Fine rain drizzled softly, its drops tapping rhythmically against the windows, roofs, and leaves.
Amid the pouring rain, the foot traffic on the streets gradually diminished, with only a few people taking refuge under eaves.
The streetlights glowed a dim yellow against the rainy backdrop, their halos blurred by the mist, as if the anxiety of passersby was woven into the hazy droplets, adding an air of mystery to the night.
"Ugh! I forgot to check the weather forecast today and didn't bring an umbrella," Miyajima Tsubaki thought, standing under the eaves of a neon-lit advertisement, watching the dense curtain of rain just a short distance away.
"Why won't this rain let up?"
The dim neon light reflected Tsubaki's slightly melancholic yet delicate face.
The shadowy rain-drenched night felt like a glass of intoxicating wine, gradually bringing forth the buried emotions within Tsubaki.
'Oh, lately, Sousuke has been home even less, hardly even paying attention to Sakura. What is he doing…?'
"Ah, Tsubaki-san?"
The sound of an unexpected voice interrupted her thoughts. Tsubaki turned to see a youthful figure standing before her, holding an umbrella.
"It's Yoshita! You're just getting home from practice?"
"Yes, Tsubaki-san. Did you forget your umbrella?"
"Yeah, there aren't any convenience stores nearby… Ugh—"
Tsubaki sighed as she brushed her fingers against her face, tilting her head to look at the torrential rain cascading from the sky.
"Let me walk you home; it's not too far from here to the dojo."
"In that case, you should stay at the dojo tonight too. Otherwise, you'll miss the last train," Tsubaki said earnestly as she looked at Itō Yoshita.
"Then I'll be the one troubling you."
"No, it's me who's troubling you."
The continuous light rain gently brushed against both of their cheeks, bringing with it a refreshing chill.
Despite still being young, Yoshita had grown tall enough to match Tsubaki's height. He held the umbrella as they strolled through the rain toward the Miyajima dojo.
Even though the umbrella was large enough, both were still dampened by the occasional spray of rain.
"We're almost at the dojo; let's hurry up."
Splash!
They quickly advanced through a puddle that had formed on the ground, their reflections shimmering in the rain.
"Hmm?"
Tsubaki suddenly glanced down the small street, spotting a white Porsche parked at the curb. A familiar figure stood beside it, holding an umbrella.
"That's Sousuke! What is he doing there?"
"Yoshita, wait! I see Sousuke; let's go find him—he's got an umbrella!"
"Miyajima-san? Got it."
Yoshita nodded and followed the direction Tsubaki pointed.
"Darling, see you later."
A heavily made-up woman sat in the car, kissing Miyajima Sousuke goodbye.
Under the light, Sousuke wore a sweet smile, the previously furrowed creases of his brow softening in delight, his serious demeanor melting away like snow under the warmth of love.
"Goodbye, darling."
This scene unfolded before the eyes of the two who had just arrived.
Whoosh! The car sped off into the rain, leaving only Sousuke standing there, gazing dreamily into the distance until the hazy glow of the headlights disappeared into the night.
Tap-tap-tap! The sound of high heels echoed against the smooth cement, sharp and clear.
Tsubaki felt a surge of anger rising within her.
Even the heavy, damp atmosphere of the rain couldn't extinguish the flames of her fury.
With a stony expression, she stepped out from under the umbrella, pushing aside Yoshita's shield as she let the icy rain drench her.
Smack!
A powerful slap landed on Sousuke's face as he turned to see who called out. The impact drew blood from the corner of his mouth and left his cheek swollen.
The umbrella dropped to the ground upon impact, splashing water everywhere. Sousuke covered his face, glaring up with fury.
"Who the hell dares hit me? Are you looking for death? …Oh, it's you… You saw everything, huh?"
His fierce words gradually calmed as he recognized the familiar figure before him.
"Tch, since you saw it, I can't hide it anymore. I don't have to keep pretending; it's exhausting to act while being with you."
"Why?"
The low, sorrowful question escaped Tsubaki's lips as she hung her head, rain pouring down on her.
"Why, you ask? If I have to talk about it, it's simple—I no longer love you."
Sousuke's detached gaze locked onto Tsubaki as he stooped to pick up the umbrella, folding it up.
"You and your family have ruined my life."
"Pfft!"
Sousuke spat out blood and continued, "Miyajima! Hmph! Do you have any idea how my friends looked at me when they found out I had to change my surname to join your family?!"
"And you, Tsubaki, if you hadn't taken it upon yourself to come to my school, the news about me marrying into your family wouldn't have leaked, and I wouldn't be subjected to so many strange looks in college! This is all your fault!"
"You people from the Miyajima family are something else, especially that old man! High and mighty, looking down on me. Just because he made me enter your family, my life got ruined! He's the one to blame for ruining my life!"
Sousuke's frenzied roar echoed through the rain, drowning out the sound of the downpour.
