Suddenly, there was sound.

He inhaled sharply as the biting cold kissed his skin, and only now did he realize that he was under the rain in the middle of a street.

'What..?'

He looked around. He had no idea where he was exactly, but he was in some neighborhood.

'Have I... been here before?'

The streets felt strangely familiar, but at the same time not? He was about to ponder on it more but he was once again reminded that he was in the middle of a street.

A large honk came from behind, so he immediately went out of the way and made it to the sidewalk. The driver's curses didn't fail to reach his ears.

"Damned brat, if you wanna die just go jump from a bridge,"

There was a lot going on. He was getting more confused with each second passing by, and on top of that he was soaked, feeling cold and sick to his stomach.

"How... how did I get here?"

***

"...am I going blind? Why does it seem like Mitsumune senpai's waving at us."

"Then I'm also going blind since I'm also seeing her waving!"

"Idiots! She's not waving at us, she's waving at Honda-chan."

Shuuya mirrors her friends' frowns before looking at the direction they were glancing at earlier.

Shuuya almost choked on her sandwich. Turns out they were looking at Ayane who was seated on a table not too far from theirs with her own friends.

Having been noticed by her kouhai, Ayane waved more energetically. Shuuya could only wave back helplessly.

"...how...?" Shuuya's friends were so shocked at the development. The school's flower was suddenly close with their friend?

"Aha, it just happened." Shuuya could only scratch her nape. She figured that explaining would be too much of a hassle so she just decided to finish eating fast and leave the cafeteria for their classroom.

***

"Thank you for you hard work."

"Get home safe."

"See you tomorrow!"

Shuuya was one of the students who were assigned to clean up for today, so it was expected of them to be one of the few who're still in the school premises. They bid their goodbyes once they reached the schoolgate as usual.

"Oh my god, I think I forgot to lock the classroom doors." A female classmate of hers abruptly stopped from her tracks in shock.

"Eh~ Then go back, what's the problem."

"You don't understand, my boyfriends waiting for me over there."

"Don't look at me. I have plans to attend to today."

"..." Shuuya was quietly listening on the exchange before she sighed and stepped back.

"I'll do it." She displays her open palm and in a heartbeat, the keys were given to her.

It's not like she's in a rush, nor was there someone waiting for her by the gates—Yuma had already messaged her about him going home early to do some studying.

"Are you sure Honda-chan?" Her classmate gave her a sympathetic look as if she really were considerate. Shuuya had to bit down her tongue to hold herself back from pointing out her hypocrisy.

"I mean, the keys are already in my hand." Shuuya says dryly.

"Yay~ you're a lifesaver."

And just like that, everyone was gone—and she hasn't even moved from her spot yet.

"At least don't be too eager." Shuuya shakes her head in disbelief before once again entering the school building.

And her effort was all a waste of time, the doors were already locked anyway when she arrived. In order to calm herself, she had to repeatedly tell herself that her effort wasn't actually in vain since this was still double-checking.

Once she arrived once again in the schoolgrounds, she glanced up at the sky.

It was darker as expected, but now even the rain was getting a little stronger—earlier it was just a drizzle.

"...are you serious?" She chuckles darkly at her misfortune, but she could only blame herself for being an angel's advocate and volunteering to stay behind.

As expected, her umbrella could only do much at protecting her from the rain. Her bag was soaked, and so was her knee-high socks. Was there even a point on using an umbrella?

A motorcycle ran past her, splashing puddle water to her skirt and face. Shuuya froze for a solid minute before the disgust settled in, and angry tears prickled the corner of her eyes.

"I swear if this puddle water has dirt," She threatens no one, but just in case she brought out her phone to check her reflection from its camera.

Her face was fine. Had water droplets here and there, but it wasn't dirty. She was about to sigh in relief, until she noticed a man standing closely behind her and she had to hold her breath.

This was the guy she saw at the corner of her eyes earlier, just right outside of school. How come they're venturing the same path? And I didn't even notice him behind me...

She almost froze once she saw the guy behind her directly look at the camera.

She wasn't one to judge people from the way they dress or the way they looked, but seeing his sunken face and suspicious outfit which consisted of a dirty hoodie and torn pants, she suddenly felt wary.

She returned her phone in her bag, before proceeding to walk... but now a bit faster.

