A Cold Summer

My name is Takemoto Yuki.

Usually, I don't mind the rain. I even kind of like it—there's something calming about the sound of it hitting the windows, the way it makes everything feel a little quieter. But today… Is Worst. Day. Ever.

A deafening roar of rain filled the crowded train station. The thunders howled stronger than ever, sending sheets of water crashing against the platform roof.

Takemoto Yuki pulled his hoodie tighter. "What now?"

The rain was too strong to walk home, and the train isn't gonna come anytime soon. He clenched his cold fingers together, feeling stranded.

With a sigh, he sat onto a bench, staring at the puddles forming on the platform. The rhythmic water droplets of the rain blurred into white noise. While trying to think of ideas on how to get home.

A quiet presence beside him.

Yuki blinked, turning his head slightly. Sitting just a few inches away was Izumi Shiori, his classmate. She was calm, scrolling through her phone as if the typhoon was nothing more than a passing drizzle. No signs of worry, no anxious glances at the rain. Just... composed.

He hadn't even noticed her.

Desperation pushed him forward. He hesitated for only a second before speaking.

"Hey, um... this typhoon is unusually strong this year. Are you stuck here too?" His voice barely cut through the downpour.

She blinked up at him, then shook her head. "No, I'll be fine."

Her voice was steady, almost indifferent.

Yuki stared, half-soaked, half-defeated. How is she so composed while I have no clue what to do...?

Yuki exhaled, slumping back on the bench. The cold from his damp clothes was starting to set in.

"So... you don't seem bothered by the storm at all," he muttered, stealing a glance at Shiori.

She tapped at her phone screen before locking it, slipping the device into her pocket. "I'm used to it," she said simply.

"Used to it?"

Shiori leaned back slightly, gazing at the people as if watching a passing scene in a movie. "It happens every year. The storms. The delays. Getting stuck." She glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "What about you? You don't seem used to it."

Yuki let out a dry chuckle. "Yeah, well… I usually make it home before it gets this bad." He rubbed his hands together, trying to shake off the chill. "But this year's typhoon is insane. I really have no idea what to do."

Shiori hummed lightly, as if considering something. Then, after a pause, she stood up.

"My house is close by," she said, adjusting the strap of her bag. "You can come if you want."

Yuki blinked. "Huh?"

"It's better than waiting here and freezing." She glanced at him over her shoulder. "You can head home once the rain calms down."

She paused for a moment before tilting her head slightly. "Are you gonna come?"

Yuki remained silent, his mind tangled in hesitation.

Shiori let out a small sigh. "I'll take that as a no, then. Good luck out there."

With that, she started walking toward the station exit.

Yuki hesitated, staring at her retreating figure. Going to a girl's house during a typhoon…? It wasn't something he'd ever imagined himself doing, but with no other option, staying here would be worse.

After careful consideration, he ran to her.

"…I changed my mind. Can I come?"

Shiori stopped, turning slightly. Then, with a small smile, she said, "sure."

As they walked toward her house, the rain continued to lash against their umbrellas. The heavy wind made each step a challenge, but they kept going in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

Yuki couldn't help but glance at Shiori now and then. Despite the storm, she was unbothered almost too unbothered. After a few moments, he broke the silence, trying to push past the awkwardness between them.

"Hey… do you live alone?" he asked, unsure why it suddenly seemed like an important question.

Shiori didn't even look at him as she replied, her voice steady. "No, I live with my family. If you plan to do something stupid, I'll punch it."

Yuki froze, and said to his head. "Punch what???". His stomach dropping at the sudden intensity in her words. He could feel a sharp, almost palpable bloodlust radiating off her, and for a split second, he wondered if she meant it.

"I won't!" he quickly blurted out, his voice a little too high-pitched. "I promise, I won't!"

Shiori shot him a quick glance, and then, without missing a beat, she shrugged and kept walking. "Good."

Yuki's heart was racing. That was way too close.

Yuki paused, feeling his mind race. Her family?

"Wouldn't your family be suspicious... I mean," he hesitated, a little embarrassed by the sudden shift in tone, "you're inviting a boy over in the middle of a storm like this? Isn't that… weird?" His voice dropped slightly, a hint of nervousness creeping in.

Shiori glanced at him, her expression unreadable, then shrugged casually. "No, it's okay. They trust me. Don't worry about it."

The way she said it was so matter-of-fact, so calm, giving Yuki a surprising sense of peace.

Minutes later, they arrived at a small, warm-looking house tucked away from the main road. The lights inside were faint but welcoming, and the sound of the storm outside only made the place seem more inviting.

Shiori turned to Yuki, her hand already on the door handle. "Here we are." She gave him a small smile, her voice soft yet steady. "Come on in."

