Decision in the Downpour

The June sky changed on a whim, and the clear afternoon was suddenly shrouded in rolling dark clouds. By the time the school bell rang, large raindrops were already tapping against the classroom windows, quickly merging into a curtain of rain that enveloped the entire world in a hazy mist.

Fūki Ran stood at the exit on the first floor of the school building, gazing at the pouring rain outside. He had checked the weather forecast when he left home that morning and deliberately brought an umbrella. Now, he unhurriedly took a folding umbrella from his backpack. Just as he was about to open it and step into the rain, his eyes caught a familiar figure.

Ichinose Honami stood under the eaves not far away, her pink hair fluttering slightly in the wind. She looked at the downpour with a hint of distress on her face. Fūki noticed she was carrying a rather heavy canvas bag today, bulging as if it contained many things. What caught his eye even more was a transparent storage box she was holding, neatly arranged with several culture dishes and some experimental equipment inside.

It looks like she's going to the greenhouse today, Fūki immediately deduced.

Just then, two girls from Class B ran over to Ichinose under an umbrella.

"Ichinose, want to walk together?" one of the girls invited enthusiastically. "We can give you a ride back to the dormitory."

Ichinose smiled and shook her head. "Thank you, but I have to go to the greenhouse today, and it's in the opposite direction of the dormitory."

"You're still going to the greenhouse in this heavy rain?" the other girl exclaimed in surprise. "Can't the plants wait until later to be cared for?"

"Some data must be recorded today," Ichinose replied gently but firmly. "And some seedlings are very delicate; we can't miss the best time for treatment."

Seeing this, the two girls didn't press further. They said goodbye and left under their umbrella.

Fūki stood in place, watching Ichinose's profile as she gazed at the rain curtain. Her brow was slightly furrowed, clearly contemplating how to resolve the predicament before her. If she braved the heavy rain to go to the greenhouse, the experimental equipment in her hands could be damaged, and her carefully prepared culture dishes couldn't get wet. But if she didn't go, her research might be in vain.

At that moment, Fūki made a decision.

He opened his umbrella and steadily walked over to Ichinose. "Going to the greenhouse?" His voice was as calm as ever.

Ichinose turned her head at the sound, her pink hair tracing a beautiful arc in the air. Seeing it was Fūki, she visibly froze. "Classmate Fūki? Yes... I have some things I must do."

"The greenhouse administrator should be off work by now," Fūki glanced at the experimental equipment in her hands. "Can you handle it alone?"

A flicker of surprise flashed in Ichinose's eyes; she hadn't expected Fūki to be so aware of her schedule. "I applied for special permission from the administrator, so I can use the greenhouse after school for the whole month," she explained softly, then gave a helpless smile. "I just didn't expect it to rain so heavily."

Fūki's gaze fell on the storage box in her hands. "The equipment can't get wet."

"Yeah..." Ichinose sighed. "It seems I'll have to wait until the rain lessens..."

"I'll take you," Fūki interrupted her.

Ichinose's eyes widened, her pink eyelashes fluttering slightly. "How could I possibly impose... And shouldn't you be heading back to your dormitory, Classmate Fūki?"

"It's on the way," Fūki's tone was unyielding. "Give me the equipment."

Without waiting for Ichinose's response, Fūki naturally took the storage box from her hands. His movements were steady, ensuring the box remained level. Then, he tilted the umbrella towards Ichinose. "Let's go."

Ichinose seemed about to say something more, but seeing Fūki's determined expression, she finally nodded. "Then... I'll trouble you."

The two walked side-by-side into the rain. The space under the umbrella immediately felt smaller, and Fūki could clearly smell the familiar citrus fragrance emanating from Ichinose, which seemed exceptionally fresh amidst the damp scent of the rain. To prevent the experimental equipment from getting wet, Fūki tilted most of the umbrella towards Ichinose's side, and his right shoulder was quickly soaked by the stray raindrops.

"Classmate Fūki, your shoulder..." Ichinose noticed this, her voice laced with apology.

"It's fine," Fūki's reply was brief and firm.

The path to the greenhouse seemed unusually long in the downpour. Raindrops hammered the umbrella surface, creating a pattering sound that paradoxically made the space beneath it feel exceptionally quiet. Ichinose occasionally whispered directions, such as "Be careful of the puddle there" or "Turn right ahead." Fūki listened silently, holding the umbrella steady, ensuring that the precious experimental equipment and the maiden beside him remained dry.

