After the Rain

Hmm… if we have the meeting today—

Wait no, they just left for Shobara.

The tournament won’t end anytime soon… couldn’t they have left at least one representative…? The volleyball club has been persistent in…

I scratch my head, setting the notice aside and pulling out a folder.

…Ugh—wait.

I stack everything onto one another, tucking them back under my desk.

Unzipping my bag and pulling out my notebook.

I believe Amano-sensei’s handling matters outside of school so… there wasn’t really a notice for a substitute…

Flipping my notebook open to the activity we tackled last meeting.

I thought I got it but—mine’s different from Takeda’s.

Hmm…

I turned back to my previous notes on—how Amano-sensei approached it and solved it—uh…

This is a vector because… yes, it has direction.

…Adding is simple but, actually—it’s the same for multiplying it.

But the dot product…

…

“Someone you know, Mugi-chan?”

I look up, seeing a pair of eyes peering through the window.

…It’s—

Ah, Mizuki?

I flipped my notebook close, pushing myself off my seat and turned towards the door.

Once it was slid open, there she was—standing with both hands behind her back.

“...What are you doing here, Mizuki?” I tilt my head, watching as she shifts her weight from one foot to the other.

“Ah—well, did you really have to hit me like that…?”

Oh… to think she’d come here for that. Well—

“Of course, it’s not like you to be late—I had to set you back in shape.”

“I just slept in though… forgive me for this once,” she held both of her hands together, almost pleading.

…You can’t really do anything when she looks at you like this.

“Forgiven, now—go away, I have class.”

It’s getting late, she should go home soon.

“Bye bye,” she waves.

…That’s cute.

I smile back, waving as I gently shut the door.

Wah—I look through the window, watching her walk down the hallway.

I’m glad I saw her before the weekend.

“A junior?” Hoshino asks.

“No, a friend.”

“...I feel like I’ve seen her before.”

“You know Aihara-san from—”

“Ah—she really is pretty,” she stands, trying to see if Mizuki was still in the hallway. “Can you ask her what lipstick she uses?”

“Lipstick…? Was she using one?”

“I don’t know, it seemed like it.”

“...No, I don’t think she does?”

“Hm—I didn’t get a good look at her…”

“Ask her yourself next time,” I mutter as I return to my seat.

…

…Looking at my closed note, I didn’t really want to open it but—

I leaned a bit to the side, resting my chin on my arm as I unfolded it open.

Agh—

“Hoshino…”

“Hm?”

I point at my notes.

“Do you remember wha—”

“I don’t, you’re welcome…”

This girl…

Maybe I’ll check if someone else is in the faculty.

I stand, taking my notes in hand.

“I’ll drop by the faculty for a bit,” I mention, then leave.

Considering the time, only a few classes remain in session.

…It’s not like I can forget their complaints.

They think I handle their schedules or something.

I passed down the stairway, noticing less and less people as I arrived at the faculty office.

…I knock.

And the door opens a bit later.

“Kiryuin-san, is there something you need?”

“Is… huh?”

I look at the corner, seeing… Amano-sensei.

“Excuse me,” I bow, before proceeding to her desk.

“You’re here…?”

“Well…” She scratches her head and lets out an awkward laugh. “I just arrived… Don't start lecturing me.”

“I see…” I mutter, then show her my notes.

“You don’t understand something?”

“Yes,” I go by her side—opening my notes to the dot product and magnitude segment. “I don’t really get how…”

“Ah… there’s two vectors right? And here, vector a has two coordinates—let’s label them, this first one x, and y… You get the dot product by multiplying the x coordinate of a and b—add it to multi—“

“Wait, wait—multiply the coordinate x, and y of both vectors and just add…?”

“Yeah.”

I pull out my calculator, repeating the sample given in my notes and… ah—now I feel so dumb

“What about the uh… right, this cross product assignment you gave?”

“It’s an assignment for a reason, didn’t I give the formula?”

“Yes, but—“

“Well, I suppose it’s my apology for not going to your class—give me a paper.”

I turn to the very last page of my notes and let her write on it.

“Let’s have a 3D example, you need to write this down to get it—or mentally if you get used to it.”

She writes three coordinates for two vectors, each corresponding to different axes. Then lines up the coordinates of both vectors within two lines—putting a label on each column… i, j, k.

“You use this formula, but to get the value—first you cover the i column with your finger, then cross multiply the values you see.”

For something I couldn’t understand earlier… ended up being so trivial.

I could only watch as she neatly wrote the process on my notes. I should probably teach this to Hoshino…

“I see… thanks for entertaining me Amano-sensei.”

“You’re welcome, but try to rest every once in a while okay?”

“Yes… thank you.” I bow, before turning to leave the faculty room.

Ahh—I feel so much better.

I hold my notes in hand, then immediately return to class.

Walking up the stairs slowly as I reiterate what she just said… then down the hallway but—

“Where are you going?” I ask, my classmates already carrying their bags—on their way to leave.