Just as they stepped inside, a voice called from the hallway.

"Shiori? Who's that?"

Yuki froze, instinctively pulling his umbrella a little closer to himself.

Shiori didn't seem phased at all. "He's just a classmate, Yuki this is my mom." she called back, her tone casual. "He was stranded and soaking wet, so I invited him here for a bit."

A moment later, a woman appeared in the doorway a kind-looking woman with warm eyes and an almost motherly smile. She looked between Yuki and Shiori, her gaze soft but curious.

"Oh?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "A classmate? It's a bit unusual to see you bringing someone home." She glanced at Yuki, her smile growing. "I don't mind, but you should have told me beforehand, Shiori. I didn't prepared anything unfortunately."

Yuki quickly bowed his head, trying to make a good impression. "Sorry for the trouble… I didn't mean to intrude."

Shiori's mom chuckled softly. "It's no trouble at all. You're safe from the storm here. Come on in, both of you."

Yuki hesitated, glancing at Shiori, who gave him an almost imperceptible nod. He stepped inside, the warmth of the house enveloping him.

The scent of something cooking in the kitchen drifted in the air, and Yuki couldn't help but feel a little more at ease.

He was surprised to see a side of Shiori he hadn't seen before her casual demeanor with her mom, the way she let her guard down.

"You're drenched," her mom said, shaking her head with a soft laugh. "You should've waited for the rain to calm down before heading out."

Shiori shrugged. "We were waiting at the station for a while. It wasn't going to get any better."

Her mom nodded, but then Shiori turned to her and spoke up. "I'll just change into something dry and come back down in a bit."

As Shiori disappeared upstairs, her mom turned to Yuki, her expression softening as she stepped a little closer.

"So, are you close with my daughter?" she asked, her voice kind, though there was a hint of curiosity in her tone.

Yuki blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Uh, we're... classmates. We've talked a bit."

Her mom smiled warmly, nodding as though satisfied with his answer. "I'm just happy she finally made a friend. She's a quiet kid, so it's not always easy for her to connect with people." She paused for a moment, then added, "I'm glad you're here with her. She's a good girl, but... she tends to keep to herself. She doesn't always put herself out there, you know?"

Yuki shifted a bit but nodded. "I'll try to talk to her more…"

Her mom's expression softened further. "Thank you, Yuki. I know it might seem like a small thing, but for her, it means a lot."

Yuki felt a sudden weight in his chest, realizing just how much Shiori's mom cared for her. "I understand. I'll make sure she's okay."

Her mom gave him a grateful smile before turning toward the kitchen. "Good. I'll get some food ready for you both."

Yuki quickly shook his head. "Oh, no, there's no need to cook food for me. I'll go after the rain ends, thank you. But, um… what should I call you, Miss?"

Her mom chuckled softly, glancing back at him. "Just call me Shoko, since you already call my daughter by her last name. I don't mind." She smiled warmly. "And don't worry, I'll still prepare food for our guest. After all, it's for my daughter's friend."

Yuki smiled politely. "Thank you, Miss Shoko. I'll just message my parents that I won't be able to go home for the moment. It's pretty bad out there, so..."

He trailed off, pulling out his phone to send a quick message to his parents, informing them of the situation. He felt a bit embarrassed to be explaining his plans, especially with Shiori's mom standing nearby.

Meanwhile, Shiori, who had been listening quietly from the stairs, overheard their conversation. Her face immediately flushed, and she quickly covered her face with her hands, turning her back to avoid being seen.

Shiori made a high pitch shy sound under her breath, embarrassed by the situation. Without another word, she darted up the stairs and disappeared into her room, the sound of the door clicking shut behind her.

Yuki, still holding his phone, blinked in confusion, not sure what had just happened. He glanced toward the stairs but didn't pursue her. Instead, he just focused on the message he had sent to his parents, feeling a bit awkward about the sudden change in the atmosphere.

Shoko chuckled softly to herself as she watched Yuki's puzzled expression. "Don't mind her," she said with a knowing smile. "She's always been a little shy about things like that."

Shoko smiled and gave a gentle nod. "I'll let you finish up, Yuki. I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything."

With that, she moved toward the kitchen, leaving Yuki standing there in the hallway. He returned his attention to his phone, finishing up the message to his parents.

Moments later, the sound of the door opening caught Yuki off guard. He turned to see Shiori's father entering the room, a man who had the same calm, composed air as his daughter. He was taller than Yuki, his posture commanding, yet he seemed to exude a quiet warmth.

Shiori's father looked at Yuki for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Have I met ye before?" he asked, his voice deep, rich with a local accent that made his words feel grounded.

Yuki blinked, slightly thrown off by the question. "Uh... no, sir. I don't think so."

