Ayano walked around her room idly. Today was Sunday, a particularly important date for her. Having finally, somehow, won a date with Toshinou Kyouko, every day leading up to this day had felt like a dream. If not for the calming silence of early morning, her excitement would have boiled over onto the carpet.

Outside, the sky was overcast but bright nonetheless. Morning sunbeams broke through chinks in the cloud layer, lending light to the world ensconced from the sky. Ayano could see nobody outside; at this time, most people were only getting ready to leave their houses.

The meeting time that she and Kyouko had agreed on was about an hour away. Still in her sleepwear, Ayano stopped in front of her closet and pushed the sliding door open. While she had never been inordinately interested in fashion, inside her closet was a multicolored collection of clothing. At least twenty outfits of different shapes and shades were lined up on coat hangers. Over a year or two, her meager wardrobe had been augmented with presents and the occasional purchase.

"I have so many options..."

Shifting some of her clothes to the side, she chewed on her lip and scanned her closet. Whichever she chose for her date with Toshinou Kyouko, it needed to be the right level of informality. Wearing a full-blown dress might be too proper, but a blouse would do just fine.

"Paris precision," she affirmed happily to herself as she selected an outfit and scrutinized it. A red blouse and white skirt would help her stand out, especially on a cloudy day like this. These colors were bright, casual, and sharp. Holding the fabric up to catch the light, she smiled in satisfaction.

Bzzt. Bzzzt!

Nearly dropping her clothes out of surprise, Ayano glanced at her dresser beside the closet. Her cellphone vibrated again, rattling a tiny pink keychain that dangled off the edge.

The student council president carefully laid her clothes on the table and picked up the phone.

Kyouko's jubilant voice greeted her instantaneously. "Hey Ayano!"

"Toshinou—" Ayano was cut off before she could say a word.

"I was just wondering about something. When you picked the date, did you know it was gonna rain?"

"Rain?" Ayano was taken aback. "No, I didn't know. Is it raining right now?"

A brief look at the window told her that it was not raining. However, the clouds that loomed in the sky suddenly appeared much more foreboding than before.

Ayano could faintly hear her date humming. "The radio said there'd be rain from noon to midnight. Sort of a bummer, huh?"

Eyes narrowed, the girl held her hair in her lap and stared out the window. Of all the days it could have rained, it had to be today. This must have been one of the most unfortunate forecasts of all time. Her spirits were dampened when they had started out so high. If only she had known about the weather earlier, when she had picked the date. Rain today, of all days, was completely unfair!

"Sugiura Ayano!" Her phone buzzed in her hand. "Huh. Did she hang up?"

"Wait, I'm still here!" Ayano shouted at the receiver before Kyouko could end the call. "Sorry, I was lost in thought. About the date..."

"Are you still going to come? We can cancel and go another day, if you don't want to go out in the rain."

With one last look at the window, Ayano nodded. Then she remembered that her date couldn't see her and responded hurriedly, "Of course! You'd better be there, Toshinou Kyouko, or I'll never forgive you!"

Kyouko only laughed over the line.

Bottled Hearts

Before Ayano left the house, and on her way to the meeting spot, she fixed her clothes several times to make sure she looked perfect. At the last minute, she had elected to bring a light sweater and a pair of stockings to keep herself warm while she waited for her date. Her red and white casual wear did stand out against the rainy backdrop of the city, sure, but it did little to nothing in terms of warding off the elements.

The location that the both of them had agreed on was a popular lunch cafe renowned for its quick service and welcoming atmosphere. Although it was a little cold, Ayano had decided to stand outside until her partner arrived.

Because of the rain, everything seemed muted: the colors, the sounds, and the people. All the vibrancy and the volume of the city was a tone lesser than usual. The rata-ta-tap on Ayano's umbrella kept her awake—not that she could ever fall asleep standing up.

Time seemed to slow, yet it never stopped completely. The transition from day to night was nigh imperceptible in this weather, but the streets remained in motion with people hurrying from place to place.

