Cloudy with a Chance Pt. 1

I scrolled to the next page of my textbook, readjusting my glasses as I went. I don't normally wear them because they're more annoying than helpful most of the time. When I’m studying, though, that's a whole different story. They're practically a necessity at that point.

Another page flipped.

Hmm… The library is quiet. Not that it's anything new. It's always quiet here, but ever since I met those goddesses a month ago, the regulars went from just me to a total of four. Today, though, it was back to one. Just me.

I turned another page, but I wasn't really absorbing any of it. Honestly, I couldn't even remember what the last ten pages were about.

With a sigh, I closed the textbook and leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling. The girls hadn't shown up today. That was… unusual. As far as I know, this was the first time they'd skipped class. I couldn't help but wonder where they were.

Then again, why was I even wondering? They're goddesses. School isn't a requirement for them. I mean, nothing really is.

But still… I kind of missed them.

Even now, I could picture them sitting beside me, laughing, smiling, rambling on about some random topic that would somehow pull my full attention, as if it were a college lecture I actually cared about.

"Ah… fuck," I muttered, slipping off my glasses to rub my face.

At this point, it's getting harder and harder to keep lying to myself. I keep insisting that I see them as nothing more than divine visitors—goddesses who will eventually move on once their curiosity is satisfied. One day, they'll return to the heavens and leave this mortal realm behind.

That inevitability… made me feel a little hollow inside. I can't even say that I don't know why anymore, because now... I do. The truth is, I don't see them as just goddesses anymore.

Each of those girls pulls at me in a different way, making it impossible to keep my heart in check. And yet, here I am, still pretending like nothing's changed.

But something has changed.

Something keeps shifting every time I'm with them. Whether it's Chloe's adorable reactions, Lana's unpredictable energy, or Alice's relentless teasing…

They're getting to me in ways I didn't even think were possible. For someone like me, this kind of feeling felt so far out of reach.

I mean… that's not weird, right? It's a completely natural reaction… So why can't I stop thinking about them, even for a minute?

I can't. And that alone says everything about how far I've already fallen.

I think… I have a crush. And the worst part is… it's not just on one of them.

"…What am I gonna do?"

When the clock struck 10:45, I packed up my things and left the library. It usually takes me around ten minutes to walk to the science building from here, so I always give myself a little buffer—just in case something comes up.

Nothing ever does. But still… just in case.

"Quick! We're gonna be late!" shouted someone from behind me.

As I turned around, a girl bumped into my chest. It didn't seem like she was facing forward since her head was tilted away.

"Oh! Sorry!" she exclaimed. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I replied. "Are you?"

"Yep! Peachy! Uhm..."

What's up with her? Why does it look like she's scanning me? Before I could ask again, her friend rushed over, stopping to catch her breath.

"See... what I mean?!" that girl shouted. "You bumped into this poor guy because of your negligence! I told you, even if we were to walk, we're not even gonna be late at all."

"Says you. Ever since you got a boyfriend, you've been missing more classes than ever!"

"Eh?! Not true at all! O-oh." The friend turned to me when she noticed I was still standing there. "Sorry. My friend is a little clumsy sometimes, so please excuse her."

"Oh, no, you don't have to apologize. It wasn't a big deal."

But then, just like the first girl, she began looking at me weirdly.

"I don't think I've ever seen you around before," she muttered. "Are you a first-year? What's your name?"

I paused at the sound of that very simple question. They want... my name? Me?

"Uh... It's... Aikami Enzou," I mumbled. "And I am a first-year."

"Aikami Enzou... We'll remember that," she said before turning back to her friend. "Alright, let's go, Saki. Because you were being stupid, we might actually be late now!"

"The only reason why it happened is because you were late to begin with! Hey! Ayaka! W-wait up!"

As they bolted away, I couldn't help but think about how strange that whole situation was. Wasn't I thinking about how nothing ever happens? Then, for once, something actually does happen.

Fate, huh...?

