"Uncle Amano, I know you always kept all your pain, frustration, and bitterness bottled up. Whenever we talked, you smiled and said everything was fine. I knew those were lies, but I chose to believe them—because if I trusted you, I believed you'd trust me too. That's what equal exchange is."
The young Takamine Rinji stood in the rain, staring at the middle-aged man whose face was now covered with a white cloth. He was soaked, but didn't notice.
"If only you'd trusted me a bit more… maybe it wouldn't have ended like this."
---
"Kaguya-sama."
"…"
"It's pouring outside."
Staring blankly out the window at the rain, Kaguya Shinomiya stood motionless as Hayasaka Ai spoke behind her.
"Shibuya Station is already flooded…"
"I'm going."
"Hmm."
"The president is definitely waiting for me. I have to go!"
Kaguya spun around and tried to rush out, but Hayasaka grabbed her.
"The president won't be there. Don't forget—Shibuya Station is flooded. Even if he wants to go, he won't be able to get there."
"…You're right."
Collapsing onto her bed in disappointment, Kaguya opened her phone.
"I'll just send the president a message… say I'm not coming."
"Then do it."
Hayasaka looked on in confusion as Kaguya froze, her fingers motionless over the screen.
"B-but… what if he's already there? That means I'd be standing him up. And it's the first time I'm texting him… what should I say?"
"…So annoying."
---
Outside Shibuya Station, Shirogane Miyuki stood beside the Hachiko statue, freshly out of the station. He had gotten up early out of excitement and arrived ahead of time.
"It's a bit early. Guess I'll wait."
But within minutes, the rain began.
It quickly turned into a downpour. People scattered to find shelter. The once-busy station square was soon deserted.
"Crap, I forgot to check the weather… Will Shinomiya still come in this rain? Probably not."
Even so, Shirogane pulled out his phone.
There was still half an hour until their meeting time. If Kaguya wasn't coming, she'd probably call or text.
But the screen showed nothing—no calls, no messages.
The rain pelted down heavily. Without an umbrella, Shirogane covered his head with a magazine he had on hand, barely shielding his hair. His school uniform shoulders were already soaked.
Under the gloomy sky, he stood alone in the open square, holding a flimsy magazine over his head. The sight was… undeniably pitiful.
When the appointed time came, Shirogane sighed.
Kaguya hadn't come. She hadn't called. Not even a single message.
"You're gonna catch a cold dressed like that."
Just then, a coat was draped over his shoulders from behind, and the sensation of rain against his skin disappeared.
Startled, Shirogane turned around.
It was Takamine Rinji, holding an umbrella for him.
"…Rinji."
Shirogane let out a dry laugh.
"Sorry you had to see me like this."
"No, the one who broke the promise is Miss Shinomiya. She's the one who should be ashamed," Rinji said with a smile.
"You knew she wouldn't come?"
"When I saw the heavy rain, I figured as much. She's the Shinomiya family's heiress. Even if she wanted to come, her household staff would've stopped her."
Bzzz~
Shirogane's phone vibrated.
It was a message from Kaguya, apologizing and saying she couldn't make it today.
"See?"
"…I guess this is technically the first message she's ever sent me," Shirogane chuckled bitterly.
"Taking this long to send a message—must be a muscle-to-brain coordination issue," Rinji joked. "So what now, President? Still going shopping?"
"I have no choice. The welcome party for the French exchange student is tomorrow. If I don't shop today, there's no time."
"Fair enough."
The two walked toward the mall under the same umbrella.
[Note: Need to double check the raw to make sure this is not one of those gayshit fics]
"Once we get there, change out of that soaked uniform. You'll catch a cold otherwise."
"I know, but…"
"I brought extra clothes," Rinji said, patting the duffel bag he was carrying.
"I figured this might happen, so I borrowed some clothes from your dad."
"You're always so prepared. It's reassuring."
Shirogane smiled.
As they entered the mall, he hesitated for a moment before speaking softly:
"Rinji…"
"Hm?"
"I… haven't been completely honest with you. Actually—"
"I trust you."
"Eh?"
Seeing Shirogane frozen in place, Rinji turned back with a smile. "Can you trust me too, President?"
"Of course."
"Then that's enough."
Rinji turned around and continued walking ahead.
"If you trust me, then I'll trust you too. No matter what you say, I'll believe you. Even if you hide some things from me, it's okay."
"…Is that so."
Shirogane stared at Rinji's back, his fists clenched.
"The truth is, I'm not as perfect as people think… That image of the flawless student council president—it's all an act. The reason I can get top grades so easily is because I study several times harder than anyone else."
"Oh? That's still impressive though."
"And also…"
Shirogane Miyuki clenched his teeth as if he were summoning all the strength in his body.
"My feelings for Kaguya Shinomiya... are real..."
"…"
"I'm not doing it just to deal with student demands. I truly—HEY! You said you'd believe anything I said! Why are you giving me that 'Are you joking?' look!?"
Takamine Rinji's expression was pure disbelief, staring at him like he was out of his mind.
"But… is there really someone that insane who'd fall for the Shinomiya heiress? President, you're clearly not brain-damaged."
"Hey, hey, hey! Kaguya isn't that bad! She's pretty popular at school, okay?"
"Has everyone at Shuchiin studied themselves stupid?"
"That is not the case at all!"