Black Mangaka 017: Heavy Rain

Black Mangaka 017: Heavy Rain

Three o'clock in the afternoon, Akihabara.

"Manuscript paper, pencil, dip pen, ink, dot paper…"

Nakahara Hiroshi checked the list in his hand while gathering various materials needed for creating manga.

It was half an hour later when he finally left the store.

"These should be enough for the next two months," he muttered.

His backpack was stuffed to capacity, and he carried two large bags in his hands. From a distance, he resembled a homebody returning from a "holy war" in triumph.

"This money is really not enough!" Hiroshi sighed in frustration.

As May rolled in, his monthly allowance had been deposited into his bank account right on time.

But after factoring in holiday expenses, most of the 70,000 yen had already vanished in an instant.

"Of the remaining 30,000 yen, I still need to pay back 10,000 to Kato..."

"Damn it! That leaves just 20,000 yen for the next 20 days! Can I really survive on less than 1,000 yen a day?"

No matter how bright the future seemed, his present financial struggles were inescapable. The only thing Hiroshi could be grateful for was anticipating this month's expenses and spending prudently early on.

Otherwise, he might have had less than 10,000 yen to his name.

Dwelling on these thoughts, Hiroshi walked to the subway station without looking around.

Figures? Games? Maid cafes?!

Don't make me laugh. I can't even look at them right now!

The journey home was uneventful.

When he got off the subway, the clear skies from earlier had been replaced by thick, ominous clouds.

"Is it going to rain?"

As this thought crossed his mind, Hiroshi quickened his pace.

Boom!

A deafening roar of thunder echoed through the air.

Tick-tick-tick.

Raindrops began to fall.

"That was close!"

Hiroshi stood under the awning of a convenience store, grinning in relief.

The precious art supplies he had just bought at a steep price had narrowly escaped getting soaked.

Seeing there were few people around, he borrowed a shared umbrella and headed toward his apartment.

The rain grew heavier.

Raindrops pelted the ground like an artist scribbling furiously across a canvas.

Despite the darkened sky, many pedestrians were still outside, caught off guard by the sudden downpour.

Watching drenched passersby scurry along with hurried steps brought an odd cheer to Hiroshi's mood.

Usually, the nearby park would echo with the laughter of children around this time.

But now, there was an unusual stillness.

It was so quiet that a solitary figure on a swing stood out starkly.

The person gripped the swing's chains and sat motionless, seemingly indifferent to the rain.

Raindrops poured down relentlessly, yet the figure remained still, as if unaware of their existence.

No reaction. No movement.

Just stillness.

Against the gloomy backdrop, the girl's figure seemed isolated, abandoned by the entire world.

Hiroshi's gaze was involuntarily drawn to her, and his steps slowed.

"A problem child...?"

With a sigh, he began walking toward her.

The closer he got, the clearer the details became.

The girl had long, flaxen hair and an angelic face that would immediately captivate anyone.

But her caramel-colored eyes were hollow, devoid of any light or emotion.

Even in a world shrouded in darkness, traces of gray or black would normally remain. Yet this girl seemed stripped of all color.

"Is it really that bad?"

Hiroshi's voice broke the silence.

The girl, startled, glanced up woodenly to see a stranger under a plain umbrella.

The cold raindrops on her skin were nothing compared to the chill in her heart.

Their eyes met briefly before she lowered her head again.

Hiroshi clicked his tongue at her indifferent demeanor.

"Tsk, what a troublesome person."

What am I even doing? Taking care of someone else while my own life's a mess...

"I'm such a fool for meddling in someone else's business."

He balanced the umbrella between his neck and shoulder, freeing his right hand.

Shifting the two heavy bags to his left arm, he reached out and grabbed the girl's wrist. Her soaked sleeve clung to her skin.

"What good does it do to neglect your body like this?"

His voice softened, almost as if he were talking to himself.

"You think it'll make the people who hurt you feel guilty and change their ways? Or make them regret their actions? Sorry to burst your bubble, but that's not how the world works."

"People will just shrug and call you an idiot, then move on with their lives like nothing happened. Meanwhile, you'll catch a cold, suffer in bed, or worse—develop some long-term illness. Every time it rains, your body will remind you of this day.

"And the ones who truly care about you? They'll be heartbroken."

The girl's tense muscles relaxed as Hiroshi's words sank in. A faint smile flickered across his lips.

"Come on, let's run!"

Without waiting for her response, Hiroshi pulled her up and ran through the rain.

The small umbrella barely shielded them as they splashed through puddles, drawing the attention of passersby.

Under the apartment building, Hiroshi closed the umbrella and set down the wet bags, leaving dark marks on his hands.

"Hiss..." He winced as the pain finally hit him.

Glancing at his soaked supplies, he couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"What was I even thinking?"

Before he could dwell on it, the girl's quiet voice broke the silence.

"Thank you... and... I'm sorry."

Hiroshi looked up, surprised. The girl's caramel eyes were fixed on the red marks on his hand, guilt evident in her expression.

"It's fine," he said, waving her off with a grin.

"Think of it like finding abandoned kittens in the rain. I'm not going to adopt them all, but I can at least offer a little help—a small umbrella, a dry spot, maybe some food.

"No deep reason. I just felt like it."

His voice softened further.

"Unlike you, I've already considered the consequences before acting."

"So, there's no need to thank me—or apologize."

　What a gentle person!

　The girl sighed from the bottom of her heart

**