My Cat Girl Neighbor Is Impossible to Understand

Chapter 22: Chapter 22 - Rainy Bus

The weather forecast said there would be clouds.

Nobody expected it would rain.

By the end of the sixth period, all windows in the classroom were gray.

Rumble of thunder could be heard somewhere in the distance, spreading through the whole town.

Students instinctively looked out of the windows.

"...It should not rain today," Haru said, pressing his nose to the window pane.

"I checked this morning," Sui said. "There will be only clouds."

As if arguing with the weather forecast, the first drops hit the window.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap...

And in a couple of seconds, the sound of gentle taps turned into roar.

Plates of rain started pouring from the sky, covering the view of the schoolyard with their veil.

Cherry trees started waving under the strong gust of wind, and puddles quickly appeared on the asphalt.

A few students sighed.

"My umbrella is at home..."

"I’ve come without it."

"This is the worse timing."

Yuiko looked out of the window with quiet interest.

"...It is raining very heavily."

A little shiver escaped her as the sound of thunder reached her ears.

Sui noticed, but kept silent.

He knew that Yuiko hated being the center of attention.

The teacher closed the classroom windows.

"It seems like the rain will continue for a while."

"Be careful on your way home."

The bell rang.

Instead of rushing out of the classroom, students crowded around the entrance door and watched the storm with worried faces.

The covered entrance was crowded.

One by one, umbrellas appeared in the hands of students.

Parents waited in cars beyond the gates.

Some of them ran through the rain to pick up their kids.

Haru sighed.

"I’ve forgotten my umbrella."

"You always forget something," Sui said.

"It’s one of my features."

Yuiko smiled.

"I can share mine till the bus stop."

Haru blinked.

"Really?"

She nodded.

"Of course."

"Otherwise, you’ll catch a cold."

Haru pressed his palm to his heart.

"You are so kind."

Sui chuckled.

"Don’t become sentimental."

"I’m already sentimental."

At that moment, Aki rushed from the junior high building, holding a yellow umbrella in her hand.

"Onii-chan!"

"There you are!"

Haru laughed.

"It’s my rescue."

Aki looked at Yuiko and Sui.

"Will you two walk home?"

Sui shook his head.

"Not in this rain."

"The roads will be flooded."

Yuiko looked at the bus stop on the other side of the street.

"...Perhaps, we should take the bus."

Sui nodded.

"I’ve been thinking about it too."

Aki smiled playfully.

"Then, have fun."

Yuiko blinked.

"...It’s just a bus."

"I know."

Aki’s smile widened.

"But..."

Haru touched the head of his little sister with his hand.

"Stop teasing."

"I haven’t said anything!"

"You don’t need to."

After that, the brothers said farewell to each other and disappeared under the yellow umbrella.

In a moment, only Sui and Yuiko remained under the school entrance.

For several minutes, nobody said a word.

Rain fell persistently, hitting the roof of the building.

Puddles splashed on the road.

Smell of wet soil was in the cold air.

Yuiko glanced sideways.

"...Do you have an umbrella?"

Sui lifted the umbrella in his hand.

"Yes."

"And I’ve brought mine too."

"...It’s good."

Again, thunder rumbled.

A few younger students squeaked with fear.

Yuiko started instinctively shaking.

She quickly hid her emotions.

Sui noticed.

"...You don’t like thunder?"

She hesitated and then nodded.

"...Not really."

"It’s loud."

"I understand."

She smiled with relief.

"People usually laugh, when I tell them that."

"I don’t think it’s strange."

"...Thank you."

The rain continued falling heavily.

Sui looked at his watch.

"The next bus will come in a few minutes."

Yuiko nodded.

They left the cover of the entrance, raised their umbrellas and started moving towards the bus stop.

Soft sounds of the falling rain pattered on their umbrellas.

The bus stop was already crowded.

Office workers were standing shoulder to shoulder.

Elderly couple was sitting quietly, holding grocery bags.

Several students from neighboring schools tried to hide from the rain.

Yuiko looked around.

"...There are many people."

"All of them had the same idea."

Cold breeze blew inside.

Few drops of rain flew through the opening in the cover.

Without any thought, Sui moved slightly.

He moved to the side, where rain was flying inside, quietly protecting Yuiko from its touch.

She realized it after a moment.

"...Sui."

"Hm?"

"You are getting wet."

"It’s ok."

"You’ll catch a cold."

"I’ll live."

She looked at his wet sleeve of uniform.

Then, after a short pause...

She took a small step forward.

"If we stand both under the roof..."

"...Neither of us will get wet."

Sui looked at her for a second and nodded.

"...A great idea."

Their distance became a bit smaller.

Not enough, so that others could notice.

But enough, so that Yuiko could hear a faint rustle of his school jacket, which was accompanying his movements.

Neither of them minded about it.

A few minutes later, headlights appeared through the curtain of rain.

The city bus slowly approached to the curb and stopped with hiss of air brakes.

Its doors opened.

Students started entering the bus one by one.

Sui looked at Yuiko.

"Ready?"

She nodded with a smile.

"...Let’s go."

And together, they entered the crowded bus, unaware that this ordinary ride home will become one of the most memorable ones.

The doors closed quietly with a soft hissing noise.

