What were the chances of the sky suddenly turning gloomy and started pouring out the rain when you had a plan on weekends? I knew it wasn't zero percent but it wasn't 100 either. With that said, however, everything would change if the weather forecast had been mentioned.
That was why I immediately sat up from my sleep as I heard some sort of skittering sound outside the window. As I do so, my noise immediately reacted to the cold making me viscerally pinch it.
For some reason, this was my morning ritual whenever it was raining.
After a moment of gazing blankly through the window, I panicked and bolted out of my bed. Then, I glanced at the clock resting on the table: 9 am. As soon as I realized that I still had time, I calmed myself. But then again, the sky outside didn't look good, so I stormed out of my room, carefully not to stumble on the stairs, and tuned in to the weather forecast.
"Oh, you're so energetic this early in the morning, Eimi," my big brother, the oldest, Akio, greeted me from the bathroom. He still had his toothbrush in his mouth as he watched me impatiently standing in front of the television, biting my nails.
"What is it, you're going out?" My other brother, his twin, Aoi, peeked his head from the kitchen. That was then I realized, something smells good coming from his direction. "If you are going out, you should eat first. I'll finish this in an instant so don't leave yet," he prompted, then went back to the kitchen.
The delicious aroma was luring me into the kitchen. Shaking my head, I propped down the sofa, hugged the pillow to my lap, and restlessly pushed the button on the remote control until I found the weather forecast.
My today's reaction was normal. I was certain of it. Why... you ask?
I pulled my phone next to me as soon as I felt it vibrate. On the screen, a reminder was shown.
*[Hanging out with Fujihara, Sakura.]*
I cringed as I realized that I had written her full name on it. What was I even thinking back then? *Gosh, it's so embarrassing.* Thankfully, there were no heart emojis floating around my reminder, or else I might tear the pillow, that was currently being choked by me, in half.
After hearing *'The rain would likely let up this afternoon.'* from the female forecaster, I immediately headed to the bathroom to tidy up myself, yanking my big brother out of the way in the process.
Washing my face, a realization sank into me. *I should have gotten ready earlier than loitering around the living room.* Then again, maybe *loitering* wasn't the right word. *'waiting'* sounded nice, but still I wasted so much time in front of the television. Why did I watch the weather forecast anyway? I knew myself that even a storm was forming outside, I'd push my way to Sakura. She was Fujihara Sakura, after all. And everything about her was worth it. I was certain of it.
"What am I thinking anyway?" I mumbled as I felt a warmth over my cheeks.
Before I started to contradict myself, I left the bathroom with the side of my face still dump. I considered wiping it with a towel but thinking it would dry a moment later, I decided to let it be.
In the kitchen, my two brothers greeted me. Paying no attention to them, I headed to my usual seat which was
coincidentally across from them.
"Light meal, right?" brother Aoi asked as he settled a tray with my food in it on the table.
"Yes, thank you."
He gave me a gentle smile before heading back to the kitchen. As I watched his back, I wondered why the younger twins were more responsible than the older ones. Was it normally like that, or it was just inside our family? Compared to brother Aoi, brother Akio was such a bully to me and acted dumb most of the time. Good grief, it always felt like brother Akio wasn't as bright as his name suggested.
"What are you looking at?" brother Akio scowled at me. He was already here before I even entered, nibbling his pork cutlet.
I didn't answer him instead, I started digging into my meal.
After I finished making myself looked presentable with a *whoosh*, *dash,*, and any other words just to emphasize how fast I did it, I put on my sandals.
"I'll be off!" I announced and headed outside with a foldable umbrella in my hand.
"Be careful on the way and call me if you want me to fetch you!" said brother Aoi, sponge in his hand.
"Take care!" brother Akio from somewhere inside the house.
Stepping outside, the cold, damp wind greeted me. I opened my umbrella and watched the plants growing by brother Aoi silently bathing in the rain, for a moment. Its leaves as though waving at me when the wind met them.
I walked carefully through the wet road. I had no plan to splash some water on my dress, after all. Thinking about it, would Sakura compliment my dress today? I hoped she would. But then again, if that happened perhaps I couldn't handle the embarrassment and started to shrink on myself again, stumbling on my words.
I wondered why did *that* always happen as I listened to the muffled noise of the rain falling on my umbrella. Then, ultimately shrugged it. Since it starting to feel like no amount of thinking would answer my question.
On the way, I heard someone talking in a distance. For some unknown reason, my gaze slowly led to them. It came from a girl who seemed younger than me and a boy who was about my age.
"Listen, Big brother, you need to look straight ahead when you are walking!" the girl reprimanded his brother.
*Oh, so they are siblings, huh...*
"I'm looking on my way," the boy replied as though he wasn't interested.
"No, you're not! You're always looking around as if you are looking for someone."
"No, I...I'm." As though caught off guard, the boy was lost for words.
"See, that's what I'm saying. Geez."
The girl started to walk away then his brother just silently followed her. For a moment, I wondered whether to laugh or to feel sorry for the boy. But then I realized, it was their business so I quietly walked to the bus stop.
Before they disappeared from my sight, I caught a glimpse of his spiky hair, as though he was struck by a lightning.
It felt like I knew someone who had hair like his, but I immediately shook my head as soon as the image of young Sakura, leaving a trail of tears as he ran through the crowds showed up on my mind.
Walking through the rain, I thought back to the past and mumbled, *"If only I could fix that."*