āæ ur choice
16. rain kiss hug
Itās the first time they actually meet.
Kouko Domon is an angel, sheās perfect like one, gorgeous like one, brilliant like one, well-spoken like one, etc. and so on. Silas has heard of her before, just heard her name in passing.Ā
Itās the same for Kouko. Sheās heard his name in passing, usually from the louder, more gossip-y students trying to start something. But she always smiles delicately and doesnāt listen anymore. Today, she excuses herself from her club activities early.
Itās hard to get home in the rain without an umbrella. She trades her shoes for rain boots she has stored in a plastic bag sheās kept next toĀ her school bag. Theyāre plain, the generic cheap red ones.
She takes her umbrella out as she exits the school doors, making sure sheās outside before she actually opens it. Sheās a little bit superstitious, always careful with her luck.Ā
Her umbrella is cute, white, patterned with rubber ducks all over. She stands, watching the people scattered across the streets, their umbrellas black or red or sleeker and less childish than hers. She feels a little out of place.
Silas has misheard the weather announcements. He does not have an umbrella. Living in Japan is hard enough, especially with his hearing aids acting up. He has to get those checked soon. Heās been waiting near the entrance, hoping someone will be kind enough to let him share an umbrella.
And now, sheās here. In whispers, heās heard about her. She wasā¦the Class Rep, right? Sheās got a silly-looking umbrella, but itās better than nothing.
He calls out to her, and she turns, a brilliant smile upon her face.
āOh, hello! Youāre also a student? I donāt think weāve been acquainted. My name is Kouko Domon, but you can call meĀ āCocoā, because everyone does.ā
Her kindness is a refreshing change of pace from the other students, who are full ofā¦difficult personalities.
āWhereās your umbrella?āĀ
She ventures on. She looks a bit concerned, the way a young mother might fuss about her first child. But thatās Kouko Domon. She cares for every student.
āNameās Silas Sizemore. A pleasure to meet you, Miss Domon.Ā I misunderstood thā weather forecaster. Was wonderinā if you could walk me to nearest convenience store. I can buy an umbrella there.āĀ
He says honestly, giving a small smile. She twirls her umbrella in her hands, and looks at him. For a moment, she says nothing and Silas wonders if sheāll laugh in his face about it.
But she doesnāt, because thatās not Kouko Domon at all. She smiles politely and reaches out her hand to hand him the umbrella.
āYou should carry it, because youāre taller!ā
Silas is grateful for this kindness and takes the umbrella. Kouko takes her place at her side.Ā
āThank you, Miss Domon.ā
She looks away dismissively and shakes her head.
āAnything to help out a student, you know? And I believe all acts of kindness are smiled upon.Ā Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.ā A pause.Ā āI think thatās, uh ā Ephesians 4:32?ā
She laughs and Silas looks at her, surprised. He doesnāt know what to say at first. Not many of the people here really appreciated his preachings, let alone knew much about the Bible, but here she was, this girl, quoting it perfectly.
āYou memorized the Bible?ā
He asks thoughtfully, hoping this makes her Christian, or at least interested in converting.
āOhā uh, haha,ā She laughs shyly.Ā āOnly some partsā¦itās too long to memorize the whole thing.ā
She looks away.
āSorry if it seems like Iām bragging, I know youāre the Super High School Level Preacher and I just couldnāt help it, ahhhāā
He shakes his head as her voice trails off.
āNo, itās real impressive. Are youā¦?ā
āChristian? Uh-huh. Yes, I meanā!!ā
He smiles and she looks back at him. She looks like an angel, he realizes. Her blonde hair is the color of aĀ halo.Ā
āThatās āā
āThereās the convenience store!āĀ
She says this at the same time, not really realizing she has spoken over him in her excitement. He didnāt even notice they had been walking.
āThank you, Miss DomonāI mean, Coco.ā
āItās no problem, Sizemore-san.ā
She guides him into the shop, and leaves with a wave. He thinks about her on the way home, and she does the same.
The next day, it rains too. He has his umbrella this time, and heās walking to school.Ā
āAh! Sizemore-san!ā
Itās her again, her voice is soft, but still louder than the rain. He turns, and sheās there, with her duck umbrella.
āI really enjoyed your company yesterday. Sometimes the walk home can be very lonely, especially on gloomy days. Here is my thanks!ā
She gives him a chaste hug from the side, nothing too special.
āI know, uh, Americans like hugs right? Well, thank you again, Sizemore-san.ā
She bounds away without another word, making her way into the school, but closing her umbrella before sheās inside.
Silas thinks sheās a very nice girl.
