Extra Story: Sudden Shower, Taking Shelter from the Rain

"Togo! Come downstairs for a minute!"

I was lying in bed reading a manga when Mom suddenly yelled for me. I’ve reread this manga countless times, but it’s right at the best part. Maybe if I pretend to be asleep, she’ll give up. I lower my head back to the pillow and let my eyes drift across the panels again.

"Hey! I know you’re just lazing around reading manga! I told you to come down here, so hurry up already!"

As expected from the woman who gave birth to me—she sees through everything I do.

"Yeah, yeah…"

I answer weakly and drag myself up. Being called by Mom never means anything good; it’s always some chore. Both my parents work. And even though it’s peak-summer August, for office workers that just means it’s hot—they don’t even get time off for Obon. They’re barely home. Meanwhile, I’m a high schooler in the Cooking Club, which is an indoor hobby club, so I’m home a lot during the day. That’s probably why they dump so much housework on me. The other day I got forced to pull weeds in the blazing heat—basically torture while dripping sweat. Today’s a day off, so Mom’s home, but that just means she has more things she wants me to do. And probably will again.

"Okay, go buy detergent. And shampoo and conditioner. All the refill packs—two each."

"Can’t it wait till tomorrow?"

If something sucks, push it to tomorrow. Even if it doesn’t help anything, I don’t want to do annoying stuff today. But my proposal gets denied immediately.

"It’s cheaper today! And points are ten times!"

"Right, right…"

It’s honestly a pain, but arguing will just make it worse, so I give up. I take the money and point card and head out. The drugstore’s about fifteen minutes away by bike—just far enough to be annoying.

The thick, muggy air hits me the second I step outside.

"So hot…"

All I did was open and close the door, and I’m already sweating. It’s 3 p.m.—still peak heat hours. I glance up at the blazing, obnoxiously bright sun and wonder if I should’ve waited another hour or two. But if I go back inside now, I’ll never come back out, so I head to the bike rack.

I grab the discounted items and get back on my bike. Mission accomplished. Now I can hurry home, read my manga, and slack off again. With that thought, I start pedaling. But luck isn’t on my side. Just as I reach the station area, a drop of water hits my forehead. Rain.

Normally I’d just sprint through it, but today’s rain is something else. It starts with a few drops, then suddenly turns into a torrential downpour. Water splashes off the asphalt so violently it makes the ground look white. I find myself oddly impressed—so this is what they mean by “like someone dumped a bucket overhead.” Meanwhile, I’m getting soaked to the bone. There’s no way I can keep riding through this, so I stop under the overhang of a nearby sporting goods store. Water drips from my hair nonstop. My shirt is soaked through, and even my boxers are drenched.

First I get sent on an errand, then I get caught in a sudden downpour. Completely drenched—couldn’t get any worse. Just my luck. Please let it stop soon.

I catch my reflection in the store window.

"Wow… I look terrible."

I can’t help but laugh at how pathetic I look. I’d love to say “looking cool dripping with water,” but I don’t have that kind of confidence in my face. While I’m wringing out my shirt, I hear someone running up through the puddles behind me—splash splash splash. The footsteps stop right beside me. Another person taking shelter, I guess. But when I look, I see a familiar face.

"Ayu-chan!?"

"Huh?"

When I call out, Ayu-chan turns toward me, surprised. Her blank, innocent expression is ridiculously cute. Her long black hair, hanging down her back, is soaked and glossy, with wet strands clinging to her forehead—adorable.

Oh no. Meeting her by chance on a day off? This has to be fate! My mood shoots up in an instant—so unlike me. Mom sending me out was actually a good thing. If the rain doesn’t stop, I get to stay here with her. Realizing that makes me chuckle awkwardly to myself.

"Togo, you’re out running errands?"

She glances at the plastic bag in my hand.

"Yeah."

I nod.

"You’re totally drenched too. I can’t believe it turned into a downpour this suddenly. It’s such a pain."

Ayu-chan smiles at me, and it has so much impact I can barely look at it directly. A girl whose normal smile hits you right in the chest like that is rare. She sweeps her wet hair aside so it won’t fall into her eyes.

