Once they finished eating, they sat in comfortable silence, letting the food settle. The restaurant's warm air made them feel at ease.
Outside, the sky had begun to dim, low rumbles of thunder echoing in the distance.
Kyouko glanced toward the window, watching the clouds darken and swirl.
"I think we should head home before it starts raining," she said softly, turning to Haruki, who was still seated beside her.
"Okay," Haruki replied, standing and stretching slightly before heading to the counter to pay.
Kyouko followed, adjusting the strap of her bag. Her eyes lingered on him as he paid, noting how casually he handled it.
Once the payment was done, they stepped outside together.
They had barely walked halfway to the car when the sky finally gave way. A sudden downpour crashed around them.
"Ah!" Kyouko gasped, grabbing Haruki's hand without thinking.
"Quick!" she said between breaths.
Haruki blinked, startled for a moment by the softness of her hand in his as they dashed toward the car.
By the time they reached it, the rain was pouring even harder.
"Where's the key… ah, where is it!" Kyouko muttered, fumbling through her purse.
Haruki let out a small laugh despite being completely soaked, his hair plastered to his forehead. "Take your time, Kyouko-san. No rush," he said, water dripping from his chin.
Kyouko glanced up at him, her bangs wet and clinging to her skin, a small smile forming even as she kept searching. "Don't laugh… This is terrible timing."
She pulled out the key with a triumphant little sound and unlocked the car with a beep.
They both jumped inside, the door shutting out the rain's roar like a curtain falling.
Kyouko started the engine and turned on the heater. The soft hum filled the car as warm air flowed from the vents. Her hands steady on the wheel, she calmly pulled out of the parking lot, her clothes still lightly clinging to her skin from the rain.
Haruki stole a glance at her when she wasn't looking. Her wet clothes clung to her curves, distracting him. See-through, they revealed her bra and Kyouko's ample breasts. He drank in the sight of her curvy body and swallowed hard.
"I can't believe the rain just started pouring like that," Kyouko said with a slight pout, her brows furrowed as she focused on the road.
That pout.
Haruki glanced at her again.
She really looked cute like that, like a teenager sulking over something trivial.
He watched as drops of water trickled down the side of her face, her damp hair clinging to her neck. No makeup. Just her bare, natural skin.
She didn't wear any makeup and looked beautiful like this?
And those lips—full, naturally pink and glossy. The kind that could drive any man crazy.
Haruki smiled, listening to Kyouko mumble beside him.
"Now I'm wet…" she grumbled, tugging at the hem of her soaked shirt with one hand while the other stayed on the steering wheel. "My hair's dripping too…"
Haruki glanced over. The way her damp strands clung to her cheek and neck made her look even more alluring.
"We'd better get home fast," Kyouko said with a sigh, her voice casual but a little rushed. "I need to dry my hair before I catch a cold…"
He chuckled softly, watching as she lightly shook her head, flinging a few drops of water onto the car window. She looked frustrated, but still charming in a way that made it hard for Haruki to take his eyes off her.
"Yeah," he replied, smiling.
"You too, Haruki!" Kyouko glanced at him briefly. "If you get sick, Satomi will definitely be worried."
Haruki smiled faintly. "Yeah… I guess so."
But deep inside, Haruki knew.
Satomi? Worry about me?
I still remember when I got a cold before. All she said was, "I'm going to work. You just rest at home."
"Haruki?"
Kyouko's gentle voice pulled him back. She was smiling softly, unaware of the turmoil behind his calm expression.
Haruki turned to look at her. "Yes?"
"Not cold?" she asked.
"Not really," he said quietly. "The heater's on."
"Mmm~…" Kyouko murmured, returning her attention to the road. Her hands were steady on the wheel as the rain continued to tap against the windshield, the wipers swiping in a slow, rhythmic motion.
"Haruki?" she said again after a moment, noticing how quiet he'd become. "You seem… distracted. Is something troubling you?"
Haruki leaned his head slightly against the seat, eyes fixed on the blurred city lights through the rain-covered window.
"Nothing, Kyouko-san," he said softly, his voice calm but distant.
"Really?" Kyouko glanced at him, her brow furrowed faintly with concern.
"Yeah… really, Kyouko-san. Perhaps it's just the rain," Haruki said, his tone softer now. "It makes me feel calm. Like everything slows down. The sound of it… it quiets the noise in my head."
A small smile curved her lips as she turned her eyes back to the road.
Once they reached the house, Kyouko quickly parked the car and rushed toward the front door, holding her purse over her head to block the rain.
Haruki stepped out slowly and lingered in the courtyard, where the open space let the rain fall freely.
He tilted his head upward, letting the cool droplets slide down his face.
He slowly peeled off his soaked shirt, holding it in one hand. The rain poured over his bare skin, gliding down the lines of his toned chest and stomach.
"Haruki!" Kyouko called from the doorway, already holding it open. "Get inside!"
He turned his head slightly, his expression calm. "Just a bit longer…"
Kyouko frowned, ready to scold him again, but she paused.
The sight of Haruki's bare upper body, his wet hair clinging to his forehead, that calm expression on his face, like someone who truly enjoyed the rain.
Her heart raced.
She blinked, trying to snap herself out of it.
"...You'll catch a cold," she said softly.
Haruki gave her a faint smile, running his fingers through his wet hair in silence as the rain continued to fall around him.
Kyouko looked away slowly and stepped inside. "Do what you want," she muttered under her breath, her cheeks slightly warm.
But before she closed the door, she glanced back one last time.
Haruki stood there in the rain, alone and silent, the water running down his body. Something about his face caught her, handsome, yes… but beneath that calm, there was something else.
I wonder what happened to Haruki?
She stepped deeper into the house, her soaked dress clinging to her body, leaving faint wet footprints on the floor as she headed upstairs. She grabbed a fresh towel and quickly dried her dripping hair and arms.
She started to feel worried about Haruki.
She grabbed another dry towel and headed downstairs, straight to the front door.
And there he was again, still under the heavy rain.
"Haruki! Come here!" she called out, her voice rising into a sweet tone, half scolding, half gentle without her noticing. Haruki turned toward her, smiling faintly. "Okay," he said softly, walking up to the door.
Once he stepped inside, soaked from head to toe, Kyouko stepped close, lifting the towel to his head and beginning to dry his wet hair.
"Seriously, you'll catch a cold," she mumbled, rubbing his hair. "You're not a kid anymore, you know."
Haruki stood still, letting her hands move. The towel was warm against his skin, but what truly caught him off guard was her closeness. So close he could see the curve of her lips, soft, faintly parted as she focused on drying him off.
Her scent reached him again. Light, clean, subtly sweet.
She didn't seem to notice anything unusual. Her attention was purely on his hair, just wiping it dry. Innocent.
But for Haruki, time seemed to slow.
Her fingers brushed through his hair.
Her wet dress clung softly to her body.
Her lips, just inches away.
If I just leaned forward a little… just a little more…
I could kiss her.
If only I could kiss her…
But he didn't move.
He just smiled quietly to himself, feeling that dangerous thought linger in the back of his mind.
( End Of Chapter )