"Uuuuugggghhhhh…"

Standing in front of the entrance of her college campus, Anna Sakato let out a loud groan, yet it was drowned out by the sound of the current downpour.

"Your hair is starting to look like how it was in high school."

"You almost scared me, Aomine. It's been a while."

"So I didn't scare you, I see."

"Don't you hate it when the rain makes your hair go all over the place…"

"Can't say I relate," the lad pulled on the strands of his fairly short hair and then taking another look at Anna's frizzy hair.

"At least the rain makes the air cooler, you know," he added.

"Yeah, apparently it's going to be raining all week.

By the way, you also didn't bring an umbrella?"

"I did," thus he showed a folding umbrella, but he reasoned, "but you really think I'll gun it and walk on this downpour?"

The downpour was strong enough the Anna was already projecting in his mind that in another twenty minutes of continuous rain, the White Street would already be inundated.

"We just finished our finals a few days ago so why do we have to go back again for just a moment and now we're getting rained on…" she further complained.

"Ahaha… it is what it is. At least the school will be getting more online-based in the next academic year so we won't be going here, like, for instance, taking the train for a total of fifty minutes to and back just to fill out papers for five minutes and that's all you came for."

"You know… that sounded impartial until the second half were it's almost like you're also complaining. No, you are complaining.

Well, can't be helped as someone who contributed to get a move on that policy."

"No, no. It's the taxes used in the right places."

※ Anna, along with Aomine and Sora Kagurazaka are studying in a public university in Ginga funded by the government.

Since attending the school, Aomine had quickly joined in a movement towards a more efficient system to be in place for the benefit of the administration and the students all the same, pointing towards the conservative structure of the university. In his second year, the appeal reached the now city hall—as Ginga was declared as one a year ago—and discussions were opened.

"It's already the year 2023… but Blue Ink already had a similar system some odd years ago."

"Graduating there really gave me a good perspective."

"It changed the, quite frankly, arrogant Sora after all. Don't you think so, Aomine~?"

"Hahh… you always have a way to put me on the equation, huh."

In the midst of their friendly banter, Anna's phone rang from his bag.

"Helloooo, Aki? Yeah… I'm still in school. Wait, you're here?! Where?

What do you mean you see me? It's almost zero visibility here!"

Then, emerging from the torrential rain is a car stopping just by the entrance of the university. The door of the driver seat opened with an umbrella opening up.

"Sir Akira?" Aomine clarified.

"I will never get used to being called that… Hi, Aomine."

"Thanks for picking me up… how did you know I was here, though?"

"Remember your mom asked me for help on the shelves? I already stopped by and she said you're still at school so I decided to get you."

"Maybe if we have time, can we get Aomine home too, then?"

"Huh? I-Is that alright?"

"Sure, why not? You still live in Sector 202, right?"

"Thank you… but until the station would be enough."

"You really think the trains are operational in this weather?"

"Ah…"

"I work with our school's registrar anyway and I had to have a good grasp of the nearby cities anyway, being the secretary. I drive safely."

Accepting the offer, the three of them then hopped in the vehicle amidst the rain.

"You never told me you got yourself a car, Aki?"

And yes, Anna has given her wooer a nickname, which caught Aomine's attention at the back seat.

"I've been financing for it for a few months now. I've saved up quite a bit since I started working early, see. I need it for work, anyways.

Ah, I took some rubber boots from your house since I'm probably going to be parking in Cerulean Street now."

"So it's already flooded there, huh…"

"There's already a few inches when I got there. The drains in White Street are really useless."

"Now that I think about it, I've never seen you drive before. This feels weird."

"If you're worried whether we're safe in this weather, Gin can vouch that we are. I pulled him on a track event where we drove on simulated conditions, so we're good as long as I'm careful.

Wait, when's their flight home again?"

"I think they'll be back by Sunday night."

