The Rain and the Rolling Sleeves

Reikou stood in the center of his small living room, still clutching the grocery bag like a shield. Meiyu sat on his sofa, her posture perfect and polite, looking entirely out of place in his modest apartment. When he moved to offer her a drink, she simply shook her head.

"Reikou-kun," she began, her voice steady. "Yesterday, after you left, I went to the Principal's office. I explained that the incident was a misunderstanding a mistake. He understood and revoked the suspension. I’m not in school today because I wanted to ensure you received the notice personally."

Reikou stared at her, stunned. ‘She isn't angry? She doesn't hate me?’

"I actually came by yesterday too," she murmured, her gaze drifting to her lap. "But I left before I could knock. I... I felt bad for you. A suspension for a mistake wasn't fair."

As she spoke, a faint, unmistakable pink dusted her cheeks. ‘Why am I saying this?’ she thought frantically. ‘Why am I letting my guard down?’

Reikou was paralyzed by her honesty. "Meiyu-san... you felt bad for me?"

RUMBLE!

The moment of high tension was shattered by Reikou’s stomach once again.

"Why is your stomach making that sound again and again?" Meiyu asked, before quickly covering her mouth with her hand. ‘Oops!’

Reikou rubbed the back of his neck, laughing nervously. "I haven't eaten since this morning. It’s just... protesting."

Meiyu watched him, a thought crossing her mind ‘At least he isn't bowing like a scorpion or shaking his hips today. He’s actually acting... normal.’

She stood up to leave, but as she reached for the door, the sky finally broke. A sudden downpour lashed against the windows, the cool scent of wet earth and rain-washed leaves flooding the room. The world outside turned into a blur of grey and green.

"See? The rain started," Reikou said, a soft, beautiful smile reaching his eyes. "Wait here. I’ll quickly whip up some noodles."

"No, thank you," Meiyu stammered, but she looked out the window. The raindrops were heavy and cool, a rhythmic lullaby against the glass.

Suddenly, she looked back at him. "Actually... let me cook something." She tilted her head, giving him a small, genuine smile.

Reikou froze. He had seen countless smiles in his life, but this one was different. It wasn't the practiced smile of a Sazanami princess it was the first sunrise after a long winter. He felt himself falling into the warmth of it.

"Where are you lost again?" she asked politely, pulling him back to earth.

"Ah! Nothing," Reikou whispered. "Can you... actually cook?"

Meiyu’s heart did a sudden somersault. ‘What am I doing? Why did I offer to cook in his house? Is this... a romantic situation? No, no! Stop thinking like that!’ Her face turned a deep shade of pink as her mind spiraled into confusion. She was caught between her royal upbringing and a strange, new warmth she couldn't define.

"Now who's lost?" Reikou teased.

"I-I was just thinking about what to cook!" she defended herself, her voice momentarily cold as she tried to regain her "Ice Queen" mask.

Reikou just smiled and handed her the grocery bag. Meiyu took it, her expression returning to a calm neutral, and walked into the kitchen. She stepped onto the tiled floor, set the bag on the counter, and slowly rolled up her sleeves.

As she looked at the simple ingredients, a gentle, quiet smile played on her lips. For the first time, she wasn't a princess or a bride-to-be. She was just a girl in a kitchen, hiding from the rain.

[End of Chapter 26]