The bus started to move from the curb as its tires created small ripples in the rain-filled streets.

In the bus, every available seat was filled.

Adults held their briefcases between their knees and legs.

School children carried their backpacks between their feet.

An old lady smiled apologetically as new passengers crowded in.

"There are no more seats left," Sui told his companion in a low voice.

Yuiko nodded in agreement.

"...It’s alright."

They moved further into the bus, making sure not to obstruct the entrance.

A hanging strap swayed slightly above their heads.

Sui stretched out and grabbed the strap.

Yuiko grabbed another hanging strap beside him.

The bus lurched forward suddenly.

The movement surprised some passengers.

Yuiko stumbled for a second.

"...Ah!"

Before she could fall, Sui steadied her by placing a hand at her elbow.

"Are you alright?"

Yuiko nodded hastily.

"...Y-Yes."

"I’m sorry."

"Don’t apologize."

When she steadied herself, Sui released his hand from her elbow.

But somehow...

The warmth of his hand lingered on her sleeve.

Yuiko stared ahead towards the rainy window, hoping that he wouldn’t notice the burning heat in her cheeks.

The rain outside was becoming heavier.

Streams of water flowed down the windows, making the town look like a painting in shades of blue and grey.

Neither of them spoke.

There wasn’t any awkwardness in the silence.

The sounds of the rain falling on the roof filled the silence.

But then...

The bus made a sudden turn.

Both of them swayed at the same time.

Their shoulders bumped against each other.

"..."

"..."

"S-Sorry."

Both of them said the same thing simultaneously.

For a second, both of them just looked at each other.

And then they burst into laughter.

"You first."

"No..."

"You."

Once again, both of them laughed quietly.

It was somehow easier now to be awkward with each other.

At the next stop, even more passengers joined them in the bus.

There wasn’t enough room left in the aisle.

People tried to make space by shuffling even closer together.

Unintentionally, Sui and Yuiko were standing closer to each other.

There wasn’t much distance between them anymore.

Yuiko could smell the faint aroma of laundry detergent emanating from his uniform.

Clean.

Refreshing.

Sui smelled the faint perfume of her shampoo that gave out a floral scent of spring.

He looked away quickly.

Why do I smell that...?

The bus braked suddenly.

Yuiko reflexively tried to grab the nearest hand strap.

But instead...

Her fingers brushed against Sui’s hand.

"...!"

She pulled her hand back quickly.

"S-Sorry!"

"It’s alright."

His own ears were turning red too.

"That was an accident."

"...Mm."

Neither of them mentioned it again.

But somehow both became oddly conscious about where their hands were.

The journey went on.

With each next stop, there were more moments like that.

Their sleeves brushed gently against each other.

Their schoolbags touched.

Whenever the bus turned, their elbows touched too.

Each of those moments lasted no longer than a split second.

But somehow...

Each contact made their heart beat just a bit faster.

Yuiko kept staring outside.

Stop...

It’s just because there is no place to move in a crowded bus.

Just that.

She took a deep breath.

But another turn came.

This time, Sui instinctively placed himself between her and the other passenger so that she wouldn’t get pushed.

"..."

Yuiko looked up.

He didn’t say anything.

He just made sure that she had enough space around her.

Her tail twitched slightly behind her.

"...Thank you."

He smiled.

"No problem."

This kind smile...

It somehow made her heart beat even faster.

Outside, the rain was getting lighter and lighter.

Clouds were fading away.

Sunshine managed to peek through the gap in the grey sky.

The bus announced the next stop.

"This is ours," Sui pointed out.

Yuiko nodded.

"...It’s already?"

He blinked.

"The journey passed very fast."

"...It really did."

For some unknown reason...

Both of them wished the journey could last a bit longer.

The doors opened.

The cool and fresh air filled the bus.

They got out onto the sidewalk.

The streets were shining under the rays of the setting sun.

Puddles were reflecting the sky.

Both of them were standing still for a second.

The bus drove away, leaving only a wake behind.

Yuiko watched its movement.

"..."

Sui adjusted his schoolbag strap.

"...Do we continue walking from here?"

She nodded with a slight smile.

"...Yes."

Both of them opened their umbrellas.

Although the rain had become barely noticeable, they both weren’t in hurry to reach home.

Their footsteps echoed quietly on the street of the quiet neighborhood.

Several minutes later, Yuiko spoke up.

"...The bus felt..."

She hesitated.

"...Short."

Sui looked at her.

"...That’s what I was thinking too."

She smiled shyly.

"...Perhaps because we were talking."

"...Perhaps."

Neither of them admitted their true thoughts.

The ride wasn’t short because of the distance.

The ride was short because, for the first time, being side-by-side with each other seemed perfectly natural.

When they reached the corner where their neighborhood begins, the rain completely stopped.

Above their heads, there was a faint rainbow arching the sky.

Yuiko saw it first.

"...Look."

Sui followed her gaze.

"...It’s beautiful."

She nodded slightly.

"...It is."

For a while, neither of them took their eyes from the sky.

And without either of them realizing it...

The memory which they would take home with them wasn’t the rain.

The memory wasn’t the crowded bus.

The memory was the feeling of warmth that comes from knowing that somehow all of the journeys seem to be a bit shorter when they are together.