A heavy, weathered afternoon loomed over the school grounds.
Dark rain clouds hung low in the sky, thick and suffocating, as if pressing down on the world itself.
Haruto noticed them immediately.
"C'mon, Haru. We're gonna get soaked," he urged, quickening his pace as he walked beside his younger sister.
Haruki looked up, squinting at the sky—then froze. "…Oh."
Haruto already knew that tone. He stopped walking.
"What did you forget?"
"My water bottle!" she blurted out, already turning around.
"Hey—! It's fine, we can just—"
Too late.
Haruki dashed back toward the school building without a second thought, waving at him as she ran. Haruto sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"There's no stopping her once she decides something…" he muttered.
With nothing else to do, he leaned against a nearby wall to wait.
That's when the first drop hit his head.
Then another.
Then several more.
Within seconds, the sky opened up completely.
"Seriously…?" he groaned.
The rain came down hard and fast, turning the ground slick and noisy. Haruto immediately sprinted
toward the nearest bus stand, ducking under its roof just in time to avoid getting drenched. From where he stood, he could see Haruki safely back inside the school building, shielded from the rain.
Good. At least she's fine.
Now all he had to do was wait for the rain to pass.
…Or so he thought.
As he adjusted his bag strap and settled in, something in the corner of the bus stand caught his attention.
Someone was already there.
Haruto turned his head fully—and froze.
A girl was sitting in the far corner, curled up tightly with her knees pulled to her chest. Her clothes were soaked, clinging uncomfortably to her small frame. She was trembling. Not subtly—violently.
And just outside the bus stand…
Her backpack lay discarded in the open.
Rain hammered into it mercilessly.
"Oh—!"
Without thinking, Haruto dashed out into the downpour. Cold rain soaked through him instantly as he grabbed the bag and pulled it back under the shelter. Water dripped from his hair and sleeves as he set it down and quickly checked the contents.
Most of it was saved.
Some things, unfortunately… weren't.
But it could've been worse.
He exhaled, then carefully approached the girl, making sure not to startle her.
"U-um… hey," he said, keeping his voice light. "I got your stuff. Some of it's… already done for, but—uh—we managed to save most of it."
His cheerful tone echoed softly in the bus stand.
The girl flinched slightly.
She clearly heard him—but pretended she hadn't.
Haruto frowned, guilt tugging at his chest. Now that he was closer, he could see it clearly: her hands were pale from the cold, her shoulders shaking nonstop.
This is bad…
He quickly took off his backpack and rummaged through it, pulling out an extra shirt and a clean napkin.
"Hey," he said gently, holding them out. "I don't know what happened, but if you stay like this, you're gonna catch a cold. At least… put this over your head."
There was no pressure in his voice. No expectation.
Just concern.
After a few seconds, the girl finally moved.
Slowly—hesitantly—she raised her head just enough to peek at him.
Her eyes met his.
"…Do I know you?" she asked quietly.
She genuinely sounded confused.
In her mind, only people who knew each other would do something like this. Only friends. Family.
Someone with a reason.
But this boy…
He had simply appeared out of nowhere.
And now, he was offering her warmth.
---
Haruto stood frozen for a moment.
His mind went blank, anxiety creeping in before he even realized it. Social situations were never his strong suit—especially not ones like this.
"W-w-well… I—I'm Haruto Kanzaki," he said, forcing an awkward smile as he extended a hand. "N-nice to meet you."
She didn't take it.
The girl hesitated, her body tense. Trust wasn't something she could afford—not anymore. And this stranger was no exception.
Noticing her hesitation, Haruto slowly lowered his hand and sat down beside her instead, keeping a small distance.
"…What do you want?" she asked quietly.
"What?" He blinked. "It's raining. I don't know how you're managing, but I feel freezing right now." He shivered to emphasize his point.
Seeing his discomfort only made her more conflicted. One part of her screamed not to trust him. The other whispered that… maybe, just maybe, he was different.
She was just about to decide when—
CRACK.
A deafening lightning strike split the sky.
She gasped sharply, squeezing her eyes shut as the thunder shook her to her core.
And when she opened them again…
She was clinging to him.
Her arms were wrapped tightly around his body, trembling like a frightened child.
…Well, she was a frightened child. But that was another story.
Realizing what she was doing, she immediately tried to pull away—but froze.
