Something that Can't Be Concealed

By late June, the rainy season was at its peak, and there was a string of days when the weather alternated between clear and stormy.

Droplets of rain fell steadily from a gray and gloomy sky, and the air felt thick and dismal. Everyone was feeling cooped up, probably because the color of the sky was even darker than it had been before.

"…Yuck, it's so muggy!"

"Well, it is the rainy season."

It was only to be expected that the school was also filled with a listless atmosphere. All the members of the sports clubs were sopping wet from practicing outside, which added to the dreariness.

Even Chitose, who loved to run around energetically despite not being a member of any sports club, seemed to have met her match and had collapsed limply down in her seat, where she lay flopped across her desk. Amane hadn't seen her so drained since last year's rainy season. Even her hairstyle was different.

Chitose usually wore her hair down, but on that day, she had it tied into two frizzy bunches—wild from the humidity—with one behind each ear. Despite her efforts to control it, from time to time, a stray lock would escape from the confines of its hair band. There was no doubt that she had struggled considerably to tie it in the first place.

"You seem to be doing just fine, Amane."

"Hmm, well, I do usually prefer a quieter atmosphere. I could do without the humidity, though."

"Good for you. I can't stand it when it's like this. It makes me want to run around screaming."

"The ground is in bad shape, so you'll have to wait until the weather clears up to go wild. If you fell, you'd hurt yourself and your clothes would get covered in mud."

"It would never come out in the wash… I'll sit tight, but man…" Even her voice seemed dulled by the rainy weather.

Considering Chitose was so terribly weary, Amane wondered how Mahiru was doing. He could see her chatting with a group of girls, wearing a gentle smile. Somehow, her expression looked slightly more energetic than usual. Mahiru didn't seem to notice that Amane was watching her, and she was enjoying her conversation.

Amane was staring at Mahiru, thinking about how he was going to spend a lot of time with her when they got home.

Makoto noticed where he was looking and asked, "What, Fujimiya, you jealous of the girls?"

Makoto always observed his surroundings closely, so it was no surprise that he had noticed where Amane was looking, but Amane had to smile because the reason his friend imagined was completely wrong.

"No, I'm not petty enough to be jealous of the girls. It's just, her hair is different today, so it gives her a new look, and I was admiring it."

Amane was too embarrassed to say what had actually been on his mind, so he pivoted to another reason in response, and Makoto responded in an understanding tone, "She's got it tied up today, huh?"

Just like Chitose, Mahiru's hair was tied up. But Mahiru's hair was longer than Chitose's and had a lot of volume, so she had gathered it all into two braids that hung loosely down on either side.

She didn't change her hairstyle often, so it had also been a new look for their classmates. Amane had heard some of the boys muttering that seeing the angel was like a breath of fresh air in the suffocating humidity.

"You seem rather chipper, Makoto. I'm jealous, for more than one reason," Chitose grumbled.

Trying desperately to control her hair, which didn't want to listen to her in the humidity, Chitose looked jealously at Makoto's smooth locks, which seemed entirely unbothered by the damp air. She had also been bugging Amane about his hair from the moment she'd first seen him that morning; she seemed incredibly jealous of anyone whose hair was unaffected by the humidity.

"I'm not exactly chipper. Just not as depressed as everyone else. I still have trouble with practical stuff when the rain won't let up, and I'd like the rainy season to end soon. When it's this cloudy, you can't even see the stars."

"Oh right, you're in the astronomy club. I guess when it's like this, seeing the stars is out of the question."

"I mean, we hardly ever actually go look at the stars as a club. If we wanted to watch the stars at school, we would have to get an adviser to accompany us, put in an application to get access to the roof, and stay at school after hours. It's a whole thing. As a club, we mostly do research and stuff, then watch the stars on our own at home. But either way, it seems like we won't be able to observe anything for a little while. It sucks."

Makoto frowned in vexation, and Chitose nodded in agreement. Mahiru seemed to have finished her conversation and walked over with easy, elegant movements to stand by Amane's side.

As Amane quietly pulled out her chair and urged her to sit, he summarized their conversation to the curious-looking Mahiru, "We were talking about what a pain the rainy season is."

Mahiru deftly took her seat in front of Chitose and put on a sympathetic smile when she heard the words rainy season.

"Well, she has a particularly difficult time with it, don't you,

Chitose?" she said. "It's hard for you to go out and enjoy yourself, and you can't even go outside to exercise, and your hair also gets messed up."

"I was certain that Chitose would be bursting with energy even during the rainy season," Makoto remarked. "But if I really think back, in middle school, too, you were always quiet during this time of the year, weren't you? Especially in second year. It was hard to imagine you'd be as hyper as you are now." "Agh, I don't wanna think about middle school!"

Chitose hated talking about things that happened back then, when she'd been a very different person. She clapped both hands over her ears and turned away.

Makoto shrugged and said, "I mean, you can be a little loud, but the way you are now seems to suit you more; honestly, I think it's better." It wasn't clear whether he was trying to soothe her or make her angry so she would perk up again.

"…You trying to pick a fight with me, Makoto?"

