Saki held Hiroki's hands tightly, lifting her eyes slightly to meet his. The warm smile on her face and the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed the warmth inside her, defying the cold raindrops falling around them.
"Hiroki…" she said in a soft voice, "Since you've brought me this far, I can't let you leave in this state."
Hiroki raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly. "What do you mean, Saki?"
Taking a deep breath, Saki mustered her courage and spoke without averting her eyes from his. "I mean… if you want, come to my place today. You can stay until the rain stops."
Hiroki looked slightly surprised, a brief hesitation flickering in his eyes. "Are you sure about that, Saki?"
Saki nodded with a smile. "Yes… Come without changing your mind, Hiroki."
A gentle smile spread across Hiroki's face, and Saki tugged his hand as they began walking toward her home. Raindrops fell on their hair and shoulders, but Saki's heart raced with excitement. At the same time, the sense of security from being beside Hiroki warmed her from within. Every step seemed to follow a light yet determined rhythm, in sync with the rain.
When they reached the door, Saki pulled out her key and opened it. As soon as they entered, she turned to Hiroki with a hint of excitement. "Be careful, Hiroki. Don't get my house dirty with the mud on you."
Hiroki shrugged lightly and replied with a smile, "I'll be careful, Saki, but… it seems impossible. I need to clean myself up first."
Squinting slightly, Hiroki smiled. "I don't want to be a bother. If you want, I can leave."
Saki brushed a few droplets from her hair and face and leaned slightly. "I don't want you to leave soaking wet, Hiroki."
Her eyes drifted to the umbrella by the door, and Hiroki quickly picked it up. "May I borrow your umbrella, Saki?"
Saki thought to herself, My umbrella… and felt a slight sense of relief. "Yes, of course you can. But if you want, you can stay here too."
Hiroki smiled faintly and nodded. "See, I found a solution, Saki."
Saki returned his smile, locking her eyes on his. Inside, she wondered whether she should really let him leave. At the same time, a strange warmth rose in her chest; being beside Hiroki was giving her an excitement unlike anything before.
Hiroki gazed deeply into Saki's eyes, pausing slightly. "You even look cute when you're wet, Saki… and those eyes…"
Saki covered her mouth with her hand, a mix of embarrassment and delight bubbling into a giggle. "You look funny covered in mud, Hiroki."
Hiroki chuckled as well, their laughter mingling. "Even after risking myself for you, you can still laugh at me, Saki?"
Saki nodded lightly, smiling. "Careful, don't fall in the mud again. There's no beautiful girl here to pull me into it—thank goodness."
They continued laughing together, their chuckles softly echoing inside the house, blending with the sound of the rain. It was as if time had stopped; it was just the two of them, sharing a small moment of happiness.
"See you, Saki. Take care," Hiroki said as he headed to the door.
"You too, Hiroki," Saki replied.
Hiroki opened the door with a faint smile. "Don't forget to bring my umbrella tomorrow, Saki."
Saki nodded lightly. "Don't worry, Hiroki."
Hiroki opened the umbrella and began walking. Saki called after him, "Be careful, Hiroki!"
Hiroki raised his hand and waved gently. When Saki closed the door, despite the chill, a warm smile spread across her face. She hurried to the bathroom carefully. Stepping under the warm water, she began washing the mud off her body. The water droplets hitting her skin, combined with the cool freshness left by the rain, gave her a slight sense of relief. Each drop eased her fatigue and tension.
Unintentionally, Hiroki came to her mind. That day, their gazes, their laughter… Saki felt herself blush slightly. Perhaps every moment spent with Hiroki left a small spark in her heart. Even if she wasn't fully aware of it, her feelings were gradually becoming more evident.
After leaving the shower, she wrapped herself in a towel, dried off thoroughly, and put on her clothes. She walked into the living room, about to take a relaxing breath on the couch, when she suddenly remembered the project she had to finish by tomorrow.
"Oh no, I forgot!" she whispered to herself. She still hadn't completed her project for the travel club.
Saki jumped up in mild panic. "How could I forget… How am I supposed to finish this now?"
She sank back into the couch and closed her eyes. "Right… I was going to do this project with Yusuke's help, but… I'm upset with him now."
A wave of worry washed over her. If she didn't complete it, she wouldn't be able to fulfill the task Hiroki had entrusted to her either. That thought made her even more determined. The slight fear in her heart also sparked a flame of resolve; she knew she couldn't rest without using the night productively.
"Ugh, Saki…" she sighed. "But I have to do this…"
That night, finding the solution was critical. If she failed, her dream of becoming the travel club president would also fall through. She needed to calm herself, but at the same time, she had to act quickly.
On one side, Hiroki's smiling face; on the other, the warmth and quiet of the post-rain home… Saki took a deep breath. She considered her options, one by one. What steps should she take? In what order? How could she complete the project?
For several minutes, she sat in silence, pondering. Then she made up her mind. Within seconds, she was at her desk, pulling out her notebook and pen. "Okay… I'll find the solution tonight," she said firmly, her eyes shining with determination and a hint of excitement.
Even the silence in the room seemed to help her; with each stroke of her pen, her plans took shape. Every line of notes brought her a step closer to the solution. The rhythm of the rain and the gentle breeze outside filled Saki's room like a soft melody, heightening her focus.