Like the Rain, We All Have to Fall Sometimes.

The raindrops beat down against the glass windows of the floral shop. Minato stares outside at the passersby who hurry past, clinging tightly to their umbrellas as they attempt to keep themselves from getting soaked to the bone. Occasionally, the wind would howl ominously, rattling the window panes and spooking him.

I don’t think we’ll be getting customers today.

Stifling a yawn, Minato leans back as he drums his fingers against the cash register and suppresses a spike of impatience. He dislikes days like this, where everything is so dark, gloomy and…wet.

“Nobody came, huh?”

He turns at the voice. Sakura is tending to a miserable looking flower. A clivia, it is drooping sadly from the wet weather. Normally a plant tenacious enough to weather the worst of droughts, it fears being waterlogged. Sakura restores the poor flower with her magic and brings it back to life, allowing it to bloom in the interior of the store.

“Don’t worry,” she assures him as she places the pot on a shelf, next to a bunch of plants reputed to grant fortune to their owners. “It’s just the dreary weather today. Once the sun comes out, customers will come flooding back to the store again!”

Minato winces at her choice of words. Given how hard it is raining right now, he wouldn’t be surprise if Tokyo becomes flooded. And the weather report says that there are no signs that the rain will stop for the next two weeks.

They are going to be stuck with wet weather for a while.

Worse, he sees a new update on his smartphone. Staring at the screen, he groans.
“What? There’s a typhoon alert? You’ve got to be kidding me!”

This is just getting better and better.

Little wonder that the number of people rushing outside the floral shop is decreasing. Most of them are heading home or seeking shelter from the storm. nobody in their right mind would want to be outside when the typhoon hits.

Feeling a chill, Minato suppresses a shiver, rolls his shoulders and hops out of his seat. He slaps a hand on Sakura’s shoulder.

“Man the register for a while. I’ll be taking a nice, long soak in a warm bath.” He stops, suddenly remembering something and feeling guilty. “Or would you like to go in first?”

“No, it’s fine.” As much as Sakura enjoys warm baths, she is currently tending to the formerly wilting clivia. “Go ahead. I’ll take one after you.”

“Sure. I will fill up the tub with hot water first. In the meantime, I’ll be relying on you.” He rubs at his cheek and stares at the entrance. “Maybe we should just close the store for the day.”

Granny Haru has retired early for the day, claiming that the wet weather makes her bones ache. Minato doesn’t want to disturb her, and he checks on her on his way to the bathroom.

“Don’t worry about me,” she snaps. At the moment, Granny Haru is watching television, having propped herself up with cushions and enjoying a cup of hot chocolate. Minato actually feels envious. "Go enjoy yourself. Hell, spend more time with Sakura. What are you doing, leaving such a lovely girl all by herself?”

“She’s manning the cashier right now while I’m taking a bath. We’ll be taking turns. I’m tempted to close the store early today.”

“Why don’t you wait until Sakura is done with her bath, and if no one comes by then, you can close up early.”

“Yeah, I’ll do that then.”

Minato shuts the door and proceeds to the bathroom.

In the meantime, Sakura finishes checking on the clivia and strolls toward the cash register. Given that there is no sign of any customers, she sees no reason to hurry. Most likely, Minato will close shop early once he returns from his bath.

She longs for one too, but seeks refuge that she will be the last to enjoy it. That means she can soak in the warm water for longer than Minato. She has to make sure not to fall asleep in the bath, though. The last time she did that, Minato panicked and nearly broke the door down.

That was embarrassing.

Sakura idly waits for the time to pass, enjoying the rhythm of the raindrops as they beat a melody against the glass. There is something to the quaint naturality of it all, a distinct symphony that is different from the brash music of this world. She often finds the so-called pop songs loud and abrasive. The gentle and simple tone of water splashing against the outside world while she is insulated against the elements brings her a strange sense of comfort. A reminder that she has finally found a place she can call her home.

That feeling of security vanishes when the first customer of the day finally shows up at the floral store about fifteen minutes later.

Struggling with an umbrella and spilling rivulets onto the ground, the lady slides a plastic bag over the wet umbrella before sticking it into the designated area. She plods toward the register with a friendly smile, leaving a damp trail.

“Hello, Sakura.”

Sayori Nagisa waves her hand cheerfully, upbeat despite having braved the weather. Sakura keeps a cool façade, forcing her racing pulse to calm down.

Where did you disappear off with Minato the other day?

“What can I do for you today, Ms. Nagisa?” She asks instead, feigning politeness. Rival or not, Sayori is a customer, and she will be damned before she lets both Minato and Granny Haru down. She has to repay them for providing her a home and taking care of her over the last couple of months.

Is that really all that is?

Suppressing a flash of irritation, Sakura puts on a professional smile. An exterior that is easily constructed by her status as royalty. As a princess, she has long learned to conceal her inner emotions underneath a diplomatic surface.

Blissfully unaware of Sakura’s hostility, Sayori smiles cheerfully and wipes the thin layer of rainwater that had drenched her hair.

“I’m actually here to talk to Minato. Is he in? Where is he?”

Sakura stiffens before she replies frostily.

“I’m afraid Minato isn’t available right now. Why not you come back another day?”

