089. Walking Home with the Angel

It was raining again.

It felt as though he were under a spell—every time it rained, Kanade Natsukawa's mood would sink. But it wasn't the rain itself; it just happened to show up when he was already feeling down, as if to match the atmosphere.

And come to think of it, the rainy season was probably approaching. Perhaps this was a sign—a forecast of some emotional shift.

Of course, he dismissed the idea. He wasn't that dramatic.

"Good evening, Kanade."

Just as he was about to open his umbrella and step into the downpour, a familiar voice called out from behind.

"Shiina?"

It was none other than the Angel herself.

As usual, she looked as lovely as ever, carrying an air of saintly grace that made her seem untouchable. But once she entered his personal space, her demeanor softened, revealing a childlike charm.

"You're so slow, Kanade. I've been waiting forever."

"Waiting for me? Is something wrong?" Kanade asked, puzzled.

Surely, if it were something urgent, she could have sent him a message. And if it were something trivial, it could have waited until they got home.

"No, it's just that… I forgot my umbrella again," Mahiru Shiina said, glancing aside. Her gaze landed on the long umbrella in Kanade's hand, and she looked up at him expectantly.

Kanade immediately understood. Her shy demeanor gave her away.

"Shall we share?" he offered.

"Mm!"

Kanade opened his umbrella and tilted it to cover both of them.

"Aren't you worried about people seeing us?" he teased, knowing full well how self-conscious Mahiru could get about public appearances.

Mahiru flinched, her blush spreading across her cheeks. "I-It's just mutual aid, that's all…"

He couldn't help but chuckle. He had known her long enough to see through her little charade.

"It's fine! Even if someone sees us, the worst that'll happen is another rumor about you," she said, attempting a light jab. But as she spoke, irritation crept into her voice.

This idiot—how many girls was he going to charm?! He already had a picture-perfect partner in Kaguya Shinomiya, but now there was also a new admirer hanging around him. And they were all stunning, which only made her angrier!

"Ah… so you've heard about that," Kanade said sheepishly.

Of course, he had noticed how the recent rumors were starting to spiral out of control, thanks in no small part to Miko Iino's newfound role as his self-appointed "student council monitor."

"She's a first-year student named Miko Iino," he explained. "She ran in the election but didn't win. Now, she's taken it upon herself to 'monitor' the student council to ensure we're fair and just. Today, I happened to be her surveillance target."

He chose not to mention the details, particularly anything that might tarnish Kaguya's image. Mahiru didn't need to know about that.

"Isn't that bad, though? I heard she's involved in disciplinary duties too. What if she catches you doing something wrong?"

"Do I look like the type to do anything worth catching?" Kanade laughed.

"Hmph, who knows…" Mahiru huffed, her caramel-colored eyes narrowing. In her mind, he was exactly the type to get himself into trouble, especially when it came to relationships. A serial flirt like him would inevitably face justice one day!

"Oh no, my heart is broken," Kanade said, feigning despair. "I need a cute girl to comfort me…"

He added a wink for good measure.

Mahiru's blush deepened. "Stop it! You're not cute at all!" she protested, her voice shaky.

Her embarrassment only fueled his amusement.

"You're just like a kid who stole their mom's expensive lipstick and drew all over the walls, then tried to get out of trouble by asking, 'Mom, isn't my art pretty?'" Mahiru scolded, waving her hand dismissively.

"Wait, but you just said I wasn't cute—"

Mahiru froze, realizing she'd contradicted herself. Her face turned beet red, and she flailed her hands in front of her chest. "Y-You didn't hear that! Don't say another word about it!"

She reached out to cover his eyes and mouth, her small hands not nearly enough to do both. Frustrated, she gave up and resorted to weakly punching his chest instead.

"Idiot Kanade… idiot!"

"Yes, yes, I'm an idiot," he said gently, one hand steadying the umbrella while the other shielded her from the rain-soaked ground.

The warmth of his chest seemed to calm her, as she leaned against him for longer than expected.

"If you're sleepy, save it for home. I'll even lend you my shoulder," he teased.

Mahiru didn't respond, lost in her thoughts.

"People are starting to stare, you know," he warned.

As if on cue, a child's voice rang out nearby.

"Mom, look! A pair of stupid lovebirds!"

Mahiru froze. Her hand trembled against his coat before she suddenly darted away, leaving him standing in the rain.

"It's still raining, you know!"

But the Angel didn't look back. She kept walking, head down, disappearing into the rainy evening.