The rain started falling in thick, heavy sheets just as school ended for the day. Josh had just stepped outside, hoping for a dry walk home, when he felt the first drop hit his cheek. By the time he reached the sidewalk, the drizzle had turned into a downpour.
"Ugh, of course," Josh muttered to himself, pulling the collar of his jacket tighter to shield himself from the cold.
Just then, he saw Aki rushing toward him, her backpack soaked and her hair clinging to her face. She looked at him with a sheepish grin.
"Hey, Josh!" she called out. "I was hoping you'd be done with class by now. Looks like we're in for a wet one."
Josh laughed, trying to shake the rain off his jacket. "Yeah, I'm just glad I didn't wear my favorite shoes today." He looked up at the sky, hoping the rain would let up. "What a mess."
Aki pulled out an umbrella from her bag, holding it over her head and looking at him expectantly. "Well, I'm not going to let you walk home alone in the rain. You're walking with me, and I'm sharing my umbrella."
Josh hesitated for a moment. They had walked home together before, but never in weather like this. It felt a little… intimate, to be that close to her, huddled under a single umbrella. But he wasn't about to say no.
"Alright, guess I don't have much of a choice," he said with a grin, falling into step beside her.
The two of them started walking side by side, the umbrella barely large enough to cover them both. They kept a little too close to avoid getting soaked, and Josh could feel the warmth from her shoulder radiating against his arm. His heart did a funny little flip, but he tried to ignore it, focusing instead on the sound of the rain and the steady rhythm of their footsteps.
They didn't talk much at first, just walking through the rain, but the silence wasn't awkward. It felt natural. It felt comfortable. But still, Josh's mind kept drifting, and every time Aki would laugh at something he said or nudge him playfully, his stomach would tighten with that familiar mix of nervousness and warmth.
"So," Aki said after a few minutes, glancing at him with a grin, "you've been quiet. Is something on your mind?"
Josh was caught off guard by the question. He hadn't realized he was being so distant, but now that she pointed it out, he couldn't help but feel the weight of his secret—his confession, the letter he had written but never given her. He didn't know how to explain it, so he just shrugged.
"Just thinking about stuff, I guess," Josh replied with a half-smile.
Aki narrowed her eyes playfully. "Stuff? You know, that's a great way to get me to leave you alone, Josh."
He laughed, grateful for her lightheartedness. "I guess I'm just overthinking things again. Happens sometimes."
She raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. Instead, she nudged him again with her elbow. "Well, if you need a distraction from all that thinking, I'm happy to provide one. I've got a really good idea for our next project."
Josh smiled, grateful for the way Aki always knew how to lift his spirits. "I'm sure you do. What's the idea?"
Aki's face lit up as she launched into her idea, her excitement contagious. She explained her vision for their history project, making jokes along the way and getting Josh to laugh despite himself. The more they talked, the easier it was for Josh to forget about the weight on his chest—the feelings he didn't know how to deal with. For now, he just enjoyed the way the conversation flowed so easily between them.
As they reached the corner near Josh's house, the rain began to lighten. The umbrella still shielded them, but the worst of the storm had passed. Josh stopped walking for a moment and looked over at Aki, the words from his letter swirling in his mind again.
"Hey, Aki," Josh said suddenly, his voice a little quieter than usual.
Aki turned to look at him, her face softening. "Yeah?"
"Thanks for walking me home," he said, his voice earnest. "You didn't have to do that. You could've gone home and stayed dry."
She smiled warmly. "It's no big deal. We're friends, remember? Besides, I'd rather be out here with you than alone in that storm."
Josh felt a warmth spread through him at her words, and he couldn't help but smile. "I guess I'm lucky to have a friend like you."
Aki grinned and nudged him with her shoulder. "You know it. And you're lucky I'm this awesome."
He chuckled, the tension in his chest easing just a little. "Yeah, I'm starting to realize that."
With that, the two of them walked the last few steps to Josh's house in comfortable silence, the rain now little more than a light drizzle. When they reached his front door, Aki handed him the umbrella, a soft smile on her lips.
"Alright, I guess this is where we part ways for today," she said, her tone light.
Josh nodded, his heart still racing a little. "Yeah, see you tomorrow, Aki."
"See you!" Aki waved before turning and heading down the street.
As Josh stepped inside his house, he couldn't shake the feeling that the day had been… different. More than just the rain, more than just the walk. Something inside him was stirring, and he wasn't sure how much longer he could keep it buried.