( when silence screams arc )
Outside, heavy rain poured relentlessly, shattering the silence with the sound of water splashing against the streets.
On the footpath, a girl named Mio sat, drenched to the bone. Tears rolled down her cheeks as if the raindrops themselves were weeping alongside her.
"Why are you sitting here, getting drenched in the rain?" Haruki's voice broke through the sound of the downpour.
He had walked up to her and stopped.
"What's it to you?" Mio lifted her head, her voice heavy with exhaustion.
Haruki bent down slightly, his gaze searching hers. "Why are you crying?"
"What does it matter to you..." Mio replied between hiccupping sobs.
Haruki looked at her for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"It doesn't matter, really… but if you keep sitting here like this, you'll get sick."
Mio wiped her tears and murmured softly,
"No one cares about that..."
Without another word, Haruki extended the umbrella in his hand toward her.
"Maybe I don't care in a big way… but still, this isn't good for you. Here, take my umbrella."
Mio's eyes flickered with surprise.
"That applies to you too, you know," she said with a faint smile.
Haruki chuckled. "It's fine. I'm heading somewhere close by."
With that, Haruki walked away, leaving Mio silently watching him go.
---
Hina sat at the table, books open in front of her, glancing at the clock again and again.
"It's getting so late… why isn't he here yet?" she muttered, a hint of unease in her tone.
Just then, the door opened, and Haruki stepped inside.
"I'm home," he said, taking off his shoes.
Hina frowned. "Why are you so late today?"
"Sorry," Haruki replied, setting his shoes aside. "The café was busier than usual."
Her gaze fell to his soaked clothes.
"Why are you wet?"
"It's raining outside," Haruki answered casually.
"You didn't have an umbrella?"
"There was this girl standing in the rain… I gave her mine."
Hina's expression shifted, a flicker of jealousy in her eyes. "Oh… a girl?"
"Yeah. She looked… really troubled," Haruki said in a calm tone.
Hina exhaled quietly. "Alright… just go change your clothes."
Haruki's eyes widened. "Whaaat?! Are you crazy?" His face flushed red.
"I meant change into dry clothes!" Hina snapped.
"But what am I supposed to wear?"
"Well… you can wear my clothes."
Haruki's eyes widened further. "How could I wear yours?"
"Why not? What's wrong with my clothes?" she said, a little annoyed.
"I mean… they're women's clothes," Haruki stammered.
"Who's going to see you this late at night? It's just the two of us here," she reasoned.
Finally, Haruki sighed. "Alright…"
A while later, when he stepped out wearing her clothes, Hina couldn't help but smile.
"You look better in my clothes than I do."
Haruki blushed. "Really?"
"Yes, really," she nodded.
"Alright, I'll make dinner then," Haruki said, heading toward the kitchen.
After dinner, Haruki picked up his bag.
"I should head home now," he said.
"Where?" Hina asked.
"Home… where else?"
"In this rain?" she said, a little shocked.
"Oh… I didn't think about that."
"You have an umbrella?" she asked.
"No…"
"Then don't be stupid. If you get drenched again, you'll catch a cold," she scolded.
"Yeah… you're right," Haruki admitted after a moment.
"That's why… stay here tonight," Hina said softly.
"You mean… you want me to stay?" Haruki asked with a teasing smile.
"Yes… because I don't want you to get sick," she said, smiling back.
Haruki set his bag down. "Alright, if you say so."
---
The two sat together watching TV.
"So… when did you and Isame become friends?" Hina asked casually.
"While talking here and there… I'm not even sure when exactly," Haruki replied with a smile.
Inside, Hina's thoughts were swirling.
"I told him to stay out of concern… but he's still a guy. If he tries to… do something, will I even be able to stop him?"
"H-Haruki…" Hina began, but before she could finish, thunder rumbled loudly outside.
In an instant, Haruki pulled her into a tight hug. His breathing was quick, as though the sound had shaken him deeply.
Hina froze, startled.
"H-Haruki…" she whispered softly, her voice tinged with both fear and uncertainty.
To be continued