him, he let himself be pulled along by Lily.
They walked past a quiet housing complex under the gloomy sky, the roar of cars splashing water on the sidewalk, and Lily's soft humming accompanied their steps.
Finally, they stopped at a park in this housing complex. Of course the park was empty because it was raining, and secondly, it was still morning. People were doing their activities while these two were skipping school.
Lily then pointed toward the slide, "Let's take shelter there."
Kai didn't understand but he still followed what this girl wanted. They climbed up the slide, which had a small structure connected to it.
Closing the umbrella and taking off their shoes, Kai and Lily sat side by side, leaning against the wall of this slightly cramped little structure. Lily leaned on Kai's shoulder.
What does she want? This girl really is random, and all my plans have changed too.
Kai glanced at Lily, who had her eyes closed, as if lost in her own world together with the raindrops hitting this wooden roof.
"You know... you're the second person who makes me feel comfortable."
"..." Kai rested his head on his palm, his eyes still watching Lily comfortably leaning on his shoulder. "Who was the first?"
"My best friend... Iris, Iris Nnial, she's gone."
"..."
Gone. Kai certainly understood that what she meant by "gone" was passed away. Kai tried to remember something. Iris, the name Iris in Lily's route, Kai didn't remember or maybe he forgot something from Lily's route. Before he could remember, there was one scene when "Lily" told her secret to "Ren" right before the player fully won Lily's heart.
She has Iris's heart, huh...
Kai looked more closely at the glasses Lily was wearing. The lenses weren't minus or plus; they were dummy glasses, meaning she probably wore them for fashion— no, Lily wouldn't care about style or appearance. She wore those glasses because they were her best friend's.
"..." Lily held her chest, feeling her heartbeat and smiled bitterly, her head still leaning on Kai's shoulder. "She's not really gone though... she's inside me."
Opening her eyes, Lily took Kai's hand that he was using to rest his head, and guided that hand to touch the left side of Lily's chest.
Soft, that's what Kai felt. However, no dirty thoughts spread through his mind. His palm felt the strong heartbeat. Their eyes locked onto each other, before Lily moved her face closer to Kai's until their lips were just barely touching.
"I love you. Want going out and be lucky man for having me?"