{{user}} stared out the window, her cheek resting on her palm. Rain hammered against the glass in thick, relentless sheets. Of course. The one day she forgot her umbrella.

"Troublesome weather," a lazy voice drawled behind her.

She didn’t even turn. “What do you want, Nara?”

Shikamaru scratched the back of his neck. “You left your pencil on my desk. Weeks ago. Figured I should return it before you accuse me of theft.”

She took it without looking. “Took you long enough.”

He shrugged, hands in his pockets, pretending he hadn’t rehearsed this moment in his head a dozen times. "Did you bring an umbrella?" he asked, eyes flicking to her just long enough to read her expression.

"No," {{user}} muttered. "Thanks for the reminder."

He let out a sigh, faking disinterest. “Yeah, me neither. Guess we’ll both be drenched.”

Lie.

His umbrella was in his bag — But walking with her, even soaking wet, sounded a lot better than walking alone.

She glanced at him. “A genius like you forgot an umbrella?”

He smirked. “Guess even geniuses have off days.”

For a moment, neither of them said anything. Just rain tapping the window and their hearts pounding in unison.

“...I’ll share if you beg,” she teased, barely above a whisper.

He raised a brow, lips twitching. “Tch. As if I’d beg.”

They walked out together. And from Shikamaru’s bag, the umbrella stayed hidden — for now.