Chapter Text
Yashiro Nene has always possessed an affinity for the rain.
From the gentle pitter-patter sounds it makes pelting against windows, to the pearls it forms, which slide slowly down the panes. Days like these were her most special, and they reminded Nene of someone special. Nene peeked down at Black Canyon who was sleeping peacefully in her hands. Fortunately, the little hamster was also soothed by the calming atmosphere and (hopefully) wouldn't be performing any escapist acts tonight. Pulling back a satin curtain, Nene gazed up and out of her bedroom window. She could see the stretch of her sleepy little town - traffic lights blinking from green to orange to red, people hurriedly crossing trying to escape the downpour, yellow and orange and dormant trees swaying back and forth to the cruel caress of the unrelenting wind. The sky was a palette of grays and blues, the sun barely visible, yet resting on the horizon. Black Canyon stirred in Nene's hand. A brief glance at the clock on her wall informed her that it was time to leave. With a fond smile towards the somnolent hamster, Nene's eyes softened as she placed it back into its cage. It woke up instantly. Squeaking at Nene for extracting it from her warmth! Nene giggled, the mere image of mirth as she muttered a quiet apology to her furry companion. Standing and stretching from her desk, the radish-legged lady glanced around her room before gabbing her old pastel pink raincoat from the back of her door. Tugging it on, she crept out of her room and down the hallway, her footsteps causing the old wooden flooring to weep in her silent home.
"Sorry, I won't be long." Nene whispered after reaching the front door. Patting it's mahogany-esque wood, she searched the hall for her keys, an eye out for the telltale rocket key chain attached. Thunder boomed abruptly in the distance, sending a cool chill down Nene's spine. She shut her eyes tight and began to count.
One.
Two.
Three.
Fou-
The hall brightened, a cool white spreading itself over the cold tiles and decrepit photographs which adorned the walls. Such photos had once instilled joy into Nene about the future and what was to come; yet now, Nene could hardly bare to look at them. Darkness returned. Nene turned toward the front door. The lightning was four counts so naturally that meant - wait what did that mean again? With a scrunch of her nose and a finger scratching her cheek, Nene pondered what on Earth that had meant. She thought back to Minamoto Kou who'd began counting after a boom of thunder once whilst they were at school, and she'd never admit it out loud, but it did make him look kinda cool. Nene face-palmed, rolling her shoulders to try and ease off some of her tension before something captured her attention from the corner of her eye. Her keys! They were situated on the floor beside her slippers! With an overjoyed fist-pump to no one in particular, Nene quickly grabbed her keys, fingers toying with the rocket remembering the familiar grooves and bumps. The sixteen-year-old girl ignored formalities, bolting out the door, checking twice that she locked it behind her.
---
The rain had cleared up a little since she had begun cycling. Nene was just glad she had worn her best raincoat.
She adored the rain, but mostly from a distance, like when she was sitting in her kotatsu with Black Canyon resting nearby with a cup of freshly brewed peach tea resting on the table. However much she loved rain, she knew it was worth getting soaked if it allowed her to see Hanako.
Taking a steep left, Nene found herself at an intersection. The streets empty, and the night silent, save for the consistent drone of the street lamps and the dancing of raindrops against the road. The sun had fully set now and the clouds were beginning to clear, just not yet quite enough for the rain to ease off.
Nene sighed, and surveyed the area for any stealthy cars before peddling her bike again. It didn't take long for her to reach her destination.
The old observatory. It was a pretty large building, vines and plants entwining themselves in its foundation. Flowers shooting by the entrance, beautiful pink peonies and lavender hydrangeas. Nene smiled knowing that the structure was slowly but surely being reclaimed by nature. She hopped off of her bike, hiding it in a bush near the observatory's entrance and began striding forth, when she was suddenly met with a bout of anxiety.
Did she look okay?
Was her hair a mess?
Could she have gotten the date or time wrong?
No, that was impossible, she had been counting down to this since last week, checking her planner every day, there was no way she could've gotten it wrong. Right?
Ah whatever! Slapping her cheeks and shaking her head she pushed all the negative thoughts aside and once again, began her journey forth.