And then I notice something huge. Her shirt is completely soaked and clinging to her body. Which means what’s underneath is visible. She used to be kind of careless about stuff like that, but recently the girls at school have been teaching her things, so she’s been wearing camisoles. But today’s rain defeats even that. Her camisole is soaked and clinging too—her bra is clearly visible.

I can’t say it out loud—obviously—but a guy can’t help but react when something like that is in full view. Where it “reacts,” I’m not saying. Looks like today she’s wearing a light pink polka-dot bra. I try with all my might to hide the shameless thoughts racing through my head. People say girls can sense when guys stare at their chest. …Though Ayu-chan seems like the type who wouldn’t notice.

Naturally, under that see-through underwear is… yeah. Oh no. My imagination is starting to run wild! My brain is filling with all kinds of images on endless repeat. Calm down! If she somehow figures out what I’m thinking, she’ll be horrified. I need to relax. Prime numbers. Think prime numbers. Wait—does one count as a prime? Crap! I can’t even start counting!

"Ahem… so, Ayu-chan, what are you doing around here?"

If I don’t redirect my brain, all the pink imagery is going to leak right out of my ears.

"Me? I came to buy clothes. I was just heading home when the downpour hit."

"Hey, did you get any nice clothes?"

New clothes, huh? I want to see them. Unlike the girls, I don’t get many chances to hang out with Ayu-chan on my days off. Honestly, I’m probably lucky just to be able to talk to her at school. If I weren’t in a club, I might not even have the chance.

…Takagawa seems to meet her often even on days off. They’re not childhood friends, but having known each other since middle school gives him a serious advantage.

I can’t help but wonder. In middle school, when boys and girls rarely hang out together, how did Takagawa get so close to Ayu-chan? I don’t think they’re dating now, or ever did, though. Honestly, I’m a little jealous. But I’m not proactive about talking to her, either. Does being active—even if you’re a pervert like Takagawa—win favor with girls?

"Yeah… I think I got some pretty cute stuff. Though, well, it’s my taste, so it might be iffy."

Ayu-chan gives a slightly troubled expression. Honestly, she’s cute no matter what kind of expression she makes, so it’s impossible not to like.

"No, no, I’m sure anything would look good on you, Ayu-chan."

"Really…?"

Now she looks a bit shy, twisting the wet ends of her hair between her fingers.

She’s so cute, yet she’s not used to compliments, so even a little praise makes her blush. That’s part of what makes her so charming—the way she isn’t jaded.

By the way, what I just said was me pouring out every drop of courage I have. I hardly ever talk to girls, so speaking smoothly—especially giving compliments—is difficult.

Dating Ayu-chan is a dream far beyond reach. Even my current position is more than I deserve. I shouldn’t ask for more. Well… actually, I do want a closer relationship, but somewhere along the way, I’ve given up. Maybe this is what they call a “herbivore boy.”

Damn, it’s frustrating.

…But I’m not about to force myself on her either.

"Togo, are you done with your errand?"

She brings the conversation back to safer ground, completely unaware of the mess inside my head.

"Yeah… I think I bought everything I was supposed to."

"Okay… But still, going on errands in this heat is impressive."

"I mean, I’m thinking they shouldn’t send a high school kid out on errands," I reply.

Even so, her compliment makes me a little happy. I’m simple like that.

"You were just bored anyway, weren’t you?"

"Ugh…"

I can’t deny it—before getting sent out, I’d been lying around reading manga.

Seeing my reaction, she gives a soft chuckle. Her innocent smile makes me feel a bit relieved. Earlier this summer, when we went to the mountains, she seemed a little off. I don’t know if “off” is the right word… maybe a little gloomy.

But now, there’s no trace of gloom at all. Something must’ve happened during this time—something I had nothing to do with, something she worked through on her own. That alone tells me I’m not in any position beyond being just a friend.

Sigh… it’s discouraging. But still, meeting Ayu-chan in this sudden downpour makes me feel strangely lucky. Besides, I even got a glimpse of her see-through bra.

I reset my thoughts and look at her again.

And then I freeze.

