The rain came out of nowhere, drenching the world in heavy sheets just as the volleyball team wrapped up practice. The sky had been cloudy all afternoon, but no one expected it to break into such a relentless downpour so soon.
Saerin lingered by the gym entrance, watching the water hit the pavement, a small sigh escaping her lips. *Of course, I didn't bring an umbrella,* she thought, frustrated at her own lack of preparation. The rest of the team had already scattered, most of them calling it a day and rushing out before the rain picked up.
But her? She was stuck.
Kageyama walked past her, towel slung over his shoulder, his usual scowl plastered on his face as he stopped just a few feet away, also staring out at the rain. His hair was still damp from practice, and beads of water rolled down his face. Without looking at her, he muttered, "You're gonna stand there all night?"
"I don't exactly feel like getting drenched," she replied, shrugging. "And it's not like I brought an umbrella."
There was a long pause as the sound of the rain intensified. She expected him to leave without saying anything more, but he didn't. Instead, he shifted awkwardly, his frown deepening. "...I'll walk you."
Her eyes widened slightly. "Wait, really?"
Kageyama still didn't look at her, but his jaw clenched. "It's just rain. Don't make a big deal out of it."
She couldn't help but smile—there it was again, that gruff, almost unwilling kindness hidden beneath his usual cold exterior. "Alright, alright," she said, stepping closer to him. "Let's go."
With a single nod, Kageyama stepped out into the downpour, and she quickly followed, holding her bag over her head for a bit of cover. But it was useless; within seconds, both of them were soaked through. The rain hit hard, bouncing off the streets in streams and pounding against the pavement.
For the first few minutes, neither of the two said anything. She were focused on trying not to trip on the slick ground, and Kageyama... well, he just looked straight ahead, silent as ever. Whe could sense that something was off, though. His mood seemed darker than usual, like the weight of the rain matched whatever was going on inside his head.
After a while, she couldn't help but break the silence. "you didn't have to do this."
"I know that."
"Then why did you?" She glanced at him, curious. His face was impossible to read, but there was something in his eyes that flickered, a mix of irritation and... something else.
"It's not a big deal," he grumbled, quickening his pace. "Just walk faster."
She bit back a laugh. Typical Kageyama. He'd rather dodge the question than admit any kind of motive that wasn't strictly practical. Still, something about this moment felt different. Maybe it was the rain, or maybe it was just the fact that she was walking alone with him for the first time. Either way, she wanted to push a little further.
"I appreciate it, though," she said, her tone light but sincere. "I didn't expect you to be so... considerate."
He stopped in his tracks, his body going rigid as if you'd said something offensive. She could see his fists clench at his sides before he spoke again, his voice low. "I'm not."
"Hm?"
"I'm not 'considerate,'" he repeated, turning his head slightly, his wet hair plastered against his forehead. "I just don't like seeing people... being helpless."
Her heart skipped a beat. It wasn't what you expected him to say at all. "Kageyama..."
He finally looked at her then, his usual sharp gaze softened by the falling rain, though his expression still held a mix of frustration and something else, something harder to place. "Don't read into it. I'm not some nice guy."
"I never said you were," she replied quietly, meeting his gaze. "But maybe you're not as heartless as you think."
A tense silence fell between the two of you, the rain filling the gap as you both stood there, just staring at each other. For a moment, it felt like the whole world had stopped, leaving just the two of you in this strange bubble of quiet understanding.
Kageyama clicked his tongue, breaking the moment. "You're gonna catch a cold if you keep talking in the rain like that."
She blinked, realizing just how soaked you both were. "Right, we should get going."
Without another word, the two of you resumed walking, but something had shifted. The air between you two wasn't quite so tense anymore, though Kageyama still walked with that same rigid posture, his hands shoved deep into his pockets as if trying to shield himself from whatever had just passed between you both.
But it was there. The glimpse of the person underneath it all. She didn't push it any further, though—she had a feeling that pushing Kageyama too much, too fast, would just make him retreat again. Instead, she walked beside him, quietly enjoying the fact that, for once, he was the one who had stepped into her world.
And maybe, just maybe, that crack would widen a little more the next time.