The man raised an eyebrow, studying him for a moment longer. "Mmm, thought I mighta seen yer face around. Name's familiar, too." He grunted softly, then added, "Anyway, who're ye to my daughter?"

Yuki felt his pulse quicken. Was this a test? He wasn't sure how to answer. "I-I'm just a classmate," he said, nervously. "We just... talk sometimes. It's nothing more than that, I swear."

"Bout time I met ya. So, tell me this are you Shiori's boyfri-"

Yuki felt his heart race, panic rising. "W-Wait, no! We're just classmates! I swear! It's not like that!" He said quickly, shaking his head in a flurry of embarrassment.

Shiori's father chuckled, the sound warm and deep. "Ahh, I was just pullin' yer leg, kid. No need t'get so flustered. I can tell yer a good boy."

Yuki's face turned even redder, but he felt a weight lift off his chest. "R-right. Sorry, I didn't mean to..."

Shiori's father smiled more widely, his dialect softening a little as he clapped Yuki gently on the shoulder. "Relax, lad. I'm just glad t'see my daughter makin' friends. It ain't always easy for her. I'm sure you're a good influence."

Yuki, now feeling much more at ease, nodded quickly. "I'll make sure she's alright, sir."

"Good," Shiori's father said, his voice more affectionate now. "Just look after her, yeah?"

A moment later, Shiori appeared, stepping into the room with a slight frown tugging at her lips. Her arms were folded tightly over her chest as she glanced at the two of them, clearly not pleased.

Shiori was dressed in casual clothes now, wearing a comfortable hoodie and soft leggings that looked effortless but... surprisingly cute. Her hair was a little messy from the rain, but it only made her look more relaxed, a far cry from the serious, somewhat aloof girl he was used to seeing at school.

Yuki blinked, caught off guard by the change in her appearance. She looks... different, but in a good way, he thought, his heart skipping a beat before he quickly turned his attention back to her dad, trying to hide the fact that he was caught staring.

"Are you two talking about me?" she asked, her voice a little grumpy but also carrying an undertone of embarrassment. Her expression was a mix of frustration and awkwardness, as if she wasn't quite sure whether to laugh or to be annoyed.

Shiori's father chuckled lightly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Ahh, just making sure my daughter's in good hands, that's all. No harm in that, eh?" He glanced at Yuki, giving him an encouraging smile.

Yuki, a little flustered, scratched the back of his head nervously. "W-We weren't talking about anything bad, promise! Just… stuff."

Shiori raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced but not pressing further. She gave a small sigh, turning her gaze to her father. "I swear, you make it sound like I'm some kind of problem," she muttered, though there was a hint of affection in her tone.

Her father gave a warm laugh, walking over to ruffle her hair lightly. "You're no problem, kiddo. Just don't make it harder for the boy to breathe, eh?"

Shiori's mom called everyone to the dinner table. Shiori, now dressed in dry clothes, took her seat with a small huff, but her face softened when she saw the spread of food on the table.

Yuki, still a little unsure of how to act in front of Shiori's parents, hesitated but joined the others at the table. The conversation was light and easy, a welcome distraction from the tension Yuki had felt earlier. Shiori's father told a few stories from his younger days, and Shiori occasionally chimed in, her usual grumpiness softened by the warmth of the meal. The chatter was comfortable, almost like a normal dinner despite the storm still raging outside.

After about an hour, however, the rain didn't let up. If anything, it seemed to intensify, the wind howling outside and the occasional loud crash of thunder rattling the windows. Yuki glanced out the window, noticing how the streetlights flickered, the rain coming down in sheets that made the outside world look like a blur of gray.

"It seems the storm is only growing stronger." Yuki muttered to himself, glancing at Shiori, who gave him a small nod. She too seemed to be growing more uneasy with the worsening storm.

As they sat in silence, the sudden interruption of the TV broke the moment. The usual programming was replaced with a breaking news alert. A stern voice came through the speakers, announcing that the typhoon had intensified and that authorities were advising everyone to stay indoors.

"This is a message from local authorities. Due to the extreme conditions caused by the typhoon, all citizens are urged to stay indoors and seek shelter immediately. Please avoid going outside as it may be dangerous. This will be the last announcement for safety reasons."

Shiori's mother let out a small sigh as she set down her chopsticks. "Well, that settles it. No one's going anywhere tonight."

Yuki tensed slightly. Staying over? At a classmate's house? He wasn't sure how to feel about that. "I-Is there really no way for me to head home?" he asked, though deep down, he already knew the answer.

Shiori's father leaned back, crossing his arms. "Not unless ya wanna get swept away, lad." He gave a small chuckle, but there was a hint of seriousness in his tone.