"That's not what I meant to do, but…but it's true that you're loud… I mean, lively."

"Don't bother correcting yourself, I know what you meant!"

Chitose frowned petulantly and beat her fists on her desk. But her face seemed brighter, maybe because some of her energy had returned. Makoto had managed to cheer her up in his own way.

In response to Chitose's huffy fit, Amane caught Mahiru's eye and smiled inconspicuously.

Ultimately, the rain continued through to the end of the school day, and the sky was the same forbidding shade when it was time to go home.

Because of that, the well-traveled road to and from school was unusually quiet, as most students were in a hurry to get home.

As for Amane, he drew Mahiru close to him underneath his large umbrella, sharing it like sweethearts do, and walked along at a pace that was comfortable for her.

He held Mahiru's bag as always, so it wouldn't get wet. Maybe because the two of them were alone, Mahiru let out a slightly disheartened and exhausted-sounding sigh. Amane glanced over at her.

She noticed his stare and took her bag back from him. "…It's so humid during the rainy season that your mood gets somber, too, don't you think?" Mahiru mumbled, playing absently with the ends of her hair, which were sticking out at random angles a little more than usual. "And it's hard to do your hair. Mine gives me such trouble, and it tangles easily."

"It sounds like it's more difficult than usual to set it right. Personally, I think the way you have it today is cute, but I'm sure it's annoying to deal with."

Amane personally considered getting to see Mahiru style her hair in lots of different ways to be a perk, but he figured that, from a girl's perspective, properly arranging it was a big deal. Especially for Mahiru, who cared about her personal appearance more than most.

The way she had her hair tied at the moment looked more subdued and sweeter than usual, but Mahiru herself probably did not like it all that much.

"C-cute?" After pondering the word, Mahiru's eyes darted around bashfully, and she slapped Amane's arm with her fingertips in an attempt to hide her embarrassment. "…Anyway, it's hard to look after my hair in the summertime, you know? At the height of summer, there's the problem of sunlight causing damage, so proper care is essential. In the winter, it's dry, and in the summer, it's humid, and UV rays can cause harm… The way I care for it changes depending on the season and the weather, so it's hard to keep up with."

"Being a girl sounds difficult."

"That's why I'm jealous of your hair, Amane."

Amane blinked when the topic changed to him, and Mahiru looked up at his hair with slight envy. That morning, it had seemed like too much work to style his hair with wax, so all he had done was run a comb through it like he did on the weekends.

"It's nice and smooth despite the humidity. As far as grooming, it doesn't demand that much, does it?"

"The most I do is use that shampoo from the beauty salon."

"That's because your hair was healthy to begin with. If you took really good care of it, it would be even smoother and shinier."

"I don't really want that, but… Well, if I have the time, I'll make the effort."

If it made it more enjoyable for Mahiru to touch his hair, then he figured making time to take care of it would be worth it. Not that he was unhappy with it as it was, and Mahiru never seemed to have a problem with it, either, but if he thought it might make her even happier, he was glad to do it.

He looked at Mahiru's face and saw that she had a faint smile—so faint that it was barely visible. The rain was obviously affecting her, and there was less vigor in her expression than usual.

Gazing at her pale cheeks, Amane let out a quiet sigh. "You know, it really sucks that I can't go jogging in this weather. I had a routine going, and now I feel like I might revert to my old idle habits."

It wasn't a good idea to go for a long run while it was pouring rain. The rain would cool his muscles down even if he warmed up before running, and he wouldn't get a very good workout.

And so for the time being, he was going to take a break from running. To compensate, he planned to step up the weight training for his legs.

"You say that, but haven't you been doing more weight training than usual already?"

"That's because I don't want to backslide, now that my efforts are actually starting to show."

"Hee-hee, you're so serious; what a good boy. Very admirable."

Mahiru looked pleased and softly patted Amane on the back. It tickled, and with the hand that wasn't holding the umbrella and his bag, Amane got his revenge by doing the same to Mahiru.

Afterward, he looked at the sky. The horizon was still dark, but something about it seemed more pleasant. It was probably because the rain wasn't as intense as it had been. Now it seemed to be gently enveloping them.

Of course, the real reason he felt at ease was due to the person at his side.

"Well, there are some downsides to this weather, but walking with you in the rain like this isn't bad at all. Rainy days have their own sort of charm. The color of the sky and the feeling in the air is unique, and I like it. Taking a quiet stroll on a day like this seems romantic, too."

The rainy season might be despised by girls who especially cared about their appearance, but Amane liked it. It was a quiet time wrapped in a gentle feeling.

He liked the overcast sky giving off a dull, calm light, the gentle sound of rain that tickled his ears, and the faint fragrance of the rain, with the hydrangeas in full, vivid bloom as if to decorate the otherwise faded scenery.

The landscape around them wasn't simply dark and hopeless. The rainy season, and the mood and environment, felt comfortable to Amane.

Besides, he had Mahiru by his side.

Just by softly squeezing her hand, the world looked brightly colored again. If he changed his attitude and focused on Mahiru next to him, the scenery seemed more peaceful and charming. Just by walking together, the world looked perfectly lovely.

