(Sutamai) Short Story, B’s Log August 2018

[nhp]

Title: Rain and Sun

 

Characters: Asagiri Tsukasa & Sugano Natsuki

 

Summary: It’s the super popular series where you can catch a glimpse of the heroes’ true self! Caught in the sudden downpour of rain amidst the wet season, what comes to mind for Asagiri and Sugano?

 

“Doesn’t it seem like she’d come running with an umbrella?” - Sugano Natsuki

 

“...... Well, I’m the type to want to go pick her up myself though.” - Asagiri Tsukasa

 

 

Sugano: Woah, it really started pouring.

 

Asagiri: There’s nothing to be done for it. Let’s take shelter at that cafe there and grab lunch while we’re at it. 

 

They were right in the middle of scouting the perimeter. 

The rain that had been permeating the morning’s cloudy sky was finally coming down at long last. Asagiri and Sugano rushed to seek refuge from this shower in a fancy cafe.

 

Asagiri: I’ll take this hamburger lunch set. Some chips and soup to go on the side, and for drinks, a cola, please.

 

Sugano: I’ll have the curry and rice set, thanks. And a ginger ale for a drink.

Oh, I should’ve also asked that cute waitress just now for her number.

 

Asagiri: Natsuki, please control yourself.

 

Sugano: I was just kidding. Ahaha.

 

Asagiri: Good grief…… 

 

Sugano: Actually, if you eat nothing but all-out junk food for lunch then your stomach’s gonna grow mold~

 

Asagiri: What kind of logic is that?

 

Sugano: Because hasn’t it been humid lately after it was officially declared the rainy season?

 

Asagiri: That doesn’t explain anything at all…… Although, it certainly does make one feel blue when it hits that time of the year. 

 

Sugano: But you know, the rain isn’t all that bad either.

 

Asagiri: Really now? In what way?

 

Sugano: Like with girls who are bothered by their hair getting ruined from the humidity. It’s cute.

 

Asagiri: …… It looks like our orders have arrived. Let’s eat in silence. 

 

Sugano: Oh, so you don’t relate? You really are indifferent to steamy romances, huh~

 

Asagiri: I’m digging in first then…… Yes, the hamburgers here pack quite the punch.

 

Sugano: The curry is delicious too. You want a taste? Open up~

 

Asagiri: I’ll pass, thanks.

 

Sugano: Ahaha. I wouldn’t have known how to react if you had honestly opened up your mouth. 

 

Asagiri: ………… 

 

Sugano: …… Tsukasa-san? Why are you suddenly staring outside the window?

 

Asagiri: That woman over there with the plastic umbrella…… I was thinking how she somewhat resembles that girl.

 

Sugano: Huh?...... Oh, you’re right. Her silhouette from behind does have that look.

 

Asagiri: She was also carrying a similar looking plastic umbrella when I happened to catch sight of her in the rain yesterday.

 

Sugano: Plastic umbrellas all pretty much look the same though. But huh, so she bats for that team. 

 

Asagiri: Is that a problem? 

 

Sugano: Not exactly. But don’t you feel a little something when those types of typically super hard working girls, in reality, have umbrellas with cute patterns on them?   

 

Asagiri: …… Personally, I’m in favor of girls with plastic umbrellas. 

 

Sugano: And your reasoning for that is?

 

Asagiri: Because they’re aware that umbrellas are expendable objects. They break, get dirty, and are easy to lose. From that point of view, I’m positive that I would get along with a girl who chooses a plastic umbrella that’s inexpensive and that functions at bare minimum. 

 

Sugano: That makes sense…… 

 

Asagiri: What’s more, if your lover’s umbrella is the plastic type, then even on rainy days you’d be able to see their face when walking alongside them. 

 

Sugano: You’re kidding me…… Aren’t you being unfair by suddenly sounding all romantic?

 

Asagiri: Just from whose perspective are you pointing out that it’d be unfair to?

