The rain pattered against the window as you gazed outside, lost in thought. The soft, rhythmic sound was almost soothing, masking the usual noise of the bustling hallways. But then, a different kind of noise caught your attention—a commotion, loud and agitated. Curiosity piqued, you turned away from the window and headed towards the source.

As you rounded a corner, you were met with an unexpected sight: a group of students, surrounding something on the ground. They were wielding brooms and sticks, jeering and yelling. You pushed through the crowd, your eyes widening as you saw the object of their aggression—a snake, coiled and defensive, trying to escape their blows.

"Hey! Stop it!" you shouted, pushing your way to the front. The students looked up, surprised at the interruption. "What do you think you're doing?"

"It's just a snake," one of them sneered, but you ignored the comment. Kneeling down, you carefully picked up the snake, cradling it gently despite its writhing.

"You shouldn't hurt animals," you said firmly, glaring at the crowd. Without waiting for a response, you turned and walked away, heading outside. The rain was still falling, and you hurried to find a spot where the snake could be released safely.

Once outside, you carefully set the snake down on a patch of grass. It hesitated for a moment, then slithered away into the underbrush. You watched it go, a strange sense of connection lingering. As you glanced down, you noticed something odd—an unfamiliar symbol had appeared on your wrist. You frowned, wondering where it had come from, but before you could think too much about it, you heard the bell signaling the end of lunch.

The next day, the weather hadn't improved. You found yourself walking to school without an umbrella, resigned to getting soaked. As you approached the gate, something caught your eye—a figure standing just ahead, holding an umbrella. The person lifted the umbrella, revealing a familiar face.

"Lovely weather don't you say?'