Love is a Blessing in Disguise [Yuto Hiiragi] (1)

"They say it's going to rain today, why don't you take a folding umbrella?"

Told by my sister just as I was leaving, I shoved a folding umbrella into my school bag and rushed out the front door.

Walking a little ahead of me is Hoshino-san, my classmate who also sits next to me.

I can tell even from behind. Her black hair is swaying gently in the early summer breeze.

When I looked at the sky, dark clouds were approaching in the distance. I see, it might actually rain—as I was thinking that vaguely, Hoshino-san turned around for just a moment.

"Good morning, Hiiragi-kun."
She said that in a pleasant, clear voice, and I returned it with a slight nod.

I feel my face getting a little hot, but the gust of wind blowing by cooled it down immediately. I want to say good morning back, but I can't even say those words today.

As if in sync with my heart, those dark clouds were indeed closing in on me, and on the school.

The moment I slid into the classroom and sat in my seat, raindrops began to hit the schoolyard, one by one.

Contrary to my relief at having brought an umbrella, several classmates started making a fuss, saying "No way" and "I thought it was going to be sunny." It seems Hoshino-san in the seat next to me also has a folding umbrella. Or rather, would it be more accurate to say she seems to have left it in her desk?

Before long, as the sound changed to a pitter-patter, Shibata in the seat in front of me turned around. "Hey, Hiiragi, did you bring an umbrella?" While nodding, I showed him the folding umbrella I had taken out of my bag.

"I brought one. What about you, Shibata?"
"Same as always, I thought I'd just wing it. In other words, I didn't bring one."
Even knowing the outcome, Shibata often proceeds on impulse.
That is both the good and bad side of him, who is also the bright mood-maker of the class.
"Shibata, your reckless personality will never change."
"Call me Oda Nobunaga."
"That's the one who used guns, isn't it?"
"Oh, you've got the test range down perfectly! Mitsuhide-kun."
"Who's Mitsuhide? I'll cut your throat while you sleep."
After Shibata laughed literally holding his stomach at our conversation, he said, "Man, review complete. So, can you lend me an eraser? You have a spare, right?"
"That was quite a long preamble."
Thinking, 'So that's what he wanted to say,' I sighed and handed Shibata the spare eraser I always carry.

"Thanks! I'll return the favor sometime. With a hawk."

"Falconry, huh..."
Sighing, I put my textbook away in my desk. Feeling a gaze from the side, I shifted my eyes toward Hoshino-san.

Our eyes met perfectly, and our gazes locked for a moment.

But we don't have the kind of relationship where I can just casually say, "Is something wrong?" I want to talk to her every time, but I'm too shy to say anything—I'm a coward.

As if to break that silence, our homeroom teacher, Yazawa-sensei, walked into the classroom. Her bright chestnut hair was loosely curled again today. Because she will be going on maternity leave soon, Yazawa-sensei's belly is a little big. She climbed onto the podium with a pace so slow it looked like she might say "heave-ho," and the usual morning assembly began.

"Today's little story for the morning assembly is... a historical anecdote."

The rain outside intensified, and the sound of rain echoing on the ceiling changed significantly. The sound of chalk clattering on the blackboard began, and the melody of the rainy season started. Ah, maybe rain is okay too—just as I was dozing off, the homeroom teacher pointed at me and said, "Hiiragi-kun."