Unavoidably listening to the two's somewhat intimate exchanges on the front unknowing of their relationship, Aomine decided to bring out his earphones as it felt wrong to listen in, and it was as though Anna and Akira are now on their own world.

The rain was the least of his worries, wondering if the driver can still get him home.

~ ~ ~

After that short detour, Akira and Anna had returned to a higher elevation of their home street, assessing the level of the flood they are driving on until they reached the junction between White and Cerulean Street. It did not take Akira two glances to know that a pair of rubber boots would not suffice anymore on crossing the flood, let alone letting his car pass. Thus, he parked somewhere on the flood-free Cerulean Street.

"Let's stop by Gin's place first. Is your Yuka Kei home?"

"I don't think so, but I have the keys."

"Can you reach the other umbrella at the back seat, then? I'll just grab some stuff at the back."

From the back of the SUV, Akira handed out a pair of rubber boots to the passenger seat nonetheless, as he took out a fisherman's overalls from the car trunk. In the midst of the still heavy rain, they ran a few meters to the small back gate of Gin's property and quickly entered the house.

A loud thud echoed in the foyer of the house as Akira dropped the overalls from his arm, while Anna hurried on grabbing towels from the storage closet.

"How come you have one of those… and they sounded heavy," Anna asked, upon potentially seeing for the first time that kind of equipment.

"It's probably not as heavy as you think. I pretty much prepared it for situations like this. The water is already knee-high."

"Sorry that we live in a water world."

"Ahaha, don't be. Let's just be glad this island hasn't sunk yet," he joked. "I'll get you home when the rain lets up a bit.

Oh, hi Haku. I wish you just left the door unlocked, man."

"Meow."

"Not in a talking mood, huh…"

"He really doesn't like moving when it's raining and his hair also becomes a mess when he shifts forms."

"Huh. I'll just leave you alone, then. Don't mind us."

"Mrow."

The cat stayed in one spot for most of Anna and Akira's presence until his ears perked up and heard the automatic feeder upstairs making a sound.

With the rain weakening, Anna left a note on the living room table to his eldest brother saying that they stopped by.

"Uhh… I should have asked earlier, but how are we going to get past this flood?" Anna asked, as she watches Akira wearing the overalls.

"I think I have no choice but… to carry you?" he answered, in a somewhat confused tone.

"W-Well… If I wait for the flood to subside it would take until probably midnight so I won't get home…"

"You're also going there, so might as well…"

"Then if you don't mind…"

Once the door got locked, Akira then crouched down to carry the maiden on his back.

"A-Am I heavy?"

"I guess consistently exercising paid off."

"I don't like how vague that was. You sounded just like Nii."

"Sorry, sorry. You're not heavy. Hold on to the umbrella well, though."

After climbing down the visible steps from the house, Akira carefully descended to the water to not lose his balance, and learned that the water level has gotten higher.

"Oh, wow… I didn't expect that…"

"Something wrong?"

"Once I got in the water, this thing suddenly constricted my legs… It feels weird, like I'm getting sucked."

"Uhh, sure."

In truth, she was curious how it feels to wear the waders.

Crossing the flood water three blocks through, they slowly but safely got back to the still dry family house with Anna's mother waiting in the living room.

"We're back."

"Thanks for picking up my daughter, Akira."

"It's no problem!"

"Hahh… I'm glad this house has a new son."

The two flinched hearing the assertion, nevertheless.

"L-Let's not get ahead of ourselves, okay, Mom?!"

"Ahahaha. You have to take a joke sometimes.

I know you have been here plenty of times, Akira, but just make yourself at home and rest. You must be tired."

"Not really. Please don't mind me. I'll have a look on the shelves later, though."

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"Mom, you don't sound like you're joking…"

But I'll take a shower for a biiiit."

"Okaay~

How about you, Akira? Did you stay dry from the rain?"

"I'm good for the most part. I'm just fine."

Suddenly, Senna let out a chuckle after handing a cup of hot cocoa to Akira and likewise sitting on the sofa.