It was warm. For so long, all she'd felt was cold wind and relentless rain. But now… there was warmth. Gentle. Comforting.
Haruto, meanwhile, had only just processed what happened. She was scared of thunder. Instinctively clung to him. A pretty common reaction for someone vulnerable.
Still…
Those bruises… Those aren't from an accident.
Before he could dwell on it further, she snapped back to her senses.
"S-sorry! I—I didn't mean to do that," she apologized quickly, pulling away.
"It's fine," he said calmly. "So… are you feeling okay now? Even a little?"
She didn't answer.
That silence told him everything.
"…Are they bullying you?" Haruto asked bluntly. "Which group?"
She flinched, then turned her head away.
That was enough.
He sighed inwardly. Then, without warning, he leaned in and wrapped his arms around her again.
The girl stiffened, shocked. She tried to push him away—but her body refused to move. Once more, she was torn between fear and comfort.
Haruto gently spread the dry shirt around both of them, shielding them from the cold.
"Y'know," he said quietly, "I got bullied too… when I first came here."
His calm voice slowly eased her tension.
"I don't usually tell this to strangers," he continued, "but… I write novels. They're pretty bad. Still, I enjoy them."
Her ears perked up.
A novelist? She had never met one before.
"…Even when you love something," he went on, "there'll always be people trying to tear you down. Even the smallest smile you have feels like a needle in their eyes. It's annoying—but natural. You just have to endure it… if you want to keep doing what you love."
He paused, then added with a teasing smirk, "Not to brag, but… I endured a lot."
Then he grinned wider. "I'm just built different."
Her gaze drifted to his scrawny arms.
She tried to hold it in—but failed.
"Pfft—"
Seeing her finally relax, Haruto smiled… then immediately put on an offended act.
"What's so funny, huh? Can't you tell?" He flexed his arm proudly, smug grin and all.
She giggled, then lifted her own arm beside his.
"…You know," she said innocently, "you barely have more meat than me."
Critical hit.
Haruto felt his soul leave his body.
He knew he wasn't strong—but smaller than a girl? That one hurt.
Thinking fast, he tried to change the subject, leaning closer with a sly grin.
"You might be right, but it's all going somewhere else, if you know what I mea—"
THWACK.
An umbrella smacked the back of his head.
"Ow—!"
"WHAT do you think you're doing?!" a sharp voice yelled.
Haruki stood behind him, holding an umbrella and wearing her bright unicorn raincoat.
She then turned to the startled girl. "Tell me the truth—was he bullying you?"
"Oh—n-no! He was just helping me—" the girl rushed to explain.
Before she could finish, Haruto scooped Haruki up effortlessly. "How many times have I told you not to hit people on the back of the head?!" he scolded.
Haruki squirmed, bursting into laughter. "Hey! Put me down!"
Watching the chaos unfold, the girl hesitated… then asked,
"…Are you two friends?"
Both siblings froze.
Haruto dropped the gremlin and immediately corrected her. "Hell no. She's my sister. You think I'd hang around with a freak like this if she wasn't?"
The way he said it—so casually—made the girl chuckle.
Haruki stood up and kicked his foot.
"Ow! That hurt!"
She stuck out her tongue. "I'm gonna tell Mom!"
"Tell her what exactly, huh?" He twisted her ear lightly.
She pointed dramatically at the girl. "I'm gonna tell her you have a girlfriend. And that you're in a toxic relationship."
Both Haruto and the girl froze.
"Do you even know what that means?!" Haruto snapped. "And don't drag her into your dumb plans! Just—look at her!"
Haruki finally noticed how flustered the girl looked.
"…Sorry," she said softly. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
The girl smiled faintly.
"It's okay. Everyone makes mistakes."
Then, with a gentle warmth in her eyes, she introduced herself.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Hana Fujimoto. You can call me Hana… if you want."
---
"First-name basis, huh?" Haruto remarked playfully, a hint of mock jealousy in his voice. "Y'know, I was the one helping you."
"Ooo~ looks like someone's jealous," Haruki teased immediately. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna steal your girlfriend. I'm straight."
She said it purely to annoy him.
Hana, watching their back-and-forth, couldn't help but chuckle.
She didn't fully understand what they meant—but it was clear something had changed.
From the very moment she met him…
She had unknowingly met the person she would fall in love with.
