I Like the Rain.

When the sky is covered with clouds, the scenery loses its shadows, and water begins to fall, I feel a strange sensation.

The rain blurring my vision, the rhythmic sound of drops drowning out other noises, the scent of wet asphalt, and the wind saturated with moisture all reveal a world unlike any other.

Watching such a landscape while heading toward a canvas is my favorite thing.

Though I often hear, "What a waste of a good physique," I can't help but feel at ease in dark and quiet places.

I decided that the colorless, tranquil world is a cherished view for a polar bear like me.

Admittedly, going outside on a rainy day is a hassle. Still, I don't dislike it. That's why I feel sad when someone says they don’t like the rain, and my chest tightens when they wish for no rain at all.

After meeting you, I began to feel that way even more.

"What the..."

I muttered unconsciously, looking up at the suddenly weeping sky. It didn’t seem like it would rain when class ended, but after club activities were over and I had changed my shoes, ready to head home, thick raindrops began falling from the sky.

The morning weather forecast said it wouldn’t rain today, but it seems the god in the heavens had a change of heart.

Black polka dots appeared on the ground, quickly turning into a downpour. The low-hanging, misty clouds were a dark gray, showing no signs of letting up anytime soon.

I glanced around the entrance area, harboring faint hopes that someone might give me a ride to the station. But the rows of shoe lockers revealed that, unfortunately, I was the only one left. For some reason, my energy was good today, and I thought I could finally finish the painting I had neglected for so long.

So I stayed a bit longer, ignoring the dismissal bell.

By now, everyone else had gone home long ago, leaving me as the only one inconvenienced by this sudden rain.

"Running might be a bit much..."

I looked down at my body.

Round arms, round legs, and a round belly. As a polar bear humanoid, I was naturally large and prone to gaining weight.

I wasn’t great at running, so by the time I reached the station, my underwear would probably be soaked. Still, if there was no other option, I’d have to manage. I steeled myself and placed my glasses in my pocket. I couldn’t see much without them, but it was even worse if raindrops smeared the lenses. And if I dropped them, there’d be no fixing that.

Taking a deep breath, I picked up my bag and prepared to run. Squinting through the blurry scenery, I braced myself.

Just as I was about to dash out of the entrance, a clear voice called out.

"Senpai, do you not have an umbrella?"

"Gah!?"

Startled by the sudden question, I jumped and let out a bizarre noise. My bag slipped from my hand, hitting the floor with a thud.

Terrified, I turned around to see you laughing quietly.

A small fox with a kind, slightly mischievous smile. Your golden fur shimmered under the dim light, your translucent green eyes sparkling. In your hand, you held a bright orange umbrella.

"Ukyou..."

Koganei Ukyou.

My underclassman.

And someone very dear to me.

The moment I saw you, my heart began pounding so loudly I could hear it myself. Even during P.E. class, this didn’t happen. I worried my heart might leap out of my chest or that you might hear it.

It hit me again—how special you were to me.

"You’re still here? What are you doing?"

I asked as casually as I could, trying to stay composed. It wasn’t that I wanted to appear intimidating, but conveying my feelings was awkward.

Unfazed, you smiled brightly.

"I have a superpower, you know.

I can sense when Senpai is in trouble. Today, I had a feeling you’d forget your umbrella, so I brought this for you."

You gave a playful wink, the kind of gesture so flawless it felt like it came from a fairy tale. Despite its cheesiness, when you did it, it felt so natural and utterly captivating.

Suddenly, I wanted to cry, overwhelmed by a mix of emotions. But I held back. I had no right to cry. There was no way your feelings would align with mine.

Still, I found myself flustered, swept up by your pace, and wanting to tease you a little.

"So, you came just to see me struggle?"

I said lightly, but your expression turned unexpectedly downcast.

The rain seemed to intensify.

"Senpai, is that really what you think? I just wanted to make sure you got to the station safely..."

Your eyes, glistening like rain-soaked petals, made me panic. I hurried to explain myself. Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. You’re always so cool; I just wanted to mess with you a bit, I said, realizing too late how rude that sounded.

Even so, you didn’t stop looking sad. Resigned, I sighed.

"Okay... I’m sorry. Can we share the umbrella?"

At that, your face lit up with a radiant smile—a bouquet blooming under a break in the clouds. It was so dazzling I felt defeated.

Polar bears have no chance against foxes in a battle of wits.

And so, we walked together, shoulder to shoulder, along the damp path home.

The road down from our school winds through a residential area, a gentle slope lined with azaleas that added vibrant colors to the gray scenery.

I wiped the raindrops off my glasses, gazing at the flowers shimmering in the rain.

"It’s been raining a lot this year," you said, glancing up at the sky.

You were right—it had been unusually rainy. The cherry blossoms fell quickly, and gym classes often had to be held indoors. Maybe that’s why I’d let my guard down today and left my umbrella behind. I wasn’t the only one; most students probably did the same.

"But I’m glad I get to walk with you like this," you said, smiling without hesitation.

Your umbrella was in my hand now. With your height, even if you stretched your arm, it wouldn’t reach over my head. So I held it, carefully angling it to keep you dry as I matched your pace.

Occasionally, passersby glanced our way. How did we look to them? There was nothing odd about the situation, yet I couldn’t help feeling self-conscious.

"Senpai, aren’t you going to finish that painting?"

"Which one?"

"You know, the one you were working on when we first met."

"Oh, that one?" I replied.

The painting of a rainy street I’d glimpsed through the school window—the one inspired by you. It was the very piece I had been struggling to complete today.

"Please finish it before you graduate. I’ve been looking forward to it," you said.