"The way Gin described you back then is really different with the way you are now."

"I guess I've mellowed down quite a lot…"

"I just wished he brought his friends more back in high school…" the mother sulked, "We were seriously worried that he was just making things up."

"Oh, that does sound like something he would do, hahaha.

But it's hard to blame him especially when he was so much more anxious in the past. Things made so much sense with him when he opened up to us. Growing up made it easier to try and be on his shoes since a teenager wouldn't really be able to understand the severity of his experience.

Well… I'm an Exile too so I guess interacting with our fellows made things clearer."

"…

Thank you for always being with them… now especially with my daughter."

"It's no big deal… you always say that every time I visit, Auntie."

"I just can't help it."

"They are very important to our friends, and well, Anna is to me, very much so. I don't want her to lose her trust on me."

Then, Anna swiftly walking past the living room towards her room. For a second, Akira saw her cheeks flushed.

"What a far cry from Gin… She's so expressive."

"I know it's flooding and all… but should I take a look at the shelves you're building?"

"Oh right. I've been building it little by little but I don't know how to use a drill. Amano is at work and Kei is swamped with preparations but I want to try finishing it as soon as possible… It's hard for me to try asking them for help with anything…"

"Ahaha… I think I now know why Gin was always so reserved when he's asking for help."

"So that's what he got from me… I didn't help that he was like a Shame plant."

"T-That sounded like a roast…"

~ ~ ~

"Akiiiii, are you done?"

"Yeah? You need help with something?"

"Can you come with me to my room?"

"U-Uh, are you sure?"

"Why do you sound like you've never been there? I just need you to take a look at something."

After an abrupt request, Akira had no choice but to follow behind the maiden, entering her bedroom revealing an empty corner with one of its sides painted a very light yellow. Aside from the main ceiling light, the room is also adorned with different light sources that Akira imagined would give off a comfortable feel especially at nights.

"Do you think I can fit a cat tower here?"

"H-Huh? Are you… getting a cat, Anna?"

"I've been planning to and saving up, but a friend in university unfortunately have to rehome her cat because her landlord found out recently that they're allergic to cats, so pets aren't allowed on her apartment anymore."

"Uwaaahh… How old is the cat, though?"

"Around one? They go to the vet regularly so I don't think there's going to be a problem for that. And we don't have anyone in the house that has allergies!

I guess the savings I have will be used for buying the stuff for the poor kitty."

"Well… I think you can get around with three layers with the size of your room.

So you're sure to get the cat?"

"Yeah!"

"When are you going to get them then?"

"Preferably this week. I want to surprise Nii and Nee-chan when they get back. Also, I've met her several times, so she knows me quite well at this point."

"Oh, then it's good if she has already warmed up to you. But before that, you really ought to talk with the one most knowledgeable with all of this."

"Eeehhh… I don't really want to disturb Nii on his trip."

"I'm not talking about Gin.

He's always free, so you should probably go talk to…"

▪ ▪ ▪

"Haaaakuuuuu!"

The next day; now that the cloud coverage has gotten thinner and clearer, and the flood has subsided to a walkable enough height with waterproof boots. Anna in the morning headed to Gin's residence searching for the cat Akira mentioned.

"Keep your voice down… it's only morning."

"Where's Haku, Yuka?"

"Upstairs as usual."

"Okaaayyy."

Figuring that the master bedroom of the house is unlocked, he opened the door to see a gray cat bathing on the small strip of sunlight passing through the room, enjoying its warmth as the morning was unusually cold after all the rain in the summer.

Knowing full well that she will be heard no matter how quiet she can be, she still snuck behind the cat and sat on her knees.

"Hakuuu…" she whispered. "Uh, I have something to ask you."

Finally, the cat turned his head about with the girl's call.

"If it's okay… Can you transform?"