"How has your research been going these days?" Fūki suddenly asked, breaking the silence filled only by the sound of rain.

Ichinose seemed surprised by his question and paused before replying, "It's going relatively smoothly... although I've encountered some difficulties. Some plants are growing slower than expected, and others have shown unexpected mutations." Her tone gradually became more animated. "But it's precisely these surprises that have led me to discover some interesting phenomena."

Fūki listened quietly, occasionally responding with a word or two. He noticed that when Ichinose spoke about her research, her entire demeanor changed. That focus and passion were vastly different from her usual gentle and polite demeanor, yet more real and captivating.

They finally arrived at the greenhouse. Fūki helped Ichinose open the door and handed back the storage box.

"Thank you so much today, Classmate Fūki," Ichinose took the box and expressed her sincere gratitude. "If it weren't for you, these instruments would probably have been ruined."

"It was nothing," Fūki's reply was still concise. His gaze swept over the interior of the greenhouse, seeing the meticulously cared-for plants looking exceptionally verdant in the rainy daylight. "How long will you need?"

Ichinose blinked. "About... half an hour. You don't have to wait for me, Classmate Fūki. The rain seems to have lessened a bit; I can go back by myself."

Fūki glanced at the still dense rain curtain outside, then at Ichinose's bright eyes. "I'll wait for you," his tone was calm yet firm. "Call me when you're done."

Without waiting for Ichinose's reply, he turned and walked towards a bench near the greenhouse entrance, took out a book from his bag, and began reading to himself.

Ichinose watched his retreating back, her lips slightly parted as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately swallowed the words. She nodded gently and, holding the experimental equipment, walked deeper into the greenhouse.

Fūki sat on the bench, his eyes on the book's pages, but his mind drifted to the busy figure in the depths of the greenhouse. He could faintly hear Ichinose's footsteps moving back and forth, and occasionally the sound of her softly humming a tune. The sound of the rain outside, the scent of the plants within the greenhouse, and that faint citrus fragrance intertwined to form a tranquil scene.

At this moment, Fūki suddenly realized that his attention towards Ichinose had long surpassed that of an ordinary classmate. He not only remembered her habits and understood her research but even escorted her to the greenhouse in such weather.

When did this change begin? Was it from the first time he smelled that citrus fragrance in the hallway? Or from seeing her focused profile in the library? Or perhaps from discovering her hidden side in the greenhouse?

Fūki closed his book and looked out the window. The rain was still falling, but his mood was exceptionally calm. Perhaps some changes didn't need to be deliberately sought out; it was enough to let them unfold naturally.

Half an hour later, Ichinose finished her work and tiptoed over to Fūki. "Classmate Fūki, I'm done."

Fūki put away his book and opened his umbrella. "Let's go."

On the way back, the rain had lessened, but it was still fine. The two still shared an umbrella, but this time, the silence was no longer awkward; instead, a peculiar sense of peace flowed between them.

"Um..." Ichinose suddenly spoke, her voice soft. "Why do you know so much about my research, Classmate Fūki?"

Fūki's steps faltered slightly. "I noticed it by chance," his answer remained concise.

Ichinose lowered her head, her pink hair obscuring her expression. "Actually... I've always worried that people would think I'm strange if they knew. Spending all day in the greenhouse researching plants..."

"Everyone has a side they keep hidden," Fūki said calmly. "What matters is that it's the path you chose for yourself."

Ichinose looked up, her eyes shimmering with surprise and emotion. "Thank you for saying that."

When they reached the dormitory building for girls, the rain finally stopped. The setting sun cast golden rays through the gaps in the clouds, painting a rainbow across the sky.

"Thank you so much for today." Ichinose thanked him again, her tone earnest. "You not only helped me out of a tight spot, but you also... made me feel like my persistence had meaning."

Feng Qi looked at her pink hair, its edges gilded by the setting sun, and nodded gently. "See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow." Ichinose flashed a brilliant smile and turned, running into the Dormitory Building.

Feng Qi stood in place, gazing at the rainbow in the sky. It was a long while before he turned to leave. The dampness on his shoulder brought a slight chill, but a strange warmth surged within his heart.

This time, he clearly realized that his attention toward Ichinose Honami was no longer simple curiosity. The desire to understand her, help her, and protect her was so genuine and strong.

And this feeling, for him, was entirely new, yet not at all unwelcome.