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“Well, shit.” Jirou mumbled under their breath as they stood underneath an awning outside of their school. They watched as fellow classmates pulled umbrellas out of backpacks to shield themselves from the torrential downpour that was happening outside.
This wasn’t the first time Jirou was stranded in the rain- it had actually happened more time than they wanted to admit. They were just really bad at paying attention to the weather forecast. And it wasn’t that Jirou didn’t like the rain, quite frankly they loved it, but they were carrying a project in their bag that would 100% get ruined by the water without proper protection.
To put it lightly, Jirou was screwed.
Jirou shuffled nervously in their place and glanced around, trying to shoot a glance at anyone who would meet their eyes. Unfortunately for them, all of their classmates were few and far in between as everyone dispersed from the building.
They sighed, knowing all their hard work on the project would be ruined the second they stepped out into the rain. It didn’t seem like there would be a break in the storm anytime soon, so Jirou prepared to face it head on. Jirou braced themselves to get drenched as they began to step out from underneath the awning.
“You’re going to catch a cold, you know.” A voice sounded behind Jirou, stopping them from taking a step out. Jirou couldn’t pinpoint who the voice belonged to.
“I’m more worried about the project in my bag that’s about to get obliterated, but thanks for your concern.” Jirou responded in an unamused tone.
“While schoolwork is important, I also believe that you must be in proper health to adequately complete your studies.” The way this person spoke was so… eloquent. When Jirou finally turned around they weren’t expecting to see a girl wearing their school’s uniform.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you around before.” Jirou stated, studying the girl in front of them. She had dark brown hair tied up in a ponytail and eyes the color of smokey quartz that sparkled just as bright. Yes, Jirou definitely hadn’t seen her before, because there was no way they would forget her.
“I’m very partial to academics so I’m afraid I don’t have much time for a social life.” As she spoke, Jirou noticed that she was fiddling around with her bag. “But I do have time to help a fellow student home, especially when a ruined assignment is involved.” She pulled a pink umbrella out of her bag, causing Jirou to raise an eyebrow.
“You don’t even know if we live in the same direction.” Jirou challenged, causing the girl to laugh.
“It’s no trouble at all, really.” She popped the umbrella open and walked out from underneath the awning. “Come on- it’ll fit both of us!” Her words were practically drowned out by the pattering of rain on the pink plastic. Nonetheless, Jirou knew that accepting this offer would be the best option in this scenario.
“I don’t even know your name!” Jirou spoke above the rain as they stepped underneath the umbrella. “I’m Jirou. Kyouka Jirou.” They said with a small smile. The other girl returned the smile as they walked together underneath the umbrella.
“Momo Yaoyorozu at your service.”
//
It turned out that Momo and Jirou didn’t live too far apart from each other. While Momo lived in what Jirou would refer to as a “flashier” neighborhood, they discovered that their houses were only about a 15 minute walk from each other.
“Thanks again for walking me home.” The pair stood on Jirou’s doorstep, the pink umbrella still sheltering them.
“No need to thank me! I’m always here to help out a fellow student in need.” Momo’s smile hadn’t wavered the entire time they walked together. From the small bits of chitchat they had, Jirou was positive this girl didn’t have a bad bone in her body.
“Acts of kindness deserve thanks!” Momo just giggled and shook her head.
“It was no problem, really!” Jirou opened the front door and stepped inside. “You’re welcome to come in if you want.” They offered, but Momo shook her head.
“I’m afraid I need to head home, but thank you for the offer!” Momo waved goodbye and started to walk away from the door. “Let’s do this again sometime!” She yelled from the sidewalk, and Jirou found a smile had made its way onto their face as they watched Momo’s ponytail fade into the distance.
Jirou finally shut the door and wondered why their heart was beating so fast.
//
The next day at school, Jirou looked around for any sign of Momo. They really wanted to thank them again and see if they shared the same lunch period. During breaks Jirou would walk around the hallways looking for the slightest sign of a brunette ponytail peeking over the crowds. Jirou didn’t find any that day. Or the next. Or the next.
