The rain came without warning.
Soft at first — then steady, then pouring in silver sheets against the classroom windows.
Haruto stared at it, sighing. "Great. Just my luck."
He and Aoi were the only ones left in the classroom after cleaning duty. The rest of their classmates had already bolted before the storm hit.
"Looks like we're stuck here for a while," Aoi said cheerfully, twirling a pen between her fingers. "You really are cursed with rain lately, huh?"
He gave her a flat look. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"Maybe a little." She grinned. "But hey, it's kind of nice. Just the two of us, warm classroom, sound of rain… feels like a scene from a romance novel!"
He rolled his eyes. "You read too many of those."
"Maybe. But they're cute!" she said, leaning on her desk. "Speaking of cute…"
He frowned warily. "What now?"
Aoi clasped her hands dramatically. "Let's practice confessions!"
Haruto choked on air. "What!?"
She laughed at his expression. "It's fun! You know, like—pretend someone you like is here, and you confess! It's good practice for the real thing!"
"I don't need to practice something like that," he muttered.
"Oh, come on!" she whined, pouting. "Don't be so boring, Haruto-kun. What if you actually like someone? Wouldn't you want to know how to say it right?"
He hesitated. If I did like someone, it's probably… you, he thought. But of course, he didn't say it out loud.
Aoi smiled brightly. "Then I'll go first!"
She stood up, pretending to hold a bouquet of invisible flowers. "Ahem! Haruto-kun, you're always so kind and reliable. I like you! Please go out with me!"
He blinked. "That was… weirdly specific."
She grinned. "Of course! It's practice for you!"
He sighed. "You're impossible."
"Okay, your turn!" she said, plopping back into her seat and clasping her hands under her chin. "Confess to me."
"What—why you?"
"Because I'm here!" she said with a laugh. "Come on, I won't laugh. Promise."
He stared at her for a long second. Her eyes were bright, her smile expectant, and the rain behind her blurred the world into a soft watercolor.
Something in his chest squeezed.
He stood up slowly. "Fine. Just don't make fun of me."
She nodded eagerly.
He took a breath, walked over, and stopped in front of her desk.
"…Aoi."
Her name left his lips softer than he expected. She blinked, a little surprised.
"I don't know how to say this," he continued, voice low but steady. "You're noisy. Reckless. And half the time, I can't keep up with you."
Her smile faltered slightly — but then he smiled too, small and genuine.
"But even when you drive me crazy, you make every day feel lighter. And somehow… I find myself wanting to be near you."
He looked down, cheeks faintly red. "…I like you."
The words hung in the air.
The rain softened outside, tapping gently against the glass like a heartbeat.
Aoi sat frozen, her eyes wide, lips slightly parted.
For a second, neither of them breathed.
Then Haruto cleared his throat awkwardly, stepping back. "There. See? Practice. Nothing special."
Aoi blinked rapidly, as if trying to process what just happened. "R-right. Haha… practice."
She laughed a little too loudly, tucking her hair behind her ear. Her face was pink.
Haruto picked up his bag, pretending to focus on something else. "We should wait until the rain stops before heading home."
"Y-yeah," she mumbled.
Silence fell again — but not the awkward kind.
It was the kind of silence filled with fluttering hearts and unspoken thoughts.
---
By the time the rain slowed, the clouds had turned pink with the setting sun.
Aoi stood by the door, holding her umbrella. "Hey… Haruto-kun?"
He turned. "Hm?"
She smiled softly — a different kind of smile this time. "For the record… if someone really said that to me — not as practice — I think I'd be really happy."
And before he could respond, she stepped out into the light drizzle, the soft hum of rain fading with her footsteps.
Haruto stood there for a moment, staring after her, his heart racing again.
"…What does that even mean?" he muttered — but the small smile on his face gave him away.