My Cat Girl Neighbor Is Impossible to Understand

Chapter 10: Chapter 10 - Borrowed Umbrella

Weather in spring is unpredictable.

It had started the day with a nice weather – bright sunny day and there seemed to be no need in any umbrella.

However, later in the afternoon gray clouds covered the sky above Hoshizora High.

And when the last class was finally nearing its end there came a distant sound of thunder.

The teacher sighed and closed the book.

"That will be all for today. Those of you who have to walk home should be careful. The weather forecast was updated and there will be some rain."

Students started discussing as soon as they started packing their backpacks.

"I forgot my umbrella."

"My mom’s coming to pick me up."

"We’re going to get all wet."

Haru stretched.

"Good thing I always keep one in my locker."

Yuiko watched out the window absent-mindedly while Sui was putting his notebook in his backpack.

That’s what he also did.

Living in such a town where spring rain comes unexpectedly, he learned to prepare for such a day.

Beside him Yuiko quietly watched out the window.

Rain drops were already hitting the glass.

At first it was just light rain.

Then it grew.

Minutes passed and the rain became so heavy that it became impossible to see anything but rain in the school yard.

"...It’s raining."

Her voice was barely a whisper.

Sui turned to look at her.

"You’ve brought an umbrella, haven’t you?"

Yuiko looked down.

"...No."

"You trusted the morning forecast?"

She nodded.

"...I even checked it twice."

"Sometimes weather forecast is wrong."

"...Obviously."

There was not even a slight note of irritation in her voice.

Just acceptance.

Final bell rang and students rushed towards the entrance.

Hallway was quickly filling with the rainbow of umbrellas opening one after another.

Sui and Yuiko put on their outdoor shoes and headed for the entrance.

Rain was pouring from the black sky.

It was obvious even from the noise.

No one could go out without an umbrella – otherwise he would be drenched in just a second.

Yuiko stood under the roof of the building silently.

She was not watching rain – she was watching others leaving.

Friends were disappearing in the rain under umbrellas.

Parents were arriving in their cars.

Some students just run into the rain laughing despite being drenched.

She just tightened the grip on her school bag.

"...I’ll wait."

Sui looked at her.

"For rain to stop?"

She nodded.

"...Eventually."

He looked outside again.

The rain was not getting weaker.

On the contrary – it was becoming heavier.

Flash of lightning brightly lit the clouds.

"...It may take some time."

"...I know."

There was no complaint.

No irritation.

Just another thing she decided to handle on her own.

Sui looked at umbrella in his hands and back at Yuiko.

"You should take this."

She blinked.

"...What?"

"My umbrella."

She was staring at him as if she heard incorrectly.

"...And what about you?"

"I’ll walk."

"...In such a rain?"

"I do not live far from here."

She shook her head immediately.

"No."

"You’ll get cold."

"I will not."

"You will."

Her answer was surprisingly fast.

Almost instinctive.

Sui smiled gently.

"You’re worrying about me."

"I..."

Yuiko hesitated.

"...Anybody else would."

"Maybe."

"...Definitely."

Rain was beating hard against the pavement.

Wind was bringing cool air under the roof of the entrance.

Students almost completely left.

Only them two were left.

Sui tried to give umbrella to her again.

"Take it."

"...I can’t."

"Why?"

"...Because it’s your umbrella."

"You need it more."

She looked down.

"...We’ll both get home eventually."

"I do not mind waiting."

Sui thought about it and then silently opened umbrella.

Blue umbrella canopy spread above his head with a slight rustle.

He approached her.

"...Let’s use it together then."

Yuiko looked up.

"...Together?"

"It’s wide enough."

She looked at the umbrella.

At the rain.

At Sui.

"...Won’t that be..."

She could not continue the sentence.

Going under one umbrella somehow felt intimate.

Even for those two people who were not sure of their relations.

Sui answered before she could start thinking.

"We’re neighbors."

"It’s logical."

"..."

Yuiko wanted to protest.

She really wanted.

But...

She found herself stepping under the umbrella carefully.

"...Thank you."

"You’re welcome."

Both of them went out into the rain.

Rain was beating steadily against the umbrella.

For the first minutes none said anything.

They just adjusted their steps unconsciously trying not to hit each other.

The umbrella was large enough to protect both of them...

But only if they walked close to each other.

Every time they accidentally touched each other their shoulders lightly collided.

Every time Yuiko tried to move away a bit to avoid collision she got wet sleeve.

Without words Sui moved umbrella to cover her side a bit more.

"What about you?" she asked.

"I’m fine."

"...You’re getting wet."

"It’s only my shoulder."

She looked up.

Indeed, right part of Sui’s blazer was already spotted with raindrops.

"...You’re lying."

"Hm?"

"You do care."

"I do not."

"...You always say that."

Sui looked at her curiously.

"Do I?"

She nodded.

"...Every time you help somebody."

For a minute he could not say anything.

The rain was pouring around them washing away any other sounds of bustling city.

Under the umbrella the whole world suddenly became smaller.

Quieter.

Just them two walking in spring rain.

