Chapter 5
780words
When the final bell rang, the sky was still clear blue, but by the time I'd packed my bag and reached the shoe lockers, the heavens had darkened like spilled ink. Without warning, raindrops the size of marbles crashed down, instantly creating explosive splashes on the pavement.
*Splash! Splash!*
The downpour was biblical—as if trying to wash away the world's sins.
"Damn it... Of all days to forget my umbrella." I eyed the students huddled by the entrance waiting out the storm, growing increasingly agitated.
For me, being packed under an awning with dozens of minds broadcasting "This sucks" or "Great, the trains will be delayed" was actually worse torture than getting drenched.
"According to meteorological satellite data, this is an acute thunderstorm from strong convective weather patterns, expected duration 45 minutes. Waiting is inefficient." Kurosawa Rin's voice materialized beside me.
I turned to find her calmly observing the downpour as if studying an abstract painting with clinical detachment.
"Easy for you to say. Did you bring an umbrella?" I asked irritably.
"Negative," she replied crisply. "Standard organizational equipment loadout excludes non-tactical items such as umbrellas."
I was speechless.
She made it sound like umbrellas were contraband that might destabilize global security.
"However," she continued, reaching into her deceptively normal backpack that probably contained an arsenal, "I am equipped with a high-molecular waterproof tactical cape."
What she unfolded was a silver-gray, metallic-looking... fabric?
It resembled those emergency thermal blankets used by marathon runners and disaster survivors.
"This thing... works as an umbrella?" I asked skeptically.
"This cape was developed by 'Chronos,' utilizing memory polymer fibers and nano-coating technology. Features include complete waterproofing, wind resistance, and partial infrared signature suppression. Coverage area: 24 square feet, sufficient for two standard-sized adults," she explained in her typical user-manual voice.
...The key point is that last part, right?!
Before I could make a sarcastic comment, she'd already unfolded the "tactical cape," draped it over herself, and turned to me.
"According to surveillance protocols, I cannot permit you to exit my effective monitoring range. Therefore, only one conclusion exists."
What conclusion? Just spit it out already!
Without another word, she stepped closer and extended a corner of the silver-gray material over my head.
Suddenly, my world turned silver-gray.
The rain's patter became muffled. A cold, metallic scent emanated from the material—like new electronics fresh from the box.
And beneath that... the faint, clean scent of Kurosawa Rin herself.
We stood closer than ever before.
Close enough that I could count her eyelashes and trace her flawless profile. Raindrops slid down her hair tips onto the silver material, forming perfect beads that rolled away instantly.
"Let's move," she said simply. "Destination: nearest station. Route calculated, distance 0.75 miles, estimated transit time 15 minutes."
My mind went completely blank.
And so, under the astonished stares of everyone at the entrance, I, Ayashiro Ai, huddled with a gorgeous Amazon under what looked unmistakably like a giant piece of aluminum foil, marched into the downpour.
This was definitely ten thousand times more attention-grabbing than the "human potato sack" incident!
I didn't dare "listen" to my classmates' thoughts, fearing my remaining sanity would evaporate instantly.
"Focus, Ayashiro Ai." Rin's voice cut through my thoughts. "Control your breathing, regulate your heart rate. Your emotional fluctuations are creating interference in my environmental scanning."
"This is entirely YOUR fault!" I mentally roared.
"Analysis confirms current arrangement represents optimal efficiency-safety ratio among available options. Your emotional response is classified as irrational."
I took a deep breath, desperately trying to ignore how utterly ridiculous we must look.
Raindrops drummed against our silver shelter, creating a strangely soothing rhythm.
To stay dry, I had to press closer. Our shoulders nearly touched.
"Your body temperature is suboptimal," she suddenly transmitted. "0.7 degrees Fahrenheit below baseline. Do you require thermal assistance?"
"...I'm fine."
"Acknowledged. However, if your temperature decreases further, protocols authorize implementation of necessary thermal preservation measures."
Thermal preservation measures? What's that mean? Wrapping me like a burrito in this space blanket?
"Assessment correct. Emergency survival configuration of this tactical cape includes such functionality."
"Please stop responding to my sarcastic thoughts!"
The rain continued to pour.
The walk to the station seemed endless today.
Yet somehow, listening to the steady drumming above my head, feeling the calm breathing and steady presence of this "human weapon" beside me, my perpetually frazzled nerves actually... relaxed a little.
Maybe sharing this strange silver shelter with her wasn't... entirely terrible?
The moment that thought surfaced, I squashed it immediately.
No, this was absolutely awful! My normal life was completely destroyed!
And it was entirely the fault of the woman walking beside me!