I knew. I knew, and yet... it wasn’t that simple. That painting wasn’t just a piece of art; it was a turning point for us. Because of that, I couldn’t approach it casually or half-heartedly, leaving it untouched for so long.

But of course, I couldn’t tell you that.

Our first conversation had been not long after you entered school, during the chaotic rush when every club tried to recruit new members. While others clamored for attention, I had been alone in the art room, painting.

Back then, I was utterly defeated. The art club I belonged to was on the brink of disbanding, with no members left after the third-year students graduated. If no new members joined, it would become a reality. I desperately needed club members. But the situation was dire.

I wasn’t good at getting along with people, and I wasn’t much of a talker. I had made a huge mistake during the club introduction for new students, earning their laughter. Despite practicing repeatedly, my mind went blank when I stood in front of everyone. I hastily read from my cue cards, stumbling over words, and was told my voice was barely audible. For someone like me, putting up posters was the best I could manage; approaching people directly to recruit them was completely out of the question.

The club advisor I could have relied on didn’t seem interested in the art club. He merely encouraged me to hang in there and then secluded himself in the art prep room. I hated myself for being unable to do anything despite the urgency. Naturally, I couldn’t focus on my painting.

Outside the window, rain poured down as if to match my mood—a sudden downpour unpredicted by the weather forecast.

The sports clubs were probably having a hard time.

Not that it had anything to do with me. In fact, the troubles of my rivals were a good thing. Realizing I was feeling unusually aggressive, I became even more depressed.

“That’s it for today. I’ll just head home.”

I sighed and set down my paintbrush.

Just then, I sensed someone’s presence and looked up. When I glanced around the classroom, I saw you standing at the entrance. Your emerald-green eyes were filled with curiosity as you quietly observed me. When our eyes met, you flinched slightly but didn’t look away.

I couldn’t figure out why you were there, so we simply stared at each other for a moment.

“U-Um... I was thinking of... joining the club...”

Panicking, I leaped to my feet, causing my chair to topple over. You looked startled, but I dashed toward you desperately, not wanting to lose the opportunity for a new member.

In hindsight, I realize I must have been terrifying. While I’m not particularly large for a polar bear, you had to look up at me. Moreover, my slightly protruding belly probably made me seem even bigger. With this bulky frame charging at you, it’s no wonder your ears suddenly flattened.

You looked visibly troubled as I grabbed your hand and stared at you intently.

“I’m sorry. I just saw this huge polar bear student walking by and got curious, so I followed you. I wasn’t actually thinking of joining...”

You spoke apologetically, bowing your head. In truth, you had planned to join the soccer club, but practice had been canceled due to the rain, and you had randomly noticed me, sparking your curiosity. I must have looked dumbfounded.

“Why did you follow me?”

“Well, I’m a fox.”

“Is that normal for foxes?”

“It’s kind of our thing.”

You chuckled. I didn’t know what you found amusing, but the fact that my hopes had been dashed was clear. I instinctively covered my face. The disappointment of losing what little hope I had hurt deeply, even though it was my own fault for jumping to conclusions.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“No, it’s not that... It’s just... we’re short on members.”

When I stood up after a moment, you looked at me with wide eyes.

“What is it?”

“Um, you have paint on your face.”

“Paint? Oh no!”

Realizing it too late, I quickly checked my reflection in the mirror. A large splash of paint had landed on the right side of my face. Frantically, I washed my hands and wiped my face clean. With my white fur, the paint would stain if I didn’t act fast.

“Did you paint with your fingers?”

You asked curiously, glancing between me and the painting on the easel.

“Yes, it’s called finger painting. It’s often done by kindergarteners or elementary school kids, but I was inspired by a painter named Iris Scott. I wanted to try painting like her...”

When I turned around after wiping off the water, I saw you staring blankly, and I realized I had been rambling to myself.

“Oh, s-sorry. You’re not interested in painting, are you? I was just... happy you talked to me, so...”

I tried to explain, but I quickly lost track of my thoughts, as I often did. It was my bad habit to forget what I was trying to say while speaking. You glanced at me with mild amusement and then began examining the painting I was working on. A gloomy landscape of gray clouds and gray buildings, reflecting my mood.

“Oh, that’s still a work in progress...”

“How about adding a ray of light from the sky?”

When I tried to explain further, you looked at me seriously.

“Light? How?”

“Like this.”

You pointed out the window, and I gasped.

Outside, the rain continued to fall, but sunlight was breaking through the clouds, pouring down like a spotlight. It was so divine and beautiful, it made the world seem radiant.

I quickly smeared paint onto my palette and began working on the canvas. Applying strokes here and there, glancing outside for reference, and then painting again. A single ray of light piercing the darkness. The painting began to shimmer as though life had been breathed into it.

“That’s called a ‘Angle’s Ladder.’ Have you heard of it?”

“No, it’s my first time. I’ve seen it before, but I didn’t know it had a name.”

I answered without looking back. You didn’t seem upset by my lack of response and continued watching me paint. I was so focused on the painting that I forgot you were there. I had to capture it before it was gone.

When I finally stopped and stepped back, you cautiously spoke.

“If it’s okay, would you like me to help recruit members?”

“What!? But aren’t you joining another club?”

“I plan to join the soccer club. But if the art club disbands, you won’t be able to finish that painting, will you? It’d be a shame after you’ve worked so hard and enjoyed it.”

You smiled confidently, and to me, you looked like the radiant sun itself.

You were like a ray of light descending into my gray world. Without thinking, I clung to that light.

“I’m Koganei Ukyou. Nice to meet you, senpai.”

“Oh... uh, yeah! Nice to meet you, Ukyou.”

With paint still on my hand, I grabbed yours enthusiastically.