How could I not? She’s squeezing the hems of her soaked shirt and camisole, meaning her cute belly line is exposed. It has a completely different charm than when I saw her in a swimsuit.

Her fair skin, slender overall but soft-looking around the waist. Droplets slide down her skin from the rain. Not good. For a healthy high school guy, this is way too stimulating. Sure, I’ve seen provocative sites and gravure magazines, but seeing a classmate like this in person is on a whole different level. And the girl in front of me is 100% beautiful. It’s honestly amazing.

…Why is Ayu-chan so defenseless?

After letting my imagination run wild for a moment, I finally calm down.

I can’t help but worry—just a bit—whether she was okay back in middle school. As a guy, I can only silently thank her for the view. I almost want to beg her to stay like this, just for me…

Yeah, no. I wish I could be the kind of guy who could say something like that smoothly… but with my face? Not happening. Looks are a birthright.

"Oh, the rain stopped."

Ayu-chan points outside, smiling.

So the rain shelter moment is over. I knew the downpour wouldn’t last long, and if it did I’d be stuck too—but it’s still a little disappointing.

"What are you going to do now?"

"Hmm… maybe I’ll just wait here a little longer."

The once torrential rain has already vanished, replaced by sunlight beating down on the pavement.

If we stand still for a bit, our clothes will probably dry. Ayu-chan needs to catch a train to get home, so she can’t stay soaked forever.

Wait… shouldn’t I go grab a towel from my house for her? If I do, then…!

"Then I’ll go get a towel from home for you."

"Eh? No, that’s okay, you don’t have to."

I put the shopping bags in my bike basket, shake the water off the saddle, and swing my leg over. If I go full speed, I can reach home in under ten minutes. Push hard enough, and I can make a round trip in less than twenty. I’m a capable guy.

I reach home, unload the shopping into Mom’s hands, grab a towel from the dresser, and jump back on my bike to return to where she was waiting.

She’s still there. I had half expected her to have left, but she hadn’t.

"Ah, it’s Togo-kun!"

"Really!"

For some reason, Aizawa and Minase are there with her now. I have no idea where they came from, but I hand the towel to Ayu-chan anyway.

"Thanks for going out of your way. Sorry about that."

Ayu-chan gives me a slightly troubled expression.

"Wow… that’s a nice thing to do."

Aizawa’s smirking face is seriously irritating.

Apparently, the three of them originally came shopping together. After finishing their main shopping, each went off to look at what they wanted and got caught in the sudden downpour.

Aizawa and Minase stayed indoors, so they didn’t get wet, but Ayu-chan had bad luck. Once the rain stopped, they were planning to regroup through their messenger app.

"Hey hey! Togo-kun!"

While Ayu-chan dries her wet hair, Minase shuffles over to me.

"You didn’t do anything weird to Ayumi-chan, did you?"

"N-no, I didn’t."

A true gentleman never forces anything. It’s not because I lack courage or anything pathetic like that.

"Hmm… so Togo-kun’s a bit of a coward, huh?"

Ah—ouch. Minase, with her tiny animal-like attitude, just landed a critical hit on my HP.

"A coward works for me. Besides, if I tried anything on Ayu-chan, you two would probably beat me up together, right?"

"That’s right. You might not have seen tomorrow’s sunrise if you did."

Aizawa suddenly appears behind Minase and says something outrageous as if it’s normal. Yeah, I definitely made the right choice. Not that I could’ve done anything anyway.

"Jeez… I should be heading home now."

"Oh, Togo! Thanks for the towel."

Ayu-chan hands me the towel just as I get back on my bike. That towel… she must’ve used it to dry all sorts of things…

Swallow.

What am I thinking—don’t get weird about this! What am I, some pervert imagining ridiculous stuff? No, calm down, brain!

"Y-yeah. Don’t worry about it."

I say that and casually wave one hand in farewell before pedaling off at full speed. I’d had enough of errands, and the day had been miserable thanks to the downpour, but meeting Ayu-chan somehow turned it into a surprisingly fun day.

Back home again, I open the front door. And there she is—my mom.

"Togo, you forgot one thing. Start over."

Yep… still a crappy day. Damn it.