With Haku getting up on fours, Anna stepped back and sat on the bed, watching the cat stretch and assuming his human form as her phone coincidentally sounded which took her attention for a brief moment. Then, he looked in the mirror and fixed his messy hair.

As Haku went back to lie down on the floor, Anna began her inquiry. He was known to be a cat of many words unless prompted.

"So… I'm going to have my own cat in a few days' time. Is there something I need to take note of?"

"We're balls of fur, but we are lazy."

"I already know that, idiot.

I'm planning to build a cat tower but is there any other things I need?"

"Hmm… I've become very conscious in human ways… not that I need it anymore, but I think it's safe to get another scratch board."

"Ah, yeah… I've heard that you guys love to scratch almost anything.

Ah! How about when your claws are getting trimmed? Something I need to be careful of, maybe?"

"Uhh, just be very gentle, I guess? Also, please wear pants or anything that will cover your skin. If it makes us panic, we might scratch you.

As for food, you could probably just ask Aruji? You can see what food I eat in the storage though. I had to buy them on my own since he's out for two weeks now."

"You really are a weird cat buying your own food.

By the way, how much did Nii pay for the automatic feeder?"

"I don't know exactly, but it's expensive."

"Oh, okay.

If I have other things I need to ask, can I come back?"

"Can't you just ask Aruji next time…?" he lazily squirmed on the floor.

"But you're the cat, so it's good to know from you directly what they might feel. I've never really taken care of animals, so I don't want to do anything that might hurt them."

"…

I guess that makes sense…"

"Oh! Do you want to meet her?"

"Huh… do you have a name?"

"Now that I think about it… my friend said I could name her a different one. Her name right now is Amy, but I might change how I'll call her. I'll have to think about it!

Thanks for the help, Haku! I'll grab you a treat downstairs!"

"Ooooohhhh…!"

▪ ▪ ▪

May 26.

"Eh? Aki?"

"It would be difficult on the train, I figured. And the rain is on and off, so I might as well drive you there."

Today was the day Anna picks up the feline she will be taking care of from now on. It was the middle of Friday, yet she is seeing Akira in front of her home with his own vehicle with the intent to give her a tiny surprise.

"T-Thanks… I guess."

"What's the sector?"

"HJ9. I'll show the way."

Thus, Anna hopped into the car getting over the unexpected. Once again, it felt somewhat unreal for her that Akira has acquired is own car as in the country, it was quite uncommon to have one in that age, or when still in one's academic life. However, it has been at least five years since he began administrative work in the school he graduated from. Nonetheless, she still found the opportunity convenient, yet noting not to rely on that convenience too much.

After almost half an hour on the road and physical navigation, they arrived at the apartment complex where her friend lives, in which Akira decided to park on a safe spot while waiting for Anna inside his car.

45 minutes passed, and Anna was out of the complex carrying several paper bags with her friend following her on tears holding a pet carrier. But most importantly, there was an orange cat with pale green eyes quiet on her arms. After the former owner was gone, Akira immediately stepped out of the car, crossing the road on a jog, and snatching the bags from Anna's arms and picking up the carrier.

"So it's a ginger… Cute."

"Sorry for the trouble. She cries a lot when she's in a carrier so I had to carry her. She seems fine with unfamiliar things, though."

"She seems very fond of you, though."

"I've always seen her every time I visit so it's natural that she already knows me."

"Well, let's get you two in the car before it suddenly rains."

"Ah, I'll sit at the back. I don't want her suddenly jumping on you when you're driving."

"Much appreciated."

~ ~ ~

>ANNA

>SINCE WHEN DID YOU HAVE A GUY

Lol he's not<

>no shot

>u have a boyfriend and now u have amy

>GIVE ME BACK THE TEARS I SHED

>you better tell me the details when we next meet

>TToTT

Ehhhh www<

>ive always wanted to ask wth does www mean exactly

It's just how I type lol or lmao wwwww<

I thought u already knew<

>so my guess was right

grass<

>wtf

~ ~ ~

From the message exchanges, it was evident that Anna's friend had seen him with Akira as she was coming back to her apartment room. Right as they returned to the road, Anna and the cat on her lap heard the notification from her phone revealing a barrage of messages in uppercase to which Anna can only chuckle at the exaggerated reaction of her friend.

