Waiting for You in the Rainy Garden - Chapter 2

The next day, the rain had completely stopped, and the old greenhouse in the corner of the schoolyard glistened wet in the morning sun.

Droplets from last night’s rain still remained on the glass surface, sparkling as they caught the morning light.

The scene made it seem as if the greenhouse itself was breathing, blending into the quiet morning air.

This was a place only Hiyori and I knew about.

A small paradise nobody else had noticed, which we’d discovered by chance during our elementary school playground explorations.

Though old with foggy glass here and there, it was a treasure to us.

The greenhouse, which we’d used like a secret base, still calmed our hearts even now.

After school, I invited Hiyori.

“Want to go to the greenhouse? It’s been a while.”

Hiyori blinked in momentary surprise, then smiled happily.

Her smile was as bright as the sky after rain, making my chest feel just a little warmer.

“Sounds good. We haven’t been there lately.”

When we opened the greenhouse door, the scent of damp earth and greenery wafted gently through the air.

The plants looked vibrant, as if they’d just drunk in the rain’s blessing, with tiny droplets still clinging to their leaf tips.

Light filtering through the glass reflected off those droplets, making the air seem to sway softly.

Inside the greenhouse was slightly warmer than outside, with a somewhat nostalgic smell.

“This place is so calming, isn’t it?”

Hiyori sat on the bench and patted the space beside her, inviting me over.

Though I wanted to sit right next to her, I settled down with just a little distance between us.

Just having Hiyori’s body warmth nearby made my chest feel restless.

“Mashiro, you’ve been acting kind of strange lately.”

“Huh…?”

“It feels like you’re avoiding me.”

“…”

She’d hit the mark.

My chest tightened sharply.

Hiyori’s words were always straightforward, leaving no room for escape.

“That’s not true.”

“Then why didn’t you hold my hand yesterday?”

Hiyori’s voice sounded accusatory yet somehow lonely.

The moment I saw that expression, my heart ached deeply.

I hadn’t been avoiding her because I wanted to hurt her.

Quite the opposite – I’d kept my distance precisely because I didn’t want to hurt her.

“…I was scared.”

“Scared?”

I took a deep breath, gently scooping up the words that had settled deep in my chest.

Feelings I hadn’t been able to express, afraid they might break if put into words.

“I’ve started being unable to think of you as just a ‘friend’ like before. I’m afraid that if these feelings break, my relationship with you might break too…”

Hearing my words, Hiyori’s eyes widened in surprise.

My reflection in her pupils seemed to be trembling slightly.

“Mashiro…”

Silence fell.

The air in the greenhouse felt like it had grown slightly warmer.

The plants’ leaves seemed to sway without any wind, making my heart pound noisily.

Hiyori gently touched my hand.

Her fingertips were warm and gentle, and just that touch nearly brought tears to my eyes.

“They won’t break. Our relationship is stronger than you think, Mashiro.”

Hiyori’s voice was soft yet firm,

seeming to envelop my anxiety.

“Hiyori…”

“Will you let me hear your true feelings properly?”

I spoke in a trembling voice.

“…I like you, Hiyori. Not as a friend but as someone more special.”

I finally put into words the true feelings I’d been hiding deep in my heart.

Hiyori caught her breath for just a moment, then slowly smiled.

That smile was as dazzling as the light after rain, instantly brightening the entire greenhouse.

“Me too, Mashiro.”

Those words settled quietly yet surely deep within my chest.