The sky had turned a menacing gray by late afternoon. Clouds hung heavy and low, and the distant rumble of thunder sent a shiver down Aki's spine. She had stayed behind at the library, finishing a last-minute assignment, and had lost track of time. Now, as she hurried through the nearly empty streets toward home, the first fat drops of rain began to fall.
Aki quickened her pace, clutching her backpack close. The streets were nearly deserted, the occasional passerby scurrying for cover. The rain came faster, soaking her hair and clothes in seconds. The umbrella she had grabbed from the library's lost-and-found offered minimal protection, and she cursed herself for not checking the weather.
That's when she felt it—a presence behind her. At first, she assumed it was another student, perhaps someone running to catch the bus. But the footsteps quickened unnaturally, closing the distance far too quickly.
"Hey! Wait!" a low, gruff voice called.
Aki's stomach dropped. She picked up her pace, but her soaked shoes slipped slightly on the slick pavement. Her heart began to race. She turned slightly, and her eyes widened. A man, tall and shadowed by the dim streetlights, was coming toward her, a predatory grin stretching across his face.
Fear struck her like ice. She tried to run, but the rain made her movements sluggish. Panic clouded her thoughts. She screamed, but her voice was swallowed by the storm.
"Let me go!" she shouted, tears already forming in her eyes.
The man lunged, grabbing her arm. Aki screamed again, twisting violently, but his grip tightened. She was utterly helpless, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Then, just as she felt herself about to be pulled into his grasp, a familiar, commanding voice rang out.
"Let her go!"
Lua appeared seemingly out of nowhere. His white hair was plastered to his head from the rain, and his red eyes were blazing with fury. Without hesitation, he slammed into the man, using sheer strength and precision to push him back. The attacker stumbled, dazed, and Lua grabbed Aki's hand, pulling her behind him.
"Are you okay?" Lua shouted over the storm, his voice tight with anger and worry.
Aki's body was shaking, her breaths ragged. She could barely nod, her fingers trembling as they clung to him. "I… I'm… I'm fine…" she whispered, though her words were meaningless. Her chest heaved as she tried to suppress sobs.
Lua turned his gaze back toward the attacker, who had begun to recover. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, his voice low and dangerous. "Don't come near her again."
The man hesitated, fear flickering in his eyes. Lua's presence, normally calm and composed, now radiated a quiet intensity that made even the rain seem to pause. Finally, the man retreated, slipping into the shadows, and disappeared into the storm.
Lua exhaled, visibly tense, and then immediately turned to Aki. "Are you hurt?"
Aki shook her head violently, unable to form coherent words. Her body shook from fear and cold, but now also from the overwhelming relief of seeing him safe, here, protecting her. Her tears spilled freely down her cheeks, and she buried her face into his soaked shirt without hesitation.
"I… I was so scared…" she whispered, voice muffled. "I didn't… I didn't know what to do…"
Lua's arms tightened around her, holding her as if he could keep her safe from anything in the world. "Shh… it's okay now. I've got you. You're safe," he murmured. His voice was soft, steady, but carried the weight of all the emotions he had restrained: fear, anger, and an unspoken, raw care for her.
Aki trembled, half from the cold rain, half from the intensity of the moment. Her heart pounded violently in her chest. She felt weak, vulnerable, and yet more alive than she had ever been. The combination of fear and relief, of terror and safety, left her emotionally unguarded. She sobbed softly into him, letting herself feel everything she had bottled up for years: fear, longing, admiration, and something deeper she was only beginning to understand.
Lua held her close, rocking her gently from side to side under the small umbrella they now shared. The rain plastered their hair to their faces, but he did not care. Every brush of his arm against hers, every tightening of his hold, made her body feel light and heavy at the same time.
"You don't ever have to face something like that alone," he said quietly, his lips brushing the top of her head. "Not ever. I'll always be there."
Aki could barely breathe. His words, simple but sincere, filled every corner of her chest. She felt weak, nearly collapsing from the emotional storm inside her. Yet, paradoxically, it was also comforting. She had never felt so safe, so seen, and so utterly dependent on someone.
"I… Lua…" she whispered, clutching him tighter. "I don't… I don't know what I'd do without you."
He tilted her chin gently with his hand, making her look at him. His red eyes were full of warmth, concern, and something tender that made her heart ache. "You don't ever have to find out," he said softly. "I won't let anything happen to you. Not ever."
Aki's tears continued to fall, her sobs quieting as she felt the depth of his care. She buried her face in his chest once more, inhaling the scent of rain, soap, and the faint summer air. Her entire body felt light, yet grounded in his embrace. She was vulnerable in every sense, yet completely at peace.
After a few minutes, Lua pulled back slightly, holding her face in his hands. "Look at me," he murmured.
Aki blinked through tears, her heart hammering. "Lua…"
"You're shaking," he observed softly, brushing wet strands of hair from her face. "It's okay to cry. You don't have to hold it in."
"I… I…" she stammered, words failing her. "I don't want to be scared anymore… not without you."
Lua smiled faintly, a mix of relief and affection. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Then you won't be," he said. "I promise. Always."
Aki's heart ached, a mixture of gratitude, longing, and an unfamiliar surge of emotion she had never allowed herself to name. In that moment, soaked in rain, trembling, and crying into his chest, she realized something crucial: she did not just care for him as a friend. She had loved him for years, quietly, deeply, in every laugh, every shared secret, every small touch.
And now, faced with the raw, undeniable reality of her own vulnerability, she could no longer ignore it.
Lua held her until the rain began to lighten, until her tears had subsided to soft hiccups. They walked home slowly, sharing the small umbrella, shoulders brushing, hands occasionally touching, the world reduced to the rhythm of their steps and the soft drizzle around them. Every glance he gave her, every protective gesture, left her chest tight, her mind dizzy, and her heart hammering like a drum.
That night, as she lay in bed, soaked clothes long since changed, she stared at the ceiling. The memory of Lua's arms around her, his voice steady and warm, his promise of protection, haunted her in the most beautiful way. She had been scared, yes. She had been weak, yes. But she had also felt something indescribable: the absolute certainty that Lua cared for her, and that she could never again imagine life without him.
And for the first time, she allowed herself to hope that perhaps, one day, her feelings would no longer need to be hidden.