In no time, they arrived back home with Anna immediately introducing the cat to her mother then letting it roam around to familiarize herself to her new home and environment.

For now, Anna made do with a cat bed she bought prior as the tower she ordered was estimated to arrive in the next day. As she expected, the cat was very listless, only getting up from the bed and walking around from time to time, as she and Akira observed as they sat leisurely on the living room couches.

"Have you thought up of a new name for her?"

"Hmmm. Any ideas?"

"I don't think I have a good naming sense… Though knowing you, you'd definitely go with something cute."

"That's right…

Ui."

"You thought up one quite fast, wow. 'Ui,' huh."

"No. It's Ui."

"H-Huh? Isn't it the same?"

"No! You're saying it like 'oo-wee'. A little faster, then don't pronounce the w sound too much."

"You're quite particular for a name you just came up with, hahaha.

So… Ui?"

"You got it!

Ui~♪ Ui~♪ Your name is now Ui~♪ Ui Beeeeaaaaammmm~!"

"Meeeoow."

"Oh, she responded! Did you hear her, Aki?!"

"Yup, yup."

"Ahhh, I so want to hug her but I might scare her…!"

On that note, Akira stood up to give himself a stretch.

"I guess I'll come back to school and check the applicant and enrollee lists.

It's the weekend, so can I come back tomorrow? I'd want to help out on building the tower if it arrives.

No… actually, can I stop by anytime to see how she's doing?"

"That'd be a big help, thanks. It's my first time having a pet… that doesn't sound right when Haku is Nii's companion, but anyway! I really appreciate it!"

A sudden leap to an embrace left Akira in surprise and a little bit of a cold sweat seeing that the Anna's mother had just came out of the kitchen.

"I wonder what Amano would think if he suddenly saw you two like that," the mother teased followed by chuckle, leaving the two flinching and suddenly turning towards the front door yet seeing no one.

"Alright, alright. I'm going to leave now," upon Anna's release, Akira gave her a pat on the head. "Thanks for having me as always, Auntie."

"Be careful on your way back."

"I will!"

▪ ▪ ▪

May 28th, 7PM.

"I'm suddenly so hungryyyyy…"

Right as they left the arrival lobby of Capital's airport after a flight from Osaka, a low grumble came out of Rin as they walked to the airline's parking space pulling her luggage along with Gin.

"Yawn~ Let's go to the nearest drive thru on the way home."

After three full weeks, Gin and Rin's trip to Japan has finally ended, feeling the uncomfortable heat of summer and high humidity carrying over at night immediately observed from the perspiration from just a few meters of walk as they looked for a car with a specific plate.

Gin had arranged that once they arrive back to Orio, a resurfaced Exile would lend them a car to use on the way back to Ginga. Their luck with fairly pleasant Orion weather that let them land on the country was cut short a few minutes after they left to the highways as the rain started to pick up. Aware of the recent flooding and "usual" thunderstorms, Rin then called her parents to tell them that they had arrived safely and asked if there are any flooding on the home street, which was confirmed to have none amidst the rain.

"What do you want to order, Rin?"

"I'll have two chicken sandwiches with lettuce. They always forget to put them when I order for some reason."

"That's rough."

After getting their food, they had no choice but to park on an open space under the rain as they stopped by to eat in an area of several fast-food restaurants in the middle of the expressway.

"We actually ate quite healthily after that stint in Tokyo, huh."

"It was nice cooking Japanese food as a change of pace."

"That was a learning experience. I suddenly want to go back to Giotto's but I still have around three months before that…

Are you listening, Rin?"

With the dim lights on, he listened to the audible patters of the rain on the car and saw that Rin was saying her head left and right to something… until he looked at the car's wipers.

