The Rain That Never Stops

It was a rainy day.
 The town of Mizuhara was showered by the rain, as if nature itself was crying. Droplets tapped against rooftops, slid down windowpanes, and collected in tiny streams along the quiet streets.

 The sky, a dull shade of gray, seemed endless, as if the sun had forgotten how to rise.

There stood a small, two-story house nestled between others just like it. Its pale wooden walls bore the marks of time, paint slightly faded, and the roof, darkened by the rain, let out soft, rhythmic drips from its edges. A single, dim light flickered from a window on the second floor, where a boy was beginning his day.


Inside, Kaizen stood in the bathroom, staring at his reflection in the mirror. Steam from the hot shower still clung to the glass, distorting his face. He reached up, wiping the condensation away, revealing tired eyes and damp, messy hair. He looked... empty.



The same routine. 
The same silence.
With a quiet sigh, he grabbed his towel, rubbing his hair dry before slipping into his uniform. A simple white shirt, a navy-blue blazer, and black trousers. He buttoned his shirt with slow, deliberate movements, as if rushing would change anything.The smell of miso soup and grilled fish wafted up from the kitchen below. His mother had been up early again, preparing breakfast like she always did. The familiar scent should have been comforting, but to Kaizen, it only felt like another reminder that nothing had changed.

As he made his way downstairs, the faint chatter of his younger sister, Emiko, filled the space. She was animated, talking about something trivial—probably a stray cat she had seen the day before. Their mother stood by the stove, carefully plating food, while their father sat at the table, his newspaper open but largely unread.

"Good morning, Kaizen," his mother greeted with a gentle smile.
"Morning," he mumbled, sliding into his seat.
His father glanced up from the newspaper. "It’s pouring out there. Take an umbrella."
Kaizen simply nodded, but his hands remained still, his chopsticks untouched.
"You were up late again, weren't you?" His mother’s voice was soft, but there was concern laced in her words. "You need to sleep more, Kaizen."
"I'm fine," he replied, taking a small bite of rice.It was a lie.

Emiko continued her chatter, oblivious to the weight in his voice. "Kaizen, guess what? The cat from yesterday—remember the one near the bookstore?—it was still there this morning! It looked at me and meowed like it knew me!"


"That’s nice," Kaizen muttered, giving her a small nod before returning to his meal.He wasn’t really listening.

His mind was elsewhere—drifting, lost in thoughts he couldn’t voice out loud.

His mother watched him carefully, her smile faltering for just a second. "Kaizen, don’t forget your—"
Before she could finish, he was already standing. He grabbed his school bag, slinging it over his shoulder, and walked toward the door.

"Kaizen—"The door clicked shut behind him.
Outside, the rain continued to fall, soaking the pavement. He stepped out, the cold droplets landing on his blazer. His fingers curled around the handle of the umbrella, but he didn’t open it.
He let the rain hit him.
Two years ago, he loved the rain. It was peaceful, a quiet embrace from the sky.

Now, it just reminded him of her.