ficlet; 008: umbrella
pairing: aizawa kosaku/shiraishi megumi
word count: 692 words
note: something I conjured up in my lunch break while taking a breather from a 4-hour meeting. It's super short but since it's written, thought I'll post it anyway. Word prompt from Ellie, thank you!

It had been threatening to rain all day, not that Shirashi had noticed it. She was too engrossed in trying to record every single moment of the emergency medicine conference she was attending. She alternated between typing and writing, choosing to use the pen and paper when there were diagrams she needed to capture. As she leaned back and flipped through her notes, only half paying attention to the closing address, she fleetingly thought about how she must had resembled the honor student that Aizawa had once said she was, with all her earnest note-taking. A loud clap of thunder interrupted her thoughts, and she glanced out of the window, seeing two flashes of lightning before the rain started pouring.

Sighing inwardly, Shiraishi berated herself for forgetting her umbrella. It had been forecast to rain, and Hiyama had reminded her, before she left the hospital for the conference. However, Haitani had trouble with a procedure, and she had stepped in to help him. Because of that, she had to rush to make it to the conference on time, and the umbrella had conveniently slipped her mind.

She calculated the time in her head; the conference was going to end soon. Given the time for networking and talking to the other emergency specialists in the room, she probably would be done within an hour, which was hopefully ample time for the rain to stop.

Unfortunately, it was still pouring an hour and a half later, and she desperately needed to return to the hospital. She had no choice, but to brave the rain. Approaching the main entrance, she made sure that her laptop was stored safely inside her bag, and would be protected in there. Taking a deep breath and holding the conference folder over her head, she stepped out into the pouring rain.

But she wasn't greeted by the cold rainwater wetting her hair and her skin, instead, she remained dry, protected by an umbrella that had somehow materialised above her head. Confused, she turned around to see Aizawa holding an umbrella over her head.

"Aizawa?!" She was surprised, to put it mildly. "What are you doing here?"

"Bringing you your umbrella," he answered. "You left it in the staffroom."

"Yes, I know I did but…" Shiraishi was still confused, did Aizawa make the trip just to deliver her umbrella? "Did you come by just to bring me my umbrella?" she asked, echoing her thoughts.

Aizawa said nothing. He handed her her umbrella, indicating that she should hold it. As she took her umbrella, he shook out his own, stepping away from her and opening his umbrella, shielding himself from the rain.

"Come," he said, and started walking towards the direction of the hospital.

Shiraishi smiled, and fell in step beside him. The rain slowing down to a lighter drizzle, but she still appreciated the protection of the umbrella. As they walked, a realisation overcame her. "Aizawa, I thought your shift has ended? Shouldn't you be heading the other way instead, to go home?"

"I'm walking you back to the hospital," he said simply.

"Really? But it's completely out of your way, you really don't have to walk me back," she protested mildly, not wanting to trouble him. He had already delivered her her umbrella. Although she was still albeit confused as to why he would purposely do that. Without giving it much thought, she voiced the question in her head. "Why did you come all the way, just to give me my umbrella, anyway?"

He stopped walking, and turned to look at her, his face stoic as usual. "Because," he said clearly. "I wanted to."

"Eh?" She stared at him, not quite understanding. Because he wanted to? But why would he want to come out in the rain?

Aizawa tilted his head a little, keeping his gaze on her for a few seconds, and suddenly, she felt unnerved at the intensity in his eyes. Then he turned away, and continued walking. "Are you coming?" he asked, over his shoulder.

"Y…yes," she said, flustered, as she quickened her step, and caught up to him, his words still playing in her head.

Because…I wanted to.

A/N: because I like the idea of Aizawa making sure Shiraishi does not get caught in the rain, and is willing to go all out to ensure that. :D

Reviews/comments are love!