After Mari confessed her feelings to Anna and was in obvious hurt, Mattsun was there to comfort her. She requested for him to walk her home that day, which he did, holding the umbrella slightly over her more, sacrificing his back to keep her dry. Through the rain, he could still see the small tear drops near her lower lashes. She was walking one step ahead of him, as usual, and making sure to hide her sadness. Finally he spoke against the loud pitters of rain.
"Hey, don't do that" he said stopping in his tracks.
Wiping the last of her tears she turned around with a puzzled expression.
"Don't do what?" her words became shaky once more.
"You're walking ahead of me...why don't you walk beside me instead" he suggested as he pulled onto her frail hands. She let him move her next to him, enough that their shoulders were hugging.
"There, isn't that better? Now tell me what's on your mind" he continued to walk, this time he intertwined his hands with hers. He still sheltered her side, causing the rain to catch his right shoulder.
She stayed silent, possibly sinking into her own thoughts.
"Actually it's okay, you don't have to tell me. I wouldn't want to become jealous anyway. Hearing you talk about other people romantically, now that get's me flustered", this caught Mari's attention. She only glanced towards the taller man's direction, waiting for him to explain what he meant.
"It's especially hard that someone like Anna, who's smart, kind, and just an amazing person could be my rival" he laughed a little, attempting to warm the atmosphere.
Mari remembered what Natsuki had mentioned before she went to meet with Mattsun.
"Mattsun's a good guy".
She squeezed his hand a little making him jump, afraid she was going to claw him in a second.
"Don't…" she began. "Don't think that you're not great…You may have a stupid ego, and you're a creepy guy, but you're not a bad guy" she said, just loud enough for him to hear through the rain. "You're a good guy Mattsun".
Mattsun was taken aback, a bit shocked that she would even say such kind words through venomous ones. But somehow a smile still seemed to creep up his face.
"Good enough to be your boyfriend?" he managed to joke while turning his face to her.
Like the tsundere she was, Mari just gave a glare in his direction.
"You're lucky my hands are cold" she mumbled.
"Ah, so that's the reason why you won't let go of me" he laughed as her face turned an obvious shade of red. From laughing to serious, Mattsun kissed the top of her forehead while she wasn't looking.
"Just stay by my side okay? I promise you won't hate it" he smiled.
That day, Mari let Mattsun walk her home without a scratch on his face. She even managed to give him a hug before he dropped her off at her house.
A/N: How was the first opening chapter of my Mattsun x Mari one shots? I love Nijiro Days and this is my fave couple. Let me know if you want more one shots! Until the next chapter ^^