“…Amano-sensei didn’t come so—can’t we just leave early? The station tends to get crowded later.”

“You’re not on schedule?”

“No, but the guys who are are already cleaning.”

“Well… I suppose it’s fine, make sure to head right home.”

They bowed and excitedly left.

Returning to the room, Hoshino remained in her seat—a few other classmates did too while the two on duty were already sweeping the place.

“Everyone, you can leave now—so the cleaners can actually clean.”

“Really?” Hoshino turns to me.

“Yes, do you want to sit here for a bit longer?”

“No hehe, we’ll get going then!”

They pick up their bags and leave.

I pack my stuff as well, stuffing them neatly into my bag before zipping it shut.

“Will you two be fine on your own?”

“Ah, yes—see you next week,” they wave.

I wave back before leaving the classroom.

…Hah—

Just a bit more to do.

I walk down the stairs again, down the hallway—then here at the faculty room.

“Amano-sensei.” I call, excusing myself as I return to her. “I dismissed everyone already—apparently trains are hard to come by if they stay longer; and the students on duty have already begun cleaning.”

“Okay, thanks for doing that,” she smiles. “You go home too.”

“No I… I still have to resolve the conflict on gym usage—for clubs.”

“Pass that to your secretary…”

“No, it’s fine. I’m the one they’re consulting to after all, well then—“ I bow, she smiles and waves me goodbye.

“Oh—Kiryuin-san, how was the celebration?”

Sat at the next desk… Ah, Yamada-sensei.

“The officers and students who volunteered were really thankful, we very much enjoyed it!” I bow.

“If the council ever needs help with anything, don't hesitate to ask.”

“Will do,” I smile and pass through the desk, finally exiting the faculty.

Back here at the hallway.

Completely empty.

…My phone.

I take it from my pocket—seeing a message from dad.

What time will you be home, Mugi?”

Later… I have—things to do.

…Sent.

Flipping my phone shut, I stretch my arms out—letting out a big sigh and ah—

I’ll just be handling… no, just planning how’d it go I guess.

Then the budget for the culture day…

…Are we handling the junior’s trip?

I think Yoshida-kun was handling it so I won’t worry about it now.

So just two things today…?

…

Ah—completely…

Utterly unbelievable.

Hah—

I drop my bag to the side, standing on my toes as I reach for this damn clock again.

Twelve o’ three… and nobody told me the entire day?

I hold the clock in one hand—searchnig for my phone with the other.

…The time is… five fifty-four.

I stuff my phone in my pocket.

Then—

I reach for the cogwheel on the back, turning it… exactly on—five fifty…five.

Of course, it doesn’t tick.

I tap it a bit.

Still doesn’t.

I smack it hard—

…There.

I hang it back on the wall.

Crouching down to pick my… bag.

…Why is it—

Huh?

I… stand.

The hallway’s completely dark…

I can’t see anything out the windows.

It’s raining…?

What?

Why are… the lights should be on?

No, wait…

I picked up my phone… it’s—

Huh…?

Nine… o’ seven?

…What?

It was just… five earlier…?

Wait, wait—I…

I shake my head, holding my phone as I check if… no messages.

I… I should go already.

…

I crouch down, stuffing my phone in my bag—taking my umbrella.

Zipping it shut and putting the strap over my shoulder.

I walk carefully, not really… able to see anything.

The wind’s strong—reaching all the way here.

Finally—in the locker room, it’s more illuminated here…

I turn to my locker, changing into my shoes.

Then… right—

It’s completely dark…

It’s pouring heavily too—

How come I didn’t even notice?

What did I even do for—

I should just go home…

With my umbrella at hand, I push it open—stepping into the rain.

Wow, it’s cold…

My body immediately shivers, and I tighten my grip on the handle.

I look carefully at the ground, taking careful steps.

The courtyard…

…I really don’t understand.

I shiver again.

Then finally, at least they don’t close the gates…

I pass through, seeing only the street lights in the… distance.

…

Wait—

…Do they not have an umbrella…?

It’s so late already…

They’ve been here all this time?

“...Hey?” I call, walking towards the bus stop.

No response… can’t they hear me?

Long hair…

“Are you… okay?”

I step closer… so dark.

Then with the wind—

“...Mizuki?”

Is that her…?

No it—

I finally got close and…

“H-hey, Mizuki—what are you…?”

…Now I could see her.

Now… I could—hear her.

A hiccup.

…Not moving at all.

“...Hey…”

She’s…

Trembling.

Just—crying…?

“Mizuki…”

I step into the shed, finally—

I… I hold her arm and—she looks at me.

Her eyes…

She shakes her head.

Looks down and just… continues to shake.

“Hey—hey…” I pull her close.

Into my arms.

Her body’s so cold…

I hold her head gently.

…Still trembling.

“I’m here… it’s okay.”

I hold her tighter.