Taking a deep breath, he spat out words, each syllable laced with his lack of accountability.
"I—never—should—have—married—you!"
"Having—Sakura—was—just—a—mistake!"
Tsubaki could no longer contain herself.
Her heart, so desolately silent, reignited with fury at Sousuke's beastly remarks.
"You bastard! I'll kill you!"
Tsubaki's furious gaze burned like fire as she fixed her eyes firmly on Sousuke. Her long arms tightened with tension, and she swung her fist toward him.
"You're still so impulsive."
Sousuke was prepared for her; he knew Tsubaki's rash nature, and her formidable martial skills only fueled her recklessness.
Aware that force wouldn't suffice against Tsubaki's strength, he grabbed the umbrella he had picked up earlier, using it as a weapon to block her fist while simultaneously striking at her abdomen, pushing her away.
Tsubaki, wearing short heels and hindered by the slick ground, twisted her ankle due to Sousuke's force and the impact of the umbrella on her stomach, causing her to fall to the ground.
Her white dress became stained with the mud beneath her, and Tsubaki propped herself up as strands of hair stuck to her face, revealing deep-set eyes blazing with fury as she glared at Sousuke.
"Tch."
Sousuke seemed displeased by Tsubaki's fierce glare, lifting the umbrella as if to strike her.
Bang!
That strike was blocked by Yoshita, who had grown increasingly annoyed.
"You self-righteous loser! All you can do is blame your incompetence on Tsubaki-san and the Miyajima family!"
"What do you know, you little brat? Get lost!"
"Isn't it true? You cheat, then unleash your violence on your wife like the beast you are!"
"Ha! Let me teach you how to speak properly, you little brat!"
The man who could attract Tsubaki was expected to have similar martial skills, making him quite a formidable opponent for Yoshita, who was still a beginner.
However, having frequently endured abuse from his father, Yoshita knew where to protect himself to minimize harm.
As rain fell like bullets, the relentless strikes landed upon him without causing him to falter but instead ignited his ferocity.
Aside from avoiding vital attacks, he retaliated with a strategy of trading blows.
"Ah!"
The intense confrontation snapped both umbrellas in half, and Yoshita gritted his teeth, helplessly collapsing to the ground.
"Damn it! What a crazy little brat!"
Sousuke gasped for air, eager to teach Yoshita a thorough lesson for bringing him such trouble.
Unbeknownst to him, Tsubaki, enduring the searing pain, found a wooden stick and stood behind him, her face expressionless.
The rain poured down like countless silver threads from the sky, but suddenly, a stick flew out like a shooting star, clearing a path devoid of water.
The force of the flying stick struck Sousuke's joint with incredible power, making him yelp in agony.
"Ah!!"
Sousuke curled up on the ground.
"Damn it, crazy woman, you… "
A barrage of filthy curses spewed from Sousuke's mouth as Tsubaki remained expressionless, ignoring him, continuing to strike the stick against his joints.
"Wait, wait… Tsubaki, let me go… I won't dare again… just let me go!"
Tsubaki remained unmoved, swinging the stick until—
Crack! The stick broke, and Sousuke's limbs fell limp.
"Ah!!!"
After all was done, Tsubaki's sorrow and the pain in her ankle left her unable to stand, and she weakly fell to the ground. However, Yoshita, who had hurriedly approached, caught her in time.
Glancing down at the battered woman in his arms, Yoshita gently said, "Tsubaki-san, let's go home!"
He carried Tsubaki on his back and slowly made his way toward the Miyajima dojo.
The rainy night was filled only with the sounds of deep, breathless wails and muffled sobs.
—
After that night, Tsubaki and Sousuke swiftly divorced, removing themselves from each other's sight and no longer caring about one another.
Years passed, and now, from conversations with acquaintances, Tsubaki occasionally learned bits about Sousuke.
The man who had once been rejected, treated as a mere keepsake, had fallen victim to a con artist pretending to be wealthy, losing all his assets to her.
However, that unfortunate soul didn't linger in this area; after a time, he disappeared from discussions, leaving Tsubaki unaware of his fate.
—
"Tsubaki-san, why aren't you eating?"
Lost in her thoughts, the brave figure from that rainy night seemed to materialize before her again, gently reaching out, "Tsubaki-san, let's go home!"
In the dim light, that familiar face gradually came into focus.
"Tsubaki-san?"
"Ah, what's wrong? Yoshita." Tsubaki snapped back to reality as she saw Yoshita looking at her, concern etched across his features.
"Why aren't you eating?"
"Oh, I'll eat it now!"
As she chewed the food in her mouth, Tsubaki began to drift away once more, almost transported back to the time when she had met Yoshita and concocted absurd plans with Mira. 'That Mira, her vision is truly sharp; still… I'm so glad I didn't reject that [absurd] plan back then!!!'
"Oka-san, you're zoning out again!"
"Hehe…"