Sora and Miyuki took off their shoes as they silently went upstairs. They hoped that no one noticed as Sora prayed for the best. They successfully went inside his room without a trace nor a sound of suspicion.
The room was freezing as ice, Miyuki shivered. Sora then took his umbrella behind his door and handed it out to her. "Here you go." He said as he gave it without hesitation.
"Thanks, again."
"No problem."
She took the umbrella. Right from his hand. But, without the intention to do so, an envelope caught her eyesight. A letter that seemed rather very familiar towards her, she proceeded to observe his desk.
"A letter?" She picked it up. "Yeah..." Sora nodded. "I found it in our mail box. It was empty, too. Maybe the sender was mistaken for another letter. Or..." Sora theorized.
"Hmm...? Who is she?" Miyuki grinned while the clarification was ignored by her. As if the silent wind blew her hair.
"Y-you've got it all wrong... I've never had a love interest before. Maybe not now." Sora nervously revealed as he scratched the back of his hair.
"Eh? Girl's shoes?" Sumi looked down as she noticed of the sight caught by her eyes. She shook her head and thought. Wondering and theorizing while checking to analyzing every possible pattern. She shook her head, once again as she gazed at his brother's room.
"Oh... My brother took a girl in? Alright, alright. I'm not gonna disturb their moments upstairs. Hehe." She walked away, letting out a mischievous grin from her face. Not knowing that they were up to something else, instead.
"Hmm... Okay." Miyuki puts down the envelope as she grabbed her bag and Sora's umbrella. They went back downstairs and went outside. The rain was still pelting down as they were sheltered by the roof.
"Thanks... I'll be going now."
"You're welcome, goodbye."
Miyuki gracefully opened the umbrella as she steadily walked home, hoping that she wouldn't trip in this rainy weather.
Sora smiled as he waved. But something came up into his mind. A deep thought, whereas an answer is still yet to be found. He crossed his arms as his smile was gone. "She is only someone I've recently met." Sora stated. "Then... Nevermind." He shook his head as he went back inside his house.
"Hehe. Who is that woman?" Sumi teased him while making mischievous grin as Sora closed the front door. "Could that be your girlfriend?" She asked.
"Shirosaki-san is only a friend." Sora felt irritated, but never surprised. As if he had been teased by his sister since the begining of child birth. He grumpily rain upstairs and stepped into his room. The door slammed that even the bird flew away of the very unpleasant sound.
"Grr..." Sora growled as he furiously punched the air. As if he was tormenting something that he deeply despised and hated the most. Sora finally sat down at his chair and took several deep breaths. He sighed as he took a sip of water from his water bottle.
"Don't t tease him further, Sumi...!" His mother scolded her. With a very frightening stare as her eyes were glowing red. "I know. I'm just, umm..." Sumi stuttered.
"No excuses! You two will get along if it's the last thing you want." She exclaimed as she pinched her cheeks. "Ouch, ouch, ouch! Okay. I'll try." Sumi, finally said. While she mumbled.
The "air punching" session was over. His head cooled down. He then took another sip of water, later on. The cooled down boy looked out of the window. Outside, it hasn't stopped. Not one bit. The rain pelted lightly. The sounds of raindrops from the rooftop didn't annoyed him that much. He was relaxed as he sat still. Observing the environment outside while his head was clogged with deep, inner thoughts.
"We've only met, yesterday. And our friendship only started today." Sora stated. "Did I get too overboard in helping? Or am I just... Too nice?" That question would haunt him numerous times. He sighed, as he continuously rubbed his forehead.
"I'm home." Miyuki greeted as she opened the front door. Her mother was preparing herself while she seemed rather concerned. Miyuki thought while she judged from her mother's body language. They awkwardly stared at each other. As if a long lost family member finally made their long awaited arrival.
"Miyuki...!"
"M...mom?"
She furiously bashed her head in pure anger. Whilst trying to cool herself down. Miyuki unintentionally dropped Sora's umbrella as it made a thudding sound on the floor.
"Where have you been!? I was worrying so much about you! Can't you see it's raining already!?" Hana proceeded to scold Miyuki as her voice began to rise higher like a lion's roar.
"I-I'm sorry! I already knew that it was about to rain. B-but..." Miyuki was in loss of words. She began to stutter. "You're safe. That's what matters now. Welcome back." Hana said, in change of her mood while they slowly calmed down as if fire was put down by the rain.
"Hmm? Whose umbrella is that?" Hana asked. "I can explain! It's just... Um..." Miyuki mumbled.
"Let's take this in the living room, come on." She held out her hand as she smiled. As if an angel, a guardian. Nor a saint was there to lift up her arms. "Okay..." Miyuki held her mother's hand. Their soft hands gripped together as both felt each other's warmth. But, only for a glimpse. A shadow, a figure was slightly caught by Miyuki's brown eyes.
A silhouette figure? A shadow sculpture? A figure that represented whereas Sora was the one holding her hand, rather than her mother's. She shook her head. As if she saw nothing.
"Miyuki... Miyuki Shirosaki?" Sumi repeated. "Yeah. You've heard me." Sora calmly nodded. "She is only someone I've met yesterday. And here I am, now. I even let her borrow my umbrella... Is that wrong?"
"It's not." Sumi denied. "Just... Don't regret it later on, okay?" She properly advised. How ironic it was to hear an advise from a teasing sister. Perhaps Sumi also cared for her brother, after all.
"By the way... Are you sure she's only a friend?" She asked the same question once again. Which annoyed Sora even further. "Yes!" Sora exclaimed as he crossed his arms.
Miyuki and her mother sat in the living room, together. It was so cold. Miyuki could use at least a few blankets in hand.
Hana, on the other hand. Expected for a well detailed clarification from her daughter. Hana's husband was still busy at work, However. There remained only silence between the mother and her daughter. Coldly staring at each person's eyes as Miyuki felt the bit of her unwavering anxiety.
"Sora Shimazaki? Who is that girl?" Hana questioned. "It's a boy, mom." Miyuki answered.
"A boy!? Who exactly is he to you!?" Her voice deepens. Thunder stroke as Hana showed an intimidating face. "S-Shimazaki-san is only a friend." Said with her stuttering voice.