Nowadays, Carter spent his days hanging out with his band members. Whether it's during training or after training. They were practically like family to him just like he is to them. Carter got used to the studio after bumping into walls and tripping over air for some reason. He has the layout of the studio memorized now, only the studio not the entire shop.
It was almost time for the day of the competition, lucky for them, the venue wasn't too far away from Kokomi's and Albert's campus. The competition is to be held at a local auditorium called 'Panggung Budaya'. Literally translated into 'Cultural Theatre' in Malay. Carter had never been there despite living just around the area, he never had a reason to until now.
Carter could tell that Kokomi was delighted to perform at the auditorium. He had been told that her childhood memories were mostly spent there. Kokomi ever only told him about her childhood at the theatre because he had asked her why did she look so nostalgic just looking at the flyer. The flyer contained a picture of the theatre.
Albert, Carter and Kokomi, dub thee 'youngsters' or 'Flat-foot children' by the other adults. Namely, Beyond, Nahida and Simon. 'Creative, I know' Carter thought to himself. Kokomi argued about this though, she protested that she too was an adult. She was treated like a child because of her cute visage and short height, though she wouldn't admit it, she would use that to her advantage sometimes.
The band was supposed to practice today but the weather ended up being a thunderstorm. They wouldn't practice during a thunderstorm because they didn't want their high voltage equipment exploding when a lightning strikes the establishment. The other reason was that everyone felt lazy during a thunderstorm, the cool air from the air conditioning has been upgraded by the rain, making it cool and comfortable. While the other's were taking a nap, reading a novel or just playing some mobile games, Carter and Kokomi were having a hushed conversation on the couch about a serious matter.
"What do you mean you smelled the rain an hour ago?," Carter whispered confusingly.
"I did smell the rain, some people can. When it comes to smelling rain, our noses could beat a shark," Kokomi explained, tapping lightly on her nose.
"What does rain smell like?", Carter asked, leaning back comfortably into the couch.
Kokomi smiled and said "petrichor".
Leaning on the coffee table was Albert who was reading a mystery novel entitled 'Murder on The Orient Express' by Agatha Christie. Albert had been eavesdropping on Kokomi and Carter's conversation for quite a while now. He too wanted to know what the word 'petrichor' meant for he had never came across a word like that before. He shuts his hardcover book and gently placed it on the coffee table, he then got up and sat on the couch right next to Carter.
"What is 'petrichor'?," Albert asked with curiosity.
"It's a word I learnt during one of my lectures, its meant to represent the smell of rain since there's no other smell like it", Kokomi explained further.
She thought for a while on how to describe the scent but then decided that the boys should experience it for themselves. After all, 'experience is the best teacher'.
"Have you ever been outside when it's raining you two?," Kokomi inquired.
They shook their heads innocently as a sign of gesture that they haven't. Kokomi smiled as her grand plan was about to be put into play.
"Hey, Nahida?", Kokomi called out to her friend who was busy playing some games on her smartphone.
Nahida was laying on the floor with her left leg crossed over the other, the smartphone she held was soon placed on the floor beside her. She propped her elbows against the floor to lift her torso up so she could face Kokomi.
"Yeah Mimi?," Nahida answered.
"Wanna play in the rain?," Kokomi asked nonchalantly.
Nahida grinned widely and quickly sat in a cross-legged sitting position with her back straight.
"I thought you'll never ask," Nahida said excitedly.
After Nahida said that, a gruff voice spoke from beside her.
"You wanna get struck by lightning? Its not only rain, there's a thunderstorm going on right now," Simon said, sitting on the floor while also holding his smartphone.
"I shall go check," Albert said.
Carter heard the couch weight beside him got lighter as he felt Albert getting up from his seat. He then heard footsteps thumping softly on the carpeted floor going towards the entrance door of the underground studio. Carter didn't hear much of his footsteps after that because it was muffled by the rain and Nahida's bickering with Simon about her suddenly exiting the game to answer Kokomi's question.
