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The first raindrop lands on Chiikawa’s nose.
He blinks, going momentarily cross-eyed as he tries to look at it.
Another splashes against his cheek.
Then another.
Then all at once, the sky opens.
“Ah—!”
The drizzle becomes a downpour in seconds, rain pouring from the darkening clouds in shimmering sheets.
Chiikawa squeaks sharply, throwing his tiny paws over his head as though that might somehow stop him from getting soaked.
Beside him, Hachiware startles before breaking into breathless laughter.
“It really started fast!”
Chiikawa lets out a frantic little noise and gestures wildly ahead.
The small overhang of a closed shop juts out over the sidewalk just a short distance away.
“Oh—right! Run!”
They take off together.
Their feet splash through forming puddles, water spraying around their ankles. Rain clings to Chiikawa’s eyelashes and blurs his vision, and he nearly slips twice trying to keep up.
By the time he reaches the awning, he’s breathing hard, little chest heaving.
He shakes himself once, sending droplets flying everywhere.
Then freezes.
Hachiware isn’t beside him.
Chiikawa whirls around.
There, in the middle of the rain-soaked path, Hachiware stands perfectly still.
Water streams from his fur, flattening it against his face.
For one panicked instant, Chiikawa thinks something’s wrong.
Then Hachiware tilts his head back and laughs.
Bright and clear and delighted.
Chiikawa stares.
Hachiware spins once beneath the rain, arms spread wide, before stopping to face him.
Then he reaches out his paw.
“Chiikawa,” he calls, grinning, “dance with me.”
Chiikawa’s ears shoot upright.
“Eh?”
He points at himself.
Then at the rain.
Then at Hachiware.
His expression is a perfect picture of baffled disbelief.
Hachiware laughs.
“Yes, you.”
Chiikawa glances up at the relentless rain, then back at the shelter over his head.
Then at Hachiware’s waiting paw.
Everything about this is ridiculous.
They’re soaked.
The pavement is slippery.
And dancing in the middle of a storm is the sort of thing only Hachiware would suggest with complete sincerity.
But Hachiware is smiling at him like he’s offering him something wonderful.
Something just for them.
Chiikawa’s heart skips.
Slowly, hesitantly, he steps back into the rain.
Cold water drenches him instantly.
He lets out a tiny startled squeak but keeps going.
At last, he reaches forward and places his paw in Hachiware’s.
Hachiware’s face lights up.
“There you are.”
With a gentle tug, he draws Chiikawa closer.
Chiikawa stumbles with a startled “Kya—!”
“Sorry, sorry,” Hachiware says quickly, steadying him.
He shifts closer and carefully adjusts their paws.
“Like this.”
He raises their joined paws.
His other paw settles lightly near Chiikawa’s shoulder.
Chiikawa goes rigid.
A high-pitched, flustered little sound escapes him.
His face burns hot beneath soaked fur.
Hachiware either doesn’t notice or politely pretends not to.
He begins to sway.
One step.
Then another.
Chiikawa awkwardly follows.
His first attempt is so clumsy he nearly steps directly onto Hachiware’s foot.
“Ah—!”
Hachiware laughs.
“It’s okay. You’re doing great.”
Chiikawa makes a doubtful noise.
Still, he tries again.
And again.
Their movements are messy and uneven.
They splash through puddles.
Once Chiikawa slips, letting out a sharp squeak as his feet slide out from under him—
Only for Hachiware to catch him immediately.
Another time, Hachiware missteps and sends them both stumbling sideways.
They collapse against each other in a tangle of soaked fur and startled noises.
For a beat, there’s silence.
Then Hachiware starts laughing.
Chiikawa blinks.
And then he’s laughing too — those soft, breathless little chirping sounds that always bubble out of him when joy catches him by surprise.
Hachiware beams.
“There it is.”
Chiikawa tilts his head.
“Hm?”
“That laugh.”
Hachiware lifts their joined paws and gently spins him.
Chiikawa lets out a startled squeal as he turns, wobbling wildly before stumbling back into place.
Hachiware steadies him at once.
“I was hoping I’d hear it.”
Chiikawa stills.
His ears dip.
Heat floods his face.
Before he can react, his foot catches on the uneven pavement.
He pitches forward with a startled cry—
Straight into Hachiware.
They freeze.
Rain drums steadily around them.
Water drips from Hachiware’s ears.
Their paws remain clasped tightly together.
And suddenly, they’re so close Chiikawa can hear Hachiware breathing.
His own breath catches.
Hachiware’s smile softens.
The bright playfulness in his expression gives way to something quieter.
Something gentler.
He gives Chiikawa’s paw the smallest squeeze.
After a brief, trembling hesitation, Chiikawa squeezes back.
Neither of them says anything.
They don’t need to.
Together, standing in the middle of the rain, they begin to sway once more.
Slowly.
Carefully.
As if they’re holding onto something delicate.
Something precious.
By the time the rain finally softens to a drizzle, both of them are completely soaked.
Their fur is flattened.
Their paws are muddy.
They’re definitely going to need very fluffy towels.
As they walk home beneath the gray evening sky, shoulder to shoulder, Chiikawa keeps stealing little glances at Hachiware.
Then, quietly, Hachiware reaches for his paw again.
Chiikawa doesn’t hesitate.
He takes it immediately.