None noticed it.

But somehow...

Using one umbrella made them feel the familiar way to home differently.

It continued raining during their journey back home.

While the umbrella protected them from the pouring rain, it sometimes allowed cool droplets to fall on their sleeves when a gust of wind blew.

Neither complained.

All they did was adjust their pace to prevent one another from getting exposed.

When they arrived in front of the road where their houses are situated side by side, Yuiko stopped in front of the entrance of her house.

She held the umbrella in her hands.

"...Thank you."

"If not for this, it would have been difficult."

Sui smiled.

"Indeed."

He looked at the umbrella.

"...I’ll bring it back tomorrow."

"There’s no hurry."

"I’ll bring it."

"...Alright."

She bowed before stepping inside her house.

Sui watched the door of the house shut.

It was only after that moment did he realize the rain had soaked his right shoulder.

"...Indeed."

He laughed silently to himself.

"It’s true that I got wet."

THE NEXT DAY

The storm had passed in the middle of the night, allowing the sky to become a beautiful blue sky. The rays of the sun were reflected by the puddles on the neighborhood road.

Sui went out of the house at the usual time.

A few seconds later...

The neighboring door opened.

Yuiko stepped out, bringing something in her hands.

The dark blue umbrella.

She approached him.

"...Good morning."

"Morning."

She held out the umbrella.

"...Here."

"Thank you."

Sui reached for the umbrella.

There was something different about it...

It was as if everything was perfect.

From the spotless handle, to the almost new-looking fabric.

Even the metal frame looked as if it has just been polished under the morning light.

"You cleaned it?"

Yuiko nodded.

"...It got wet."

"It was supposed to."

"...Still."

She looked somewhat embarrassed.

"Because it belonged to you."

Sui smiled.

"You didn’t have to."

"...I wanted to."

He accepted the umbrella.

"...Thanks."

Yuiko gave him a nod.

"...You’re welcome."

They started walking to the direction of the school.

As usual, it was peaceful.

Birds singing from the trees nearby.

The owner of the bakery greeting them while putting up fresh bread on the display window.

It was all usual.

Ordinary yet comfortably so.

Midway to school, Sui noticed something tucked underneath the folded strap of the umbrella.

A piece of white paper.

"...Hm?"

He reached out to grab it.

It was neatly folded twice to form a rectangle.

Yuiko looked at him.

"...What’s wrong?"

"I think there’s something in it."

She blinked.

"...In it?"

He unfolded the paper.

Seeing the writing...

Yuiko froze.

"..."

"...Oh."

Her eyes widened.

"...I forgot."

"What is it?"

"...Nothing."

He looked at the note.

The handwriting was tidy and slightly rounded.

Thank you for lending me your umbrella yesterday.

You always help me without expecting anything in return.

I am really grateful.

Please let me return the favor someday.

— Yuiko

It also had a tiny picture of a cat in the corner.

A smiling cat holding an umbrella.

He stared at it for a moment.

Then...

He smiled.

"...Cute."

Yuiko’s face turned red.

"I..."

"I didn’t want you to see it!"

"You hid it inside the umbrella."

"I forgot to remove it!"

She quickly reached for the note.

"...Please return it to me."

Sui refolded it neatly.

"But I want to keep it."

"...What?"

"As a bookmark."

Yuiko looked embarrassed.

"It’s just a thank-you note."

"I know."

"...It’s embarrassing."

"It made me happy."

She stopped walking.

"...Really?"

He nodded.

"Nobody ever hid a thank-you note inside an umbrella for me."

"...I guess nobody does."

"They don’t."

Silence filled the air for a few seconds.

Yuiko looked away from him, trying to hide her blushing cheeks.

"...I’m glad."

"Hm?"

"...That it made you happy."

She whispered so quietly that the words seemed to disappear in the breeze.

He glanced at the folded note and placed it in his notebook carefully.

"I’ll cherish it."

She covered the lower half of her face with her hand.

"...Now I’m more embarrassed."

"You’ll get used to it."

"...I don’t think so."

He chuckled.

"I guess we’ll find out."

When they reached the school gate, Yuiko’s embarrassment slowly faded.

Haru saw them and greeted them happily from the courtyard.

"Morning!"

"Morning," Sui responded.

He noticed the umbrella Haru was looking at.

"Didn’t it rain yesterday?"

"It did."

"And you lent your umbrella to Yuiko, right?"

Sui blinked.

"How did you know?"

Haru grinned.

"I saw you two walking together yesterday."

Yuiko’s ears twitched.

"W-We just shared the same umbrella."

"I never said anything about sharing."

"..."

"..."

She realized what she had done.

Haru laughed aloud.

"Got you!"

Yuiko sighed, defeated.

"...You’re impossible."

Sui could not help smiling.

As they were walking toward the school building, he reached out for the notebook in his bag.

Inside it, lay a little thank-you note.

Simple.

Polite.

Nothing more than a thank-you.

But somehow...

It was the first gift Yuiko ever gave him.

And for some inexplicable reason, he was sure he would not throw it away.