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The rain poured harshly, the many puddles around growing steadily larger as students with umbrellas walked by, leaving the school safely and dryly. Taishi, however, stood at the school entrance under the awning, a frown on his face. He normally was more prepared than this—he knew the statistics of how many days for each month it was likely to rain, and he more often than not had an umbrella handy no matter what.
But today had been distracting. He’d slept in, which was something he usually never did, and on the way to school he’d run into an old acquaintance from the past he wanted to forget. He also could have sworn the forecast said it would be sunny all day. Then at the end of classes he’d stayed longer to talk to the teacher about an assignment, and even longer as Taishi wanted to learn more about the historical era that they’d been going over in social studies.
Therefore, all his friends had already left and Taishi was questioning whether he should just brave the rain and risk getting a cold.
Well, it was probably fine. Taishi had a strong body, he hardly ever got colds. (No, Ichiro, it wasn’t because he was an idiot.)
He put his bag up over his head, and was about to make a run for it when a sudden voice pierced the air, somehow just able to be heard over the pouring ran smacking against the ground everywhere.
“Taishi!”
Taishi paused, dropping the bag back down to his side. “Oh… Shirahone. You were still here?”
Maasa was panting from beside him, his cheeks pink, and a closed umbrella in one hand. “Mhm! Maasa… still had some student council work to do, but Ibusuki-senpai said I could leave now.”
“Hmm, it must be hard.” Even though he was sure that Ibusuki took on most of the work himself, being the secretary was no small thing.
“Not really,” Maasa straightened and puffed his chest out. “It’s easy!”
Was that really the case, or was Maasa just trying to show off?
Before Taishi could think of something to reply, Maasa continued. “Aren’t you interested in joining the student council, Taishi? If it’s you, I’m sure you could handle it.”
This wasn’t the first time that Maasa had tried to recruit him. “I’m grateful for your confidence, but no, thanks. I don’t want to leave the defense club.”
“Awww.” Maasa pouted. “Maybe next year.”
Taishi didn’t reply. He wasn’t going to outright reject that possibility, after all, a student council position would be good for his future prospects, but he also liked being in the defense club with his friends and seniors.
Maasa opened his umbrella, and Taishi finally got a good look at it. It was large, bright pink, and had lace around the edges. It was something that looked like it should come from a cosplay, not something a high school student would have.
But it suited him. It was cute, just like Maasa was.
At that thought, Taishi averted his eyes and adjusted his glasses as his face heated up substantially. He knew there was no reason to be embarrassed by these feelings, but he wasn’t used to them at all. Not to mention, he had no idea how Ichiro would react if he were to find out Taishi had somewhat of a crush on his cousin. Yeah, it was actually embarrassing. Taishi liked facts, things that could be explained by dictionary definitions, and this really couldn’t be.
“Taishi, do you not have an umbrella?” Maasa cut through Taishi’s thoughts in a tone that was hard to parse, but it at least didn’t sound ridiculing.
“I neglected to prepare today,” Taishi admitted, shame burning him from the inside. He was usually better than this. “It’s alright, though. Rain won’t hurt me.”
Maasa walked up so he was beside him and opened his umbrella. “Then just come under Maasa’s!”
Taishi blinked dumbly at Maasa and his cute smile. “Is that really okay? Don’t you live in the opposite direction?”
“It’s okay!” Maasa said. “You don’t want to catch a cold, do you?”
“It’s alright,” Taishi said. “My body is strong, so…”
“Are you an idiot?” Maasa narrowed his eyes.
Taishi sighed. He knew that he’d get that kind of comment from Ichiro, but not from Maasa. “Yeah, yeah. That’s not what I meant. It’s just a proverb and it has no bearing on reality.”
“Huh?” Maasa’s face scrunched up adorably. “I just meant don’t be stubborn and just come with me! Geez, is it that you find it embarrassing to be under my cute umbrella?”
