At the Finish Line [Haiji Kiyose] - Run With the Wind

three - "old friends"

Teeth chattering and body shivering as the rain lashes down and soaks through to her clothes, she catches a glimpse of his features as a car drives past.

His messy, dark brown hair clings to his face as the rain pelts and the familiar smile on his face as his eyes shine.

"H-Haiji?" Chiyo asks, her skin cold.

"Chiyo?" Haiji leans closer, hugging his coat closer to his body. "Do you go to Kansei? Why are you waiting for the bus?"

The rain hammers down and splashes on the pavement and road with the reflection of street lights in the puddles bouncing off her complexion. Her fair skin glows, her plump, pink lips quivering from the cold as her shoulder-length brown hair sticks to her cheek.

Wiping her face, Chiyo grimaces. "It's a long story..."

Haiji nods to her suitcase and bag. "Are you not staying?"

"That's part of the story," Chiyo tells him. "It's complicated!"

Laughing, Haiji motions back to the house behind him. "If you've got to wait for a bus, how about you come inside?"

Shaking her head, Chiyo chuckles. "It's fine, honestly."

"It's not going to stop raining any time soon." Haiji shrugs. "We've got tea! We can catch up too, it's been a while."

Chiyo sighs. "That sounds nice but I wouldn't want to bother you and your housemates."

"Not at all." Haiji grins, leaning down and placing a hand on Nira's collar. "I'm not taking no for an answer!"

Pursing her lips, Chiyo gives in, grabbing the handle of her suitcase and pulling her holdall along with her. She follows him to the house, waiting as he steps inside and places his raincoat on a hook.

Motioning for her to come inside, Chiyo pulls her hood down and looks up to see three other guys standing in the hallway --one with dark hair, one African and the other shorter with brown hair.

"Uh... Are you sure, Haiji?" She asks.

He glances at the other three as he pulls her suitcase inside. "Of course. These are some of the guys who live here: Kakeru, Musa and Shindo."

Nodding, Chiyo removes her dripping raincoat and Haiji takes it immediately. "Could you hang this up in the bathroom to dry, Musa?"

Musa takes the coat from him, walking out of sight as the other two stand to the side.

"You can take your shoes off and we'll place your bags somewhere to dry." Haiji tells her.

Tucking the loose strand of damp hair behind her ear, Chiyo smiles at the other two. "Sorry to intrude. I'm Chiyo Yoshida. Wait, do we have a class together?"

Shindo nods his head. "We have our lecture halls next to each other this year. So, you know Haiji, I take it?"

"We go way back, but let's get Chiyo inside so she can warm up first," Haiji says, handing her a towel, which she gladly accepts. "Kakeru, could you boil some water for tea?"

Nodding, the darker haired guy walks away and into the kitchen. Shindo waves a hand to the two, motioning down the corridor. "I'll be in my room. It's raining too hard to go for a run now."

Smiling at him as he walks away, Haiji places his hands on his hips and turns to Chiyo. "So, this is Chikusei-sou. There are ten of us living here."

She sighs. "I'm sorry about this, I feel awkward being here. I should just go."

Haiji shakes his head. "Don't feel awkward. Just have some tea and dry off otherwise you'll catch a cold."

Giving in, Chiyo follows him into the kitchen with the towel in hand as Haiji pulls out a chair for her. She thanks him, sitting down and drying her hair with the towel as he sits opposite her.