Rain came unexpectedly that Wednesday.
Dark clouds gathered fast, swallowing the blue sky by noon. By the time the final class bell rang, thunder rolled through the horizon like distant drums.
Leo pulled his jacket over his head and jogged toward the covered walkway, but the rain hit hard and fast. Within seconds, he was drenched.
He wasn't the only one caught off-guard.
"Leo!"
A familiar voice shouted through the downpour.
Yuki.
She was standing under the eaves of the main building, waving something bright yellow in her hands—a folding umbrella. She darted toward him, skirt and hair fluttering.
"Take it!" she yelled, shoving the umbrella into his hands. "I've got my raincoat!"
Leo blinked. "But you'll still get wet."
"Whatever! Hurry up before your notebooks die!"
He hesitated, then took the umbrella.
They ducked together beneath the awning of the broadcasting club studio. The door was ajar.
Yuki peeked inside.
"No one's using it," she said with a mischievous grin. "Come on. Let's wait out the rain."
---
Inside, the room was warm and faintly dusty. Audio equipment lined one side, and soft cushions were stacked against the wall. It smelled of old wood and static.
Leo placed his soaked backpack on a stool.
Yuki was already by the mic, adjusting levels, humming a tune.
"Want to try something fun?" she asked.
Leo raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"
She flicked on the recording system. "Midnight Radio—but make it 4 PM. Let's pretend we're live. You and me. DJ Leo and MC Yuki."
He chuckled. "You're serious?"
"Dead serious." She handed him a pair of headphones.
The static cleared.
Yuki tapped the mic, then spoke into it with a dreamy voice. "Good afternoon, listeners. Today's weather: drenched dreams and emotional humidity. I'm your host, Yuki, bringing you forbidden broadcasts from behind the rain."
Leo stared. Then slowly leaned in. "...And I'm Leo. Here to ruin your playlist with awkward silences."
Yuki laughed—loud and genuine.
For a while, they played pretend. She asked him fake listener questions. He answered them in mock-deep radio voice.
> "DJ Leo, what's the most important quality in a friend?"
"They bring snacks."
> "MC Yuki, what's your guilty pleasure?"
"Rom-coms with terrible plots but great kisses."
It was ridiculous.
It was wonderful.
---
Then the tone shifted.
Yuki lowered her voice.
"DJ Leo, have you ever liked someone, but couldn't tell them because you didn't want to ruin everything?"
Leo paused.
The air felt different.
He leaned into the mic. "...Yes."
Yuki nodded slowly.
"I think I've been there too."
A moment passed.
Rain tapped gently against the windows.
She turned toward him.
"I like being around you," she said.
Leo's throat tightened.
"But it sucks not knowing if I'm... part of the story, or just a scene."
He looked at her.
She wasn't smiling now. Just watching. Carefully. Hoping, but braced.
"Yuki..." he began.
But the door burst open.
Sora.
Soaked. Holding a notebook to her chest.
Her eyes landed on them. On their headphones. On the close space between their seats.
"Oh," she said.
Leo stood up. "Sora—"
She shook her head. "Sorry. I didn't know you were... busy."
She turned to go.
Yuki bit her lip but didn't say anything.
Leo moved.
"Sora, wait."
He stepped into the hallway, rain forgotten.
Sora stopped, back still to him.
"I was just returning your poem notebook," she said, voice tight. "You left it in the art room."
"Thank you," he said softly.
A beat.
"You and Yuki... looked close."
Leo didn't know what to say.
"I'm sorry," he finally said.
Sora nodded once. "I'll go."
She walked away.
Leo stood there in the echo of her footsteps, heart a storm louder than the one outside.
---
Back inside, Yuki had removed the headphones.
She looked up at him.
"I didn't mean for that to happen," she said.
"I know."
Silence.
Then Yuki added: "But I don't regret it."
Leo sat down slowly.
He picked up the headphones again.
The mic was still on.
"Listeners," he said quietly, "Sometimes, the truth comes out during storms. Not because we want it to—but because we're too soaked to lie."
He clicked off the recording.
The rain continued.
Outside. Inside.
Everywhere.