Chapter Text
It was another rainy summer day as Kinshiro found himself stuck under the roof of a nearby mall with no umbrella, a single bag in his hand that contained an important package as he shook his head at his continuous stroke of luck or should he say bad luck. “What am I going to do now if the rain doesn’t stop anytime soon?” he asked himself with a heavy sigh.
Atsushi heaved a deep sigh, not in the best of moods because of the weather. It was summer break, it was supposed to be sunny and nice, and yet there were too many rainy days. He walked down the sidewalk, his umbrella in one hand, and a bag of groceries in the other. He had been asked to make a grocery run since his household was running out of necessary food items. He kept walking past the general shopping area, when a familiar face appeared in his vision. Atsushi smiled when he saw who it was... his recently reunited with childhood friend, Kinshiro. The other looked miserable, standing under a roof from the rain. Atsushi hurried up to him. "Kin-chan!" he called out.
Kinshiro immediately looked up at the sound of that ever so familiar voice as a smile found itself on his face upon seeing Atsushi. “At-chan!” he exclaimed in happiness, wanting to go meet the other but immediately remembered the bag in his hand that he couldn’t get wet no matter what and so he stood there, waiting for his childhood friend.
Atsushi's mood brightened even more as he saw Kinshiro smiling back at him. He walked over until he was standing right beside him. They hadn't seen each other much since break started, so he was really glad they could meet like this. "What horrible weather," Atsushi complained, attempting to make light conversation. And it really was. The rain did not seem like it would be letting up at that moment.
Kinshiro suddenly found himself not caring about the weather or the fact that he couldn’t get home with all this rain now that Atsushi was standing in front of him. “At-chan...” he smiled at the other, having not seen him much this summer break due to both of their busy schedules, completely lost for words as he just gazed at the other for a moment.
Atsushi kept smiling at Kinshiro, wanting to start a conversation, but unsure on what to say. The rain kept pouring in the background, but because of his new company, Atsushi found he didn't mind so much anymore. "Are you out shopping too?" he finally asked, nodding toward his own grocery bag, and then to the one Kinshiro was holding. He had then noticed that Kinshiro didn't have an umbrella.
Kinshiro’s eyes immediately widened upon Atsushi’s gaze at the bag he was holding as he attempted to hide it behind him without looking too suspicious although inwardly, Kinshiro cringed at his less than obvious action as the other looked at him with a slightly confused expression. “A-ah, I’m shopping too, yes,” he muttered out a reply, somewhat flustered, a light blush on his cheeks as his eyes dropped to the ground. “I just can’t get home with all this rain yet...”
Atsushi looked curiously at the other, confused at his flustered behaviour at his previous question. He wondered what Kinshiro had bought that seemed to embarrass him... But Atsushi just shrugged it off, and smiled and nodded. "Aaaaaa," he said. "It doesn't seem like it will stop soon, huh? How long have you been standing here?" He gazed at the other, wondering. If Kinshiro didn't have an umbrella, then...
“I haven’t been here that long...” Kinshiro told Atsushi as he looked up again, his eyes meeting Atsushi’s, the light blush still on his cheeks. Of course I haven’t been waiting here long when I’ve been spending hours upon hours in the mall trying to find something suitable enough... he thought as he shuffled awkwardly for a bit.
"Oh, that's good then!" Atsushi replied, glad that his dear friend hasn't been standing there for that long, unable to go anywhere without an umbrella. Atsushi turned away for a moment in thought. He didn't have anywhere else to be, and it's not as if his groceries had any frozen items that had to be put away immediately... "Then... do you want to share?" he motioned upwards with his chin to his umbrella. "I can walk to your house with you if you want..." He somehow felt a bit nervous after suggesting it. He looked Kinshiro in the eye, anticipating his response.
Kinshiro’s eyes lit up upon the suggestion at the thought of spending time with Atsushi as he nodded shyly. “If you are not busy at the moment then yes,” he told the other with a smile. “That would be very kind of you.”
Atsushi let out a breath of relief when Kinshiro had agreed to his suggestion. He was happy that they could spend more time together this way. "I'm not busy at all!" he assured the other. "I was just getting groceries for home, but I have no hurry to be back." He then stepped sideways, moving closer to Kinshiro, and then he moved his umbrella over so it was covering both him and Kinshiro, making sure it was also covering both his grocery bag, and the bag that Kinshiro was holding. "Shall we go then?" he asked with a smile.
