Author's Note: I have absolutely no idea where this story is going in case you're wondering, but I think one or two chapters is all it's going to take to finish this story. (I know, short chapters and short story?)
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Izumi had been driving around for about an hour when the first droplet of rain hit her windshield.
Why now? She thought dejectedly. Well, it's not as if I'm going anywhere outdoors.
If fate could speak, it would inevitably have said: I beg to differ.
In a matter of moments, Mrs. Orimoto's new car broke down in the middle of a nearly deserted street, the distraught Izumi emerged from the useless vehicle, and the rain began to pour harder than ever.
Is this punishment for not being able to understand my feelings? She thought miserably. Pulling her violet sweater around her, she cursed herself for not thinking ahead about the weather. Yet, oddly enough, the longer she was in the rain, the less it bothered her. It, like the station, was another sanctuary, a calm, solid place, where nothing was wrong, and everything was a light year away.
Five years ago she had not even thought about returning the Shibuya. But five years ago, Takuya was with her. Five years ago, she was still a child, and she had a childish crush on Takuya.
Five years ago…She thought.
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"You slow poke!" A sixteen-year-old girl was yelling over her shoulder.
"I'm running as fast as I can, Izumi!" A boy about the same age was only about three feet behind her.
"We're going to miss the plane!" Izumi shouted, not watching what was in front of her.
"Umph…" She looked up. "Uh oh…"
A tall flight attendant was standing in front of her, obviously not looking happy.
"Hehe…" She tried to back away, but as she did so, someone crashed into her from the back. She and the unfortunate victim of physics collapsed into a pile on the floor.
A pleasant chill ran up the back of the girl when she realized the identity of the person on top of her. Takuya smiled nonchalantly down at her as he got up.
"You goof!" She smiled back, almost wishing that he had not stood up.
"Ms. Orimoto, I presume?" The angry flight attendant appeared again, but he looked almost happy now. He extended a hand and helped her up.
Izumi and Takuya gathered their bags and followed the flight attendant onto the plane, grinning profusely at each other.
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Izumi smiled. She loved being with Takuya, he was one of the most energetic and adventurous people she'd ever known, but did it mean that she actually loved him?
Takuya was her playmate; he was her best friend. Often she'd admire his initiative and leadership, but when she thought about that, she was often reminded of the brilliant loner she knew, and the emotions that came with him.
At one point, she believed she loved them both, but she knew yesterday that that was not possible. She felt a tenderness for the loner that never existed when she was with her spontaneous boyfriend. It could no longer be pity because she knew that after the ordeal of ten years ago, all his loneliness had faded away.
She walked and she thought. There was absolutely no direction to where she was going and it probably would've been a better idea to stay in the car and use her cell phone to call her parents. Even so, she continued to wander aimlessly until she sensed someone come near her.
"Do you need help, miss?" A raspy voice said. Immediately following the question, the person cleared their throat several times. Slight cold perhaps?
An umbrella came over her head.
"Thank you, but…" She turned to look at her savior.
Their eyes locked, and shock crossed the face of the one she was looking at. The umbrella dropped and lay forgotten in the mud.
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Author's note: It took me a while to figure out what I was going to say in this chapter; a bit longer than I would've liked. Still, I updated quickly as promised, I only hope I am not boring my audience to death.