Switching her umbrella to her other hand, the anxious girl reached again for her phone to check the time. Only minutes remained until the top of the hour. Kyouko would surely arrive soon, but there was a slight chance that something had happened. Maybe she had forgotten the time or gone to the wrong place. Ayano was tempted to call her, but she hesitated after clicking on her contacts list.

After battling temptation for a minute, a familiar fair-haired girl appeared around the corner.

"G'afternoon!" she greeted. She was holding an umbrella over her shoulder, only barely covering her face. "Whoa, Ayano, why are you waiting outside? It's a little cold. You could've gone in, you know."

Kyouko walked past and opened the door to the cafe. Ayano opened her mouth to reply, but suddenly she felt her reasoning silly. Standing outside in the rain when she could have been inside a heated building now seemed like a cheesy, romantic idea. But it was simply a gesture...

"Well, whatever," the blonde laughed and beckoned for her to enter. "Let's go in and get some food!"

Within minutes, they were seated at a table adjacent to the wall. Kyouko grabbed a menu and flipped it open to the first page. While she pored over the lunch choices, her friend sat hesitantly. Even with the familiar atmosphere of the restaurant cafe, Ayano wanted less to look at the menu than she did to stretch her arms and legs. She listened to the rain through the window and watched the drops streaking down the glass.

"Say, what are we gonna do after we eat?" asked Kyouko, breaking Ayano's trance. "I think we should go shopping and stuff, since that's what most people do on dates."

Kyouko's statement was so self-referential, so meta, that Ayano was taken aback. Was it okay to be that blunt about what was supposed to happen on a date? It sort of killed the mood.

Swallowing those worries, Ayano nodded. "Yeah, you're right. Afterwards, let's walk around town together."

The couple spent half an hour on lunch. Much to her own surprise, Ayano felt at ease. She had been worried that she would freeze up during the date, but in truth it was much easier to talk with Kyouko in a one-on-one situation.

They paid for their meal and walked out together. Simultaneously, they opened their umbrellas and stepped out into the rain.

"Can we go this way?" Kyouko pointed down the street. "The store I always shop at just restocked yesterday. I wanna see if there's any of the new stuff left!"

"We can go if you want," Ayano agreed after a moment. "What kind of store is it though?"

Kyouko grinned and gave a thumbs up. "The kind that I appreciate!"

Faintly disappointed, Ayano hid her expression and nodded. She walked with her date down the ever familiar road. Couldn't the girl visit her hobby stores any day? Ayano felt like she was stuck accompanying Kyouko on her rounds. While she respected the girl's dedication to culture, she wanted to go somewhere new and fun for the both of them.

They crossed the road twice, turned a corner, walked for a short while, and talked very little. The street had narrowed, from wide sidewalks and lanes, into a comfortable two-way avenue. Concrete roads had been replaced with packed dirt, and the puddles were larger and much more frequent.

Rainwater dripped from the spokes of Kyouko's umbrella. It spun slowly clockwise, then counterclockwise, then clockwise again. Kyouko's eyes were fixed somewhere ahead, and she hummed a tune. Ayano listened for a few seconds. It was vaguely familiar, as if she had heard it before. It was music from a video game, but not one Ayano had played. Perhaps she had simply seen someone playing and listened to the music.

Kyouko stopped humming. The sound of a car engine filled the silence. At the far end of the street, a gray blob on the road slowly grew larger as it approached.

The girl's eyes were still looking in the direction of the gray car. Her fixation was almost uncanny, like she was predicting an accident. Was she paranoid?

Ayano looked between her date and the approaching car. The gray vehicle stayed on course, turning neither left nor right. "What are you doing, Toshinou—"

"Hiyaaah!"

Without warning, Kyouko stepped forward and swung her umbrella down like a shield. The car sped past and sent a jet of water from under its wheels. Kyouko's outstretched umbrella deflected it to both sides, leaving the two girls mostly dry.

"What the!?" Ayano stammered, taking a step back. "What in the world are you—"

"Yes! Not this time," shouted Kyouko at the passing car. She pumped her fist in the air, celebrating a personal victory. "I've been waiting to do that!"

