2. singing in the rain

The last he saw her, she was running off into the rain, her face pained and pale. After some hesitation, he ended up following after her, already rehearsing in his head how he was to convince her to come back before she fell ill from the chilling downpour. But damn, she was fast. And small. And good at hiding. He sighed, hoping she had at least found some place dry.

His hair was already soaking wet, his clothes sticking to his skin, and still no sign of her. He paused to sit on a bench, panting, watching his breath turn white with the cold air. Where did she go? He could go back and wait, but he didn't want to. He couldn't leave her all alone in the rain. He wouldn't let himself. She was so small and-…

He froze, hearing her voice in the distance. He stood and slowly made his way toward it, the rain dulling the sound, making it hard to hear. But he eventually found her, sitting under a dripping Sakura tree, knees to her chest, singing. He had to look twice before seeing her small figure, huddled there, alone. She was singing a sad, sorrowful tune, with her lovely voice.

He made his way over and listened to her singing, not making his presence known until her voice grew hoarse and her melody ceased into soft crying.

She looked up and managed to smile at him through her tears, and it broke his heart.