It's rare enough for an interaction to occur, even if it was such an accidental bump. For them to acknowledge my existence is something else entirely.

As curious as I was, standing here and thinking about it isn't gonna give me any answers. I'll just ask the girls about it later.

Suddenly, I was pulled away into a bush at the edge of the sidewalk by something I couldn't even see. Panic settled in, and right as I was about to shout, I heard a voice that immediately calmed me down.

"Shh! Aikami!"

When I finally took a moment to steady myself, I realized that it was Chloe. She was lying on the grass beneath the shadow of a tree, covered in brushes—whereas I... was holding myself above her.

"C-Chloe...?" I mumbled. "What is... this...?"

"Phew, I finally found you," she said with a friendly smile. "How come you weren't in the library?"

"I... I was..."

"Eh? Aikami? No way..."

She grabbed onto my face with both of her hands, meticulously scanning me while twisting it around.

"Are you sick now?!" she exclaimed. "I knew it! I should've picked up some medicine for you! A vitamin-deficient homebody like you definitely needs it!"

"A... what?! Wait, no, Chlo—"

"H-hold on, Aikami! I can take you to Apollo's clinic! He'll treat you right away!"

"Chloe! I'm fine!"

"Oh. Really? Phew... I was... w-was really...?"

Her eyes slowly trailed down to my body. It was only then that her face practically glowed like a tomato when she realized I was still on top of her, almost as if I was pinning her to the ground.

"U-um... Aikami..." she mumbled. "I... I've never... done this before..."

"W-what the?!"

At that point, I couldn't keep my balance and began listing. To keep myself from falling onto Chloe, I pushed myself to the side, landing next to her, but not without smacking my head on an exposed tree root.

"Ow, ow..." I groaned.

Chloe perked up, letting a full, exaggerated gasp.

"A-Aikami!" And then suddenly, it was who was holding herself up on top of me. "I'm sorry! That was a joke! Are you alright?!"

"Chloe..." I muttered. "Just stop... Please."

"Ah... I'm sorry."

She backed away and helped me to sit up. I rolled my hand around the back of my head. Fortunately, there's no blood, just a small bump. I'm sure it'll go away in no time.

"Hello, by the way," I sighed.

"Oh! Hi, Aikami!" she smiled, completely missing my sarcasm by a mile, but I decided not to tell her.

"Couldn't you have chosen a more conventional method? Instead, you pulled me into a bush and caused this mess."

"Well, that's because I was going to teleport you. We can't have people seeing it."

"I mean... We could've just gone somewhere more secluded. Where are we even teleporting to? Wait, don't we have chemistry in five minutes? Wait, before that, where have you guys been all day?"

"Too many questions. It's hurting my brain..."

And it genuinely seemed like it was, as she was grasping her head—trying to find the answers all at once.

"Alright, fine," I said. "Let's start with where you guys have been all day. How come you didn't show up to the past two classes?"

"We skipped," she replied nonchalantly.

"...Okay. Now, where am I going?"

"To go hang out with me and my sisters."

"Eh?! But chemistry class is in five minutes!"

"You're skipping that too."

"W-wha..."

Chloe leaned in way too close, her huge eyes practically hypnotizing me.

"We're going somewhere real~ special! A place my sisters and I have always wanted to go. And we thought, 'Why not share it with Aikami?' So?" She extended her hand toward me. "Coming?"

Even though my decision was already made, I still hesitated.

"Hah... Do I even have a choice?" I scoffed.

"I mean, you do," she replied. "But... You wouldn't leave me hanging, right? Aikami?"

Her voice was so soft, yet full of hope... and just slightly coercive.

What am I doing right now? Why am I even considering this? Shouldn't I be in class, doing something productive? Something meaningful? But then again, what's the point? It's not like my so-called 'meaningful' life has led me anywhere.

Those questions rattled in my head, yet my arm betrayed me, moving as if it had a mind of its own. I didn't know what possessed me at that moment, but I ended up taking her hand.

"Hehe~ Thanks, Aikami," Chloe giggled. "Off we go!"