"…What are you doing?"

The first time Fujimiya Amane ever spoke to her—Shiina Mahiru—was on a rainy day, when he found her sitting alone on a swing in the park.

This year, Amane had started living on his own as a first-year high school student.

And right next door to his apartment lived an angel.

Of course, “angel” was just a metaphor. But in Shiina Mahiru’s case, it was no exaggeration. She was a girl so beautiful and graceful that the comparison didn’t feel like a joke at all.

Her straight, flaxen hair always shone with a silky luster. Her pale, milky skin was smooth and flawless, untouched by blemishes. With her well-shaped nose, long lashes, and large, doll-like eyes, she possessed a fragile, exquisite beauty.

Being in the same high school—and the same year—Amane often heard about Mahiru’s reputation.

Most of what people said about her was that she was a beautiful honor student, talented in both academics and athletics.

In fact, she always ranked first in exams, and during physical education, she was said to perform like an ace.

Amane wasn’t in the same class, so he didn’t know her well, but if the rumors were true, she really might be a flawless person.

No apparent flaws. Stunningly beautiful, top of her class, modest and unassuming. With all that, it was no wonder she was so popular.

For any boy, having a girl like her live next door would be a dream come true.

But Amane had no intention of getting involved with her, nor did he think he could.

Of course, even he found Shiina Mahiru attractive.

But to him, she was just a neighbor. They had no reason to talk, and he had no intention of starting a relationship.

If anything, getting involved would only invite jealousy from other boys. And really, if just living next door was enough to grow closer, the guys who had fallen for her wouldn’t be struggling so much.

Besides, finding someone attractive and actually falling in love weren’t the same thing. To Amane, Mahiru was best appreciated from a distance, like a beautiful work of art.

So he had no expectations of some sweet, youthful romance, and he never made the effort to speak to her.

That was why, when he saw her sitting alone in the pouring rain without an umbrella, his first thought was simply that she looked suspicious.

Despite the downpour, when everyone else rushed straight home, she was sitting there in the park between school and their apartment, motionless on a swing.

‘What the hell is she doing in the rain?’

The dim light and rain blurred his vision, but the distinctive flaxen hair and school uniform made it obvious it was Mahiru.

But why was she there? Without an umbrella, soaked through, just sitting quietly as if lost in thought.

She didn’t seem to be waiting for anyone. She simply looked on, indifferent to being drenched.

Her upturned face, pale to begin with, looked almost colorless, as if she were about to collapse. At this rate, she’d catch a cold for sure.

Yet she remained still, making no attempt to go home.

It must have been her choice. Maybe it wasn’t something for an outsider to interfere with.

That’s what Amane thought—until the last look he caught of her face seemed twisted, as though she was about to cry. That made him scratch his head in frustration.

It wasn’t that he wanted to get involved with her.

But leaving someone who looked like that alone left a bad taste in his mouth.

That was all.

"…What are you doing?"

He called out, trying to sound as indifferent as possible, to show he had no ulterior motive.

Mahiru turned her head, her long, rain-soaked hair swaying heavily.

Her face was, as always, breathtakingly beautiful.

Even drenched, her radiance didn’t fade. If anything, the rain seemed to accentuate her beauty. She truly was what people called “a woman beautiful even in the rain.”

Her wide, double-lidded eyes fixed on him.

Surely she knew he was her neighbor. They occasionally passed each other in the mornings.

But being suddenly spoken to—by someone she had never interacted with—made a flicker of caution appear in her dark amber eyes.

"Fujimiya-san. Do you need something from me?"

So she remembered his name, he thought with mild surprise. But at the same time, he realized that this wasn’t going to make her any less wary of him.

It was only natural. Even if not a complete stranger, being approached out of nowhere was enough to make anyone guard themselves.

After all, she was constantly being confessed to and approached by boys from all grades. She probably didn’t want to deal with another boy pestering her.

"Not really. But seeing you sitting here alone in the rain, it’s hard not to be concerned."

"I see. I appreciate your concern, but I’m here because I want to be. Please don’t worry about me."

Her voice wasn’t sharp or hostile. It was gentle, but detached, as if to say she had no intention of letting anyone in.

‘Well, that figures.’

She clearly had her reasons, and her words were a polite way of telling him to stay out of it.

Amane had no intention of pressing further.

He had only spoken up on a whim. Asking her what she was doing had been nothing more than a passing curiosity.

If she wanted to stay here, then so be it.

In fact, she was probably wondering why he even bothered talking to her at all.

Her delicate features regarded him warily, so Amane simply replied, "I see."

If he pushed further, she’d definitely be annoyed. Best to retreat while he could.

And honestly, whether Mahiru thought well or poorly of him didn’t matter. They weren’t close anyway.

Still, leaving her here, drenched and alone, didn’t sit right with him.

"You’ll catch a cold. Take this and go home. You don’t have to give it back."

With that, he offered her his umbrella—more like forced it onto her—before she could say anything.

Before she could even move her lips, he turned on his heel and walked away.

Her voice followed faintly behind him, almost drowned by the sound of the rain. But Amane didn’t look back, quickly leaving the park.

Maybe it was just because he’d given her the umbrella, but the guilt he’d felt at first, when he almost ignored her, eased a little.

Since she clearly didn’t want to talk, Amane decided not to get involved with her again.

They had no ties anyway. This would be the end of it.

At least, that’s what he thought at the time, as he made his way home.

Chapter 1: 1. The Angel, Beautiful Even in the Rain

If you're enjoying the story, consider supporting us with a coffee!

You Might Also Like

Whose little lady is so crazy

My Ex Dumped Me, So I Got a new girlfriend

The Unspoken Desire of the Third Son of Knight

I Reincarnated as the Youngest Prince and All I Want Is a Happy Family!

Power and a Harem from One Act

Eighty control group: After the change of parents, I was spoiled by the group