"The rain was what led to us meeting, so I like it. And I think that walking through the rain like this with you is a priceless moment."

This was their first rainy season together as a couple, and Amane found meaning in the very act of walking side by side. It felt more precious because he knew that this exact moment would never come again.

"Besides—" "Besides?"

"On rainy days, there are more bargain items left at the supermarket. And there are fewer people out, despite the sales, so it's easier to pick up good deals!"

As a joke, Amane added the last reason for liking the rain with a smile. Mahiru looked taken aback, but gradually her expression also relaxed into a gentle smile.

"Hee-hee, that's the sort of thing you learn by living alone for a long time. I get it, though."

"That's fine; who cares? Some types of knowledge are just practical to have."

"I'm not saying it's bad, hee-hee-hee."

Mahiru giggled cheerfully, before slowly settling down and looking up at Amane with quiet eyes.

"Amane, you're someone who can live a quiet and colorful life, aren't you? You see the beauty and fun in everything around you."

"I'm not sure what you mean?"

"Oh, I just suddenly had the thought. It's wonderful that you can find enjoyment in all sorts of things from all sorts of angles," Mahiru mumbled with a hint of jealousy. She sounded a little lonesome.

"But I think the only reason everything I see seems to be so vivid is because you're by my side, Mahiru. Really, you taught me to see things I had never seen before. And I hope you keep teaching me, too."

When Amane turned to look directly into Mahiru's caramel-colored eyes, he could see them waver for a moment and begin to fill with tears. But they weren't tears of sadness, and slowly an expression of joy appeared on her face.

"…I've also learned all sorts of things from you, Amane. And I'm looking forward to more from now on, too."

"That's good to hear."

He had gotten Mahiru to promise to stay by his side, whether she realized it or not. He hoped he could keep her to himself for a long time.

Amane had no intention of giving up his spot beside her, no matter the cost.

Still holding Mahiru's hand, he smiled, then peered into her eyes again. She was wearing the most relaxed expression he had seen on her all day.

"…Well then, let's hurry up and think of something you can do to enjoy yourself on a rainy day once we get home."

"Like what?"

"How about we buy some small side dishes at the supermarket, then watch a drama or one of the DVDs I have at home, or listen to some music and take it easy? On a day like this, it's best not to work too hard—and to spend time relaxing. I could tell you weren't feeling too well today, physically and mentally."

When he stared intently into her caramel-colored eyes, he could see that he had hit the mark. She flinched, and her eyes started darting around.

Actually, he had thought something was off when they had walked to school together that morning and was convinced once they'd reached the classroom. Mahiru was not feeling well.

Her usual smile was lacking some of its luster, and although it was hard to tell because of the dark, dismal, rainy atmosphere, her complexion was worse than usual as well. Moreover, her motions had been just a bit more deliberate, as if she was trying to move as little as possible.

Whether it had to do with the weather or a feminine issue, it was a private matter, and he couldn't ask. But it was obvious that she was feeling lethargic, and she seemed like she was struggling. Amane wanted to make sure she took it easy for the rest of the day.

When he looked at Mahiru anxiously, she seemed to have resigned herself and leaned her head against Amane's arm as they walked.

"…That perceptiveness of yours is both good and bad. I can't hide anything."

"It's because you're bad at hiding stuff. When you're not feeling well, your movements and behavior change a little bit."

"For example?"

"If I tell you, you'll try to hide it, so I'm not saying."

Amane could tell when Mahiru was smiling, or walking, or even moving her hands differently, but if he told her that, she would deliberately try not to do it, so he wasn't going to say anything.

Mahiru looked dissatisfied, but there was no way Amane was going to give in, so he turned down her request and rubbed her hand that he was holding. Her hand felt a little colder than usual, which he figured was due to the rainy weather.

"You ought to rely on me a little bit more, okay? Here, let's go into that grocery store. We'll get side dishes and… Well, if there's anything you want me to make, I'll make it." "…Rice balls."

He realized she was really having a hard time when she obediently answered without putting up any resistance. He thought with slight remorse that he should've taken better care of her.

But Mahiru didn't seem like she was in danger of collapsing, and at school, the last thing she wanted to do was seem like she was struggling. Amane was probably reading too much into things, but still, he thought it was probably best to stay close to her side.

Amane adjusted his grip on Mahiru's hand as she leaned on him limply, and he smiled down at her. She had stopped trying to keep up appearances and was wearing a listless expression.

"I can make something a little more elaborate than that, you know? You can ask me to make whatever you want."

"I'd like to have the rice balls that you make."

Amane had been sure she was holding back because he wasn't a very good cook, but apparently Mahiru really was happy with his rice balls. She looked up at him with somewhat frail eyes.

"Is that okay?"

"Sure thing. If you want them, I'll make them. I'll make the best ones I can!" Amane smiled playfully.

Mahiru also smiled happily. "I'm expecting them to be good, okay?" She seemed to be feeling more at ease, so Amane, maintaining a gentle expression, headed for the supermarket with Mahiru in tow.