In the Rain [After School / Festival Supply Store]

The clerk looked at the two of them.

(Clerk) : “Would you like couple wrapping?”

(Hara) : “No!”

(Koharu) : “Absolutely not!”

They shouted at the same time and looked at each other.

(Hara) : “‘Absolutely’ was kind of harsh.”

(Koharu) : “You said it way too loud too.”

As they walked through the shopping street, Hara kept hiding his right hand.

Ever since catching the student on the stairs, his fingers sometimes locked up.

Koharu noticed.

(Koharu) : “Show me your hand.”

(Hara) : “Why?”

(Koharu) : “Show me.”

Hara laughed it off.

(Hara) : “Just tweaked it carrying boxes.”

Rain suddenly poured down.

They squeezed beneath a narrow awning.

As Koharu adjusted the umbrella, her hand brushed Hara’s.

His fingers trembled.

The smile vanished from her face.

(Koharu) : “This is from a box?”

Hara couldn’t answer.

(Koharu) : “You’ve been weird for weeks. But I’m not asking because I need to know your secret.”

(Hara) : “Then why?”

(Koharu) : “Because you keep pretending you’re not hurt.”

Hara lowered his head.

(Koharu) : “If there’s something you don’t want to tell me, I can wait. Just don’t lie about being injured.”

Rain drummed against the awning.

For the first time, Hara apologized properly.

(Hara) : “I’m sorry.”

Across the street, someone held up a phone and took a picture of them.