Chapter 6: September — The Typhoon

“…You’ve got to be kidding…”
On her way home from school, Tsumugi stepped out of the bookstore she had stopped by—and it was pouring rain.

She knew a typhoon was approaching, and she had properly brought her umbrella.
And yet, it was gone from the stand in front of the store.
A common clear vinyl umbrella.

Whether it had been stolen or taken by mistake—
setting that aside, she couldn’t go home, and stood there staring at the wall of rain before her.

“Even lost in thought, you look beautiful. Please go out with me.”
Shingo appeared out of nowhere.

“No, I was just looking at the rain.”
“Oh my, it seems you don’t have an umbrella.
If you’d like, I could escort you home.”
Meeting Tsumugi’s eyes straight on, Shingo made his offer.

As Tsumugi searched for words—
“I just bought a big umbrella, actually.”
When he opened the one he was holding, a sudden gust of wind struck, snapping its ribs in an instant, and only the fabric soared high into the sky.

“...Would you care to join me?”
Shingo smiled softly.

“...No, I’ll refrain.”
At Tsumugi’s apologetic reply, he smiled and said, “I see. Well then,”—
and, holding what had once been an umbrella, strode proudly into the rain.

“Don’t... catch a cold...”
Her murmured words were swiftly drowned out by the sound of the rain.