And when she casually tried to look behind, it seemed like the man was also walking in the same pace as her.

Shuuya doesn't feel like it isn't just her feeling that she's being followed. She was definitely being followed.

And now they arrive at a street that was full of dark corners, and was deserted—no cars, people—even the streetlamps were dim.

Shuuya broke into a run.

"Where the hell are you going?" The man behind her calls from behind, and the sound of footsteps on the wet pavement was enough to let her know that he was hot on her tail.

"Away from you!" She squeaked before proceeding to shout loudly. "Help! Help!! "

She drops her umbrella to at least make him slow down, and clutched on her bag as if her life depended on it while she ran.

Why's there nobody?! She gasped for air, and even though her legs were starting to ache, adrenaline was pumping in her veins. Shuuya turns to another street in hopes of it being more lively than the current street they were in, only to be disappointed.

"Shit!" She could only run faster once she realized she could only shake him off by herself.

Why did I even let myself be left behind!? Tears began to fall from her eyes as she continues to scream for help.

I'm so stupid! Why did I even think walking alone was a good idea!?

"Help!!"

Just as her speed was getting slower because of muscle cramps, she felt his fingers on her back. She shrieked, and with all her might she twisted to the right; passing by him by a mere hairstrand. She nearly lost her footing at the sudden change of momentum, but even if she did she'll still crawl to get away from him.

—because she knew that once she was caught, she'll never be released.

But then suddenly, a strong arm clamps around her middle and drags her to themselves. Shuuya's heart sank.

"Let me go!" She screams in a broken voice, and struggled to get out of his grasp. She tried stomping on his feet but she was lifted, and she couldn't even reach the ground anymore.

"Shuuya! It's me!"

Yuma couldn't believe it at first. He was walking down the street after checking out some books from the local library until he saw a figure similar of Shuuya's. It was a good thing he stood rooted on this spot for a couple more seconds before the figure came running back and he confirmed that it was indeed the familiar short girl.

Seeing the look of horror on her pale face, he frowned.

"What's wrong?" He examines her distraught self and held her shoulders tight as he sits her down on the side. "Why're you running under the rain?"

"—s-someone's following me..." Shuuya barely makes out the words because of her shaking.

Almost immediately the look on his face changed, and he lifts his head to look at the street Shuuya just came out of. He saw a silhouette of someone retreating.

It was not in his books to let them get away. He gave his umbrella to Shuuya and set his bag on the ground before sprinting after the perpetrator.

Minutes later, Yuma returns to where he left her and saw her still sitting on the ground.

"Shuuya, I couldn't catch him."

The guy clearly knew his way around—he immediately lost Yuma in the many streets they passed. Yuma regretted that he wasn't fast enough.

"It's... It's alright."

Although her heart was still beating loudly from her chest, she was relieved that the guy finally left her be.

Yuma couldn't help but immediately pull her up and to his chest. There, she also heard the loud thumping of his heart.

"I'll take you home."

"N-no..." Shuuya immediately says and looks up at him. "My parents aren't home— I don't want to be alone,"

Hundreds of horrible scenarios ran in her head. What if the stalker follows them home, and she's alone? She wasn't confident about defending herself.

And as if Yuma read her mind, he hugged her tighter.

"Let's go to mine."

*

'This is...'

He finally remembers.

Isn't this his neighborhood when he was in highschool?

'That's why the streets look familiar.'

If it wasn't for the huge obnoxious statue of a naked man near the shrine, he wouldn't have any clue. 

But what was he doing here?

"Help!"

A voice sounded not too far from where he was. It sound so distressed, so... heart wrenching, he couldn't help but pick up his pace to follow it.

'Have I done this before?'

Once again, there was the strange feeling of familiarity, as if he was watching a film he already saw once.

He rounds to a corner, and there he sees a girl clinging on to a taller male for dear life.

"—s-someone's following me..." she says.

From where he was, one usually wouldn't hear what the other said.

But it was as if he already knew what she was saying.

And as the other male chased whoever was in the other street and left the girl behind, the sinking feeling of nostalgia strengthened.

Kato Suguru couldn't bring himself to appear in front of her. And so, he only watched from his spot until the taller man came back and lead the girl somewhere. 

Suguru had the feeling that it was him who was supposed to be beside the girl, and not that man. He just couldn't figure out why.