Waiting for You in the Rainy Garden - Chapter 20

Summer passed and autumn arrived.

The trees in the schoolyard slowly began to change color, with red, orange, and yellow leaves fluttering down as they swayed in the wind.

The morning and evening air grew slightly colder, and there were more days when our breath turned faintly white.

The seasons were truly shifting, and the scenery around us was gradually changing.

Hiyori retired from the track team, and I continued working on my piece for the art competition.

Hiyori found new time after school without club activities, while I spent more time facing my paintings.

Our paths were slowly diverging, and our daily routines were changing too.

But that change didn’t feel unsettling—rather, it felt like a natural progression.

——There was only one thing that remained unchanged.

Meeting in the greenhouse after school.

That continued, no matter how the seasons changed or how our hearts wavered.

One day, I arrived at the greenhouse a little earlier than Hiyori.

The evening sun streaming through the glass dyed the plants golden.

The shadows of leaves swayed on the floor, and the entire greenhouse was wrapped in a soft light.

The autumn sunset felt somehow poignant, yet warm, gently caressing the depths of my heart.

I sat on the bench and opened my sketchbook.

I was drawing Hiyori’s profile.

That strong, gentle expression I saw on that rainy day.

The image of Hiyori, crying yet determined to look forward, was still etched in my heart.

With every stroke of my pencil, I could almost recall Hiyori’s breathing, and my chest grew warmly, tenderly warm.

“Mashiro, sorry to keep you waiting!”

The door opened, and Hiyori rushed in.

Breathing heavily, Hiyori waved with a smile.

Their cheeks were slightly flushed, their hair tousled by the wind, and that sight felt somehow precious.

“Today, I met one of the underclassmen from the club. They said, ‘Senpai, you seem really happy lately.'”

Hiyori laughed happily as they sat down beside me.

“Do I look happy?”

“It’s probably because you’re here, Mashiro.”

Those words seeped into my heart, warmer than the evening sun.

Hiyori smiled bashfully and rested their head on my shoulder.

The weight felt comforting, and the depths of my chest grew warmly, tenderly warm.

“Mashiro. No matter what happens from now on… I want to stay by your side.”

Hiyori’s voice was quiet, but unwavering.

Those words felt like a gentle light illuminating the future.

“…Me too. I want to be by Hiyori’s side.”

Hiyori took my hand and intertwined our fingers.

Their hand was a little cold, but the strength in their grip was firm.

The warmth of Hiyori’s hand spread quietly through the depths of my chest.

“Mashiro, I love you.”

“…I love you too, Hiyori.”

The sun set, and the greenhouse slowly darkened into night.

The sky beyond the glass turned purple, and the shadows of the plants stretched long.

Amid it all, only the warmth of Hiyori’s hand felt certain.

On rainy days, on sunny days.

On days of doubt, on days of laughter.

——I am by Hiyori’s side.

And Hiyori is by my side.

That alone makes the world feel so gentle.

I gently closed my eyes and rested my head on Hiyori’s shoulder.

Hiyori’s breathing softly touched my chest, and my heart was filled with calm.

“Hiyori… Let’s stay together forever, okay?”

“Yeah. Forever.”

Outside the greenhouse, the wind gently rustled the trees.

The sound seemed to softly illuminate the path leading to the future.

No matter how the seasons change, no matter how the world changes——

We will surely gaze at the same future, here in this greenhouse.