✿ ur choice
16. rain kiss hug
It’s the first time they actually meet.
Kouko Domon is an angel, she’s perfect like one, gorgeous like one, brilliant like one, well-spoken like one, etc. and so on. Silas has heard of her before, just heard her name in passing.
It’s the same for Kouko. She’s heard his name in passing, usually from the louder, more gossip-y students trying to start something. But she always smiles delicately and doesn’t listen anymore. Today, she excuses herself from her club activities early.
It’s hard to get home in the rain without an umbrella. She trades her shoes for rain boots she has stored in a plastic bag she’s kept next to her school bag. They’re plain, the generic cheap red ones.
She takes her umbrella out as she exits the school doors, making sure she’s outside before she actually opens it. She’s a little bit superstitious, always careful with her luck.
Her umbrella is cute, white, patterned with rubber ducks all over. She stands, watching the people scattered across the streets, their umbrellas black or red or sleeker and less childish than hers. She feels a little out of place.
Silas has misheard the weather announcements. He does not have an umbrella. Living in Japan is hard enough, especially with his hearing aids acting up. He has to get those checked soon. He’s been waiting near the entrance, hoping someone will be kind enough to let him share an umbrella.
And now, she’s here. In whispers, he’s heard about her. She was…the Class Rep, right? She’s got a silly-looking umbrella, but it’s better than nothing.
He calls out to her, and she turns, a brilliant smile upon her face.
“Oh, hello! You’re also a student? I don’t think we’ve been acquainted. My name is Kouko Domon, but you can call me ‘Coco’, because everyone does.”
Her kindness is a refreshing change of pace from the other students, who are full of…difficult personalities.
“Where’s your umbrella?”
She ventures on. She looks a bit concerned, the way a young mother might fuss about her first child. But that’s Kouko Domon. She cares for every student.
“Name’s Silas Sizemore. A pleasure to meet you, Miss Domon. I misunderstood th’ weather forecaster. Was wonderin’ if you could walk me to nearest convenience store. I can buy an umbrella there.”
He says honestly, giving a small smile. She twirls her umbrella in her hands, and looks at him. For a moment, she says nothing and Silas wonders if she’ll laugh in his face about it.
But she doesn’t, because that’s not Kouko Domon at all. She smiles politely and reaches out her hand to hand him the umbrella.
“You should carry it, because you’re taller!”
Silas is grateful for this kindness and takes the umbrella. Kouko takes her place at her side.
“Thank you, Miss Domon.”
She looks away dismissively and shakes her head.
“Anything to help out a student, you know? And I believe all acts of kindness are smiled upon. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” A pause. “I think that’s, uh – Ephesians 4:32?”
She laughs and Silas looks at her, surprised. He doesn’t know what to say at first. Not many of the people here really appreciated his preachings, let alone knew much about the Bible, but here she was, this girl, quoting it perfectly.
“You memorized the Bible?”
He asks thoughtfully, hoping this makes her Christian, or at least interested in converting.
“Oh– uh, haha,” She laughs shyly. “Only some parts…it’s too long to memorize the whole thing.”
She looks away.
“Sorry if it seems like I’m bragging, I know you’re the Super High School Level Preacher and I just couldn’t help it, ahhh–”
He shakes his head as her voice trails off.
“No, it’s real impressive. Are you…?”
“Christian? Uh-huh. Yes, I mean–!!”
He smiles and she looks back at him. She looks like an angel, he realizes. Her blonde hair is the color of a halo.
“That’s –”
“There’s the convenience store!”
She says this at the same time, not really realizing she has spoken over him in her excitement. He didn’t even notice they had been walking.
“Thank you, Miss Domon–I mean, Coco.”
“It’s no problem, Sizemore-san.”
She guides him into the shop, and leaves with a wave. He thinks about her on the way home, and she does the same.
The next day, it rains too. He has his umbrella this time, and he’s walking to school.
“Ah! Sizemore-san!”
It’s her again, her voice is soft, but still louder than the rain. He turns, and she’s there, with her duck umbrella.
“I really enjoyed your company yesterday. Sometimes the walk home can be very lonely, especially on gloomy days. Here is my thanks!”
She gives him a chaste hug from the side, nothing too special.
“I know, uh, Americans like hugs right? Well, thank you again, Sizemore-san.”
She bounds away without another word, making her way into the school, but closing her umbrella before she’s inside.
Silas thinks she’s a very nice girl.
