The story of Hina's baby got to the student facility of Tokyo University within a week via Nagi, having told his own classmates, whose brothers, sisters and cousins were also attending the college. Gossip and speculation spread regarding the mystery of who Sora's father was. Some even believed it to be Aito Hamato himself, but he turned those rumors down, telling even his own parents.

"I never even got down with her."

Hina considered throwing a party to celebrate Sora's birth, but Natsumi, being the immovable mountain of her way out of the guest room was against it.

"We already celebrated your birthday so it also counts for Sora in some way."

Still, she and the others celebrated Sora's birth over a few cups of sakes. Suga had to comment that this was the best drink he ever had in his entire life, but the drink seemed to taste tour in his head as he came to the realization that he and his family now had two babies to care for.


Back at the temple, Hodaka was counting off the days he had left before returning to Tokyo, but after all the services he had bringing the rain to the farmers after a long drought, another half of his mind was telling him to stay….

But there was no reason to put it off. He had to go to Tokyo. If he left soon after Labor Day, he would be written off as tardy, and most likely be put on suspension for another semester. Not that he wondered if the rules were that strict, but if that opportunity came, he would continue to use his powers once a week. Then again, anything was better than almost ending up like Hina.

Hodaka made up his mind on the day he saw the delicate haze of green on the meadow. The countryside had been returned to a healthy state, thanks to his newfound powers. The vegetables and fruits in the farms were looking good enough to eat and the trees and plants in the mountains shone a bright green.

Hodaka squinted up at the sun, saw the clouds racing towards it, knew that soon it would rain, and soon after that it would clear again, and the sun would warm the fields until the next rain, followed by the next warming sunlight.

I'll feel the baking heat of Korea sun one more time, he decided, I'm entitled to that. I miss it sometimes so terribly. But, somehow, Tokyo and Kozushima's more like a dream than a memory. It belongs in the past, like the Hodaka I used to be. That life and that person don't have anything to do with me anymore. I've made my choice. Korea will be my home away from home. I'm the Rain God of Busan. I'll keep my shares of Korea for Hina when I see her again, but when I graduate, I'll go back to Okasan and Otousan, ask them for their blessing, marry Hina and cut those ties for good. Korea's my home now. I feel like I have found a purpose…just as Hina did.

His mind touched briefly on the business he had to deal with. All that could wait. What he must concentrate on was the best way to tell Hina and Nagi about his wonderful new home. They wouldn't believe he wanted them—why should they? In truth she never had the chance to tell them. Korea, at first, seemed like a good summer vacation.


September 1st was considered the beginning of another school year in Japan, and Hodaka took the next flight out from the airport to Tokyo. Chang-min and the other members of the Bisin cult bid him goodbye and he rushed down the airbridge without looking back. There were very few passengers on the plane due to the obviously flooded nature of Tokyo, so Hodaka had two seats to himself. As the plane took off, flying back into the cloudy gloomy territory of a flooded city, Hodaka did look back: at the gorgeous sunny scenery that was South Korea, looking even more beautiful than it was when he first arrived.

He was the Rain God, so there was no argument. Hodaka felt elated, confident that he had given more justice to a rival country than anyone had ever given him.

He rested his head in the second seat. Mostly he planned. He had a lot to do. He had to find a way of making himself know to Hina again and this time, actually propose to marry her…

He would either sell the apartment or move into a house where he and Hina could have all the children they wanted. Hodaka also thought his parents, wondering if they'd be willing to move in with him, but since he knew why his father wanted to move to Kozushima, it was best that he'd let his parents make their own choice, even if he asked nicely.

What about the houses that weren't affected by the flood? He and Hina would definitely have to move to higher ground if her powers did not return any sooner…

He had to make sure Hina was all right. And Nagi. And Suga and his family as well.

Then, when he was done with college, he would go to Kozushima. That must be last. Because once his mother and father learned from him that he and Hina were going to be married, they'd be anxious to get going or express moments of doubt. It wouldn't be fair to keep their son dangling on the threshold between married and bachelor forever. And saying goodbye to Kozushima would be the hardest thing he had to do. Best to do it quickly; it wouldn't hurt so much then. Besides, he was no longer feeling any emotional connection to it…was he?

The long slow flight over the Sea of Japan seemed to go on forever. The plane had to fly through scattered clouds in order to avoid wind pockets which would lead to extreme turbulence. Hodaka walked restlessly from one side of the plane to the other with his arms crossed, trying to enjoy the flight as long as it lasted. They were so close now, why couldn't they get there? He wanted to see Japan, hear Japanese voices.

At last. There was the city. And the airport. "I'm home."

Hodaka's apartment was just as it had been, nothing had changed. The classmates were the same. The affection. The swarms of students. Sally was still her usual self, Emmaline had found a new boyfriend named Haniki Bokowa, and Maki and Ekano were thinking of taking a new class to advance ahead of their peers.

He sent a text message to his parents, simply telling them that he was starting school again and that he was going to spend the Christmas holidays with the Sugas. Then he returned to his apartment and settled in for the night. He was both excited and nervous. He'd been gone so long—anything might have happened. He wouldn't fret about it now, he'd find out soon enough. In the meantime he'd simply enjoy the cold Tokyo rain and the pleasure of being back in his natural habitat. It was like he travelled to so many worlds that he didn't know where his heart was either.

