The train rushed through the city, hovering over silent rooftops and smeared lights. Kevin stood against the window, raindrops streaming down the glass as if they were racing one another—like they were racing time.
He thought of her again.
Her voice. Her laughter.
The way she hummed when it rained.
*"Do you ever think. rain remembers your name?"* she used to say, bare feet on damp pavement, arms stretched out like she might catch the entire sky.
He never replied.
Now he regretted it.
---
**ANNOUNCER (V.O.):**
"Next stop: Hoshikawa Central Station."
Kevin's eyes flickered. He was nearly there.
He hauled his duffel, eyes still weighed down by the all-night gaming session and half-hearted studying.
As the train slid into the station, Kevin's phone buzzed again.
**MESSAGE – Kim Parilla**
**KIM:**
Reminder: You're presenting the first two slides.
**KEVIN:**
Yeah, totally ready.
(mentally screams)
**KIM:**
Kevin…
**KEVIN:**
Okay okay I'll work on it now!
**KIM:**
RUN, Kobayashi.
Kevin dashed through the ticket gates. A blur of uniforms, umbrellas, and rushing footsteps surrounded him. Hoshikawa High was only a few blocks away.
He looked up.
Grey clouds hung over the city like a curtain not yet ready to part.
---
**8:05 AM — Hoshikawa High, Room 3-B**
The room hummed with soft conversation. Bags fell. Chairs squeaked.
Kevin slid in just as the bell was ringing, gasping.
**REN (whispering):**
Ten minutes.
**KEVIN:**
We can do this.
They crouched behind Ren's laptop. Fingers moved in a blur. Slides created. Bullets typed. Sentences expanded and contracted. A quote from the book was inserted—wrong character, but it sounded profound.
**KEVIN:**
This is either genius or trash.
**REN:**
There's no middle ground.
In the front row, Erica sat in silence. Perfect posture. Unblinking. Danger.
**REN (whispering):**
If we die today, I just want you to know…
**KEVIN:**
Don't.
**REN:**
…I blame you.
**KEVIN:**
Valid.
---
**LITERATURE CLASS – 8:15 AM**
Mr. Yamamoto shifted his weight. His observing gaze swept over the classroom, ever keen and ever relentless.
**MR.YAMAMOTO:**
Group 4. You're up.
Kevin stood. His legs moved before his brain could fully catch up. The class went quiet as the projector screen flickered to life.
Slide 1. Title.
Slide 2. Theme: *"The Fragmented Self in Times of Loss."*
Kevin stared at it for a second too long.
He heard her voice once more, whispering from the past.
*"Sometimes, losing someone feels like losing yourself."*
Kevin's fingers clenched on the clicker.
He breathed in.
**KEVIN:**
"This book isn't really about war, or rebellion. It's about identity.
What happens when the people you love disappear, and all that's left… is you, trying to make sense of who you are."
The class gazed. Ren looked up, taken aback.
Even Erica blinked once. Just once.
Kevin clicked to the next slide.
---
**AFTER CLASS – HALLWAY LOCKERS**
**REN:**
Dude. That was actually… not terrible.
**KEVIN:**
I blacked out halfway through. What did I say?
**REN:**
You said some deep soul-lost-in-rain kinda stuff. Yamamoto ate it up.
**KEVIN:**
That's. kinda on-brand for me lately.
**REN:**
Still thinking about her?
Kevin didn't answer.
**REN:**
It's been a year.
**KEVIN:**
Yeah. I know.
**REN:**
You ever gonna discuss what actually occurred that night?
Kevin glanced down the corridor. Students hurried by—laughing, shoving, living.
He wasn't prepared.
**KEVIN:**
One day.
---
**LUNCHTIME – ROOFTOP**
Kevin sat by himself, raincoat on, bento untouched.
He gazed at the clouds. He didn't think they'd respond.
Then—
**A VOICE:**
"You always eat here?"
Kevin turned. A girl stood by the rooftop door, under an umbrella.
Long black hair. Familiar eyes.
Too familiar.
**KEVIN (whispers):**
"…Amari?"
She leaned her head to one side, bewildered.
**GIRL:**
Huh? No. I'm Sora.
**KEVIN:**
Oh. Sorry. I thought you were somebody else.
She went over and sat a few feet away.
**SORA:**
I get that a lot.
She unwrapped her bento. The silence wasn't awkward—it was serene.
**SORA:**
You play piano, right?
Kevin looked up.
**KEVIN:**
Not well enough, apparently.
**SORA:**
Well… I heard you used to be incredible.
**KEVIN:**
People hear a lot of things.
**SORA:**
Do you want to be?
He hesitated.
**KEVIN:**
…Maybe.
**SORA:**
Good. Then start with that.
She smiled and took a bite of her lunch like nothing she said was heavy. Like it wasn't echoing in his chest.
Kevin did not smile in return; however, that was when something shifted in him.
With the first time in a long time, it felt...
...that it was raining not just for loss..
---
**END OF CHAPTER 2**