After about 30 seconds, Carter heard footsteps walking through the studio entrance excitedly. Though Carter for sure knew that Albert didn't show any expression on his face, his body language said otherwise. Everyone sat up, focusing on what Albert was going to say.
"It's only rain now, rain only," Albert announced.
Carter could only imagine what Kokomi and Nahida were planning to do about that information. He then heard rustling coming from the carpeted floor as Nahida stood up from her cross-legged sitting position.
"Dearest flat-foot children, who wants to have some fun in the rain?", Nahida smirked, putting her hands on her hips.
"OH ME!," Kokomi exclaimed.
Carter smiled and said "me too" before getting up from his seat on the couch.
"Well then, guess I could come. Beyond will be just fine by himself right?," Simon asked.
Everyone turned towards Beyond's figure leaning against the wall for support while he naps. He had his cap pulled down to cover his face from the bright room lights as he snores lightly. Nahida shrugged her shoulders and decided to live Beyond there.
"He'll be fine, he ain't a baby anymore. Right, come let's go have some fun once a while," Nahida said.
Nahida exited through the door as the others follow suit. Carter was starting to feel really excited to find out what Nahida had planned for them. Though he was a little nervous, he decided to push through and trust Nahida. Besides, Kokomi and Albert will be by his side if anything horrible were to happen to him.
Mr. Santoro sat behind the store's check-out counter as he saw Nahida and Simon leading the 'kids' from the underground studio and onto the main floor. Nahida swinged the front glass doors open, letting cold air rush into the shop. The wind making the bell hanging on the door jingle.
"Hey! What are you kids planning on doing?," Mr. Santoro yelled out in concern.
"We're gonna play in the rain," Simon casually said, turning his head to look at him.
Mr. Santoro nodded in acknowledgement, but then quickly turned towards Simon with wide eyes and his eyebrows furrowed.
"YOU'RE GONNA WHAT?," Mr. Santoro yelled.
Nahida smiled and turned around from the entrance.
"Like he said, we're gonna play in the rain!,' Nahida cheered.
"But you have a competition to compete in 3 days!", Mr. Santoro protested, slamming his hands on the counter, trying to 'scare' them.
Of course, they weren't scared obviously. Though Carter flinched at the sudden impact, he nodded it off with a smile so Kokomi would've not seen his slight distress. The flat-footed children, Nahida and Simon gave Mr. Santoro a displeased look.
"Alright, fine. I can't stop you since you're old enough to make decisions. But, I warn you, don't complain of what happens after," Mr. Santoro said, as he sat back down on his seat.
Nahida and Kokomi smiled brightly. Simon crossed his arms with a victory smile on his face. Albert still had his poker face on but deep down he felt excited. Carter smiled brightly, feeling ecstatic to experience something new alongside his new buddies.
"Alright flat-footed children, the rain awaits!," Nahida announced dramatically as she presented the heavy rain fall outside the store.
"Go have lots of fun, especially you Carter!," Simon said.
All the members of The Clockworks -except Beyond- stepped outside beneath the rain. Carter shivered a little at the cold water pouring down on him, the cold made him feel alive. He craned his neck towards the source of the rain fall, the unimaginable sky. He didn't know for sure what color was the sky at this moment. He could only see a blurriness mixture of dark grey and white since he couldn't perceive a clear image of the sight. He could only assume and believe whatever his brother and teachers had taught him.
'Is the rain really blue? I can only see grey and white' Carter thought.
He heard the sound of rain drops *plitting* and *platting* on his hair as he then looked forward at blurry moving figures he assumed was Simon by his shoulder-length hair, dyed in green. He held his hand out to feel the cold droplets against his skin. Carter was so immersed with the rain that he didn't heard someone walking up to him. The person gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
Carter -out of instinct- grabbed the hand as he turned to face the person, standing in front of them.
"Relax, it's just me," Kokomi said.