Impassive to the heroic act that had just ensued, the car sped away and turned the corner. The puddle it had just driven over rippled and leveled. Ayano still did not fully understand what had just happened. She stood still and gaped as her guardian twirled her umbrella and raised it back over her head.

"My legs still got wet though." Kyouko frowned and looked down at her dampened pants. "I might need a bigger umbrella."

"Pff... Hahaha!"

Ayano covered her mouth and turned away, hiding from Kyouko's curious look. Whatever had just occurred made little sense to her except for the fact that Kyouko was somehow completely serious about something completely ridiculous.

It barely even mattered why Kyouko had been ready to block the jet of water. Whatever reason she had, it had turned into a gesture so random and romantic that Ayano could not help but laugh.

"Are you laughing at me?" Kyouko said with a pout. The fact that she seemed genuinely upset only made it harder for Ayano to resist. Sucking in air through her teeth, the purple-haired girl held her breath and tried to put on a straight face.

"N-no, I swear I'm not. Cross my heart!"

"Really... Here, take this!" Kyouko grabbed her umbrella with both hands and winded it up behind her.

"Ah! What are you doing, Toshinou Kyouko!"

Despite the gesture, Kyouko grinned and lifted the umbrella back over her head in a second.

"Just kidding," she smirked. "Come on, you know it was a joke!"

Ayano scoffed at first, but then she shook her head and sighed. "T-Toshinou..." the student council vice muttered. "What are you even thinking half of the time?"

Just across the street was their stop: a single-story building with a section of floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Kyouko stepped under the front door awning and closed her umbrella with an easy snap. Ayano followed suit and entered the store after her date.

A bell jingled when they entered. A cashier sitting at the checkout looked up from their laptop.

"Welcome to Players," they greeted and smiled automatically. "We're not so busy right now, so take your time. Our newer stuff is right over there, but what you're looking for might have sold out already."

Kyouko nodded and placed her umbrella down in a basket by the entrance.

"Ayano," she turned back to her friend. "You can look around if you want. I've gotta look for something."

With that, the blonde headed toward the section that the cashier had indicated. Still holding her dripping umbrella, Ayano watched as Kyouko started to check the shelves thoroughly.

"A... Alright," she mumbled, knowing she would not get a response.

Gently, she set her umbrella down next to Kyouko's. The shop worker smiled at her as she passed.

The store, Players, was set up in orthodox fashion, with aisles of shelves of games and books. A few of the titles and franchises Ayano saw lining the shelves were familiar to her, and she read them briefly as she walked with slow steps.

After browsing the endless selection for minutes, one of the books caught her eye. She recognized it instantly. Ayano picked it gingerly off the shelf and examined the cover. She had watched an anime of the same name and heard it was sourced from a light novel. This was it!

"Oh, you like that one?" Kyouko appeared as if she had been summoned. Ayano started and clutched the book to her chest. "Heheh, I see..." She cackled and grinned with sleazy eyes.

"Wh-what is it to you?"

"Heh," Kyouko chuckled once more before a real smile came to her face. "I read that book after watching the anime, but I liked the show better. People say the anime left out a lot of good plot points, mainly a lot of the side characters' backstories. You might actually like the book, since you're into details and lore and stuff."

Ayano examined the book again. Her eyes glossed over the 850-yen price tag. The cover page of the novel was colorful and smooth to the touch, a professionally drawn illustration of the two main characters overlooking their fantasy world.

She hesitated but decided she would put the book back. But before she could place it back on the shelf, Kyouko took the book from her and dropped it in the basket.

"Here, I have some extra yen. Let's buy it!"

Without waiting for a response, the girl took Ayano by the arm and pulled her toward the register. Though she protested weakly, Ayano had no real objections with Kyouko's initiative. It had been a long time since she had read a light novel, and she had nothing to lose.

At the register, a brown-haired customer had just finished paying for his purchases. He waved at the employee, grabbed his plastic bag, and left the store. Next in line, Kyouko placed a short stack of games and books on the counter—at least thirty thousand yen's worth of stuff. The cashier started from the top and methodically scanned each barcode. One of the titles caught their eye, and they stopped to nod in approval.

