55 [55] A Slight Hardening, Signifying Respect
"Kotonoha, did you bring an umbrella?"
Seeing the concerned expression on his face, the girl felt a bit puzzled.
Could it be that Hachiman didn't see my panty earlier? Was it just my imagination?
"It's about to rain, and getting wet in the rain can make you catch a cold," Hachiman continued, employing his gentle approach as he noticed the girl's silence.
It had to be admitted that Hachiman's acting skills were becoming more and more proficient.
Kotonoha, a simple girl, couldn't detect any flaws. Upon hearing his concern, she felt a warm feeling inside.
Ah, Hachiman is really kind. He cares about me so much. There's no way he could have sneakily looked at my panties earlier.
"If you didn't bring an umbrella, you can borrow mine." Saying this, Hachiman took his umbrella from his bag and handed it to Kotonoha.
"Ah, no need, I brought my own umbrella. I checked the weather forecast this morning," the girl said, as if to prove it, taking her umbrella from her backpack and holding it in front of Hachiman.
Seeing her like this, Hachiman found it a bit amusing and couldn't help but shake his head.
Oh, so cute.
Girls as adorable as her are quite rare these days.
"Um..."
At that moment, Kotonoha also realized her own childlike actions. She looked at herself holding the umbrella like a child and blushed, emitting a shy whimper.
"Don't look at me, Hachiman-kun. It's really embarrassing."
"It's not embarrassing at all. I actually find you quite cute."
As the saying goes, "A man's mouth is a devil's snare."
However, pure-hearted girls like Kotonoha couldn't distinguish between truth and falsehood.
Hachiman's compliment left her feeling a bit dizzy, her mind filled with his praise.
Looking up at the increasingly overcast sky and feeling the wind picking up, Hachiman decided they shouldn't linger any longer. It was better to head home quickly.
"It's about to rain, Kotonoha. Let's hurry," he said, extending his hand toward the girl.
"The wind is getting stronger. If you don't mind, you can hold my hand."
Seeing his outstretched hand, Kotonoha hesitated for a moment.
As a young girl, she still had some modesty.
However, she eventually offered her hand.
"Well... then, I'll trouble you, Hachiman-kun."
Hachiman held her hand. It was delicate, smooth, and seemed boneless, like touching the finest silk.
"Let's go, Kotonoha."
"Mm."
However, not long after they started walking, Hachiman felt a damp, chilly breeze.
The air, which had been somewhat stifling, now had a coolness to it, and shortly afterward, raindrops the size of beans began to fall from the sky.
Perhaps many people enjoy the rain. This weather often sparks inspiration for artistic souls.
For example, there's the saying, "The most beautiful thing is not a rainy day but the eaves you once hid under from the rain."
And then there's the desire to find a rainbow after the rain, longing to see the colors of the future within its beautiful hues.
Even some poets have left behind numerous verses about rainy days.
Like, "With the wind, it quietly enters the night, moistening all things silently."
"During the night, the sound of wind and rain; how many flowers have fallen, one can't know."
And also, "Amidst the rain's soft, gentle grace, Nature's tears caress each space.
Whispers of life in every drop, Rainy days, where dreams may hop."
Although these sentences are beautiful, most of the people who can write them are usually those carefree individuals, comfortably sitting in rain-proof houses, sipping wine, listening to music, and letting their poetic spirits flow.
It's hard to imagine how people who are truly impoverished and get soaked in the pouring rain would have the inclination to write poetry.
Take someone like Hachiman now, he certainly doesn't want to end up soaking wet.
"Oh no, it's raining. Kotonoha, quickly open your umbrella." Hachiman let go of the girl's hand and took out his umbrella from his backpack to open it.
"Okay, Hachiman."
The girl nodded and took out her umbrella from her backpack as well.
However, as soon as she opened her umbrella, a sudden gust of wind blew in. Being a delicate girl, Kotonoha couldn't hold onto her umbrella and it was lifted into the air by the strong wind.
"Oh, no! My umbrella! Come back!"
Watching her umbrella being carried away by the wind, the girl called out in frustration.
However, she didn't possess any superpowers, so there was no way the umbrella could fly back on its own.
She could only helplessly watch her umbrella drift farther and farther away.
"Ugh..."
Without an umbrella, was she going to have to walk home in the rain today?
"It's okay, Kotonoha. I can walk you home." Seeing this scene, Hachiman quickly lifted his own umbrella to shield Kotonoha's head.
