It was Sunday morning, while Hebihara-sensei had thought of going outside for once today, a sudden clap of thunder smashed open his highly organized schedule. It seems that he'd have to content with staying home for today – not that he disliked it.

In fact, this is his daily routine. Wake up at 6.00, drink a cup of Arabica dark roast with a newspaper at hand. Go to work, home, figure something out for dinner, sleep, rinse and repeat. Quite surprisingly, his diet had gone a bit sideways since he started living alone again. Like today,

"So the best option should be some toast with eggs for breakfast, tamagoyaki for lunch, and maybe some more tamagoyaki for dinner." He said to himself, gently brushing his chin at the thought of having eggs 3 times a day. If this continues, I'll get cholesterol in no time..

He sighed.

The truth is, there is a reason for this sudden disruption of his healthy diet. His eyes slowly focused on stacks of metals, batteries, and LCDs scattered across his worktable. He's currently working on a 'portable analysis system for heavy metal contamination detection in soil samples' at least that's what he named it. He tried constructing a hollow cathode lamp but he just can't find his drill press.

The man had been working on this all night, convincing himself that this is for the purpose of the science assignment at school, but a part of him knows that it's all a ton of crap. The comforting brush of air had abandoned him as he ventured on to the abandoned attic. He's positive that he had put it back in its original box, and yet all he can find are more props for his previous project.

After searching for a whole 20 minutes, Taizou was about to give up, when he accidentally nudged on a small box. It was placed on the top shelf and while it's relatively small in size, the sheer height had tripled its impact – releasing an annoying sound in the dark of day.

He sighed.

Carefully stepping down the stair, he picked up the scattered pieces of paper from the floor, until he discovered a small envelope, tied with a golden bow. The words at the front were worn off, and it's clear that the ink had not been dried before delivering. Yet, he just can't dismiss it as some old letter that he had forgot to deliver.

His hand twitched as he undone the knot. His long fingers made contact with the letter, and it can faintly feel small holes in it. When he finally managed to gather up the courage to read it, a swoop of wind smashed his open windows. Bringing a faint breeze inside the damp room

RING RING RING RING

"Morning"

"Hey, I think I can't visit you today. As you can see it's raining and I don't own a car"

"Yeah, it's fine – I wouldn't want you to catch a cold either"

"Mm"

"Actually, I'd love to see you sick. Remember when you force me to eat your lunc because I was sick? Hehe how fun would it be if it had been the other way around."

"How crude, wishing for sickness on another person."

"Hmm, I wouldn't call you a person – maybe a robot?"

Not gonna lie, that did make him smirk and flinch a bit. Not that he's gonna tell her though.

"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow then-

"Wait a second! That's it?"

"Yeah, I got some work to do, why?"

"I don't know, I expected something in exchange for you not coming today."

He sighed, "Alright, we'll grab some lunch tomorrow then."

"Come on, we've had lunch together for practically everyday now. Think about something more romantic."

"Okay…Unghh…I..love you.."

"I knew that already. Maybe something more artistic. Surely your 150 IQ brain is capable of constructing structured and complicated sentences."

He grunted, "Fine, give me a second."

"Mhm"

A couple of minutes passed, and while Taizou was scratching his head at this unusual task – complete with a pen at hand, and an empty paper in front of him, Shizuka leaned her head on her hand and looked out the window. She stared at crystals of rain pouring down from the sky, crashing and disappearing on the window. She can't quite understand it, but the rain seems to be happier today.

"Ahem, I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for – but this is certainly my best one so far."

"Alright, let's give it a hear!"

I can see it from afar

Pools of wind dancing together in harmony

Tis but a matter of time until our ship falls apart

If so, will we meet again ashore?

"…."

"Hello?"

"Y-Yeah I'm here."

"How is it?"

"Jeez, what's with this grim poem? Tornado, falling apart? Are you feeling down today?"

"I don't quite get it myself. I saw how droplets of water would destroy one another on the window. It's also something about the rain and the whole atmosphere. It just felt – fitting somehow."

She chuckled, "To see the other side of a beautiful phenomenon, it's just like you…I don't hate it though"

"Pardon?"

"I-It's nothing! Anyways, what's with the question at the end?"

"Since I'm writing this for you, I thought I'll include a question that only you can answer."

"I see…"

I can also see it from afar

Pools of wind dancing together in harmony

Even if our ship does fall apart

I-

BEEP

"Shizuka?"

He was sitting on the edge of his seat, anxiously anticipating the answer to his absurd poem. Yet, all he heard was a sudden cut. He can't understand it, but his heart aches, his whole body tensing in anticipation. And after the sudden stop, the all just moved faster, frantically even. His rational mind is screaming for him to calm down, and yet this strange burn had swallowed him whole.

He put in the letter in his left pocket, and without even putting on his raincoat, he ran out of the door. To the slippery pavement of the street, to the brush of cold win, to the sound of the birds. All for a single sentence to put off his fire. A fire not even the rain could abolish.