Shiori, who had been quiet, sighed. "Guess you're stuck here," she muttered, poking at her rice with her chopsticks.

Yuki scratched the back of his head, unsure of how to respond. "I, uh... I don't wanna be a bother."

Shiori's mom smiled warmly. "Nonsense. You're already here, and it's dangerous outside. Stay as long as you need to."

As they finished dinner, Yuki sighed in resignation. Well, I guess there's no other choice. He pulled out his phone and sent a quick message to his family, letting them know he'd be staying over at a classmate's house because of the storm.

After clearing up the table, Shiori led him to the living room, where the faint sound of rain pattering against the windows filled the quiet space. The wind howled outside, shaking the trees and rattling the glass every so often, but inside, it was warm and calm.

Shiori plopped down onto the couch, hugging a cushion lazily. Yuki hesitated for a moment before sitting on the opposite end.

For a while, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the muffled noise from the TV and the occasional creaking of the house against the storm's force

Yuki leaned back against the couch, glancing toward the dining area where Shiori's parents had been just moments ago. After a brief pause, he spoke.

"Your parents are really nice," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips. "They made me feel welcome right away."

Shiori blinked at him, then looked away, resting her chin on the cushion again. "Well… yeah. They're like that."

Yuki chuckled. "You don't seem too excited about it."

She let out a soft sigh. "It's not that. It's just… they can be a little too much sometimes."

Yuki shrugged. "I don't think so. It's kind of nice."

She glanced at him. "You're handling it better than I thought."

"Huh?"

Shiori shrugged. "You seemed pretty freaked out earlier."

Yuki huffed, crossing his arms. "Well, excuse me for not being used to sudden typhoon-related sleepovers.

Shiori smirked, leaning in slightly. "What, are you scared of sleeping over at a girl's house? Getting all nervous just because you're stuck here?"

Yuki rolled his eyes. " I'm just surprised how casual you are after inviting a boy to your house."

But before she could gloat any further, Yuki shot her a sly grin. "You're awfully confident, huh? I guess having a guy in your house this late at night doesn't bother you at all?"

Shiori opened her mouth to respond, but then it hit her. The realization crept in as her face slowly turned pink.

"W-Wait" she stammered, suddenly flustered. "That's! I didn't mean! Ugh, shut up!"

Yuki chuckled, leaning back with satisfaction. "What happened to all that teasing, huh?"

Shiori groaned, grabbing a pillow and shoving it into her face. "I hate you."

Before she could bury herself in embarrassment any further, a voice called from the kitchen.

"Shiori, Yuki, go upstairs, n'd get some pillows and blankets, eh?" her father instructed.

Yuki stretched lazily, standing up. "Come on, let's go. Unless you need a moment to recover?" She shot him a glare before stomping toward the stairs. "Just shut up and follow me."

As Yuki trailed behind Shiori, a sudden realization hit him he was about to go into a room alone with a girl.

Shiori raised an eyebrow at Yuki's sudden nervousness, but then just shrugged. "Sure, whatever you say."

She pointed toward the door at the end of the hall. "The closet's in my room."

Yuki blinked. "Wait, your room?"

Shiori didn't seem to notice his slight hesitation as she walked ahead, pushing the door open and stepping inside. "Excuse my room. It's kinda messy right now," she added, quickly stepping over a pile of clothes on the floor.

Yuki awkwardly stepped into the room after her. "It's fine. Really."

As they moved toward the closet, Shiori's foot caught on a stray shirt, and she stumbled forward, arms flailing for balance.

Without thinking, Yuki reached out and caught her, pulling her back before her head could hit the floor.

Shiori froze for a moment, her face flushing red as she realized the position they were in. Yuki's hands were still on her shoulders, and for a heartbeat, neither of them moved.

"Are you okay?".

Shiori shot him a look that screamed disbelief, but Yuki just looked at her with concern clearly visible from his eyes.

As they both walked back downstairs, the silence between them felt almost too unbearable, but neither of them knew exactly how to break it. When they reached the living room, they noticed that Shiori's parents had already gone to bed, the house quiet and peaceful again.

Shiori stood by the foot of the stairs, her eyes avoiding Yuki's as she adjusted the pillows. She cleared her throat, trying to make the atmosphere less awkward. "Well, uh… night," she said, her tone casual but still a little strained, as if she was trying to pretend that nothing had happened.

Yuki, feeling the tension, nodded quickly. "Y-yeah, good night." He gave a half-smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. He knew she was trying to brush it off, but the awkwardness was still hanging in the air between them.

Yuki watched her go, a little surprised at how fast she had moved, almost like she was trying to put some distance between them. He scratched the back of his head and took a deep breath.

"Yeah, I definitely made that weird... Tomorow is gonna be a long day..."