Work Text:
It was just a normal Tuesday, like any other day.
It was sunny and hot all day, and yet it was raining heavily at the moment. Rain had suddenly poured once it was time to go home in the afternoon. Now, Nakamura sat on the bench at a bus stop. He sighed as he slumped back onto the seat, feeling a bit upset. He looked towards the sky, sipping the box of iced tea he had bought at school that day.
‘Why did it rain on the only day I didn't bring my umbrella... I wanna go home...’ Nakamura groaned tiredly as he slumped his head down to close his eyes.
His mind drifted to his day at school. Today was just average, almost boring even. A specific person then crossed his mind. He thought about his crush, Aiki Hirose. He almost didn't talk to him at all today! They exchanged "good morning", and that's it. Hirose and Nakamura were getting closer as friends, but Hirose was always busy talking to his other friends! Yes, Nakamura had to admit he was always envious of them. But he also felt he had no right to complain. He was just another friend to Hirose, just a mere classmate. He was already lucky enough for Hirose to want to be friends with someone like him.
He sighed again, ‘I didn't talk at all with Hirose again today... I wish I could talk to him more,’
’I wish Hirose were here... Heh, just kidding. He's probably already home right now,’
Nakamura just sat there, fiddling with his fingers or shirt, or doing anything to keep himself somewhat entertained as he waited for the heavy rain to disappear.
After some time, Nakamura heard splashing sounds from the streets, indicating someone was running. He caught a glimpse of a person running towards the bus stop. That person had a black gakuran uniform covering their head to somewhat protect them from the rain, so Nakamura couldn't make out what the person looked like or who they were. Maybe they were from his school? He couldn’t care less, to be honest. He didn’t want anyone talking to him at the moment…
That person finally went under the bus station's metal roof, not too far from where Nakamura was sitting. The person pulled down their gakuran uniform from their head, exhaling heavily. Nakamura took a glance, and he recognized that all-too-familiar chestnut and slightly curly hair anywhere…
It was Hirose.
He felt his heart skipping a beat. His eyes widened, almost immediately pulling up his head.
‘H-Hirose?! Wh- What is he doing here?? Did he just.. run through the heavy rain??’
Hirose glanced to the side, his slightly surprised eyes locking with Nakamura’s.
“Nakamura? Didn’t expect to see you here!” He laughed lightly, brushing away his wet hair from his forehead. His smile was so bright that Nakamura thought it could instantly stop the rain.
“..A-ah, uhm… Didn’t expect to see you here too, Hirose…” Nakamura awkwardly averted his gaze from Hirose, his face already heating up. What should he even say when his crush suddenly came up next to him like this? When it’s raining heavily as well? They were practically stuck here together! Don’t get it wrong though, Nakamura was super grateful at the moment. But maybe it was a bit too sudden that his mind blanked just by seeing Hirose’s face.
Hirose shook his wet gakuran uniform, as he sighed. “Man, it’s raining cats and dogs all of a sudden…” He said, before walking towards Nakamura to sit right next to him. Water dripped from Hirose’s damp shirt onto the bench. The cold scent of rain followed him as he sat down.
Nakamura flinched slightly at the sudden movement of Hirose moving to sit next to him. Hirose was sitting right next to him! Ah, Nakamura really didn’t know what to do… His face was getting redder by the second. He nervously fiddled with his fingers, glancing at Hirose through his peripheral vision.
“Y-Yeah… It was really sudden,” Nakamura muttered, deciding to just agree with everything Hirose says for now.
“I know, right? It was really sunny and hot all day, then it just suddenly rained like this! And it just had to when I didn’t bring my umbrella today!” Hirose grumbled, vocalizing his complaints about the unpredictable weather.
‘Hirose didn’t bring his umbrella as well?’
Hirose sighed as he leaned back against the seat, closing his eyes briefly. “When will this rain stop, really…? I just wanna go home…”
Nakamura couldn’t hold the small smile from appearing on his face. ‘Oh… Hirose is thinking the same thing as me…’
The rain continued to pour relentlessly against the metal roof of the bus stop. It was loud enough to fill the silence between them. Water splashed onto the streets in endless ripples, while the cold wind occasionally swept inside.
Nakamura sat stiffly beside Hirose, fingers curled tightly around the iced tea box he was holding.. His heart still hadn’t calmed down yet.
Hirose leaned back against the bench with a sigh, running a hand through his damp hair. “Man, my shoes are completely soaked,” he groaned dramatically.
Nakamura processed Hirose’s words, as his eyes drifted down to Hirose’s shoes. His shoes were absolutely soaked. He smiled a bit more, letting out a small laugh before he could stop himself.
Hirose immediately turned towards him, grinning. “Oh, so you think my suffering is funny?”