The rain continued to pour outside, gradually weakening but still heavy enough to keep people from walking freely.
"So," Haruto asked casually, turning back to her, "did you call someone to pick you up or something?"
The question caught Hana off guard.
"W-well… not really. I just…" She trailed off, vaguely explaining her plan.
He sighed. "C'mon… don't tell me you were planning to sleep here tonight."
Hana nodded, guilt written all over her face.
The reason was obvious—to both Haruto and Haruki.
Haruto stepped closer and asked bluntly, "You're trying to hide those bruises, huh? You could've just said you fell or something, y'know."
"No," she admitted quietly. "…I already made that stupid decision. It's too late to go back now."
"And that friend you told your parents you were hanging out with?" he pressed.
She stared out into the rain. "It was fake. I just… wanted to stay away from home today. If they found out I was getting bullied, they'd—"
She stopped herself.
Haruto understood her reasoning. He didn't agree with it—but he understood.
"…If there's no other choice," he said after a pause, "come with us. You can stay over. If you don't mind, that is."
Hana froze.
"A-are you sure?" she asked, stunned. "But what about your parents—"
"Don't worry," he said confidently. "I'll talk to our mom. I just need to know if you want to come with us."
He fully expected her to refuse. Anyone would—especially in her condition.
But to his surprise—
"I'd be glad to."
Her answer was immediate.
Haruki's eyes lit up as she jumped onto Hana, wrapping her in a tight hug. "It's a sleepover!"
Haruto stretched his hand out past the shelter, feeling the rain. "We should get going soon. It's gonna get heavy again. Do you have an umbrella?"
Hana shook her head, embarrassed. "N-no… they took it."
They, huh.
The bullies.
They even stole her umbrella.
…How pathetic.
Still, the problem remained. They couldn't just leave her soaked.
Haruto fell silent for a moment—
---
Just then, Haruto's phone started ringing.
He picked it up immediately. "Hello?"
"Haruto, where are you? Do you want me to come pick you up?"
It was their mom. Predictable.
Haruto glanced at the two girls before answering, "We're at the bus station near the school. Can you come here?"
"Okay. Stay safe, alright? And… please don't let Haru run out into the rain."
"Roger that!" he replied, ending the call while shooting a mischievous look at Haruki.
"H-HEY! That was Mom, wasn't it? What did she say? Why are you looking at me like that?!" Haruki yelled, immediately hiding behind Hana.
Haruto ignored her completely and turned to Hana instead.
"I can arrange a place for you to stay tonight," he said seriously. "But tomorrow's a different issue. Also—who told you it was a good idea to spend the night in a bus stand? Do you even know how many creeps roam around here at night?"
The scolding made Hana flinch slightly.
She knew she'd get in trouble. But until now, she'd never really thought about what could happen outside her home. Only now did the consequences of her actions sink in.
"…Sorry. I just… didn't think this through."
Haruto sat down beside her. Haruki followed, plopping down on the other side. He leaned back against the bench, letting out a quiet sigh.
"You know," he began, his tone softer now, "I always wondered why you're so distant. Always sitting at the back of the class… always quiet. Some people even think you're mute. And some…" He paused. "…spread stupid rumors."
Hana looked genuinely surprised.
She had never been approached by anyone before. Her interests never matched those around her, and every attempt to fit in had failed. Eventually, she stopped trying altogether—turning into someone distant, almost invisible.
She'd always thought people simply ignored her.
Guess she was wrong.
"I…" she muttered before gathering herself. "…It's my fault. I just wanted to fit in, so I tried to change who I was. By the time I realized it was wrong… it was already too late. Now they're taking all their frustrations out on me."
Her voice trembled, but she continued.
"I thought they were my friends. But the moment I let go… they changed. They spread false rumors about me. Pick on me. Steal my things. Today was just…" She clenched her hands. "…worse than before."
"Yeah," Haruto replied casually, then flashed a grin. "Probably 'cause they were already in a bad mood."
She blinked. "Huh?"
"Did you hear what happened in the cafeteria today?"
"N-no… I don't really go there."
"Me neither," he said, nodding toward Haruki. "I heard it from her."
Hana turned her gaze to Haruki.
The little gremlin straightened up proudly. "Ohhh, you know this guy named Kazuki?"
