I was very excited.
After class, I walked quickly to the station and boarded the Chuo Line.
As it would seem, she would arrive at my apartment around 4:30. I have plenty of time to get ready.
Even though it was the beginning of October, it was still hot. Today’s temperature was 32 Celsius. [EN: 90°F]
The ground felt like it was boiling.
When I left the campus, the weather was clear and sunny, but when I arrived at Nishiogikubo, the clouds looked a little suspicious.
“I hope it doesn’t rain.”
I hurried home, wishing that it wouldn’t rain.
Thinking that maybe Asuka-chan will come up to my room, I wanted to keep the place as clean as possible.
I arrived at my apartment at half-past four.
Thank God it was not a mess.
I should prepare something to drink. There’s only apple juice in the fridge.
Would a warm drink be better?
While thinking, I looked out the window.
What? It’s cloudy.
It was so sunny a while ago…
The moment I thought that,
BOOOM!
The moment the lightning struck down, I heard the tremendous rumble of thunder and then it started to rain.
It was raining unbelievably hard.
Thirty seconds later, the rain was like a bucket that was flipped upside down.
It was a guerrilla downpour. [EN: The kind that would be taken advantage of in guerrilla tactics.]
I couldn’t see past 50 meters from the window because of the rain.
I hurriedly grabbed my phone.
Eita: It’s raining like hell. It’s fine if you don’t come.
I sent a message, but it wasn’t read.
Wait a minute.
She said she was going to walk over, right?
Is there a good chance that she has already left the house?
I got impatient.
Even if I had an umbrella, I’d probably still get pretty wet.
There was also a strong crosswind, and I was also worried about lightning.
I grabbed two umbrellas and opened the door.
It was raining so hard that I couldn’t hear anything around me.
If I could, I would have picked her up.
But then I realized something.
Where is Asuka-chan’s house?
I don’t know where she’s coming from or what route she’s taking.
If I go looking for her, there’s a chance we’ll end up passing by each other.
“I guess I’ll have to wait after all…”
I stood outside the door with my umbrella in my hand.
◆◆◆
I continued to wait outside the door, phone in hand.
The rain was getting heavier.
The sound of the rain was so loud that I could hardly hear what was going on around me.
It was a guerrilla downpour like I’ve never experienced before.
The LINE message was still unread.
It had been about ten minutes.
In the pouring rain, a girl with black hair arrived running from the left road in front of my apartment.
She was carrying something in her arms… and was without an umbrella.
“You’re kidding, right?”
I dash down the stairs of my apartment with my umbrella in my hand.
It might not be Asuka-chan, but it didn’t matter.
She looked up at me as I came down the stairs.
It was a soaking wet Asuka-chan.
Did you come without an umbrella in this rain?
It feels almost suicidal.
She was wet to an impressive extent. It was as if you were thrown into a pool as punishment.
The white blouse stuck to her body, basically transparent enough to see her cami and bra.
“Asuka-chan!”
I tilted the umbrella I was holding towards her.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t see the weather forecast…”
She was already half-crying.
“I-if you’re okay, please eat this later. Okay then!”
She pushed the bag she was holding so carefully to me and tried to leave.
“Wait a minute! You’ll catch a cold if you go home like this. Even lightning is dangerous. Just come up.”
“But, aren’t I bothering you…?”
“You’re not bothering me. Anyway, hurry up.”
I half-heartedly pulled the hesitant Asuka-chan into the room.
NovelFanatist 