“A-Ah– No, it’s not– …” Nakamura looked away quickly, trying to hide his smile. “You sounded really serious…”
“I am serious,” Hirose said, placing a hand over his chest before looking down at his drenched shoes. “This is a tragedy.”
Nakamura laughed again, quieter this time. Then he immediately covered his mouth with his hand, not wanting to upset Hirose. “S-Sorry– I’m not making fun of you though..!”
Hirose frowned for a moment, before smiling and a carefree laugh escaped his mouth. “I’m just joking!”
Nakamura let out a shaky exhale, looking away as his face reddened in embarrassment. ‘Hirose, you're going to kill me someday…’
Hirose laughed a bit more, before he talked again. “You know, I think I don’t see you laughing or smiling that often.”
‘Ah, Hirose must think I’m just some gloomy, lame guy then… Figures,’ Nakamura thought as he let out a small sigh.
“... It suits you though. You should laugh more often.”
Nakamura froze. “Huh?”
Hirose leaned back against the bench, stretching his legs out slightly. “You’re always so quiet in class. Sometimes I can’t tell what you’re thinking.”
‘That’s because most of my thoughts are about you…’ Nakamura thought miserably.
“No pressure or offense, though! Just an observation," Hirose stated cheerfully, with that same sweet smile on his face.
“I-I see…” Nakamura quietly muttered a flustered response, gazing down at his own lap. Though a small smile appeared again on his face.
‘Laugh more… Smile more… Noted.’
He quickly took another sip of his iced tea to avoid embarrassing himself further. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Only the rain filled the silence.
Hirose spoke again, “...How long have you waited here?”
“Uhm… Since the rain started coming down, I guess…” Nakamura answered quietly.
“Hee… Sounds kinda lonely,” Hirose said with a concerned frown on his face.
“Ah, not really… I didn’t have any choice anyway,” Nakamura mumbled with a sheepish smile, fiddling with the iced tea box. “Why were you… You know, running through the rain earlier?” Nakamura encouraged himself to keep the conversation going.
“Ah, I had something to deal with after the bell rang,” Hirose recalled. “I thought I brought an umbrella, so I didn’t think much about the rain… But when I was about to leave school, it turned out I didn’t!” Hirose laughed cheerfully, attempting humor on his ‘tragedy’.
Hirose’s laugh was contagious. Nakamura let out his own small laugh.
“I waited for some time,” Hirose continued. “But the rain just wouldn't stop. So I decided to just go for it.”
“But the rain was too heavy... And that’s how I decided to stop here.” Hirose looked at Nakamura’s face again, a smile on his face.
Nakamura’s heart skipped a beat, gazing away again. “Ah, right… Then here we are…”
“The rain is kinda annoying, but at least I get to be with you here. So you don’t feel lonely!” Hirose said cheerfully.
How could Hirose say those things so casually? Nakamura just laughed nervously, then sipped his iced tea again to calm himself.
Hirose almost immediately noticed the box of iced tea Nakamura was holding, and suddenly leaned closer to peek at Nakamura’s drink.
“Oh, you bought that iced tea from the vending machine again?”
“Hm? Ah- Yeah…?”
“You always get the same one.”
Nakamura blinked at him, before his eyes widened a little. “Y-You… You noticed?”
Hirose tilted his head slightly, “Well… Yeah? You get it like, almost every day. Every lunchtime.”
The answer came out so casually that Nakamura thought he was imagining Hirose saying it.
“You almost immediately go downstairs at lunchtime, then come back to class with this same boxed iced tea. Then you would eat lunch while looking out the window or reading your notes.”
Hirose looked at Nakamura, as he laughed casually, “You like iced tea that much, huh?”
Nakamura’s whole face felt like it was burning.
How did Hirose know that?
More importantly, why did Hirose pay that much attention to him to know that?
What else does Hirose notice about him?
“I… I didn’t know.. you were observing me that much…” Nakamura muttered quietly.
Hirose’s eyes widened a little, laughing nervously, “Eh, did that sound weird? Sorry, sorry. I think my eyes always kinda just… drift to you, I guess?”
Nakamura felt like he could combust at any moment at this point.
“T-that’s–”
“Ah, that sounds even weirder!” Hirose panicked, trying to rephrase his words. “What I’m trying to say is… It's- It’s because you look cool. You’re cool, Nakamura.”
Nakamura stiffened. ‘Someone like me? Cool? In the eyes of Hirose..?’
“I’m– I’m anything but cool, really…” Nakamura murmured.
“That’s not true.”
Nakamura finally looked at Hirose’s face again, and he was met with an expression that looked more… serious?
“...Huh?”
“You always look calm in class. You’re a bit more on the quiet side but that’s what makes you… ‘different’,” Hirose continued. “You always listen to what someone has to say.”