"Gotta pass the vibe check."

Without any second thought, he joined on swaying his head to the rhythm of the window wipers which eventually cracked a laugh out of Rin, narrowly letting herself fall and lie towards the driver's lap.

"Careful there. I'm not yet done so give me a sec."

"Hahh… Can't believe the trip is really finished…"

"I don't like how many receipts we've piled up so I really just want to stay home for at least a month and be on a shrimp position, drawing."

"Now don't blame me here. I used my own money for the most part."

"I know, I know. Alright, put your seat belt back. I'm going to crush these remaining 13 kilometers then go crash on my bed."

"Okaaayyy… Please crash on your bed but not on the road. I guess I'll try convincing Dad to teach me drive or let you teach me."

"Just take it step by step if you'll be allowed to."

~ ~ ~

After one and some odd hours on the road, the car has been parked on Gin's lot. Guarding the house, Haku welcomed the two of them home as Kei is still out. Taking the easy way in, they went through the Akanami house by Gin's bedroom and passed their luggage all the same, surprising the still awake parents, subverting expectations with the homecomers arriving home not from the front door.

"We're home…!"

"Welcome home."

"Ringo, musuko…! I'm glad you two are safe. Did you have fun there?"

"Hahaha… of course we did, Uncle."

"D-Do you want to see the stuff we brought with us?" suddenly quick to change the topic, Rin then opened her suitcase revealing the myriad of souvenirs that they came home with.

Gin managed to hide the sudden awkwardness he felt upon realizing the reason behind Rin's sudden small panic, and decided to just ride the flow as Kuro watches him scream in his internal world.

"I'll just stop by our house to greet them. I'll be back in a sec."

Opening an umbrella, he took his time to walk although in such a short distance listening to the rain until he reached the door of their family house. Upon unlocking and opening the door, he saw a blur go behind her little sister, who he wonders why she was sitting on the floor of the living room.

"I'm back, Mom, Anna. Where's Dad?"

"Welcome back, Nii!"

"Welcome back. Your dad's on the toilet, suffering."

"Once again he gave in to peer pressure when he's intoxicated and ate something spicy when he's weak to it."

"You really know your father well," Senna laughed.

"Anyway, I think I just saw something. What's hiding behind you, Anna?"

Still sat, Anna turned her upper body to her back and picked up the orange tabby cat and let her rest on her lap.

"You got a cat now? Since when? I never heard anything about this."

"Just a few days ago~ She had to be rehomed but you already know I was planning to get one anyway."

"I demand a name drop. Now."

"Ui."

"Cute. She sure has gotten used to the place in such a short time, huh."

"Wasn't Haku also like that."

"It's more like he never left a single spot for almost two weeks."

"That's so like him.

Can you hear what Ui is saying, though?"

"She's not saying anything. Though she's probably surprised seeing a new face."

"Want to try petting her or carry her?"

"Not yet. I don't want to stress her out especially if she doesn't want to approach me. She needs to get used to me first.

How about you, Mom?"

"She for some reason likes my ankles."

"Awww… look at you getting attached to here already," Gin shifted his tone as he crouched somewhat far from the cat.

Exchanging looks as Gin slowly blinked, the cat, still on her new owner's lap, looked up and gave a high meow.

"(Not Akii… who is he?)"

"I guess Akira's been visiting more often."

"Huh? Did she say something?"

"Just his name, roughly."

Aware that Haku is one of the odd ones out for having a perception of both of a cat and that of an adolescent male human, he still knew that cats possess intelligence unknown for the most part, as there only so few that are somehow able to understand them.

Notwithstanding, the cat started to become sleepy as she snuggled further with Anna's warmth. She gave Gin one last look before closing her eyes and let out a weak, yet still audible meow to his ears.

Gin stood up, not being able to process that minutes after coming home a lengthy trip, he would be called a gorilla by a cat.