Untitled. The rain has ceased, and we walk hand in hand.

September 24th, Thursday.

During the afternoon PE class, a torrential rain battered the gymnasium from outside. The biting autumn wind and unruly flashes of lightning were all reflected in the eyes of Tsukimi Jinguuji, who crouched beneath the wall inside, craning his neck to gaze out through the ventilation window.

It seemed tomorrow’s sports festival would be a washout.

He thought so to himself.

Glancing at Sakura Sakamichi, who was playing volleyball, he watched her as she received the ball, leapt high, and spiked it. Her loose sportswear floated upward, revealing her fair, smooth midriff, and Jinguuji saw everything quite clearly.

The boy discreetly looked toward the other boys, all of whom were focused on their game. It seemed his childhood friend's adorable little belly hadn't caught anyone else’s attention.

Excellent.

To avoid the odd situation from last time, Jinguuji had chosen to sit farther away today. It wasn’t for fear of being hit by a ball, but rather because their hesitant, half-spoken manner when walking over made him uncomfortable to the point of itching all over.

For the entire PE class, Jinguuji sat idly in the corner. Occasionally, a volleyball or basketball would roll to his feet, and he would silently throw it back onto the court.

Only the girls thanked him when he returned the volleyball, usually led by Sakura Sakamichi.

After PE ended, the girls headed to the changing room, while the boys returned to the classroom to change.

In the afternoon homeroom meeting, Hasebe once again explained the details for tomorrow’s sports festival.

Everyone unanimously looked out at the heavy rain. The banner hanging outside the window flapped loudly in the wind and rain.

“Friendship,” “Effort,” “Victory”?

Before any of that, Jinguuji believed “clear skies” were the most essential condition.

After the meeting, Jinguuji made his way to the student council room. On the connecting corridor, he encountered Kanade Yamada, who informed him that the kendo club was resting today to preserve energy for tomorrow’s event.

Arriving at the student council room, Yo Mikami was sitting on the sofa reading this week’s “Shonen Jump.” She seemed to treat the council room as her own lounge.

“Hey, Mikami, stop slacking off and get to work.”

“I’m not slacking off,” she retorted.

But it was obvious she was.

Jinguuji walked over and snatched the “Shonen Jump” from her hands. Mikami puffed out her cheeks as if ready to tussle with him.

Just then, the sound of confident footsteps outside the council room made Jinguuji and Mikami exchange glances. The impending battle never began.

Hoshino Morihoshi entered and began assigning tasks to everyone.

Gradually, the rain outside lessened. By the time their work was finished, the four of them sat around the coffee table. Hoshino Morihoshi, as student council president, brewed black tea for them.

Only Yo Mikami drank milk tea.

The junior had grown a little recently, evolving from simple milk to milk tea. Perhaps in the near future, one could see her sipping black tea with elegance, greeting others with “Good day.”

Jinguuji imagined such a scene in his mind and shuddered slightly.

“Hey, Mikami.”

“What?”

“Just don’t become a young lady,” Jinguuji said earnestly.

“Huh?”

Though confused, Mikami felt Jinguuji’s expression was belittling, which annoyed her further. She glared fiercely at him.

Hoshino Morihoshi and Kanade Yamada were already used to this spectacle. To them, such uninhibited exchanges signaled an incredible closeness.

“Tomorrow’s sports festival—do your best, everyone. Don’t let the student council lose face.”

Though she said “everyone,” Jinguuji sensed President Hoshino was speaking directly to him, given how blatantly her gaze lingered on him.

“Whether it happens smoothly is another matter, given this rain,” Jinguuji replied.

“There’ll be no problem,” she said confidently.

“Where does the president’s confidence come from?”

Hoshino pointed to the window behind the president’s desk, where a weather doll hung.

Girls were strangely unified in this regard, Jinguuji mused.

Could they really rely on that thing?

“There’s absolutely no scientific basis,” the boy muttered.

“That’s why boys who always talk about science lack any sense of romance.”

Jinguuji turned to Kanade Yamada. “Yamada, are we living in an age where not believing in weather dolls means getting attacked?”

Kanade smiled shyly, like a girl, but didn’t reply.

“For seniors who don’t understand romance, you really don’t know what it is. How pitiful,” Mikami spread her hands.

“You’re the last person to say that.”

A familiar fist landed on a familiar head, and the girl let out a familiar cry of pain.

After school, the rain had stopped completely. The clouds gradually dispersed, and the golden glow of dusk peeked out, half-hidden.

Droplets fell in a line from the eaves, landing steadily on the ground. Jinguuji made his way alone to the station to catch the train. Upon arriving at Jiyugaoka, Sakura Sakamichi was waiting at the station entrance, munching on bread.

Clearly, she was waiting for Jinguuji.

As they walked home, Sakura Sakamichi’s schoolbag was already slung over Jinguuji’s shoulder. The girl stepped lightly, humming a tune he didn’t recognize, cheerfully wandering through the maze-like alleys of Jiyugaoka.

“Are you in a good mood today?”

“Of course I am. The sky’s about to clear up, all thanks to making that weather doll.”

He hadn’t expected such unpredictable matters to turn into a debate over whose weather doll brought the sun.

Jinguuji, naturally, wouldn’t say anything, and echoed her, “It seems to really work.”

“Huh? I thought you’d say it’s just superstition and not romantic at all.”

That was exactly what he thought inside.

Suddenly, the girl walking beside him spoke, “To win tomorrow, can I ask you for something?”

Jinguuji glanced at her, unsure what scheme she was brewing.

Even so, he responded gently, “Just tell me.”

Hearing this, the girl ran ahead, smiling brightly, saying nothing, only stretching out her hand and lifting her chin, her intention clear.

Jinguuji looked at her arm, smooth as lotus root, her slender fingers spread like jade. Without much hesitation, he tried not to think of the past.

Don’t let yourself think, don’t let yourself hesitate. Because she reached out, holding her hand was certainly the right thing to do.

He softly enclosed his childhood friend’s hand in his palm. Sakura Sakamichi immediately gave him a smile as warm as spring.

“Tomorrow, I’ll do my best. So, you have to watch me closely, okay?”

“Mm.”

I finished late tonight, and there will be updates in the middle of the night. You can check them in the morning.

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(End of chapter)