On the fourth day Jirou swore they saw the top of a ponytail, but they were too far away to be sure. On the fifth day Jirou wondered why they wanted to see her so bad. On the sixth day it rained.
//
They weren’t really sure how it happened again . It had been only a handful of days since Momo rescued Jirou from the rain, and ever since then Jirou had been checking the weather everyday. They could have sworn that the reports from this morning didn’t mention rain, but somehow Jirou found themselves in a very similar situation; under the awning with no umbrella while it was raining a disgusting amount.
The only difference was that there was no threat of a project being ruined, so Jirou took the storm head on. Only a few people gave them a weird glance as they marched triumphantly into the rain using their bookbag as a makeshift cover.
Jirou made it across the front of the school to the sidewalk before someone shouted at them. “You’re going to catch a cold, Jirou!” They couldn’t help but smile at the sound of footsteps splashing through puddles approached them. “I’m convinced that you don’t know how to read a weather report.” Momo chuckled as she moved her pink umbrella over their heads.
“And I’m convinced you don’t actually go to this school.” Jirou chuckled, but Momo gave them a confused look. “I’ve been looking for you at school for the past few days.” This time it was Momo’s turn to chuckle.
“Like I said before, I’m very busy academically. I know where I’m going and the quickest way to get there!” Momo’s answer was very cryptic, but Jirou didn’t press. “Maybe I’m just meant to rescue you from the rain.” Jirou could hear the smirk in her voice as the brunette shot them a wink.
Jirou wondered why they felt their cheeks burning.
//
The next day Jirou woke up to the sound of rain on their window. For once in their life they managed to remember to grab an umbrella- Jirou didn’t think going to school in a soaked uniform would be too comfy. They had just finished gathering everything in their bookbag when a shout rang through the house.
“Kyouka! You have company!”
“Okay, Mom! I’m coming!” Jirou shouted back, but had no idea who could be waiting for them. They begrudgingly made their way downstairs, half expecting this to be some kind of weird ploy their Mom was pulling to get them to come downstairs. As they turned the corner a familiar voice made its way to their ears.
“You have such a wonderful home!” Jirou turned the corner to find Momo standing in the front walkway, casually chatting with their Mom.
“Now Jirou, why haven’t you introduced me to your friend sooner?” The word friend sounded weird to Jirou, at least while thinking about Momo. Something didn’t sit right with them.
“We just became recently acquainted. I was just passing through the neighborhood on my way to school and thought it would be nice to walk together to school.” Momo answered for them, which Jirou was very thankful for.
“Just know you’re welcome over here anytime, honey!” Jirou’s Mom shouted at them as Jirou began to lead them out the front door.
Momo opened her umbrella for both of them. “I’m now under the impression you don’t own an umbrella, Jirou.” She joked with them.
Jirou wondered why they didn’t tell Momo they had their own umbrella.
//
“I’ll meet you after school in our usual spot.” Momo said when they arrived at school. “Presuming it’s not stopped raining, of course.”
“Of course.” Jirou responded, and they set off in two separate directions.
Jirou wondered why they felt sad when it stopped raining that afternoon.
//
By the time school let out, there was no sign of any impending storm. The sun was out and the sky was clear, but Jirou found themselves gravitating towards the ‘usual spot’ (at least, what they thought Momo was referring to) underneath the awning.
Jirou didn’t know why they decided to come here, Momo had even explicitly said they would only meet if it was raining, but there they stood.
“It’s a bit strange, you know, seeing you here when it’s not raining.” Jirou couldn’t force the grin off their face as they turned to where Momo’s voice was coming from.
“I could say the same to you.” Jirou teased back. They walked in a comfortable silence already knowing the route they would take. The pair were halfway to Jirou’s house when they finally broke the silence. “Why’d you walk by the spot if it was sunny outside?”
