Note: 《LiliaYuun》, character × OC
You've probably had a tiring week, but you've done your best. I hope you'll take some time to rest, and let's continue doing our best together (^▽^)/★☆♪
The first rain of early summer arrived without warning, sending students all across campus scrambling for shelter.
Yuun stood beneath the eaves, clutching a stack of books tightly against her chest as she stared at the curtain of white rain before her with a troubled expression.
But she didn't particularly like it either.
It was just that... rain always made everything more troublesome.
The roads became slippery. Wet clothes and chilled hair clung uncomfortably to the skin. Shoes soaked through would take forever to dry. Not to mention catching a cold afterward would be even more exhausting. Students crowded together beneath the narrow shelter as they passed by.
Yuun let out a small sigh.
"Why did I forget my umbrella today of all days...?"
"Hmm? I believe I reminded you this morning, didn't I?"
The familiar voice behind her made Yuun jump slightly before turning around.
Lilia approached with his usual gentle smile. His short pink hair swayed lightly with each step as he raised a hand in greeting.
"Vanrouge-senpai. Aren't you supposed to have club activities today?" Yuun returned his greeting with a small nod and a faint smile.
"Indeed. But Kalim had an urgent meeting, so Cater and I decided to call it a day early."
Lilia stepped beside her, watching the rain together. "And you? Why are you still at school this late? Didn't your class finish early today?"
"I was looking for reference books for an assignment. By the time I realized it, it had already started raining." Yuun scratched her cheek sheepishly. If it had only been homework, she wouldn't have stayed this long. She had simply gotten distracted by a book about plants she happened to find alongside the reference materials. She really needed to fix that bad habit. She was an adult already, yet still so easily sidetracked.
Lilia knew exactly what had happened, but he wasn't about to point it out. That was one of her charming traits, after all.
"By the way, where's Grim? Did he head back already?" Lilia suddenly noticed the absence of the noisy cat who usually hung around her neck.
"Grim said the library was boring, so he went back first." Yuun nodded before turning back toward the rain.
"Maybe that's for the best. If Grim had stayed with me, he'd probably be soaked by now."
Lilia silently watched her. Sometimes he genuinely wanted to ruffle her hair until she learned to care about herself a little more. To express her own feelings instead of quietly carrying everything alone. He sighed softly and changed the subject.
"We should head back. If we're much later, Grim will start worrying."
"Did you bring an umbrella, Senpai?" Yuun turned toward him hopefully.
"Of course." Lilia smiled innocently. "Though... I seem to have left it somewhere. I can't find it anymore."
Yuun stared at him speechlessly.
What exactly had she expected?
Noticing her priceless expression, Lilia chuckled. Then, without warning, he slipped off his jacket, draped it over her head, grabbed her hand, and pulled her out from beneath the shelter into the rain.
"Come on. Before it gets heavier."
"W-Wait, Vanrouge-senpai—!"
Before she could react, he had already dragged her forward. Cold raindrops splashed against her cheeks, making her squeeze her eyes shut instinctively.
Holding the oversized jacket above them like a makeshift umbrella, Lilia pulled her closer to his side to shield her from the rain.
Footsteps splashed across the soaked pavement.
Water scattered beneath their feet as they raced down the path. Rain pattered steadily against the fabric stretched above their heads, creating a tiny world that seemed to belong only to the two of them.
Mixed with the sound of falling rain were their hurried breaths. Yuun truly wasn't fond of being forced into this kind of exercise.
At first, she focused on protecting the books, keeping the jacket in place, making sure she didn't slip, and hoping an old injury wouldn't suddenly flare up.
But somehow— At some point, she started laughing.
Maybe it was when Lilia nearly slipped after stepping into a puddle.
Or when he kept angling the jacket toward her, leaving half of his own shoulder completely drenched.
Or perhaps when they ran through a flooded stretch of road together, their footsteps splashing rhythmically in a strangely pleasant way.
Yuun had expected to be annoyed. But somehow... Beneath that tiny shelter made from a single jacket, she felt her heart grow lighter.
Lilia tilted his head toward her, crimson-pink eyes curving with delight.
"Then why do you look so happy?"
Yuun was about to argue, but paused. Without thinking, she lifted a hand to touch the corner of her lips.
"Our little moon is a terrible liar~"
Lilia leaned closer with a teasing grin. His laughter brushed against her ear, sending a slight shiver down her spine.
Yuun puffed her cheeks and glared at him.
He was the one who dragged her into the rain, and now he was teasing her too. Acting on impulse, she stomped hard into a puddle, sending water splashing all over him.
"Ah! Hey! That's cheating!" Lilia yelped in surprise. The sight made Yuun burst into laughter again—a bright, innocent laugh, like a child who had just pulled off the most entertaining prank in the world.
Lilia froze for a moment, then somehow... He found himself laughing too.
Rain was supposed to be cold. Yet somehow, right now, she felt warm.
She didn't even like rain.
It wasn't that she had always disliked it.
For a fleeting moment, memories long buried beneath the dust resurfaced.
There had been a time when rain made her happy. A time when she had run beneath the rain with someone else.
She used to love humming softly while walking through a downpour. Used to spin an umbrella absentmindedly in her hand. Used to listen to raindrops drumming against the canopy overhead. Used to stand in awe before rainbows that appeared after heavy storms.
...She used to love rain.
When had she forgotten that?
"Little moon?" Lilia tilted his head and smiled gently. "What's wrong?"
Only then did Yuun realize she had been smiling this entire time.
Maybe it was because she was happy.
So happy that she didn't want to think about anything. Not her worries. Not her responsibilities. Not the things that exhausted her.
Just running through the rain with someone. Hearing his laughter blend with the sound of rainfall. Feeling what it was like to stop overthinking and simply enjoy the small joys hidden within ordinary moments.
"Sometimes happiness comes from the smallest moments in everyday life."
Honestly, I had an incredibly exhausting week, and somehow I happened to come across a pose of two people running in the rain. Then, by pure coincidence, I received a slot commission from my favorite artist, so... this little story happened.Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend! (￣▽￣)b
(W) by me (It's been a while since I last wrote a fic, so please be kind.)
