The frozen mix of rain and hail continued hard. Upon finding a roof, Fuutarou and Miku saw as the road slowly began to flood.

Miku:"What do we do about this?"

Fuutarou:"We need to find some shelter."

Miku:"Let's stop by that ramen shop, we should be safe for a little bit."

Fuutarou:"...Fine."

Miku:"I wonder if we can buy an umbrella…"

Fuutarou:"Here, take this."

Fuutarou took off his coat and put it over Miku's head.

Miku:"What are you doing!?"

Fuutarou:"I don't want you to get hurt."

Miku:"That doesn't mean you should!"

Fuutarou smiled before patting her head.

Fuutarou:"It's just for a little bit. I'm glad you care so much, but your safety is more important."

Miku tugged on the coat over her.

Miku:"Fuutarou…"

The two then ran across the street, with Miku feeling bad every time she felt hail in the coat, knowing Fuutarou had no protection. But, they finally got to the ramen shop to see that it was so full that people were practically stuck outside, unable to get in. It seems that others had the idea of using it as shelter.

Miku:"We can't get in…"

Fuutarou:"...I'm sorry."

Miku:"Huh?"

Fuutarou:"If I didn't make a fuss, we'd already be inside enjoying a meal together."

Miku:"N-No, that's not your fault! I'm the one who should be sorry!"

Miku saw the restaurant Fuutarou wanted to go to on the corner of her eye.

Miku:"Let's go over there! Maybe they have a seat left!"

Fuutarou:"Miku…"

Without saying anything, Fuutarou followed her to the restaurant. However, much to Miku's original concern, there were no seats left. As the defeated couple stayed under the shelter right outside, Fuutarou put his head on his hands.

Fuutarou:"Damn it, I should have made a reservation!"

Miku then hit him on the head.

Miku:"Stop beating yourself over it. I thought you told us to just keep the future in mind."

Fuutarou:"...S-Right."

Fuutarou slapped his cheeks, realizing how he had been acting. Once he came to his senses, he attempted to grab a taxi, but without luck.

Miku:"I doubt dad would be able to pick us up in this climate."

Fuutarou:"What about your butler?"

Miku:"He retired, so that's not an option either."

Fuutarou:"I didn't bring the manager's motorcycle, not that it would be safe to ride in this weather anyway."

Miku:"We might just have to bear it like this...Take your coat back, I can see you shaking."

Fuutarou:"But-"

Miku:"Don't talk back, your health is more important."

Fuutarou then took his coat back. Miku held his right hand to give it warmth.

Fuutarou:"I guess we'll stay here then…"

Miku was pondering, she was looking around at the surroundings. Beyond the mist caused by the rain, Miku knew that there had to be something familiar nearby.

Miku:[We haven't been here in a long time, but this area...it's familiar…] "I got it!"

Fuutarou:"You got what?"

Miku:"Come with me, Fuutarou! We're going to run, so make sure you don't slip!"

Fuutarou:"Sure, but where are we going?"

Miku:"We've been here before. It was about a year ago, but the two of us were already familiar with a certain place."

Fuutarou thought about the options, but then he remembered another place they went to. The park they went to where he met 'Rena' and where Yotsuba did her run back in the day. That means that…

Miku:"Here it is!"

Fuutarou looked up to see a hotel.

Miku:"This is the hotel Nino went to when she left the house!"

Fuutarou:"You're right."

Miku:"When we came, I saw a grocery store underneath. How about it, Fuutarou? You wanna spend the night with me?"

Fuutarou:"...Yeah!"

Fuutarou grabbed his envelope that his dad gave him.

Fuutarou:"I'll...We'll split the bill."

Miku:"I was just going to say that."

The two finally went inside, completely drenched. The heat inside was like a saving grace for the two of them. The security inside was initially wary of Fuutarou, having recognized him from his previous escapades there, but Miku, having the same face as Nino, was able to diffuse the situation. With time, they began to check in. Fuutarou felt a surge of pain in his heart when he saw the price, but he was willing to pay it. There was just one problem.

"The only rooms available have one bed."

…

Miku and Fuutarou both had emotionless faces as they entered their hotel room. A singular bed stood proud, inviting the guests that had just walked in. Fuutarou swallowed and Miku kept looking to her side. The situation in front of them was clear.

Miku:[This means…]

Fuutarou:[We'll have to…]

Fuutarou/Miku:[...Sleep together!?]

Miku:"U-Um, I'll go take a shower! Once I get out, you take one while I buy ingredients."

Fuutarou:"Y-Yeah! Shame that the restaurant below was closed for the day."

Miku:"Yep yep! Very lucky that there's a kitchen here!"

The silence permeated throughout the room. No matter what they tried to say, there was one simple truth. This was incredibly awkward. Miku went inside the bathroom quickly. She took off her clothes down to her underwear.

Miku:[These are my only clothes…] "F-Fuutarou…"

Miku opened the door ever so slightly.

Miku:"Could you hang my clothes in front of the heater?"

Fuutarou:"That's right...Sure, go ahead and pass them over."

Miku passed her clothes and Fuutarou started to hang them. The coat, the jacket, her pants...but something was missing.

Fuutarou:"What about your underwear?"

Miku:"W-What about my underwear?"

Fuutarou:"Don't you want to dry them?"

Miku:"Y-Yeah, one second."

Miku then took off her bra and panties.

Miku:"H-Here they are…" [He's going to see them.]

Fuutarou noticed her voice was shaking in embarrassment, so before she opened the door, he held it closed.

Fuutarou:"Actually, let me see if I can buy a new pair underneath!" [Right behind this door, Miku's…]

Miku:"Will you be okay buying women's underwear? Won't you look like a pervert?"

Fuutarou:"Probably, but I don't want you to get sick. And you probably don't want me to touch your underwear. Hold tight, I don't care how others look at me anyway."

As Fuutarou grabbed his key and left the room, Miku leaned against the door, putting her hand over her mouth.

Miku:"I...I can't stop my blush! I can't believe just how much I love him!"

After she stopped squealing, she finally began her shower. Neither of them could have predicted the turn their date had taken.

End of Chapter 139