Episode 48: First Time

「Good morning, Sara-senpai.」

「Good morning, Takanashi-san.」

Today it was just the two of us walking to school.

There are days when Natsumi-senpai has morning club practice and can’t make it.

By the way, I recently found out that Natsumi-senpai is in the tennis club… since clubs aren’t mandatory at our school, I had no idea. We’d never really talked about it before.

「I hope the weather holds up until it’s time to head home…」

「Eh?」

Now that she mentioned it, Senpai was carrying an umbrella.

Even though it was so sunny out…

「The weather forecast said it would rain before the evening… Oh, that reminds me, Takanashi-san, you aren’t carrying an umbrella?」

「I didn’t bring one… but I might be able to get back before it starts, and I’ll manage somehow, surely.」

「I suppose so. If you can get home early, you should be fine.」

It was during the final sixth-period class that I regretted jinxing myself like that…

Even while we were eating our bento, it was technically clear out…

Zaaaaaaa…

It’s really coming down…

But heavy rain usually lets up if you wait a bit, so I’ll just hang back for now.

………

………

No good… maybe my only choice is to run for it.

「Oh, Takanashi-kun, was it? What’s the matter? Hanging around a place like this…」

The person who appeared was, of all people, the President.

「President. Um, thanks again for your help the other day.」

I couldn’t exactly call us acquaintances, so I was lost on what kind of distance to keep in our conversation…

「No, it was part of my student council duties, so don’t worry about it. More importantly, you’re not just here for the view, so did you forget your umbrella?」

「Yes… I let my guard down because it was so sunny this morning…」

「True, looking only at the morning weather, you wouldn’t have expected rain. What will you do? Running for it might be an option, but if you’d like, we can share my umbrella.」

「President… do you have some business with Takanashi-san? If there is something to discuss, I can listen in his place?」

Since the President was here, it wasn’t strange for it to be Sara-senpai’s time to head home too.

I’d run into them in a pretty pathetic state.

「No, it’s nothing like that. I’m not picking on him or anything, so you don’t need to butt in…」

「My apologies then. Takanashi-san, is something the mat… ah, that’s right. You didn’t have an umbrella today, did you?」

Ugh, spot on…

「I was just talking to him about that. But Satsukawa-san, did you know?」

「Yes, we spoke about it this morning.」

Then, Sara-senpai slightly lifted the umbrella in her hand and looked at me with a smile.

「Come, Takanashi-san. The umbrella is a bit small, I’m sorry, but let’s go home together.」

「!?」

The President looked like a pigeon hit by a pea shooter.

「N-no, I’ll just run hom—」

「I won’t allow that. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if I let you walk home alone like this.」

Ah, it’s that mode where I can’t resist…

When it gets like this, I have no choice but to do as Senpai says.

Because if I resist…

「No, if the two of us use one umbrella, you’ll get wet, Sara-senpai. It doesn’t matter if I get wet…」

「Takanashi-san, it’s no big deal if I get wet in the rain. More importantly, do you really think I could just stand by and watch you walk off in this downpour? ……Or is it that you dislike being under my umbrella…」

「I get it! Sorry for the trouble, but please let me share your umbrella! I’m happy to go home with you, Sara-senpai!」

It always ends up like this…

Senpai, that sad expression is cheating…

「Fufu, let’s head home quickly then. It looks like the rain will get even heavier the later it gets.」

………Wait, I’m still right here…

I’ve been completely forgotten.

Still, I’d heard things from Natsumi, but this is a bigger shock than I expected.

Is this really Satsukawa-san?

If someone told me it was just a look-alike, I’d believe it.

The fact that Satsukawa-san is even smiling at a man is surprising enough, but to change this much for Takanashi-kun…

………….No, this is… right, I should try talking to Natsumi about this…

「Ahem… Well then, I’ll be heading out first, you two.」

Ah, I completely forgot the President was here…

「Yes… well then, President, good work today.」

What a businesslike greeting… is she always like this?

「President, good work today.」

The President opened his umbrella and walked home.

「Well then, Takanashi-san, shall we head home too?」

Senpai spoke to me, looking at me with a somehow happy expression.

She opened her umbrella and stood beside me, but…

Yeah, with our height difference, it’s a struggle for Senpai to hold the umbrella.

「Sara-senpai, let me hold the umbrella…」

I took the umbrella from her and held it between us.

Then we stepped out into the rain.

「Takanashi-san, please stay close so you don’t get wet, okay?」

「Yes, I’m fine.」

There was another reason I took the umbrella.

It was so I could tilt it toward Senpai.

Naturally, my shoulder got wet, but I didn’t care one bit.

I walked slowly, matching her pace.

「……This is the first time we’ve gone home together like this.」

「That’s true. I’m not in any clubs, and you have student council, Sara-senpai…」

Somehow… even though being alone with Senpai isn’t rare, today felt like a strange experience…