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On one late-June afternoon, Mizuki found herself caught in the midst of a torrential downpour. The forecast hadn’t mentioned anything about rain, yet given the time of year, she should have seen it coming. Unfortunately, she’d neglected to bring an umbrella and was now dashing for dear life, leaving tracks of gushes and splashes, desperate to keep her clothes from being soaked.
Normally, she would just rush straight home, but she only made it halfway before the gray sky’s tears grew too heavy, too rapid, and too dense to outrun. Instead, she searched for any cover she could find. She promptly ducked into a nearby playground, figuring she may find shelter beneath the roof of a miniature tunnel. Given her height, she worried that she may not be able to squeeze herself inside. Thankfully she’s juuust flexible enough to fold her body together and fit into the pipe.
She breathed a heavy sigh of relief as she felt herself no longer being pelted by the rain. She could still hear the rhythm of raindrops beating against the tube, a sound which turned soothing as she searched her purse for a handkerchief, hoping to dry her dripping skin at least a little. Suddenly, she noticed another sound—another person at the other end of the pipe, dripping wet and breathing weekly. She’s even more shocked to see who it is. “Mafuyu?!”
“Mizuki…” Her hollow gaze and feeble voice were unmistakable. But what were the odds they’d both end up here? Their eyes met, and she could recognize a familiar shape, a dim sadness with a hint of loneliness. She must be scared, too… stuck in this tight space and isolated from the rest of the world. At least in SEKAI, the vast and open emptiness could bring a cold comfort. At least, that’s what Mizuki felt reflected in her gaze.
“Mafuyu,” Mizuki said with a warm smile. “I’m glad to see you. Sure is pouring, huh?”
“...” No reply, but something in her gaze seemed to shift. It’s more… calm, it felt like. Come to think of it, there was a time when Ena found Mafuyu in a storm and brought her back to her house. Mizuki would have loved to offer the same, but the distance between here and there meant that wasn’t feasible. Instead, she figured she could just stay right here with her until the rain cleared.
Time slowed to a crawl as the world outside the tunnel seemed cut-off from Mizuki and Mafuyu. They didn’t exchange many words—usually Mizuki would guide the conversation and receive short, curt replies. Right now, though? She had little to say. She just wanted to make sure Mafuyu was okay. Slowly, she scooted across the tube still drenched and leaving traces upon where she sat before.
Closer.
Closer.
But not too close.
She wouldn’t allow herself any closer.
Yet even after she stopped, she was much closer than she anticipated. She quickly realized that, perhaps without even thinking, Mafuyu had been inching towards her.
The only sounds were the rain against the ceiling and Mafuyu’s quiet breaths, soon joined by the unsteady rhythm of Mizuki’s heartbeat. This close wasn’t allowed for her. It felt like she had done something wrong, like she had overstepped.
Before her panic set in, though, she felt the touch of Mafuyu’s hand against her side. “Mm?”
“Mizuki, your hand…”
She doesn’t need to ask questions. She simply allowed the tension to leave her, taking her hand in her own as if it were natural. Her gentle touch soothed her.
“Feels… safe…” Mafuyu said sheepishly.
Isolated from the rest of the world, scrunched together in this makeshift shelter, they had only each other and the rain as company. Mizuki closed her eyes, hoping that she could soothe Mafuyu just the same.