Hirata's arms were already starting to ache. Three textbooks, a notebook, and Miru-senpai's sketchbook.
"You're… really carrying all that?" she asked, tilting her head, those black doll eyes were calm and perfect.
"I… uh… don't mind," he said. Simple. Polite. Just helping her. That was the kind of person Hirata was. His senpai had many books to carry and she needed someone to walk her home.
"Thank you for walking me home, Hirata-kun," she smiled.
"No problem, I used to walk me sister but now her boyfriend does it. It's nice having someone to talk to again."
The clouds above grudgingly decided the rain was done. Hirata stepped onto the street.
Suddenly a car roared past. Water sprayed like a geyser.
Hirata froze mid-step. "No—wait—"
The car splashed water and he narrowly dodged it as he held Miru-senpai's books safely above his head. Miru-senpai, as usual, was perfectly untouched. Not a single droplet of water touched her as she stood there. Calm, elegant, smiling politely.
A pigeon… decided to contribute. Of course it was a pigeon. The poop hit Hirata's shoe. He stared, horrified.
"Of course. Of course!" he muttered.
He tried to step around it—slipped. Arms flailed. Books flew… and landed safely on a completely dry patch.
Hirata hit the wet asphalt with a loud thump butt-first. Splash. Water everywhere.
Miru-senpai crouched slightly, perfectly balanced, black hair glistening, not a drop on her clothes. "Are… you okay?" she asked gently, smiling.
"I-I'm fine! I'm fine! I'm… so sorry!" Hirata scrambled upright, mud and water dripping from him. He glanced at her books which sat there as perfect and neat as when she gave them to him.
"You're… so nice," she said softly. Her smile made him want to evaporate.
Hirata shook his head frantically. "I-I wasn't—uh, it's nothing! Just… careful!"
She tilted her head again, clearly amused. "You're very kind, Hirata-kun. Thank you."
Hirata's face went bright red.
Kind? Why does it sound like a compliment for something that nearly killed me?!
Miru-senpai stepped over the puddles effortlessly, books in hand. Hirata followed behind, soaked, muddy, and wondering if every day with her was just a series of natural disasters aimed at him.
And yet… he'd do it all again tomorrow...
Do you ship any characters with each other?