“Oh, that’s fine.” Sayori waves her hand dismissively and looks for a chair. “I’ll just wait.”

“You misunderstand me. Minato is not here today. I don’t know when he will be back.”

The lie is out of Sakura’s lips before she knows it. She has no idea why she doesn’t want Sayori to meet Minato. She doesn’t understand the turmoil of emotions that are raging inside her chest, leaving her unsettled. She only knows that she must keep the two apart, no matter what.

Otherwise, something inside her might break.

“Huh? Really?” Sayori raises an eyebrow skeptically before she gestures out of the window. “Why would he be outside in this weather?”

“The same reason why you’re here, in this weather?”

Sayori frowns, but she is unable to reply. She scratches her head and sighs. “I was on my way home, but I figure I will drop in to check on him. I wanted to thank him for that day.”

“I will let him know.”

“S…sure. Thanks.” Sayori looks uncertain now, but Sakura remains indomitable. Realizing that she will get nowhere, Sayori decides to back off for now. “I appreciate it. Tell him I said hi.”

Then she is out of the door, after retrieving her umbrella and disposing of the plastic cover. Sakura watches her leave, feeling a little queasy. While a small part of her is triumphant, the more rational segment is sickened.

What have I done? Why did I lie? Sayori was just being nice. Why did I treat her like that?

She doesn’t have the time to ponder over her own actions. She hears a thunderous noise descending from the level above. Someone is rushing down the stairs, taking two or three steps at a time.

“Wait! Sayori!”

Minato is too late. Sayori is long gone, her figure disappearing into the dense rain and the glass door shutting with a dull click.

He turns to Sakura, furious. “Why did you do that!?”

“Why did I do what?”

“Drop the act. I heard the conversation upstairs. I tried to rush out of the bathroom and shout for her, but she didn’t hear me.”

Now that he mentions it, Sakura realizes just how noisy the rain is. Crashing against the glass walls with immense force, pitter patter, pitter patter. Within the confined walls of the bathroom, the sound of her conversation with Sayori must have traveled upstairs, unimpeded by the raindrops.

“Why did you tell her I wasn’t in?!”

“You were in the bath and I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“Really?” Minato’s voice is harsh. “Isn’t it enough that you’ve already dominated enough of my time? Are you treating me like your servant?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Minato is breathing hard. “Nothing.”

“No, not nothing.” Sakura glares at him. Something inside her snaps. “If you have something to say, then say it! This princess commands you!”

“Stop the princess act already.” Minato trembles, unable to contain his anger. “All this time, I’ve been helping you. I spent countless sleepless nights to help you study, just so you can pass your midterms. I gave you a place to stay when you came to this world, all alone. And this is how you repay me? By chasing away the girl you know I have a crush on?”

Something inside Sakura’s chest shatters. She takes a step back, swallowing. Her world is spinning. The wind is howling. The rain is sobbing.

The girl you know I have a crush on…

She cannot acknowledge those words. Somehow, she can’t.

Instead, she snaps at him.

“Since you like Sayori Nagisa so much, the two of you can live happily forever! It’s clear that you don’t need me around!”

Whirling away, she dashes out of the store. Pushing the glass door open, she runs into the rain. Ignoring Minato’s yells, she sprints into the distance, uncaring of the looks from the dwindling passersby or the fact that her now drenched dress was weighing heavily against her.

She runs and runs and runs.

Minato watches her go, a cold, sinking feeling in his gut. His hand is outstretched, as if trying to grab her before she can run.

But he is too late.

“No,” he whispers as dread fills him. The scene reminds him of the accident years ago. His parents leaving him and going elsewhere. It was a rainy day like this, and he didn’t want to go out. He wanted to stay at home to catch his favorite anime series on broadcast.

His parents had insisted that he follow them, and he threw a tantrum. In the end, they had departed without him, the mood between them having soured. Minato still regrets the last words he had said to them.

“I wish you won’t come back!”

That turned out to be strangely prescient. By some strange twist of fate, his parents had gotten into an accident and never returned home. Minato blamed himself then – and still blames himself for it. If he had never said that, perhaps his parents would still be alive. If he had accompanied them, would the accident not have happened? Even if it did, they would be together.

It took Granny Haru and Sayori a long time to coax him out of his guilt and regret. To convince him to look forward and move on. That his parents’ deaths weren’t his fault.

It was raining when the accident happened…

And there is supposed to be a typhoon later. If Sakura is still outside when it hits…

Minato freezes, unable to move. Unable to think. His mind has shut down, and he has no idea what to do.

“What are you doing, boy?!”

He snaps out of his stupor at the enraged voice. Granny Haru is perched at the top of the stairs, waving her stick at him. In the dark shadows cast by the gloomy weather, she looks absolutely terrifying. Minato has to quell a scream that almost rises from his lungs.

“Why are you still standing there like an idiot? Go chase after her, or I’ll break your damned legs! They aren’t for show, are they?!”

“Y…yes!”

Minato swallows and begins running. Reaching the door, he pauses and turns his head over his shoulder.

“Thank you, Granny Haru.”

And then he is gone, sprinting through the rain in search of the green-haired girl who he has come to treasure over the last two months they spent together.