090: Are You Sure, Miss Angel?

"Rain is a blessing to nature, yes," Shiina Mahiru began, her tone carrying the wisdom of someone about to deliver a grand proclamation. "But for humans, it's nothing but trouble. Clothes take forever to dry, going out becomes a nightmare, and worst of all, hair gets all wet and frizzy. Combing it afterward is such a pain!"

Her exasperated sigh carried a weight that suggested she had personally suffered every one of these indignities.

Natsukawa Kanade, who was gently towel-drying her damp hair, couldn't help but chuckle. "That's only because you decided to jump into the rain without an umbrella, isn't it?"

Mahiru puffed out her cheeks indignantly, turning to face him with a pout. "No, it's not just that! Even if you're careful, rain still gets you. Your clothes cling uncomfortably, and don't even get me started on how food goes bad faster in this humidity. It's like the whole world conspires to make rainy days unbearable!"

Kanade sighed, shifting his attention back to her unruly locks. The way she complained with such earnestness was oddly endearing. "Still, we live in Saitama. Rain is just part of life here. Complaining about it won't make it stop, you know."

"That's true…" Mahiru mumbled reluctantly, her caramel-colored eyes narrowing as she glanced out the window. The rain was relentless, cascading down like a watery curtain that blurred the world outside.

Kanade nodded in agreement, his expression momentarily darkening. "The rainy season always messes with my mood too. It's like the gray skies amplify every bad thought. Not to mention, all the unpleasant memories tied to rainy days make it worse."

For a moment, silence hung between them, punctuated only by the rhythmic sound of raindrops pelting against the window.

"But…" Kanade's voice softened, his hands slowing their movements. "Rainy days have their own charm, don't they?"

Mahiru blinked, startled by the unexpected shift in tone.

"When it rains, the world grows quieter," Kanade continued, his voice thoughtful. "The usual noises fade away, leaving just the sound of raindrops. It's calming, in a way. Like the world is taking a breath."

Mahiru tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "I didn't know you were such a romantic, Kanade."

He smirked. "A romantic, huh? I suppose that's one way to put it."

He wasn't wrong, though. For Kanade, rain wasn't just water falling from the sky. It was a backdrop, a soundtrack that made him reflect on moments both past and present. It was during the rain that he'd met people who changed his life—some fleeting, others who stayed.

"Gentle rain, heavy rain, fast or slow… It doesn't matter," Kanade mused. "The sound of rain has this steady rhythm, like a heartbeat. It pulls you into the moment, makes you notice things you'd usually miss."

The sound of rain tapping against the window filled the room once more, a gentle melody that seemed to echo his words. Mahiru, despite herself, felt a small warmth bloom in her chest.

"You're such a sap," she teased, though her voice lacked its usual bite.

Kanade glanced at her with a knowing smile. "And you're still sitting here, letting me dry your hair. So, who's the real sap here?"

Mahiru's cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked away. Her fingers idly twirled a strand of her freshly dried hair before she pretended to adjust it. "Well, if you like rain so much, then from now on, you can handle all the problems that come with it!"

"Oh?" Kanade raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

"That's right!" Mahiru declared, crossing her arms. "If my hair gets wet, you dry it. If my makeup smudges, you fix it. If my clothes get muddy, you clean them. And when I go shopping on rainy days, you carry all the bags!"

Kanade laughed, a deep and genuine sound that filled the room. "Isn't that basically what I already do? Well, except for the makeup part. I don't think you'd trust me with that."

Mahiru's confident facade faltered slightly. "W-Well… it's your fault for liking rainy days so much! You should suffer a little for it!"

Her words came out in a huff, but there was a hint of childish mischief in her tone. She wasn't really upset; she just wanted to tease him, maybe even see if he'd change his mind about the rain.

Kanade watched her, a small smile tugging at his lips. Her hair was mostly dry now, but there were still faint traces of moisture clinging to the tips. She looked a bit like a stray kitten caught in the rain—adorable, albeit a little annoyed.

"Marking your territory with rainwater, are you?" he teased, gesturing to the damp spots on her clothes where droplets had fallen earlier. But as his eyes drifted to the growing water stains on her clothes, his amusement was replaced with concern.

"Shiina, you know you can rely on me for most things, but shouldn't you take care of yourself a little too? Like, maybe take a shower before you catch a cold?" he suggested, his tone soft but insistent.

To emphasize his point, Kanade gently took her hand. Her fingers were icy to the touch, sending a faint chill up his own arm. While it wasn't unusual for girls to have cooler hands, it wasn't ideal for someone sitting indoors, especially during summer.

Mahiru hesitated, her lips pursing as if she was about to argue but couldn't find the words. Seeing her reluctance, Kanade's expression shifted, and he raised his voice ever so slightly, a rare hint of teasing mischief creeping in.

"Miss Shiina, you don't want to get sick, do you? Imagine if you caught a cold and were bedridden, leaving someone like me to take care of you. Who knows what weird things I might do?"

Her head shot up, eyes wide. "Eh? Weird things… like what?"

Kanade smirked, enjoying the way her cheeks flushed under the warm light of the room. "Oh, you know, like secretly washing my own laundry in the middle of the night. Or sneaking into the fridge and eating the milk pudding you saved for tomorrow. Maybe even swapping your beloved bunny slippers for some other animal's. The possibilities are endless!"

As he listed his imaginary transgressions, he started counting on his fingers, only to realize there were far too many potential "crimes" for ten digits to cover.

Mahiru's face turned an even brighter shade of red as she processed his words. "What kind of childish nonsense is that?!" she finally burst out, glaring at him as if he were the most exasperating person on earth. "Here I was thinking you meant something… more serious!"

"Childish problems require childish solutions, don't they?" Kanade shot back, his grin widening. "Think about it. Sitting here soaking wet, refusing to take a shower—it's not exactly mature behavior, is it?"

Mahiru's glare intensified, but her silence betrayed her defeat. She puffed out her cheeks in frustration, clearly searching for a comeback that refused to come.

"Hmph! Fine, I'll go take a shower," she huffed, standing abruptly and pointing an accusing finger at him. "But don't you dare peek!"

"Of course not," Kanade replied smoothly, his tone betraying none of the humor bubbling beneath the surface.

Yet as Mahiru stomped off, heading down the hall, he blinked in confusion. Wait… isn't her place just next door? Why is she using my bathroom?

He leaned back against the couch, letting out a small, amused sigh. "That's Miss Angel for you," he murmured, shaking his head.