“I could ask you the same question!” Momo countered, but they both knew it held no weight. “Is it a crime to enjoy spending time with a nice girl from school?” Jirou didn’t answer, but instead just let out a sigh. It wasn’t a surprise that Momo immediately picked up on the slight change in attitude. “I’m sorry Jirou, did I say something wrong?”
“Not she or her, but they.” Jirou said while looking at the ground. Part of them was scared that the girl would immediately reject them. It was the ongoing battle between Jirou and telling other people.
“I’m sorry, is it a crime to enjoy spending time with a nice person from school?” Momo didn’t hesitate in correcting herself, and this time Jirou answered her.
“No, I guess it’s not.”
Jirou wondered why they hadn’t met Momo sooner.
//
The next few weeks went by in a blur. In between classes, studying, and tests, Jirou could always look forward to seeing Momo. More often than not they ended up walking to and from school together. Jirou didn’t know when it started, but at this point they both just seemed to accept it. They genuinely enjoyed being in each others company.
It was right before winter holiday when the pair was, yet again, walking home together and a thought occurred to Jirou. “You know, I’ve never walked you to your house. One second thought, I’ve never even seen your house.” Jirou pointed out while laughing, because it was true.
“It’ll take longer to walk to my house than yours, but if you insist.” And they did insist. It wasn’t long before Jirou was staring up at one of the most extravagant houses they’d ever laid their eyes on. They both stood on the sidewalk, Jirou continuing to ogle the house while Momo stared at them.
“Are you not going to go inside?” Momo shook her head.
“At this point, it’s my duty to walk you home.” Jirou rolled their eyes.
“You don’t have to do that. We’re literally in front of your house.” Momo shrugged and grabbed Jirou’s hand, pulling them back along the sidewalk to retrace their steps back to Jirou’s house. The warmth of Momo’s hand in their own was a nice contrast to the cold air outside.
Jirou wondered why neither of them let go the entire way home.
//
It was the last day of school before winter holiday, and to no surprise Jirou and Momo could be found walking home from school together. Every so often their hands would brush by each other. Jirou couldn’t stop thinking about Momo’s hand and how nice it felt in their own.
“Do you have any plans for the holidays?” Momo’s voice brought Jirou out of their thoughts.
“It’s just going to be my parents and I.” They tried to sound at least half enthusiastic, but Jirou couldn’t even fool themselves. “What about you?”
“Mother mentioned something about visiting Europe for Christmas, but I’m not positive on the details.” This made Jirou realize that they would have to go a while without seeing Momo. They didn’t know why this thought hadn’t occurred to them before- it was almost a routine to see Momo everyday.
“That sounds exciting!” Jirou managed a meager response. Momo changed the subject to something about Christmas music but her words were just background noise to Jirou.
Jirou wondered if Momo knew they would miss her.
//
“Don’t forget to do your homework over the holidays!” Momo wagged a finger at Jirou as they approached their house.
“You’d never let me hear the end of it if I did.” Jirou rolled their eyes and playfully bumped Momo with their hip. Apparently they bumped her a little too hard and Momo got knocked slightly off balance. Jirou reached out and grabbed her hand with theirs to help Momo regain her footing.
“I think I’ll miss seeing you over the holiday.” Momo’s voice was barely above a whisper. This conversation was meant for them, and only them.
“I think I’ll miss seeing you too.” Jirou didn’t miss how Momo grabbed their other hand. They couldn’t ignore how the air around them was warm, buzzing with electricity. Momo’s cheeks had flushed a light pink color and Jirou knew it wasn’t from the cold; their cheeks sported a similar color as well.
They were having a moment. Jirou didn’t know what to do when Momo started leaning down towards them, reflecting on how they met just because Jirou was an idiot who couldn’t remember an umbrella, and oh god they were about to get kissed.
Jirou felt the tiniest pressure on their cheek, so quick that they could’ve missed it. “Have a great holiday, Kyouka.” Momo whispered into their ear before dropping their hands and walking towards her own house. Jirou brought a hand up to their cheek where Momo’s lips had been only seconds before.