The city's water level hadn't even risen up by an inch. But that was all right. Hodaka was positive that Hina would get her powers back soon and maybe, if she played her cards right, the water would dry up and all would be forgiven by the invisible gods who would otherwise punish them.

The next morning, he got up and took a quick shower, not even bothering to scrub his hair or brush his teeth. He had a class to get to. When he got there, Yukino-sama was back to teaching her literary class and the normal agriculture teacher, Mr. Haraka, was taking her place. Haraka got along well with Hodaka, and he was even impressed by his scores from the past semester.

Ekano was waiting for him in the cafeteria, drinking a cup of apple juice out of a straw. Hodaka looked at his care-worn face and grinned from ear to ear.

"Has anything else happened while I was away?"

"Quite much," Ekano said quietly. "But I'd rather focus on our studies than talk about social things."

"Do you need to help me with your homework?"

"Just a little. I think I've figured out most of the math answers by myself."

"Do you know where Hina is?"

Ekano shifted the straw in his mouth. "The last I checked; she was in the literature classroom. But I'm sure you'll see her again after lunch. Also, they're holding a water boat race soon with some of the students driving. Maybe you should sign up."

"That depends, is it too late for me?"

"Not unless someone drops out."


Ekano had described a water boat race through the city to Hodaka, but he wasn't prepared for the first impact of it. It was to start at the docks and end at one of the lower districts of the city. All of the motor boats that would participate in the event were rentals, which would be sold back to their owners as soon as it was over. The prize for the race was money, exactly five million yen needed to build a new home on higher ground. Hodaka and the other students went to the docks after school to watch. Drinks and snacks were being served under a tent on a white-clothed table and some notables of the city were there, including the police inspector Takai, who was acting as head of security for the race. Hodaka took one glance at this man before directing his eyes off of him and toward the pier, not wishing for another reunion as his own personal feelings towards the man had not yet completely subsided.

There were other canvas covered stalls selling shirts, watches and glasses as souvenirs, sheltered from the drizzling rain. Hodaka elbowed his way from one place to another, looked over one boat after another. "Is it not too late for me to participate?" he said to the first racer he saw.

"Not at all," said the skipper. "My partner got sick with the flu and I could use a mate to help me man the boat."

The boat had a red hull with a top, bearing the number "8" on the stern.

"So do you have any experience in boating?"

"Plenty," Hodaka smiled. "My parents often took me boating and my father taught me how to steer."

He gulped under his breath, hoping that his stunt would not end as badly as the time he and Hina caught themselves caught in a storm because of his yet-untapped powers.

Speaking of Hina, he didn't see her at school, but he did see her on the pier…or so he thought.

That's her back. Isn't it? It is, I'm sure it is. If only she'd say something else, turn her head. It can't be Hina. I'm don't even know if she has a reason to be at this race. But I couldn't be wrong about those ponytails.

After giving his name and age to the skipper, he walked over to the other side of the pier. It was Hina. His knuckles were white against his hands, so tightly was he holding on to the post. He was trembling.

Hina was there alone. Hodaka called out to her. "Hina!"

Hina spun around. An expression he couldn't recognize flickered on her face, and her eyes seemed very bright beneath the shading bill of the overcast sky. Then she smiled the innocent smile he knew so well. "I never thought I would see you again after not telling me you were leaving, Hodaka," she said.

"Hello, Hina," he said, "Sorry I didn't tell you soon, but how are you?" He knew it was a foolish, inadequate thing to say, but he had to say something.

Hina's mouth twitched. "I'm remarkably well after summer break," she drawled, "or was I mistaken? I thought I glimpsed you in the hall back at the university."

"Well, yeah, but I guess I didn't see you. As for my vacation—"

"Don't try to explain, Hodaka. It's not your forte."

"What are you talking about?" Was she being mean? Please don't be mean, Hina.

"It's not important. What brings you to the race? Have you come to watch me participate?"

"es, for the same reason as everybody else. As for you participating…" She bit her lip. "Please don't make it a disaster like what happened last time with us."

"Relax, Hina. We're only going from the docks to the lower district."

"So I see, Hodaka, I'd like to tell you something."

Before she could spill the beans, the skipper grabbed Hodaka by the back of his collar.

"Come along, Morishima-san. Time to get you into your uniform."

He escorted Hodaka into a tent before Hina had a chance to cry out.

The uniform that the shipper had spoken of was quite appropriate for a race. It was a white suit with a blood red helmet. Hodaka came out of the tent looking like a real racer, admiring his black gloves and red and white streaked shoes.

"Looks like I'm ready."

But before it could be done, Hodaka was presented before the judges, where he was carefully measured and weighted under quick seconds. The race would begin at any time.

"Seems in order," one of them said. "He may participate."

"Ride along easy, well back, and watch what the others do," the skipper had said. Hodaka began as he advised. He felt his palms sweating inside his gloves. Up ahead the other boats were revving up their engines, then beside him a female racer laughed and kissed her beau, his right foot accidentally pushing down on the engine. Hodaka looked briefly at the panorama of grey and blue water that lay ahead of him.