"But, won't this be too much trouble for you, Hachiman-kun?" The kind-hearted girl naturally didn't want to inconvenience him, especially since there was still some distance between their homes.
"It's no trouble at all. Besides, the distance isn't that far. Walking in the rain, you might catch a cold, Kotonoha."
He chuckled. As a gentleman (in his own opinion), how could he possibly let a cute girl like her walk home in the rain?
"Well then, I appreciate it, Hachiman-kun," Kotonoha finally nodded.
"Not a problem at all, but rather, being able to escort such a lovely girl like you home is a win for me," Hachiman said with a mischievous grin.
"Um... please don't make jokes like that, Hachiman-kun," Kotonoha blushed and responded, feeling both happy and a bit embarrassed.
"I'm not joking, Kotonoha. You should be more confident," Hachiman added.
He understood the importance of not overdoing the compliments, as it could sometimes have unintended effects.
"Let's go, Kotonoha. I'll walk you home first."
"Okay," the girl nodded and inched closer under the umbrella, her face blushing slightly.
So... close.
With less than a foot of space between them, Kotonoha, who had never had intimate contact with the opposite sex before, felt her face heat up. She kept her head down, unable to look at him.
Walking side by side, Hachiman could almost sense the fragrance emanating from her.
However, to maintain his gentlemanly image, he endured the inner turmoil and focused on not looking away.
As it turned out, paying attention to the road was useful.
Hachiman noticed a large pothole not far ahead on the road, while Kotonoha, walking beside him with her head down, remained completely unaware.
"Kotonoha, be careful!"
Just as the girl was about to step into the pothole, Hachiman swiftly grabbed her.
"Ah..."
Kotonoha, who was originally absent-minded, lost her balance when he suddenly pulled her. She ended up lying against Hachiman's chest.
His left hand encircled her slender waist, feeling the two soft mounds pressed against his chest. Hachiman couldn't help but appreciate her realness.
Well, a slight hardening signified respect.
Kotonoha, now fully aware of her position, realized she was lying on Hachiman's chest and panicked. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Uh, uh, uh!"
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A/N:
•"The most beautiful thing is not a rainy day but the eaves you once hid under from the rain."
-This line emphasizes the beauty of memories and nostalgia rather than the weather itself. It suggests that what makes a rainy day beautiful is the sentimental attachment to a specific place or moment, in this case, the eaves where someone sought shelter from the rain. It's a reflection on the emotional significance of certain memories and the places associated with them, which can be more beautiful and meaningful than the weather conditions alone.
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•And then there's the desire to find a rainbow after the rain, longing to see the colors of the future within its beautiful hues.
-This line expresses the idea of hope and optimism after facing difficulties or challenges. It uses the metaphor of a rainbow that appears after the rain to symbolize the promise of better times ahead. The desire to find a rainbow represents the longing for positive outcomes and the expectation that the future will bring beautiful and colorful experiences. It's a poetic way of saying that even after difficult times, people look forward to a brighter and more hopeful future.
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•The phrase "With the wind, it quietly enters the night, moistening all things silently" appears to describe a poetic and metaphorical scene. In this context:
- "With the wind" suggests that something is happening alongside or under the influence of the wind.
- "It quietly enters the night" implies a gentle and peaceful arrival during the nighttime.
- "Moistening all things silently" suggests that this arrival has a subtle, calming, and nurturing effect on everything around.
Overall, it conveys a sense of tranquility and serenity, with nature or some phenomenon providing a soothing and rejuvenating presence during the night. This type of language is often used in poetry to evoke emotions and create vivid imagery.
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•"During the night, the sound of wind and rain; how many flowers have fallen, one can't know."
-This is a beautiful poetic expression that reflects the transient and ephemeral nature of life and beauty. It suggests that during the night, when the wind and rain are heard, many flowers may have fallen from their branches, but it's impossible to know exactly how many.
-Or this line suggests that during the night, the sound of wind and rain is accompanied by the falling of flowers, and it emphasizes the mystery of not knowing how many flowers have fallen. It conveys a sense of melancholy and transience, highlighting the impermanence of beauty and the passing of time.
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•"Amidst the rain's soft, gentle grace,
Nature's tears caress each space.
Whispers of life in every drop,
Rainy days, where dreams may hop."
-This short poem conveys the idea that rainy days hold a certain gentle and calming beauty. It suggests that rain, as it falls, can be seen as nature's tears that touch every corner of the world. In these rainy moments, there's a sense of renewal and the possibility of dreams and hopes coming to life. It captures the serene and contemplative atmosphere often associated with rainy days.
