Apparently the Gal who Bullies me Likes me

Chapter 7

Shared Umbrella

It's raining today and according to the weather channel this rain is expected to continue for the next few days. It's already July, but it looks like the rainy season has arrived late.

I usually commute to school using my bicycle, but when it rains I try to take the train to school because it's too much trouble to wear a raincoat and get wet.

I look outside the train window.

The school is only a few stops away.

When I use my bicycle when going to school, it would usually take me twenty minutes to get there, but by train, it would only take me a few minutes.

Maybe I should just commute by using the train every day.

At this time of the day, you can see many students from Eisho High School riding the train.

When the train stops at the station, students from Eisho High School are getting on the train in droves.

It is raining, so everyone has an umbrella.

While I was sitting by the window of the train watching the scenery, someone suddenly spoke to me.

“Hey, heeeeey”

I wonder whose calling me.

I turn my head in the direction of the sound and I saw Tachibana.

I see, so Tachibana goes to school by train.

“Why are you here? Is your bicycle broken?"

“Oh, no, I just take the train when it's raining."

“I see!"

Tachibana, seems to be very excited.

"Oh, good morning!

"Good morning."

We both laughed at the late greeting.

We are walking together down the long straight road to school.

“So, do you always take the train when it's raining?”

“That’s right”

“Why don't you just take the train everyday?”

“Hmmm”

“It will be easier for you if you do that.”

“Maybe I would do that.”

“Yeah, I'm sure taking the train is a lot better than riding your bicycle to school!"

Tachibana seems to be pushing me to take the train when I go to school.

I wonder if Tachibana and I will go to school together if I commute using the train.

“I'll think about it.”

When I said this, for some reason Tachibana looked satisfied.

When we arrived at the classroom, we continued talking since our seats were next to each other.

“It will be the examination period soon”

Come to think of it, that's right.

I should start studying for the test soon.

“Is it that time of the year already?"

I remembered yesterday a guy in my class was making a fuss about whether there would be a change in the seating arrangement.

"Oh, by the way, there might be change in the seating arrangement. next time."

“I see, but that doesn't mean it's decided yet, does it?"

“I just heard a guy in my class talking about it.”

“I see..."

Tachibana suddenly becomes silent.

I guess I won’t be seated next to Tachibana anymore.

I will probably not be sitting next to Tachibana when the arrangement of the seats is changed, and I may not have as many opportunities to talk with her.

While I was thinking about this, the bell for the start of class rang.

After school, Right now I am preparing to go home after finishing my activities in the art club.

It had been raining all day. I don't hear any sound of club activities on the ground and only the sound of the rain was echoing through the school.

When I went out to the entrance, I saw Tachibana looking up at the sky.

Hasn't she gone home yet?

I wondered whether I should talk to her or not, but then I decided to talk to her.

“What are you still doing here?”

“I'm taking shelter from the rain. “

Huh? Didn't Tachibana have an umbrella when she was with me this morning?

“Where's your umbrella?"

“It’s missing”

Then Tachibana looks up at the sky.

“Do you want to come in with me to the station?” Is what I'd like to say, but isn't that too familiar, no matter how well we've gotten to know each other.

As I was thinking about this, Tachibana said in a loud voice.

“Ah, can someone share their umbrella with me?”

She’s definitely talking to me since there's no one else around.

It's as if she’s waiting for me to ask her to share my umbrella with her.

"If you want, I can share my umbrella with you?"

"Seriously! Thank you."

I put Tachibana under my umbrella while holding my laughter at her fake theatrics.

We are walking to the station in the same straight road that we use this morning.

I pull the umbrella a little closer to Tachibana so that she doesn't get wet then I matched her walking speed.

The distance between me and Tachibana became really close.

I was a so nervous that my hand holding the umbrella became stiff.

"Aren't you getting wet?”

It seems Tachibana is concerned about me.

“Oh, no I'm fine."

"..."

“..."

Silence ensues.

What am I supposed to say in a situation like this?

I could speak really well with her this morning. And the road is the same as in the morning, but for some reason it feels longer.

It seems that the sound of the rain is really loud.

It was Tachibana who broke the silence.

“What exactly are you doing in the art club?”

'Well, I'm usually trying to improve my skills by drawing or painting something.”

I’m not really active in the club since Rina and her friends always took me to the gym until recently.

“Hmmm... I wonder if I can join your club."

"Really?"

“I can’t?”

“No, it’s probably fine”

“But have you ever done any drawings or sketches before?”

“I don't.”

Tachibana says that while looking little flustered.

“Don’t worry I'll ask the club president next time.”

I never thought Tachibana would say that she would want to join the art club.

But it sounds like fun.

After a few minutes we arrived at the station, the train was just arriving at the platform, so we both jumped on it.

At this time of the day, the train was crowded with people going home from work and students going home from school.

Of course, there was no way we could sit down, so we just stood near the door together.

Tachibana and I were having a friendly conversation.

Then I recall that in the homeroom today, the teacher had announced that we would be switching seats next time.

“So, it is true that there will be a change of the seating plan.”

“Yeah, so it seems….”

"I wonder if I will be separated from Tachibana." I said jokingly.

“..."

Tachibana looked down and fell silent.

Huh? Was that bad a joke?

“Well, I'm sure we'll have more opportunities to talk in the future."

“…”

She’s still not replying to me.

I guess I really did something wrong.

As I was thinking this, the station where I need to get off is approaching.

Tachibana was still looking down and keeping her silent.

The arrival announcement was made and the door in front of me opened.

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow.”

“…”

I need to get off the train so there’s nothing I can do.

As I was about to get off the train, Tachibana grabbed me by my sleeve.

“?”

For some reason she wouldn’t let go of my sleeve.

“Oh, hey, what's going on?”

*Ding, ding, ding* the bell then rings and the door closes.

The train starts going to the next station.

“What's wrong?"

I looked at her with concern.

Then Tachibana while her cheeks flushed, turns her head and opens her mouth.

“Hey, let's go out somewhere together.”

​

Note: It was definitely the start of July last chapter which in Chapter 6 the author wrote "summer is approaching", I just edited it to make it "In the middle of the summer" to make much more sense as the summer season in Japan spans from June to September now in this chapter it's mid-July so that you won't  get confused rainy season in Japan happens between May to July since it's already mid-July that's why it's a really late summer rain.