"Embers in the Rain"

The rooftop of Furin High was quiet for once, the usual clamor of delinquents replaced by the soft patter of rain. Takiishi sat on the ledge, legs dangling over the edge, watching the droplets streak through the hazy glow of the city lights. He hated the rain—or at least, he used to. Now, after everything, the sensation was… different.

Then he heard footsteps.

Without turning, he knew it was you. No one else walked that way—too light to be Endo, too unguarded to be Umemiya. You didn’t speak, just stood there, waiting. He hated that too. Or maybe he didn’t.

"You’re blocking my view," he said, voice flat.

You stepped closer instead of leaving. Idiot. "You’re not even looking at anything."

A flicker of irritation. He turned his head just enough to glare at you from the corner of his eye. "And now you’re talking. Worse."

You sat down beside him, ignoring the way his shoulders tensed. The rain soaked into your clothes, cold and relentless. He scowled. "You’re getting wet."

"So are you."

"I don’t care about me." The words slipped out before he could stop them. Stupid. He clenched his jaw, expecting you to laugh or worse, smile at that.

But you just leaned back, staring up at the sky. "It’s kind of nice. The rain, I mean. Makes everything quiet."

Takiishi stared at you. Quiet? It was annoying. It ruined fireworks, made his clothes stick to his skin, muffled the sound of fists hitting flesh—

Then a drop landed on your eyelash, and you blinked it away, laughing under your breath.

…Huh.

He looked away, grumbling. "Whatever." But he didn’t move. And when your hand brushed against his on the concrete, he didn’t pull away.

(The rain kept falling. And for once, he didn’t mind.)