The rain was coming down in sheets, mirroring the unsettled feeling swirling inside Kiyomi. It wasn't just the downpour; she'd been replaying the way Cid's face had lit up when she'd (accidentally, mortifyingly) complimented his presentation in class. He was so… genuine. And his laugh! That infectious, booming laugh she'd heard during the haunted house scare… A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips despite her best efforts to suppress it. She really needed to get a grip.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the misty rain – Cid! He looked a little surprised, his usual easygoing swagger a bit dampened by the weather.
"Kiyomi!" he called out, his voice a little breathless. "Didn't expect to see you braving this!"
"You too, huh?" Kiyomi replied, a small, genuine smile gracing her lips. "Looks like we're both stuck."
Cid grinned. "Guess so. Unless… you want to share my umbrella? It's… uh… bigger than it looks." He gestured towards the rather large, brightly colored umbrella he was holding.
Kiyomi's first instinct was to politely decline. But something about the way Cid was looking at her, a hint of… something… in his eyes, made her hesitate. "Okay," she said, a little more warmly than she usually intended. "Thanks."
As they walked side-by-side, the umbrella did offer some protection, though the rain was still coming down pretty hard. The rhythmic drumming of the rain on the umbrella created a cozy little world around them, a bubble of shared space in the downpour. A comfortable silence settled between them for a moment before Cid, ever the conversationalist, tried to break the ice. "So," he began, a little louder than necessary, "what do you think of this weather?" He chuckled nervously.
Kiyomi laughed, a genuine, light sound. "It's… wet," she teased, bumping his shoulder playfully. He's so awkward sometimes, she thought, but it's also kind of sweet.
Cid grinned, relieved. "Right! Very wet. I… I actually kind of like the rain, though. It's… cozy, somehow."
"Cozy?" Kiyomi echoed, genuinely curious. She'd never thought of rain as cozy before.
"Yeah," he said, a shy smile spreading across his face. "It makes everything feel… quieter. Like the world is taking a deep breath."
Kiyomi found herself drawn into his enthusiasm. "I… I can see that," she admitted softly. She thought about how the rain seemed to wash away the noise and stress of the day, leaving a sense of peace in its wake.
As they continued walking, they chatted about everything and nothing – their favorite manga, their shared dread of the upcoming history exam, the ridiculously long line at the school cafeteria. They even debated the merits of pineapple on pizza, a debate that ended in laughter and a mutual agreement that some questions were best left unanswered. But beneath the surface of their lighthearted banter, a different kind of connection was forming. Kiyomi found herself relaxing in Cid's company, her usual anxieties fading into the background. Cid, meanwhile, kept thinking about the way Kiyomi had laughed during the haunted house, the way her eyes had sparkled with genuine joy. It was a memory he treasured, a snapshot of her unguarded happiness that he held close to his heart. He felt a strange pull towards her, a desire to know her better, to understand the complexities hidden beneath her calm exterior.
When they reached Cid's house, he stopped and looked at her, his eyes meeting hers. The rain had slowed to a drizzle. He noticed, for what seemed like the first time, the delicate curve of her eyelashes. She was beautiful.
"Thanks for walking with me, Kiyomi," he said, his voice sincere.
"No problem," she replied, a genuine warmth filling her chest. She liked spending time with him. He made her feel… comfortable, accepted.
He hesitated, then offered her the umbrella. "Here, you take it," he said. "I'm home now, and you've still got a ways to go."
"But…" Kiyomi started to protest.
"It's okay," he insisted, his smile warm and genuine. "You can give it back tomorrow."
Kiyomi, feeling a flutter in her stomach, accepted the umbrella. "Thank you, Cid," she said, her voice softer than she intended.
As Kiyomi walked away, she felt lighter than she had in a long time. The rain was still falling, but it didn't seem so bleak anymore. She glanced back at Cid, who was waving from his porch, and a small, genuine smile played on her lips. She clutched the rainbow-colored umbrella to her chest, the lingering scent of his cologne – something warm and woodsy – filling her senses. Tomorrow, she thought. I'll see him tomorrow. The thought brought a sense of anticipation, a quiet excitement that hummed beneath the surface of her calm exterior. She twirled the umbrella as she walked, the rainbow colors seeming to dance in the dimming light. Maybe, just maybe, she was starting to fall for the clumsy, kind, and unexpectedly charming boy with the rainbow umbrella.