A male announcer shouted the countdown.

"3! 2! 1! GO!"

The specters of his parents and Hina's cold attitude that had plagued him were gone. Him fear was gone. There was only the excitement of the misty air streaking past his skin and the power of the boat that he controlled.

All throughout the race, the champions took a crescent route around the docks before heading into the lower districts of the flooded metropolis; up, down, left, right, sharp turns around the half-submerged traffic lights, through the underwater elevated tracks and jumps along some old ramps. They kept going fast, with news helicopters and drones chasing after them, trying to figure out who was in the lead.

Hodaka took the tiller and bent over to wipe at the dampness on his trousers. There was no point to it; his helmet was already spattered with flecks of water from the wild cross-city chase. But it gave him a chance to collect his thoughts and to hide his face for a moment under the helmet.

I wonder what was so important that Hina had to tell me? Did something happen while I was away?

And no sooner did he think about Hina when, due to a sharp turn, he found his very essence being flung overboard and into the water, his body making a hard splash into the cold Pacific.


When Hodaka came to, he was in his apartment bed. His vision was blurry when it was restored, he saw none other than Aito Hamato standing above him.

"I'm glad you're awake Hodaka."

Hodaka quickly became of aware of his surroundings. He stood up from his bed, being the first to ask.

"What happened? Did my skipper win the race?"

"He did. He plans on sharing some of the reward money with you."

"Where's Hina?"

"She's downstairs. I'm supposed to fetch her for you when you awake. The doctor said you weren't seriously hurt. But you were knocked out cold."

"Well my forehead does feel cold. I haven't fallen from a boat since the day I went sailing with Hina and when I was ten years old. That's when Otousan got strict."

"Well, anyway," said Aito, adjusting his seat a little. "It's nice to see you again. How was your vacation?"

"Bizarre. It was just a business trip to South Korea, nothing more."

"Nothing more?"

"It's personal."

Aito looked back at the room, then to Hodaka.

"You know, in case Hina was too busy downstairs," he paused trying to find the right words. "I should be the one to tell you about the baby."

Hodaka's eyebrows went crooked.

"What baby?"

Aito left his seat and when over to the portable carriage sitting by the door. He brought it over to Hodaka, showing the little baby boy, sleeping in there without any awareness of the world outside his eyelids.

"Hodaka, this is your son, Sora. Hina is his mother."

Hodaka stared at the little baby in disbelief with wide eyes and panicked lips. When did that happen? He wondered in alarm. There was a parade of images that went on in his head, showing his past and his future in blurred flashes. How would his parents react to him knocking up a young girl? How would he live between his role as a father, a student and rain god? More importantly, how would he even balance it all?

"When did this happen?" he asked him.

"How should I know?"

"I'll bet it was when I made love to her in that cave."

Aito tried to alternate the subject.

"Aren't you going to take him?"

Hodaka's face of fear turned into a mug of malice. His eyes were cold and steely towards Aito, as he made up the choice in his head.

"You can be his father."

"God-father would be more appropriate."

"No, I mean it. I am letting you be his father. I'm not ready to be a dad, and my dad wasn't a saint either. He abused me. He was strict with me and he wanted me to be just like him…and even though he's softened up a bit, I fear that I will become exactly like him…and one day, maybe after sixteen years, Sora will grow up to be a runaway, just like I was."

"It's not too late to love him."

"It is. I fear that I might end up hitting him if he acts out of line."

He got up from his bed and walked over to the door. Hina was on his mind now.


Hodaka travelled downstairs to the front office on light feet, anger and betrayal (or at least the kind when one is quick to jump to conclusions). Over by the desk, he found Hina, flanked by Emmaline and Sally. She turned around, her face observing the anger in Hodaka's eyes. She was so frightened that she decided not to speak.

"Why didn't you tell me that you were having a baby?!"

"Well," Hina said nervously. "I didn't want to bother you. If you found out that I was pregnant, you would have reprimanded me that we were too young to be parents."

"It seems as though you just spoke my mind," Hodaka's voice was calm now. "But do you want to know another secret, Hina? I'm an ame-oktoko. A weather man just like you. But while you have the ability to bring sunshine, I have the power to bring rain."

Hina found it hard to believe, and so did Emmaline and Sally.

"It's because of me this whole the city is flooded. It's because of me that I ruined so many lives because I was head over heels with you. It's almost because my powers that I got you pregnant."

"Does it really matter?" Hina shook her head.

"It matters to me," Hodaka said with anger in his voice. "You don't want me to abuse your powers anymore, I don't want to abuse mine and I say it's best for the both us that we do not see each other anymore. As for Sora…Aito can be his father. If my parents found out that I had a child…" his weakened to sadness. "I don't know what they would say."

He turned in the other direction and walked, in some metaphorical way, out of Hina's life for good.

Sally and Emmaline couldn't make any sense of what Hodaka was trying to say, yet they knew for certain that Hina and him had decided to break up.

Hina, being the only one who understood the full details, could not believe what he had just done.