"Kazuki Kumura? The vice president of the student council?" Hana asked hesitantly.
"Yep. Those girls picked a fight with him. He tried to stay calm, but things escalated fast. The president herself had to step in before anyone got hurt." Haruki grinned wider. "But that 'princess' even challenged her. Started swearing. Threw punches."
She leaned forward dramatically.
"And then—bam. The president slapped her so hard she hit the ground. It was glorious. You should've seen it."
Haruto nodded in approval. "Now that whole group's on the council's watch list. Honestly, she's had it coming since freshman year. Such an annoying as bitch."
Hana felt a strange sense of relief… but also something bitter.
"…So I was getting bullied by someone like that, huh?" she murmured.
"Hm—?" Haruto turned toward her.
---
At that exact moment, a car pulled up in front of them.
From it stepped a woman holding a large umbrella. She closed the door carefully before walking toward the trio.
Haruki noticed her immediately and ran straight into her arms.
Mom patted Haruki's head with a smile. "You remembered to put on your raincoat this time. Good girl."
Haruto stepped closer with a teasing smirk. "Yeah… it's not like she's the whole reason we got stuck here or anything…"
Annoyed, Haruki tugged on Mom's jacket and pointed straight at Hana. "Haruto was bullying his girlfriend, so I saved her—"
"DIDN'T I TELL YOU NOT TO DRAG HER INTO THIS?!" Haruto scooped her up and started shaking her violently.
Mom only chuckled at their usual chaos.
Then—
She shot them a death glare.
"Didn't I tell you," she said sweetly, "not to act like this in front of other people?"
Both siblings froze instantly, the life draining from their faces. Her eerie smile only made the atmosphere heavier.
She then turned her attention to Hana.
"Hi," she said gently. "Are you a friend of Haruto's?"
Hana, still visibly nervous, replied awkwardly, "I… y-yes, ma'am."
"Come on, you don't have to be nervous." She knelt down in front of Hana and asked kindly, "Would you like me to give you a ride home, or is someone coming to pick you up?"
Hana didn't know how to answer.
Before she could, Haruto stepped in. "It's… a long story. Could she stay at our place tonight? She doesn't really have anywhere to go right now."
Mom raised an eyebrow. "Did you get her parents' permission first?"
Haruto hesitated. Then, quietly—
"We can't. It's… similar to what happened to me. Kind of."
That was when Mom took a closer look.
The bruises on Hana's body weren't severe—but they were obvious enough to raise questions. Understanding dawned on her face immediately.
She inhaled slowly, then exhaled.
"…Alright. I can arrange it for one night. But I'll need to speak with her parents first."
"Mom?" Haruto asked, surprised.
She turned to him and reassured him calmly. "Don't worry. I won't tell her about any of this. I just want permission before keeping her overnight. They'd be worried, wouldn't they?"
Hana glanced at Haruto.
He nodded.
After a moment of hesitation, she took out a piece of paper, wrote down a number, and handed it to her.
Mom accepted it and gestured toward the car. "You three, get in. I'll join you once I'm done."
Before turning away, she placed a gentle hand on Hana's head.
"Don't worry. You can trust me, kiddo."
She stepped aside to make the call.
The trio climbed into the car. Haruki immediately jumped into the front seat, leaving Haruto and Hana alone in the back.
Hana was exhausted. Slowly, her consciousness began to fade.
Without realizing it, her body leaned toward Haruto, her head resting against his shoulder.
Haruto stiffened slightly, embarrassed—but after a moment, he let it go.
Watching them through the rearview mirror, Haruki couldn't help but wonder—
Did they really just meet today?
Or have big bro and her been meeting in secret?
…I mean, fair, I guess.
But the truth was—
Hana was someone who had already gone through a lot.
There was only one thing she hadn't experienced yet.
Betrayal.
For most people, that was the breaking point.
She had been bullied. Surrounded by hostility. Pushed into isolation.
She never expected anyone to be genuinely kind to her.
She was like an injured cat—keeping her distance, wary of every touch. But the moment she realized someone was trying to heal her wounds, she revealed a hidden emotion.
Trust.
As long as that trust wasn't shattered, she would continue to change.
Into something stronger.
Something that wasn't weak.
And given enough time…
That emotion could slowly bloom into something beautiful.
Something we call—
…love.
…