A downpour started right after school. The gray clouds had been gathering since lunchtime, but Mitsumi, in her usual flurry of optimism, forgot her umbrella. She stood under the front gate’s awning, clutching her tote bag tightly, peering out at the sheets of rain with a frown.

“Planning to wait until it stops?” a calm voice asked.

She turned, startled—but it was only Shima-kun, holding a black umbrella and smiling softly. He was already halfway soaked, his light hair clinging slightly to his forehead.

“Shima-kun! You’ll catch a cold!” she gasped, reaching out before remembering they weren’t exactly the touchy type of friends.

He chuckled. “You’ll definitely catch one if you just stand here forever.”

Mitsumi’s cheeks turned pink. “I didn’t want to bother anyone…!”

“I’ll walk you to the station.”

“W-Won’t that be out of your way?”

“It’s not,” he said, nudging her gently under his umbrella. “Besides, I don’t mind.”

As they walked, the silence between them wasn’t uncomfortable. The umbrella was small, so they were forced to walk close, shoulder to shoulder. Mitsumi kept awkwardly trying to lean away to give him space, but it only made her look like she was tilting dramatically with each step.

“You’re going to throw your back out if you keep doing that,” he murmured, amused.

“I just don’t want to crowd you,” she mumbled, flustered.

Shima gave her a sidelong glance, then said quietly, “You’re not. I like walking with you like this.”

Mitsumi blinked. Her heart stuttered.

The rain continued to fall, soft and rhythmic. At a crosswalk, they paused. Shima shifted the umbrella so more of it covered her. His hand brushed hers. She flinched—not because she didn’t like it, but because she did.

Shima noticed.

“Hey,” he said, voice low. “I’ve been meaning to ask… Would you want to go somewhere with me sometime? Just the two of us?”

Mitsumi blinked, mouth slightly open. “Like… a study session?”

Shima laughed softly, eyes crinkling. “No. Like a date.”

The light turned green. But neither of them moved.

“…I’d really like that,” she finally whispered.

They crossed together, under a shared umbrella, the space between them smaller than it had ever been.