Chapter 1: “The Day I Stole Her Umbrella”

The rain had a lazy rhythm that matched the sleepy atmosphere of the late afternoon. Most students had already rushed out of school to avoid getting drenched, leaving behind only a few unlucky souls caught unprepared—like Airi Minazuki, who stood beneath the cherry blossom tree with nothing but her phone for shelter.

She looked like she belonged in a painting: a quiet girl framed by falling petals and silver raindrops.

Riku Hayama, 18, a second-year student with a talent for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, watched her from the school gate—holding a slightly bent black umbrella he had "borrowed" from the lost and found.

"Is now a good time to be a hero?" he muttered.

Beside him, his best friend Kaito Ren stood like a statue. With arms crossed and his usual deadpan expression, he looked like he was auditioning for the role of "Tall, Dark, and Quiet."

"She's going to think you're a weirdo," Kaito said flatly.

"Thank you for the encouragement," Riku replied.

"You stole that umbrella."

"Temporarily acquired."

Kaito shook his head. "You're doing this because you like her."

Riku opened his mouth, then closed it. "Shut up."

Without another word, he marched toward Airi.

---

"Hey!" Riku called, slightly out of breath when he reached her. She looked up from her phone, blinking rain from her lashes.

"Oh. Hayama, right?"

"Yep. That's me. Not a stalker, I promise."

She tilted her head, amused. "Are you sure? You kind of look like one."

He pretended to be wounded. "Ouch. I come to rescue a damsel in distress and I get roasted."

She laughed—a soft, musical sound that made his heart beat a little too fast.

"My brother was supposed to pick me up," she said. "Guess he forgot again."

"Well… I just happened to have this completely legally obtained umbrella and thought I'd share."

She raised an eyebrow. "You stole it."

He looked away. "Borrowed. With intention to return."

She took the handle gently and stepped closer so they could both fit underneath.

"This is the worst first impression ever," Riku mumbled.

Airi giggled. "It's not the worst. One time a guy tried to impress me by singing my name in the hallway. Off-key."

"Oof. That's rough. I'm Riku, by the way."

"I know. You and Kaito-kun are always together. You two have that 'anime best friend duo' energy."

"You mean the brooding swordsman and the talkative sidekick?"

She grinned. "Exactly."

---

They walked slowly down the path, puddles splashing around their feet.

"You know," she said, "I always thought you were kind of funny."

He blinked. "Really? I thought I was more 'background character who talks too much.'"

"Nope," she said. "Definitely funny."

Behind them, Kaito leaned against the school wall, watching with a rare smile tugging at the edge of his lips.

When Riku glanced back and waved, Kaito nodded once.

---

By the time they reached the station, the rain had lightened, and the sky had begun to open just a little.

"Thanks for walking with me," Airi said, stepping out from under the umbrella.

"You're welcome. Anytime."

"Then maybe… you can walk with me again tomorrow?"

Riku blinked. "Wait—did I just get asked out?"

"No," she teased, stepping onto the train platform. "I'm just using you for umbrella coverage."

She smiled as the train pulled in, and Riku stood frozen, heart pounding.

---

That night, he texted Kaito.

> Riku: She asked me to walk her again tomorrow. Bro. She likes me. I think. Maybe.

> Kaito: Or she really hates rain.

Riku grinned at the screen.

Yeah… this was going to be interesting.

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