Jirou wondered if Momo wanted to kiss them.
//
On Christmas morning Jirou celebrated quietly with their family. They let their thoughts wander to Momo, thinking about what she was doing right now.
“Oh, there’s one more gift for you! I almost forgot about it!” Jirou was handed a small package with maroon paper and a small white bow. “Your friend dropped it off for you a while back. She said she wouldn’t be here to give it to you in person.”
Their heart soared at the thought of Momo not only buying them a gift, but planning it in advance to have it here on Christmas day. Jirou carefully opened the package trying not to soil the wrapping paper. When they saw what was inside, Jirou couldn’t stop a grin from forming ear to ear.
“An umbrella? Did yours break, sweetie? You know you could have told me…” Jirou let their Mom’s questions flow into the background while they held the purple umbrella in their hands.
Jirou wondered when they’d fallen in love with Momo.
//
“So you’re positive that your Christmas gift to me wasn’t just you nicely saying you didn’t want to walk me home anymore?” It was New Years Eve and Momo was back from vacation. Jirou was surprised to see the girl show up at their doorstep with an invitation to the Yaoyorozu’s New Years Eve party.
“If that’s what you truly think of me, then I’m hurt.” It took all but two seconds for Jirou to enthusiastically say yes to the invitation. Now they were sitting on a couch next to Momo in one of the fanciest houses Jirou had ever been in.
“I appreciate the gift and the meaning behind it. I’m sorry I didn’t get you anything!” Jirou apologized, but Momo just shook her head.
“I assure you there’s nothing to be sorry about! Being with you is enough for me.” In that moment Jirou could feel their face heat up to a shade of red that was probably ridiculously obvious. “You know I care about you a lot.” Momo said that so casually, yet Jirou knew she meant it.
Jirou wondered if Momo fell in love with them too.
//
Right before midnight, Momo pulled Jirou onto a fancy balcony. Jirou visibly shivered at the contrast of warmer air to cold, and Momo didn’t hesitate to wrap her arms around them.
“If you’re cold we can go back inside.” Jirou just shook their head and leaned into Momo’s touch.
“I’d much rather be out here with you.” The words left Jirou’s mouth before they knew it, and they wondered when they’d become so bold.
“The feeling’s mutual.” The three words came out as a whisper and Jirou didn’t think they were meant to hear it. They also begged the question of what feelings that Momo was referring to. Jirou wished they knew, but in this moment with Momo’s arms around them, did anything else really matter?
“It’s almost midnight.” Momo’s voice cut through the December night. The adults inside had begun to count backwards from 30, marking that midnight was rapidly approaching.
30, 29, 28, 27
“Yea, it is.”
24, 23, 22
“I’m excited for the New Year.”
19, 18, 17, 16, 15
“Me too.”
13, 12
“I want to try something.”
9, 8, 7
“Okay.”
5
Jirou felt Momo’s grip around them loosening.
4
Momo let go of Jirou.
3
Jirou turned around so they were facing Momo again.
2
They both leaned in closer to each other.
1
Momo’s eyes seemed to glimmer with something outside of their usual sparkle. The brown had never looked as enticing as it had before. Jirou couldn’t help but notice how soft her skin looked as Momo leaned in closer to them. Had Momo always been this beautiful? Jirou felt like there was no way they could forget that.
Happy New Year!
Jirou wondered if Momo knew how long they’d been waiting for this moment.
//
Winter holiday came and went. Before Jirou could blink it was time for school to start back up. Still, ever since New Years, they’d had an extra pep in their step. They smiled to themselves and got ready for school, knowing that a certain someone was going to be there to walk them to school soon.
“It’s raining today, don’t forget an umbrella!” Jirou’s Mom said as they made their way downstairs. Jirou found it ironic that it would rain on the first day back to school. They opened the front door to see Momo walking towards their front door, pink umbrella in tow. Jirou stepped underneath the umbrella, grabbed Momo’s free hand, and smiled.
Jirou knew they wouldn’t be alone in the rain again.
//