Nakamura’s face was definitely flushed red at this point, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from Hirose. Not when he’s saying all of this…
“You’re a really nice person, Nakamura. A cool, nice person?” Hirose chuckled quietly.
Nakamura was speechless.
No one has ever said anything like that to him. People would usually say he’s ‘hard to approach’, ‘always has a serious face’, ‘doesn’t talk much’, ‘unsociable’, and even ‘freak’ or ‘creepy’. Hearing Hirose say sweet things to him like this… He thought he was dreaming.
“... No one’s ever said that to me…” Nakamura finally found his voice, though still quiet.
“Really? Then people don’t see your charm.”
‘I must be dreaming or I have died and this is heaven. There’s no way Hirose just casually said that in front of me’
“You’re… You’re giving me too much credit…” Nakamura muttered, his eyes drifting down to his own lap. “You’re way cooler than me. I mean, you’re kinda popular and.. and everyone likes being around you…”
Nakamura instantly regretted saying that. It was too honest! Hirose must think he’s annoying or something…
But Hirose didn’t get upset or laugh. His expression softened. “Well… It gets tiring too, sometimes.”
Nakamura blinked. “Eh?”
“Talking with people is fun, but… sometimes I feel like I need to keep acting ‘energetic’ or ‘cheerful’ all the time,” Hirose continued, letting out a sigh as he leaned back against the bench. “Sometimes I just want to… stop talking and be quiet once in a while. But people would think I’m upset or something.”
Nakamura listened carefully in silence, his eyes locked onto Hirose’s face. For the first time that day, Hirose looked oddly vulnerable.
He understood now. Hirose always looked bright and confident in class. But he’s just like anyone else. He also got tired sometimes.
The realization made Nakamura’s chest tighten strangely.
“I dunno…” Hirose laughed weakly. “Do you think me being quiet is that odd?”
“Not really,” The words escaped Nakamura’s mouth before he could think.
Hirose blinked. “Hm? You don’t?”
“You being quiet is nice, actually.”
Nakamura slowly realized the words he had just said. His face instantly heated up again, eyes widening in panic as they looked into Hirose’s curious ones.
“I- I mean– It’s not like you talk too much or anything–! Not that talking much is a bad thing either–! A-And you’re definitely not annoying.. It’s just– You– I, aah–...” Nakamura rambled, panickily trying to find an explanation for his impulsive words.
Hirose watched Nakamura for a moment with a puzzled expression, before a laugh escaped his mouth.
It wasn’t the ‘cheerful’ one he usually does. This one is… a bit different. It’s more genuine? More softer?
Nakamura slowly stopped rambling and looked at him cautiously.
Hirose was smiling at him.
“Thanks, Nakamura,” Hirose said softly. “Don’t worry, I get what you mean.” He giggled a bit.
Nakamura’s heart felt like it could explode at this moment. Hirose was smiling too much today!!
“This is why I like talking to you,” Hirose continued. “You say what’s on your mind, but you don’t judge.”
Nakamura’s head dipped down again. “W-Well… You said it yourself, right? Honesty’s the best policy…”
Hirose blinked, before grinning. “Correct!”
“Though I really need to be more honest about myself…” He sighed, before smiling at Nakamura again. “Good thing I have you to remind me!”
Nakamura glanced slightly at Hirose’s smiling face, his own smile slowly making its way to his face again at Hirose’s words.
Silence then came back between them. It should’ve been awkward. Nakamura usually hated silence around other people.. But it wasn’t. It was a calming and comforting kind of silence. Somehow, sitting beside Hirose this time didn’t feel unbearable.
A gust of the cold rain breeze suddenly swept into the bus station. It was hard to notice at first glance, but Nakamura noticed that Hirose seemed to shiver slightly.
‘Is he feeling cold?’
Now that he looked closer, Hirose really was soaked. His wet shirt clung slightly to his shoulders, and droplets of water were still dropping down from the ends of his curls.
“...Hirose, are you cold?” Nakamura instinctively asked in concern, breaking the silence.
“Eh? Ah, maybe a little… But nothing I can’t handle,” Hirose replied, downplaying the fact that he’s freezing.
“Are you sure? You looked like you were shivering… And your clothes are all wet too.”
“I’m okay, really! It’s nothi–” A harsher cold breeze swept again. Now Hirose was definitely shivering, his arms curled as an attempt to warm himself.
“...Okay– It is kinda cold…” Hirose mumbled as he shivered again.
Nakamura smiled a little. “Do you… want to use my gakuran jacket?” He offered, his fingers already starting to unbutton his jacket.
“Eh? Are you sure..? Wouldn’t you feel cold then?”
“I bet you feel colder. It’s okay, Hirose,” Nakamura reassured, unbuttoning the last buttons of his jacket then taking it off himself to place it against Hirose’s shoulders.
