Chapter 1:Shelter Beneath The Rain

The rain came suddenly, turning the warm afternoon into a melody of falling droplets.

Kaito stood under the large cherry blossom tree of the edge of the schoolyard, his backpack hanging lazily of his shoulder.

He had come to this spot to get away from the noise of the school, a place where he hear his own thoughts.

But now, he was simply waiting for the rain to pass.

The tree's thick branches provided decent Shelter, but he was Still getting wet.

Kaito glanced at the gray clouds, sighing as the raindrops splattered onto the ground in front of him.

He didn't have anywhere to be, but the weight of the storm Seemed to settle into his chest.

Suddenly, the sound of quick footsteps echoed in the distance.

He turned to see a girl running toward the tree, her a school uniform clinging to her as the rain drenched her Completely.

She paused for second, her eyes catching his, before she ducked beneath the tree's Shelter beside him.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The rain was loud, and the Space beneath the tree felt even smaller with her so close.

"Sorry" She muttered, brushing strands of wet hair out of her face, "I didn't mean to invade your space" Kaito blinked, surprised by her presence.

"No, it's fine it's a big tree"

She smiled faintly, but there was a slight awkwardness in the air.

He had seen her before, around the school, but they had never spoken.

Her name was Yuki.

She was in the same grade as him, but they existed in different circles.

She was always Surrounded by friends, while he preferred the quiet moments like this.

"You didn't bring an umbrella either, huh?" Yuki said, wringing out the hem of her skirt.

Kaito shook his head.

"No, I didn't think it would rain"

Yuki let out a soft laugh.

"I guess we're both bad at reading the weather."

She glanced up at the tree.

"At least this tree is kind enough to give us some cover" For a while, they stood there in silence, the sound of the rain falling like a steady rhythm between them.

The world outside the tree seemed distant, and within this little space, it fell as it time had slowed down.

"I come here often," Kaito found himself saying, breaking the silence.

"It's quiet, Peaceful."

Yuki nodded.

"I never really noticed this place before, it's nice" Kaito glanced at her, noticing how the rain made her seem Somehow softer, more real.

Her hair clung to her cheeks, and her eyes, through quiet, sparkled with an energy that pulled at something inside him.

"You're Kaito, right?" She asked suddenly, turning her gaze toward him.

Her voice was casual, but her eyes were searching, as if trying to understand him.

"Yeah," he replied, slightly surprised she knew his name.

"I've seen you around," Yuki said, smiling a little.

"You always looked like you're in your own world."

He shrugged, not sure how to respond to that. "I like being alone Sometimes"

"I get that," she said softly.

"But... it's nice to share moments like this with someone too, don't you think?"

Kaito didn't reply immediately.

He had never Shared these quiet moments.

But now, kaito realized that this particular moment felt different, felt... warmer.

There was something comforting about the way her presence filled the Space, like the rain was no longer as cold.

"Yeah," he said finally.

"I guess it is?"

Her presence filled the rain continued to fall, but it felt less like a storm and more like a backdrop to something new, something fragile yet promising.

They stood there, side by side, not needing to say much, just existing together under the tree.

As the rain began to slow, Yuki turned to him with a smile.

"Thanks for sharing your shelter, Kaito."

"Anytime," he said surprised by how easy it was to say.

Yuki took a step back into the clear open space, the rain now just a light drizzle.

"Maybe I'll see you here again?"

Kaito nodded. "Maybe" She gave him one last look, her eyes bright with something unspoken, before she dashed off into the fading rain.

Kaito watched her disappear, a strange feeling settling into his Chest.

The world outside the tree seemed bigger now, more open, as if the rain washed away more than just the clouds.

Maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't mind sharing his spot again.