Take Two, Pt. 1

I sat on a bench in the park next to my apartment complex. Across the stone pathway was a pond with a duck and her ducklings — the same furry little things I had photographed when I let Megumi tag along.

She'd always go on and on about how if I were to take pictures of her and turn them in to my photography class, I'd get a perfect score. Well, I recently found out that Professor Kaede is a huge fan of Megumi no Hana, so she might've been right about that.

I threw my neck against the backrest, tilting up to look at the sky. Dark and murky and covered in clouds. Just a few hours earlier, it was nicer — definitely a good day for photos, but I didn't bring my camera.

It's fine, though. I didn't come to the park today to take some pictures. Instead, I'm meeting someone. At least... I'm hoping to meet her.

From my pocket, I slipped my phone out and opened the messaging app. After my talk with Yue a full week ago, I had sent this text to Megumi.

[Shohei]: "Hey, Megumi. I know this is a bit sudden, coming out of nowhere, but I saw your PR event on television. If you have some time, I wanna talk. You probably have your schedule fully booked this week, so can you meet me next Saturday at six? I'll be in the park. The one by my apartment. But if you don't want to, I understand."

She never replied, though a tiny text at the bottom indicated that she'd read it. I don't blame her. Maybe if I were in her position, I wouldn't reply to me either, much less even entertain the idea of accepting my proposal.

I checked the time. 10:33 PM, almost five hours after the time I had asked to meet. Because I didn't wanna miss it for anything, I had shown up two hours before. So that makes... seven hours.

I'd been here for seven hours straight, and since then, I hadn't moved from this bench. Not even a little.

The air was getting colder in the wake of night, a stark contrast to the earlier warmth. Now, it was freezing to the point that I could clearly see the vapor wisping from my mouth with every breath.

Still, I didn't move. Didn't shiver. Didn't feel anything past that because my mind was preoccupied with only one thing. One person.

After a while, I checked the time again. 11:02 PM, officially seven full hours since I came here.

Don't care, though. I can wait a little longer. Or a lot longer. Whatever it takes.

Soon, the ducklings had tucked themselves under their mother's belly by the water, sleeping. And with that, the orchestra of the night came to life. Insects chirped as loudly as ever, tree leaves rustled with the wind, and a crack of thunder boomed in the distance.

It's gonna rain soon. Should I keep waiting?

No point in asking. I know I will, regardless of what I'm thinking. If it's to see her one last time, I'm willing to go this far, and so much more.

For the last time, I checked the time. 11:57, almost midnight. I had waited for eight hours.

Maybe she's busy. After all, she's a celebrity — and with her new drama blowing up all across the internet, her fame and popularity are only growing. Or maybe... she simply didn't wanna show up, not that I'll blame her if that's the case.

I mean... Putting myself in her shoes, would I show up? Probably not. I made my own judgment without checking with her. I told her to leave, even when she begged to stay.

"Is it... because of yesterday?" she had said while tearing up. "I knew it. I did overstep my boundaries. I shouldn't have interfered and clung to you like that. B-but I won't do it again! I promise! I... I'll behave from now on. I won't even ask you to go out anymore. I'll just... stay at home! Y-yeah! That's what I'll do. I'll stay here and watch videos, or doom scroll, or..."

That moment never failed to replay itself in my head every single night. Those words stuck with me, and what did I do?

I made her cry. I saw her tears, and even then... I made my decision. I chose what I thought was best for her and not what she wanted. Didn't even take her opinion into account.

That was my biggest mistake. And now... I'll probably never get the chance to fix it, or at the very least, apologize to her.

A clap of thunder shook the atmosphere — much louder than the last. It was then followed by rain, and before long, the splatters overtook me. The droplets pelted my legs, my arms, my face... yet I didn't move. Couldn't even feel how cold it was.

I mean... I can't say I'm all that surprised. At the end of the day, she's a celebrity. Probably out somewhere. Probably busy. She doesn't have time to spare for a nobody like me. Still, that didn't keep me from hoping.

Am I disappointed, though? Of course, I am. As selfish as it sounds, a part of me really believed that she would give me this much. At least... to hear me out.

But again... I wouldn't either, so why should I expect her to?

With a heavy sigh, I stood, keeping my gaze forward. I then turned, ready to follow the stone path back home... till the rain stopped. Or rather, it didn't stop. In front of me, the storm only grew worse, but I didn't feel it coming down on me anymore.

"Did you really not see me coming? Or were you just pretending not to notice?"

A sudden jolt ran through my body, freezing it in its entirety, and it wasn't because of the cold.

That voice... Soft, playful, and sharp whenever it wants to be... I could recognize it anywhere, and only now am I wondering why I'm hearing it now.

At midnight.

Under a storm.

Slowly, I turned, and the moment I saw her, my breath was lost.

No... It was already lost before that.

There stood a girl just a bit shorter than me, wearing an oversized rain jacket and holding an umbrella over our heads.

Her black hair fell in a neat wolf cut, the ends a lot longer than I remember. The bangs swept neatly across her face, hiding the entirety of her right eye. And her other eye seemingly glowed a soft amber, warm yet mildly annoyed.

"...M-Megumi..."