Kinshiro nodded as his smile grew wider, his heart pounding loudly in his ears at being so close to Atsushi and sharing an umbrella with him no less. Is this what heaven is like? Kinshiro thought as he gazed at Atsushi with a look full of happiness. “Please,” he told the other as they began walking out together in the rain, the umbrella shielding them from falling raindrops.
As they walked together, Atsushi kept turning to smile at Kinshiro at random moments. He was very happy, being able to spend this time with him. He paid a lot of attention to the umbrella above them, making sure that it was covering Kinshiro at all times. He didn't want Kinshiro to get wet because he made a wrong move with his arm. And at the same time, he was very aware of how close their arms were together... almost brushing against each other. Atsushi clutched the umbrella handle tighter if possible, thinking of something... anything to say. "So... how has your summer break been so far?" he finally asked.
Kinshiro’s face had not been able to break the light blush on his cheeks from before and could put no stop to it now as he continued walking beside Atsushi, his heart beating even faster whenever his childhood friend would turn to him with that absolutely beautiful smile of his. “My summer break has been extremely busy thus far,” he commented, and extremely lonely without you... he thought as he continued to gaze at Atsushi. “How was yours? I hope you had a better time than I did.”
Atsushi smiled shyly at the blush on Kinshiro's face. "Mine was fine..." he said. "I got the summer homework out of the way early... had good times with my family... and hung out with En-chan and the others..." he paused for a moment before continuing. "I wish we could have seen each other more..." I really missed you... he continued in his head. "I'm glad I ran into you now," he said aloud. "I'm glad we can spend time together. And who knows how long you would have been standing there until the rain stopped..."
Kinshiro smiled happily at Atsushi again, having not smiled this way in a very long time. “I’m so glad you ran into me...” he trailed off as the blush continued covering his cheeks. “It’s really so nice to spend time with you and we haven’t had many opportunities to do so...” he said as he very shyly leaned in a little closer to Atsushi under the umbrella, his heart running a marathon. “And I would have figured something out with the rain, I guess...” Kinshiro said with a bright smile as he found a small laugh escaping.
Atsushi smiled again, feeling warmth overtaking him... he didn't even really notice the rain or the cool air anymore. "I'm glad you feel the same!" he said, feeling nervous as Kinshiro had leaned closer to him. Atsushi felt his cheeks growing warm, but he embraced the feeling of Kinshiro being so close to him. He leaned in a little back as butterflies swirled around his stomach. It had been so long, after all... since they were that close. Atsushi couldn't even begin to describe the feeling of having Kinshiro back in his life. It was like a missing piece of himself had snapped back into place. "Maybe so..." he said, going back to the conversation. "Though I'm really glad I came anyway... so we can walk together like this." He kept looking at Kinshiro so much that he took a wrong step and stumbled a little bit on the sidewalk. "Ah!" he said, panicking a little bit. He hoped Kinshiro didn't get wet!
When Atsushi suddenly stumbled, Kinshiro found himself immediately reaching out to steady the other, a hand on Atsushi’s wrist and another on Atsushi’s shoulder to ensure the other wouldn’t fall. “Are you all right?” Kinshiro asked concerned as he looked into the other’s eyes, having not even realized how truly close to one another they were now.
Atsushi gasped as a warm hand grabbed his wrist to steady him. He looked up to see Kinshiro's concerned face right in front of him. Atsushi felt himself flush at the closeness. "I-I'm fine!" he assured. "I guess I just tripped, huh..." he used Kinshiro's grip to steady himself so he was back on both of his feet, taking a step backwards. "Thank you, Kin-chan!" he smiled at the other warmly. And then he noticed the position of the umbrella. It was tilted to the side, not over either Atsushi or Kinshiro. He gasped. "I-I'm so sorry Kin-chan!" he hurried and put the umbrella back over both of them like it was before. Hurrying so much his hand was unsteady, the umbrella slightly shaking over their heads. Wow, what had happened there? He didn't want to be so clumsy... especially at a time like that.
