Fictober 2023

Olikase Week Prompt 5: Rainy Day

A/N: So this isn't part of fictober but I honestly did not feel like making a whole other book since I already posted this on AO3 so I just stuck it in here. Enjoy!

Translucent drops of crystal clear water fell like tears from the sky. The clouds wept, as stars dropped one by one down to the Earth, carrying with them their pasts that had long been forgotten. The loud chattering figures of students as they laughed and cheered had long since faded out. Only two lone silhouettes remained, their soft, mindless chatter coming to a halt as the rain caught their eyes, captivating their gazes and refusing to let go. A boy reached out, allowing the small tears to gently kiss his hand, sliding downwards and scattering against the ground, waiting to once again be reabsorbed by the Earth. Each splatter of rain on its own was barely audible, its sound only a helpless whisper lost in the vastness of the world, but together they were an orchestra full of life and music.

"It's raining." Oliver stated plainly. He watched each drop fall with wonder. Fukase almost wondered if Oliver had never seen rain before. The look on his face certainly seemed to prove his theory. While Oliver stared at the rain, Fukase slid his backpack off his shoulder, placing it on the ground, and began digging through it, pushing folders and loose papers out of the way until he found what he was looking for. Oliver turned to look at him while he was rummaging, curious as to what he would pull out. His hand emerged holding a bright red umbrella covered in polka dots. He opened it swiftly, flying outwards like a butterfly spreading its wings.

"Why do you have an umbrella?"

Fukase stared at Oliver like he was crazy. "...Because it's raining?"

"But why do you have it?! Who keeps an umbrella on them like it's normal?"

"I don't keep one on me! I looked at the forecast this morning! Didn't you?"

"No! Who reads the forecast?!"

"People who don't want to get drenched in the rain!"

Fukase and Oliver stood staring at each other for a while, then broke out laughing, their giggling just barely audible above the thumping of rain on the ground. Bickering between them like this wasn't rare. Flower had told them that they fight like an old married couple too many times to count, but they always just stuck their tongues out at her and laughed together like nothing had ever happened. Bickering between them felt natural and comfortable. It made them feel like nothing would ever tear them apart.

"I take it you didn't bring an umbrella?" Fukase asked between waves of laughter.

"Of course not."

"And I take it that means you want to share mine?"

Oliver just smiled at him in response, his way of telling Fukase that he didn't have a choice and he would absolutely be sharing his umbrella with Oliver. There was no way Fukase could ever say no to Oliver, not that he would want to anyway. He lifted the umbrella above them, feeling the gentle pull of the wind against it, and began walking forward, out from under the awning and into the rain. Oliver scrambled to catch up to him, matching his pace with Fukase in order to not get wet.

They walked down a few blocks without words, the fresh smell of petrichor and earth surrounding them. The air was warm and comforting, clinging to their faces like a warm hug that refused to let go. Oliver took a deep breath. He had a conflicting relationship with the rain, but generally, he decided he liked it. It gave the trees the water they needed to grow and kept the dirt moist and hydrated. The perfect snack. Oliver laughed to himself. He knew that Fukase would scold him to no end if he knew that Oliver was thinking about eating dirt again. Fukase always told him that he was far too reckless, but Oliver didn't care enough about his own wellbeing to listen to him.