"Another Dagger Quest fan?" asked the worker with a proud smile. "There's a fair bit of grinding in this one. Not much as changed from the original version on the home console."

"That's fine," Kyouko replied easily. "My friend likes it better that way. She prefers to have her hero at least five levels above every boss so she knows she'll win."

Ayano knew in an instant that Kyouko was talking about Yui. She had watched Yui play games in her apartment, and the girl was definitely the type to overprepare.

Kyouko and the cashier talked for a bit, clearly about something within the game. Unable to join the discussion, Ayano simply waited for it to be over.

The girl beamed, nodded, and talked so animatedly. Yet her enthusiasm was for something foreign to Ayano. Her enthusiasm was for a game which Ayano had never played—a dimension which Ayano had never been to before.

Clinking coins roused the student council vice from her daze. Done with the transaction, Kyouko bagged up all her purchases.

"I'll keep your book in here for now," she said and put Ayano's new book in the bag with all of her own things. "Just so you don't have to carry it around. I'll give it to you before we go home today."

They bid farewell and a good day to the store employee. Grabbing their umbrellas, they stepped out once again into dreary reality. Kyouko fingered the extension of her umbrella and glanced upward. Clouds still blotted the sky.

"It's not raining as hard now," she noted, "but I can't let any water get into the bag, so I'll need this.

They stood under the overhang for a while. Ayano did not feel particularly rushed to walk out into the rain, and by the looks of it neither did Kyouko. Thus they waited in front of the store, their eyes roaming, every now and then glancing at each other.

Time came to an impasse. The sun was obscured, so it was impossible to tell naturally what hour it was. The rain continued to come down, neither lightening nor intensifying. Ayano looked behind her at the rain-streaked glass. The cashier looking at their laptop was the only soul left in the Players building.

Kyouko said nothing. She only hummed and peered out at the rain. Whenever she met Ayano's eye, the ever-present smile lurking on her lips widened a little.

A few more hours were left before sunset. There was so much they could potentially do: more shopping, some strolling, maybe karaoke. If they were out long enough, they could even go out to dinner. Ayano had in mind a few places she thought Kyouko would like, but she would wait to suggest anything.

To break the silence, she spoke up hesitantly. "Is there anything you feel like doing? We still have a lot of time, so..."

"I don't care," Kyouko shrugged and smiled carelessly. "Anywhere you feel like going."

"Ah. Okay."

Neither girl said anything. For all of the ideas she had just had, Ayano tried and failed to pick one that she felt Kyouko would like. Either it was not fit for a rainy day or it was not something the other girl would find fun. Every idea she shot down on the spot.

If there was anything good about this situation, it was that Kyouko seemed passive to whatever suggestion Ayano threw out there. Her indifference meant that she would probably be satisfied with going anywhere.

Indifference was such an acerbic word, but Ayano struggled to find another that would work better in its place...

Collecting her words, the student council president gave her suggestion.

"Do you want to just walk to the other side of the city?" Her voice and confidence cracked near the end of her sentence, turning it from a statement into a question.

With a glance down at her bag, Kyouko scratched her head.

"In the rain?" she queried, sounding unsure. "I'm fine with that, but what is there across the city? Some specific shop or something?"

"Well, no"—Ayano made a hopeless gesture with her hands—"nothing, really. But isn't it better than just standing here?"

A car roared past, its tail light flashing red as it slowed at a corner, turned down a side street, and vanished out of sight. After a few seconds, Kyouko nodded reluctantly. The two started on their way.

Bottled Hearts

Soon after they started walking, the storm let up. Though it was no longer raining, the clouds lingered and refused to disperse. The sky was still gray, and gusts of wind kept the air chilly. Both girls closed their umbrellas but kept them ready to be deployed in case the weather changed again.

Chipper now that the rain was gone, Kyouko drew Ayano's attention to her bag by giving it a light rustle.

"Say Ayano, how often do you play games? I know you've watched me and Yui play before, but how much gaming do you actually do?"

"Not much," the purple-haired student admitted. During the week days, her time was spent mainly finishing schoolwork, studying, and reading books. She played a little at her friends' houses, but she had never been exposed to very much gaming culture. "My family doesn't own any game consoles unless you count computers."

