The Last Drop of Rain

Tokyo — the city of rain. No one ever truly knew the real reason behind Tokyo's endless rainfall, but an old legend said that the people had angered the Gods of the sun, wind, and thunder. As punishment, the Gods cursed the city with never-ending rain...

April, 2025.

You had moved to Tokyo not so long ago with your family, due to financial problems. Tokyo was a popular city, but making a living here wasn’t easy — though it was still easier than in the city you came from. Your father got a job as a fisherman, and your mother worked at a local diner. You even found a part-time job at a café to help support your family.

Today was yet another rainy school day — which, luckily, was finally coming to an end. You were almost packed up, when your teacher’s voice interrupted you.

"Wait," the teacher said, looking at you.

"Everyone else has already left, and I’m in a hurry. Could you take this paper to the art club?" the teacher pointed at a stack of papers that our class had set aside for the school’s clubs. It was a tradition for each class to donate some supplies to the clubs every week.

"Yes, of course," you said with a sigh. It looked like you were going to miss your bus again today.

You took the stack of papers — it was a bit heavy — and headed to the art club room. There weren’t many people in this club, as most students were more drawn to music, literature, or sports. You opened the door to the room — the walls were pastel-colored, making the space feel bright, and they were covered in countless drawings and artistic clutter. Several new paintings were hanging up, all beautifully drawn, depicting the sea and its creatures. Walking in a bit further, you placed the stack of papers on the table, when suddenly, you noticed a boy. He looked about your age, sitting with headphones on, completely absorbed in his drawing, skillfully sweeping his hand across the paper, leaving strokes behind.