Waiting for You in the Rainy Garden - Chapter 16

Entering the greenhouse, the evening sun streamed through the glass, dyeing the plants gold.

Each individual leaf glowed as it caught the light, as if the entire greenhouse was breathing quietly.

The scent of damp soil mingled with the soft evening breeze, warming the depths of my chest.

This was the place where we had so often found peace of mind.

But today, the air felt just a little heavier than usual.

Hiyori sat on the bench and let out a deep sigh.

That exhale seemed to push out just a little of the anxiety she had been holding deep inside.

Seeing Hiyori’s shoulders tremble slightly made my chest tighten.

“Mashiro… what should I do?”

Hiyori’s voice was faint, as if it might disappear at any moment.

She seemed so vulnerable, so pained—unimaginably different from her usual self—

The sight of her pierced my heart painfully.

“Tell me what you want to do, Hiyori.”

I sat gently beside her and gazed at her profile.

Hiyori clenched her hands on her lap, gripping so hard her fingertips turned white.

“I want to run. But I can’t. I want to compete in the tournament. But my injury won’t heal.”

Her voice trembled.

Hiyori’s strength was crumbling, and the weakness she had hidden deep within was spilling out.

For Hiyori to voice her weakness like this was proof she was truly nearing her limit.

“Everything… is scary…”

“Yeah.”

I gently wrapped my hands around Hiyori’s.

Her hands were cold, slightly sweaty, and trembling.

That trembling conveyed Hiyori’s anxiety directly to me.

“Even if you can’t run, I still love you, Hiyori.”

The moment I spoke those words, Hiyori’s eyes widened.

Her expression was a mix of surprise, confusion, and a little relief.

Hiyori’s eyes wavered, catching the light and sparkling.

“…Mashiro.”

Her voice trembled as she said my name, and my chest tightened.

“Whether you quit track, keep going, whatever choice you make… I’ll be by your side, Hiyori.”

Hiyori’s eyes wavered greatly, and tears spilled over.

Those tears looked as if the pain and anxiety she had been carrying had finally melted away.

“Mashiro… if you say things like that… I… I’m going to cry…”

Hiyori said in a trembling voice, trying to wipe her tears, but they kept overflowing uncontrollably.

“It’s okay to cry. You’ve been trying so hard all this time.”

When I said that, Hiyori buried her face in my chest, unable to hold back.

Her shoulders shook as she cried silently.

The warmth of her tears seeped softly through my clothes.

The evening sun set, and the greenhouse grew quietly dark.

The shadows of the plants stretched long, and the light through the glass slowly faded.

Amidst it all, only the warmth of Hiyori’s tears felt certain.

Hiyori’s trembling, her tears, her breathing—all of it seemed to be saying “help me,” and I held her tightly.

I kept stroking her back until she stopped crying.

No matter what future Hiyori chooses, I will be by her side.

That resolve solidified quietly in the depths of my heart.