Chapter Text
Once, not long ago, where the rainy season ensued, two people were longing for the rain.
Bright grins broke out whenever the sky cried, hurried steps to take an umbrella, moving through the crowds, these all happened upon stormy days.
But perhaps, the rain was just an excuse. An excuse to meet once more.
The rain was how they met, and the rain is how they will depart.
Now, let's begin the tale, shall we?
-----
The sky was crying.
Soft tears that fell from the heavens interrupted the taps coming from your computer keys. Your hand paused, and lifted to feel a droplet land on your hand.
You were in a writer's block, trying your best to figure out a way to start your new novel. Well...hopefully, it will turn out to be a novel. It's still freshmen year for you, and this would be your first work.
'Might as well get ready for school.' You thought as you stretched your limbs.
"Rain..."
You loved the rain; it felt like it was a part of you. The droplets were like an old friend, its rhythmic beat acted like a comforting hand on your shoulder. The palliative pitter-patter of the rainfall would always ease your worries.
But you didn't have time to waste staring at mother nature's tears; the train departed in 15 minutes, and one couldn't afford to miss it. Grabbing your bag along with a clear umbrella, you went outside to catch the train.
The streets of Shibuya were always busy with crowded people and heavy air. To tell the truth, it made you quite nauseous. The bitter smell of newspaper and wet hair was never your cup of tea. The train departed in 4 minutes, but your feet took you to someplace other than the station.
'I brought my notebook...so I might as well go there.'
The mere thought of visiting your sanctuary was enough to bring excitement.
'Class can wait.'
Tucking a lock of hair behind your ear, you switched your destination to the national garden. You looked forward to a moment where there wouldn't be teachers with their overly saccharine voice or classwork that had no value. No, today would be just a time for you to relax, at least for the first period of class.
The bustling crowd slowly dispersed, leaving you at the entrance of the grand conservatory. The vines and foliage created some sort of safe space away from humanity. It was still raining so there was seldom if any people, perfect for relaxing without any worries. Yes, this was your sanctuary. A place where one could escape the fast-pacing world to take a breather.
"Meow."
You abandon your peaceful thoughts and turn to see... a cat? In a bag?!
'Is that even safe?' You wondered.
Your eyes shift from the peculiar animal to the potential owner, a boy with floofy hair and thick glasses, intentively reading a book.
"Meow."
"You're not slick, Morgana."
"MeOw!"
Okay, maybe not too intensively.
You sweatdropped at the scene playing out. A boy quarreling with... a cat...
'This...' You thought to yourself as a smirk crept up your lips, 'is perfect writing material!'
Indeed it was. A boy and a cat arguing would certainly get views, but you were a writer, and this was a perfect scenario for your two characters to meet in a rom-com situation!
You bring out your notebook and start furiously jotting the scene before your eyes.
"Meow."
"How many times do I have to tell you? Girls aren't romantically into-"
The boy's dialogue abruptly stopped as he noticed you.
'Oh, crap...'
"G-Goodmorning."
'Abort, abort, abort mission.'
"Were...were you talking to your cat?"
The silence hung in the air as the fencepost three feet away suddenly looked very interesting.
"Don't...Don't we all?" He played off the bizarre scenario as if it were something to brush off as easily as, say, a stray piece of paper on the floor.
"Y-yeah but...not like...not like that." You decided to give up on this conversation before a passerby decides to take both of you to a mental hospital. And with a quick glance at your phone told you that you only had 30 minutes left until your next class began.
Sighing as you wished for something to drink, you sat on the bench as the tip of your pencil began scritching the surface of your notebook, trying to get past your writer's block.
The serene mix of your pencil scribbles, the boy's page turns, along with the pattering of the rain truly gave a stereotypical melodrama film feeling.
The boy was too engrossed in his novel to notice that his cat had gotten out of his lap and swatted away your pencil, creating a long pencil slash across your words. You didn't mind, though. Writer's block kept you from creating astounding ideas anyways.
"Morgana!" The boy scolded as he returned your pencil.
"Thanks."
When he gave your writing utensil back to you, you discovered that upon closer inspection, he had cherry blossom petals stuck in his hair. His eyes were sharp and held dark grey irises along with long eyelashes. Deciding to stop being a creep, you tried to make some small talk.
"So, is your school closed?"
You expected a casual answer; something along the lines of 'yeah lol its a teacher faculty meeting day' or something like that.
The boy answered without looking up from the book.
"Kinda, my physical education teacher got arrested for harassing minors and abusing students, so they let us out early."
Okay, you didn't expect that.
'what...what the actual heck? Is this guy for real?? Saying that with such a nonchalant expression,' you checked your phone once more, ' and it's only 9:00!'
You slightly feared the adolescent beside you as he didn't even blink when stating the fact.
"What? Did you expect that my school had a faculty meeting?" He saw right through you. "What about you?"
"Uh...No...I just decided to skip...Seems a little underwhelming compared to yours, huh?"
"Yeah, it's a little hard to top my school's shenanigans, little miss delinquent."
You ignored the unnecessary comment.
'What school is he even from?'
You glanced at his uniform.
'Shujin... and a second-year?'
Before you could tell him your school, your alarm goes off, signaling the start of the second period.
"Ah, I should go."
The boy adjusted his glasses and smirked, "Back to class, little Miss delinquent?"
"Don't call me that, Hanabira-san ."
"Flower peta-?"
You cut him off by removing one of the flower petals from his hair, rubbing the fragile material betwixt your two fingers.
"The rainy season blows the cherry blossoms away, so it's like it's raining petals. It's quite majestic, isn't it, Hanabira-san? Almost like a scene from a fantasy..."
To your surprise, he gave a chuckle.
"Funny, because another girl told me how she hated the rainy season for the exact same reason, except she didn't find it beautiful."
You took out your clear umbrella once more but had trouble opening it.
"Here."
He opened it with ease, rubbing the salt on the wound.
"Well, thanks, Hanabira-san."
"See ya, Tsuyu-chan."
___
"Tsuyu-chan..."
The name meaning 'Morning Dew' in Japanese.
You smiled fondly at the memory as your teachers droned on about capitalism.
'I like it...'