 

Sugano: Personally, I think it’s spicy how even though you’re right next to them, you can’t see their expression because it’s covered up by the umbrella. The fun of imagining it grows~

 

Asagiri: Well, to each their own.

 

Sugano: Yeah, haha. Actually, she would look good in the rain. 

 

Asagiri: …… Excuse me?

 

Sugano: Huh? You don’t think so? Like, how…… C’mon, you know. She’d be soaked in the rain and it’d feel like her spunkiness and bouncy personality would stand out even more. 

 

Asagiri: As a police detective, that sort of observation is one that you should be on high alert to. 

 

Sugano: That bad!?

 

Asagiri: It would be the sun that compliments her…… A place that’s radiant to no end would suit a person of her nature. 

 

Sugano: Nuh-uh, nope! It’s exactly because she’s a bright and cheery person that the rain would be fitting! No ifs ands or buts about it!

 

Asagiri: This is nonnegotiable. For her, it’s the sun.

 

Sugano: Whaaat~ Fine, you can have that point. But I’m not gonna budge on how she would suit curry over hamburgers then, either.

 

Asagiri: However you think about it, she would be Team Hamburger over Team Curry.

 

Sugano: Where does that confidence come from…… 

 

Asagiri: Hamburgers can be easily eaten at any given time. As a Matori who’s busy running around day and night, a hamburger is her most ideal partner. 

 

Sugano: “Partner” huh…… But a slow simmering pot of curry on the occasional day off at home would be a match made in heaven because of her everyday being hectic. 

 

Asagiri: No, hamburgers.

 

Sugano: I’m telling you, it’s curry.

 

Asagiri: We don’t seem to agree when it comes to her.

 

Sugano: Yeah…… Ahaha. How about we call it quits with the arguing? We’re just about done eating too. 

 

Asagiri: Agreed. Well then, I’ll go and pay the bill.

 

Sugano: Oh, I’ll cover my own share—

 

Asagiri: I do happen to have the means to at least treat my adorable junior to lunch. 

 

Sugano: Alright, I’ll take you up on it then. Thanks, Tsukasa-san. I’m gonna quickly go and get an umbrella from the nearby convenience store for this broadminded senior of mine~

 

* * *

 

Sugano: Tsukasa-san! I’m back~!

 

Asagiri: That was fast. However…… 

 

Sugano: It’s stopped raining, huh. Oh, you can see the sun.

 

In front of the cafe, the magnificent hydrangeas in all their glory were wet from the rain and glistening beautifully from the reflected sunshine.

 

Sugano: Wow, the hydrangeas here sure are pretty.

 

Asagiri: These hydrangeas…… For some reason, the impression they give off is similar to her. 

 

Sugano: Dude! I was thinking the same thing just now. Like how they’re blooming brilliantly without a care to the humid wet season?

 

Asagiri: That’s quite the observation. It’s the first time we’ve agreed on something to do with her. 

 

In that moment, a mother and child holding hands passed by the both of them. They could hear a nursery rhyme with delightful lyrics describing the scenes of a rainy day. 

 

“If it rains~ 

That special person will come to get you~ 

While holding up an umbrella~”

 

It was a gentle song like so.

 

Sugano: …… Huh, I kinda pictured it in my head. If I were to ask her to come get me because I was caught in the rain, doesn’t it seem like she’d come running with an umbrella? All happily too. 

 

Asagiri: Indeed…… Well, I’m the type to want to go pick her up myself though. 

 

Sugano: Aw man~! If you say that, it just makes me look like the biggest jerk. Actually, that’s not even the point. 

 

Asagiri: Hmph. Thank you for the umbrella, Natsuki. I’ll be able to get through this year’s rainy season with it. 

 

-Several days later-

 

After finding out that there was a faint hydrangea pattern printed on her plastic umbrella, a new argument started up between the two…… But that’s another story.