Taishi shook his head. No, it was because his heart was already pounding this hard, and walking so close to him wouldn’t do him any favours.
But… Maasa was being kind, so…
“I just didn’t want to concern you with my problems. But if you insist, then I’ll take you up on it. Thank you, Shirahone.”
Maasa beamed. “Yup!”
And they stepped out into the rain, Maasa holding the umbrella over both of their heads. They weren’t that different in height, so it made it easy.
Taishi really didn’t have an issue being under such a flashy umbrella. It’s not one he would have chosen for himself, but it was fine. Especially when Maasa was being so nice to him.
Back then, back before the battle in HonyalaLand, he never would have imagined being friendly with each other like this. Especially when his first impression of Maasa had been disdain for how he treated Ichiro. But… it turned out he’d had his reasons and insecurities, just like everyone else. Even though Ichiro was his best friend, he wasn’t the most sensitive person, he could say things without thinking sometimes.
It was hard to tell, just when Taishi had started paying more attention to Maasa. Maybe it was after the summer sports day, when they’d teamed up. Or maybe it was after HonyalaLand when Maasa had made up with Ichiro, and then also started to interact with Taishi a lot more, too, asking for his attention, to talk, wanting him to join the student council.
But somehow, somewhere within that time, Taishi’s eyes had drifted to Maasa more often than not. He’d noticed with a sense of clarity how cute Maasa was, and how kind. Even though he had a bit of a temper and could clearly be petty too, he was interesting and had caught his attention. Taishi had never had a crush before so he had no idea what to do about it…
“Taishi, you’re walking too fast!” Maasa complained.
“Oh.” Taishi adjusted his glasses. “Sorry.”
“Geez, you’re always so fast.”
“I wouldn’t go that far…”
“Maasa definitely thinks so! That’s why you came in number one in that race we did!”
Taishi clicked his tongue. “Well, that’s because there’s no point in doing it at all unless you’re going to go all out.”
“That’s why you were scary,” Maasa replied.
“Scary?”
“Just for a moment,” Maasa said. “And then Maasa thought Taishi was super cool instead!”
Taishi’s face burned. Suddenly, he was way too aware of the fact that their shoulders were brushing. “... Really?”
“Yep, really! You were just nothing more than a nerd to me at first… which is cool and all, ‘cause I like nerds. But then you did that, and Maasa definitely fell for you for real, so you should be honoured!”
Taishi’s mind and body screeched to a halt.
What?
Maasa kept walking, so rain started to pelt down on top of Taishi, but he barely noticed it. Fell for him? He was joking, right? He was just saying things just to say them, just to tease… sure, he wasn’t the same kind of creature Nanao was, but if he meant it, he wouldn’t have said it so nonchalantly like that…
Maasa screamed and turned around. “Taishi, what are you doing, you dummy?! Why’d you stop?”
Taishi shook himself back into control and walked up under the umbrella. “Nothing. Sorry.”
“Ugh! If you get mud on Maasa… Maasa will just leave you there!”
Yeah, Taishi wouldn’t be able to blame him. “I won’t. Sorry, I just got distracted.”
Maasa sighed. “You’re lucky you’re smart as well as cute, Taishi.”
“Shirahone…” Taishi said, confusion and fluster bubbling under his skin.
“Hey, just call me Maasa, okay?”
“... Maasa…” Taishi’s face flushed.
“Yeah,” Maasa beamed at him again before looking forward.
That smile…
Fuck.
Taishi was screwed.
He didn’t know whether Maasa was just playing around or not, but…
Perhaps that was fine.
He liked it.
Maybe he had a masochistic side he didn’t know about or what.
But here, sharing an umbrella with Maasa like this, their shoulders brushing, imagining what it would be like to hold his hand…
Back when he’d been a delinquent, Taishi never would have imagined having a school life like this. A smile formed on his own face. Yes, this was what people called youth, wasn’t it?
No matter how long this moment lasted, he would enjoy it, finding himself glad that he’d forgotten his umbrella.