That was the Summer

5) Storm Draining

"So tell me again why we're hiking up a storm drain today?"  Shotaro asks as he follows me over the rocky edge of the cliff common area.

"Because I thought it would be cool to explore for once," I say as I carry a camping lantern in my arms, "Aren't you a little curious about where it goes?"

"I guess," He says, "We should have invited Ren, he likes these types of things too."  We climb over some more rocks and at that point Shotaro begs to carry the lantern for me so I don't eat it if I fall.  He, however, scales the rocks with ease.

"Alright, here we are," I say  when I see the drain sticking out of the cliff side pouring rain and gutter water down a channel that meandered down the cliff side.

"Well, be careful," Shotaro warns, "so you don't crack your head open on the-"

"Oh, calm yourself, I'll be fine," I stop him; "Anyways, Dusty and I came here one time.  We didn't have a lantern at the time but... now we do."  I take a step towards the edge and grasp the lip of the cement tunnel before I swing myself inside just like I did when I came with my older brother.  This time the slick bottom of it took advantage of me and I slip towards the wall.

"For real?"  Shotaro flatly asks outside, "Are you joking or did you just slip?"

"I'm fine, now come on!"  Shotaro swings inside one handed and lands without slipping.  He turns on the lantern and it illuminates the tunnel around us.  Graffiti paints the walls with words that say "⬅️This way to Hell" or "🔚You go in, you never come back."  Suddenly, I don't have the urge to explore it anymore.  Now it gave off a creepier vibe that said, "You might find a dead body in here that didn't wash out in the storm weeks ago".   Shotaro seemed intrigued, though, stepping in further.

"You know, on second thought..." I start only to have Shotaro turn to glare at me, "What?  This place is really creepin' me out!"

"'Oh, Calm yourself'" Shotaro uses the words I told him moments earlier; "You're the one that brought me here."  He stomps towards me, grabs my hand and pulls me along as he braves the drain, "Now, I want to see where it goes." 

I seem to forget the graffiti on the walls and the daddy longlegs that dangle in their webs.  I forget about how chilling the darkness at the end of the tunnel seemed.  No, now all I can think about is how tightly Shotaro holds my hand in his, making sure I don't leave him.

That was the summer Shotaro and I got into urban exploration.  That was the summer I knew I had to confess to Shotaro ...but I didn't know when.