Upon Atsushi having taken a step back, Kinshiro found himself taking a step forward towards Atsushi to close the distance. With the hand that was still on Atsushi’s shoulder, Kinshiro softly brushed the rain that accumulated on the other’s shirt as he raised his eyes to meet Atsushi’s gaze. “Don’t be sorry, At-chan,” Kinshiro said softly, brushing some more raindrops away from the other’s shirt. “There’s nothing to be apologetic about,” he told the other softly with a smile. “Being with you and spending time with you is so wonderful... who cares about a little rain?” he laughed softly, a warm smile on his face as he continued to look at Atsushi.
Atsushi's face felt like it was on fire after Kinshiro stepped forward and started brushing the raindrops off of him. Atsushi clutched the umbrella tighter, steadying it over them both. He felt so much affection for the other hit him all at once with Kinshiro's next words. "Yeah," he said, agreeing. "That's true. What's a little rain?" He honestly didn't care about getting wet himself, but he was more worried about Kinshiro. But after hearing his response, he felt so much better... so much lighter that the next steps he took would feel like he was floating. "What about your bag though?" he asked after a moment of gazing into the other's eyes. "Will it be okay?" He hoped Kinshiro hadn't bought something that would be ruined if it got a little wet. Atsushi then began to return the favour as he brushed off the wetness from Kinshiro's shirt as well. He found himself laughing. He silently thanked his mother for asking him to go out that day.
Kinshiro could feel hit face heat up even more as Atsushi brushed the raindrops from his shirt, an undeniable blush spread across his cheeks as his heart pounded insanely as he continued to look at Atsushi, finding himself unable to look away. “My bag will be all right...” he spoke, his voice almost a whisper as he continued to gaze at Atsushi. “I had the contents wrapped well to protect it from the rain...” he whispered as he found himself leaning just a little closer to Atsushi, the other’s warmth so close to himself simply captivating as the hand that was brushing the raindrops from Atsushi’s shirt unintentionally brushed the other’s arm.
"That's good then..." Atsushi murmured, returning Kinshiro's gaze. "I'm glad nothing was ruined because I'm so clumsy..." He then stilled and swallowed nervously once Kinshiro moved even closer towards him. And when Kinshiro's hand brushed against his arm, he definitely felt that the redness of Kinshiro's face was mirrored on his own. His heart beat really fast, being so close to his childhood friend. Huh, that was strange... this was a completely new feeling. I don't remember a feeling quite like this before... He stayed still, not wanting to move on the fear of the moment being lost. But before he realized what he was doing, his hand that was holding the umbrella slid down until it was touching Kinshiro's hand... the one that had brushed his arm. He couldn't let go of the umbrella, but he held onto Kinshiro's hand with the top of his fingers, while still clutching the umbrella at the same time. And then he smiled. "There's no place I'd rather be right now..." he said in a quiet voice, although he had meant for it to only be in his head.
“Me either...” Kinshiro whispered as he felt his whole body warm upon Atsushi’s touch, tingles going down his spine as he found himself unable to pull back no – wishing to never have to pull back… wishing that this moment could last forever. At the back of his head, Kinshiro was somewhat aware of a little voice urging him to back away but his body found itself coming even closer to Atsushi, almost as if in a trance, never breaking eye contact with his childhood friend. I wish for nothing more than to always be by your side forever... Kinshiro thought as the hand that wasn’t currently on Atsushi’s arm raised itself to the other’s cheek, his thumb brushing it with a very soft touch as he leaned in just a few inches more, barely aware of what he was doing, the pull towards the other’s warmth so strong, his thoughts focusing just on Atsushi.
Atsushi couldn't look away; he was entranced by staring at Kinshiro's face. He wished that they would never have to move from that spot. When Kinshiro's hand brushed against his cheek, Atsushi forgot everything else. He forgot about all of their surroundings... the rain... the umbrella in his hand... all of it. All that existed in that moment was just him and Kinshiro. He was aware enough to notice that Kinshiro was moving even closer to him. Atsushi could not help but flicker his gaze down to Kinshiro's lips. Their connection at that moment felt almost magnetic. Though something in Atsushi's mind fought against it... a part of him thought this was a bad idea... things would not be the same anymore if this continued... but the dominant part of his brain succumbed to the pull between them as he closed the rest of the distance between them and his lips found themselves lightly brushing against Kinshiro's.