Carter let out a sigh of relief as he kept hold of Kokomi's hand. He noted that her hands felt smaller compared to his and her fingers are a little plump but long.
"I think I scared you a little, pretty boy. Sorry, I should've called out your name," Kokomi apologized.
"N-No, it's alright. I felt so relaxed just now that your touch caught me off guard. It's not your fault whatsoever, Miss," Carter said.
"Alright then, let's forget about this then, shall we?," Kokomi said. She didn't want Carter to get lost outside so she let Carter hold on to her hand a while longer.
A question had been bugging Carter's mind after he looked up towards the dark sky. He wanted to know what color were the rain drops and the clouds.
"Um...I have a question," Carter started.
"Shoot, I have all the time to spare when it comes to you," Kokomi happily said.
'She's sounds so adorable' Carter thought as she stared ahead. He then turned towards the source of her voice.
"Are the raindrops really blue?," Carter asked, then waited for an answer.
Kokomi immediately answered "no".
"Oh? then what color is it," Carter asked.
"It's transparent, no colors whatsoever. See-through like a mirror," Kokomi answered straight-forwardly.
"I see," Carter accepted the answer.
He expected silence after that but then heard Kokomi began speaking again.
"That what makes rain so imaginative because any color you imagine rain in will still look like raindrops," Kokomi said.
"So, don't be afraid to believe that the rain is blue," she added.
'How did she know I was afraid of telling her what I color the rain is' Carter worriedly asked himself.
'Did I said something outloud?'
"I heard you mumbling about blue raindrops just now and connected the dots of your reason for asking that," Kokomi explained.
"Ha ha, about that...my brother actually thought me that the rain was blue," Carter sheepishly scratched his head with his free hand that wasn't holding onto Kokomi's.
"All children learn that the rain is blue first, it's easier explain to them that rain is blue because it's mostly associated with water. But, water itself is transparent. The reason behind the blue color is because at sea the water reflects the color of the blue sky during the day or night. Same with water during the night, it reflects the blue night sky. Hence, water is commonly depicted to be blue," Kokomi thoroughly explained further.
"Ohhh, I see now. Water reflects colors around it, interesting," Carter said.
"Indeed, that's why I love the rain. It's so interesting to look at and the smell is out of this world. Calming," Kokomi agreed.
The two stayed side by side before Albert joined them as well.
The next day...
After spending some time directly in the rain, Carter and Albert had gotten the flu. Poor Carter got a sore throat along with stuffy nose while Albert had a fever.
The only people who got away from the flu were Simon and Kokomi.
Kokomi recieved a call from Joey -Carter's elder brother- in the morning that Carter needed to stay home. Kokomi told him, that she'll help to care for Carter while he's at work.
Beyond received a call from Albert's mother explaining that Albert too had to stay home because of a fever.
Beyond, Simon, Nahida and Kokomi stood in a circle in the studio.
"You lot should've known better than to play in the rain," Beyond exclaimed, with his arms folded disappointingly at Nahida.
"What do you mean!? I'm not the one with the flu!," Nahida shouted with a stuffy voice. She then let out a small sneezed.
"HAH, then what's that I hear? A squeaking mouse? HAHAHAHA, " Beyond roared out in laughter after making that joke.
"Why you- ," Nahida began.
But Kokomi interrupted her.
"Nana, now's not the time for banshee screaming. You should rest. Beyond and Simon take of her, make sure she does not drink anything with ice in it. I'm going to Carter's place to take care of him, don't do anything ambulance worthy," Kokomi instructed as she began to make her way outside the underground studio.
"Have fun taking care of you needy hubby!," Simon teased and waved.
Kokomi halted in her steps as her cheeks began getting warm.
"He's not my husband. We're not even dating, we're just friends," Kokomi explained quickly then bolted out of the studio.
She then took a deep breath to compose herself.
'I hope the boys would be alright soon, we need to continue practice as soon as possible' Kokomi thought as she shook her head gently with a smile.