"Oh. Computer games aren't great anyway. You're better off at an arcade!"

Knowing she could not say much else on the subject, Ayano chose not to pursue the topic. Unfortunately this meant silence, but it was better than a one-sided discussion.

A few minutes passed before she was ready to carry on the conversation.

"Toshin—um, Kyouko. Do you have any goals? About what you want to do after you finish school, or where you want to visit after graduating?"

Kyouko set her eyes forward. She held her chin ponderously and tilted her head. It surprised Ayano to see the girl weigh her response so carefully. She was suddenly much more interested in hearing what the girl had to say.

"I want to live in a studio," blurted Kyouko, "in an apartment like Yui's, but in a bigger city. I even sketched my dream house before, but I keep going back to add more and more details. I want it to be one of those skyscrapers, where each room has a glass wall where you can look out over the whole city. I would put a mattress and a bunch of pillows next to the window, so it's like a little loft where I can sleep and wake up and draw in the mornings when it's really bright outside. And I've always wanted to hang little potted plants from the ceiling right above my bed! Then, for the living room, a low table and a hanging light, and right next to that..."

Kyouko went on and on, painting with words the studio apartment of her dreams. Her imagery was clear and vivid, like she had drawn the scene a hundred times with closed eyes. The level of detail with which she described the room was impossibly precise.

The sofa would be white and plush with a gray woolen blanket folded twice and draped over the edge, the whole piece resembling a rice ball wrapped with seaweed. In front of it, a decorative tray with smooth pebbles and autumn-colored bamboo sticks would sit upon the low table, and four square marble coasters backed with cork would be stacked to one side of the tray. On days when Kyouko was not so busy, she would wrap herself in the blanket, leaving her hands free, and draw whatever she liked.

She would be an independent artist, a professional manga artist graduated from a famous artist's college. She would draw for a living, but at the same time she would draw for the sake of drawing. Selling her work, collecting royalties, and living a life surrounded by her own creations were her penultimate ideals.

"But what I want more than anything"—Kyouko's excitement slowed, and Ayano snapped out of her reverie—"is to be able to come back here to this city every week. My parents aren't gonna move, ever. My mom lives here, and Dad too when he isn't working, and neither of them are planning to get a new house. So, even when I move out, I'll know where I can find them. Because after Dad retires, they'll both be here together in the same house. They'll greet me at the door on Saturday evenings when I come for family dinner, and then I can make breakfast and take them out to lunch on Sunday."

Ayano felt like she was talking to a different person. Hearing the normally whimsical girl talk so openly about herself was unreal. All indication of her mischievous nature had left her face, and she spoke with a sort of sobriety and maturity which Ayano had never seen from her before. There was passion in her sky-blue eyes, there was yearning in her voice, and there was wistfulness on her lips. There was so much she did not know about this girl.

Had Ayano ever thought that deeply about anything? Her goals in life, did she even have any? She was only a middle-school student, not even age sixteen yet, and she had never thought of making a life out of her studies or interests. But Kyouko was in the same grade as her, older but not by much, and here she had already begun to draw out the rest of her life in pencil.

The purple-haired girl stopped walking, noticing that Kyouko was no longer by her side. She turned around and saw that Kyouko was standing at the corner.

"Oh, I live down this way," said the girl with blonde hair. "I had a lot of fun today, but I should go home before it gets too late."

Kyouko waved and smiled. With one last "See you!" she disappeared around the corner. Ayano ran back to the spot where she had just been.

Kyouko was already walking away. Ayano opened and closed her mouth fruitlessly, wanting to say something to her friend's retreating back. But with every second that passed, she felt her opportunity slipping away.

Ayano hesitated at the corner for a little while longer before giving up. She continued in the same direction she had been going in the first place.

"Toshinou Kyouko..." She said the name quietly to herself. "Toshinou Kyouko... Kyouko. What kind of amazing person are you really?"

Ayano took a deep breath, filling her lungs with air that was cool and clean.

"What are you even thinking half of the time?"