Hirose stared at Nakamura’s calm face in awe as he adjusted the jacket. It wasn’t the ‘unbothered’ face Nakamura usually makes in class. It was more gentle, more softer… Nakamura was almost like a different person like this, Hirose thought.
“..There. This should make you feel a little warmer,” Nakamura leaned back, with a small smile. His voice sounded somewhat softer.
Hirose stayed silent for a moment, pulling Nakamura’s jacket closer to himself.
“...Thanks again, Nakamura,” He smiled back. “You really are a nice person.”
Nakamura blinked twice, finally realizing his actions. He glanced at the way his jacket embraced Hirose’s shoulders to his back and the way Hirose was holding onto it… He felt his heart skip a few beats.
“Eh.. It’s nothing, really… It’s just a jacket…” Nakamura sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck, a small smile on his face.
Hirose leaned back against the bench, looking towards the sky. “You know, I’m glad it rained today.”
He turned his face to Nakamura’s, as he continued. “Because I get to sit and talk with you here.”
Nakamura forgot how to breathe for a second.
“Honestly, I really wanted to talk to you in class today…” Hirose continued, “But every time I looked over, you seemed busy writing something. And whenever I wanted to come up to your desk, someone would strike up a conversation with me before I could even stand up.” He chuckled.
Nakamura blinked slowly. All day, he had assumed Hirose had simply forgotten about him. Meanwhile, Hirose had apparently been paying attention to him the entire time.
He took a deep breath, encouraging himself to talk. “...To be honest, I… I also wanted to talk to you.. today…” He muttered quietly.
“Wow, what a coincidence!” Hirose laughed again. “It’s like we have some sort of connection or something…”
‘Hirose, do you even realize your own words? Don’t you notice what your words do to me? Why are you so casual and oblivious?!’ Nakamura screamed in his mind.
“Then, how about this?” Hirose held up his pinky finger. “Let’s talk to each other more often from now on, okay?”
Nakamura lifted his head, looking at Hirose’s expectant hand. He took a deep breath, calming his heart before slowly and shakily holding up his pinky finger to curl around Hirose’s. It was a bit childish, they knew. But none of them seemed to care.
“...Okay. Promise,” Nakamura muttered.
Hirose grinned. “It’s a deal then!”
— After that, their conversation continued. It felt easier, lighter. Their words flowed naturally, as the rain continued to pour down restlessly. For once, Nakamura’s inner thoughts and dialogues were silent. For once, he didn’t feel nervous or pressured. Everything felt warm and natural, not awkward whatsoever. He was just there, talking and laughing with Hirose. For the first time in a while, Nakamura felt like he could actually talk without overthinking every single word. Even with the heavy rain, the only sound he could hear was Hirose’s sweet voice. The world around them felt nonexistent at the moment.
“Oh, looks like the rain has stopped!” Hirose exclaimed, looking towards the now clear, evening sky.
Nakamura followed his gaze. “Huh, you’re right. I didn’t even notice…”
“Maybe because we got too invested in talking with each other.” Hirose chuckled lightly.
Nakamura smiled back. He really could never get bored of Hirose’s laugh. He could listen to it all day.
“Wanna walk home together?” Hirose offered casually.
And Nakamura thought the day couldn’t get any better.
“A-Ah… Are you sure?” Nakamura tried to hide his excitement, though an almost goofy smile appeared on his face.
“I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t sure, would I?” Hirose teased lightly.
“Eh… Right, right…” Nakamura glanced away for a moment, his face feeling warm again.
Hirose chuckled lightly. “You know, it’s fun seeing you so expressive like this. Turns out there’s more to that ‘flat-face’ of yours, huh?” He teased again.
“Hirose…” Nakamura muttered helplessly.
Hirose grinned triumphantly as Nakamura quietly shrank into himself in embarrassment. He stood up, still holding onto Nakamura’s jacket around his shoulders.
“C’mon, let’s get going before it rains again. Don’t forget to trash out your iced tea box!”
Nakamura stared up at Hirose’s bright face for a moment. He smiled again, as he nodded. He stood up as well, throwing the crumpled empty iced tea box to the trash can next to the bench.
The two walked out from the bus station, embracing the warmth of the sunlight after the heavy rain. The sky was getting slightly dark, with blue and orange hues.
“You know…” Hirose broke the silence as they walked side-by-side.
“Hm?”
“I really enjoy your company, Nakamura,” He looked up at Nakamura, his voice soft. “Something about you is just really comforting in a way?… Does that make sense?” He chuckled lightly.
Nakamura listened to Hirose’s words. It sounded almost like a confession…
But he didn’t panic. He didn’t overthink. Hirose was comfortable with Nakamura, and Nakamura was comfortable with Hirose. He smiled and simply said, “Yeah, me too.”
Maybe getting caught in the rain today wasn’t so bad after all.