Chapter 12: "Wrapped in the Sound of Rain"
The rain showed no sign of stopping even at night‚ quietly submerging the city.
On the sinking roads‚ a thin film of water spread‚ and the streetlights’ glow wavered in the reflection. That light seemed as fragile as the remnants of stars sinking to the bottom‚ as if it would vanish at the slightest touch.
Nagisa‚ who had recently developed the habit of expressing everything in "indices‚" brightened her eyes the moment she saw the rain-soaked streets.
"Rin-chan‚ Rin-chan! Today's sparkle index is probably the highest ever! I feel like even the rain fairies are cheering‚ and my excitement boost is +5 or so!"
"...I don’t understand indices or fairies."
(Nagisa’s “index” series has somehow increased over time… and now it even includes fairies…)
Nagisa peered at her feet while swinging her umbrella‚ and Rin walked slightly ahead of her.
The faint light from the lanterns barely illuminated just their feet.
The sound of rain struck a steady rhythm‚ mingling with a low noise from afar‚ like something collapsing.
The shadows of buildings melted into the water‚ blurring the boundary between road and water.
"Hey‚ Rin-chan. This city is really quiet. All I can hear is the rain."
"...Too quiet can be dangerous."
(Quiet ≠ safe… I don’t think Nagisa will get that.)
Rin stopped walking and crouched at the edge of a half-submerged bridge.
The bridge was cracked in places‚ and the steel beams glimmered dimly as they got wet.
"If you step wrong here‚ you’ll fall. Stay away from the edges."
"Okay! …Ah‚ my heart’s racing. Half excited‚ half scared! But probably the excitement is like 120%!"
(The “half” distribution is definitely heavier on excitement… 120% what…?)
Nagisa advanced‚ swinging her umbrella. Her face reflected on the water wavered‚ looking like a completely different person.
"Wow! There’s another me! We can have a rain fight together!"
"...No."
(The idea of fighting herself with an umbrella… where does that even come from… but I don’t dislike it.)
The rain falling through the umbrella seemed to wash away all the sounds of the world.
"Hey‚ Rin-chan. If we stomp here‚ will the water go 'plop'… and float?"
"...No. It sinks with the mud."
(Nagisa always wants to imagine floating…)
This city is definitely sinking.
Still—during this moment‚ walking side by side wrapped in the sound of rain‚ their hearts were strangely calm.
(...I wouldn’t feel this way alone.)
Pushing the feelings rising in her chest gently inward‚ Rin adjusted her pace to match Nagisa's and continued walking.
Once they crossed the bridge‚ the city grew even quieter.
The first floors of buildings were already submerged‚ and the letters on signs were half unreadable.
Only the sound of raindrops hitting the umbrellas and the small ripples on the water marked the passage of time.
"Hey‚ Rin-chan. This used to be a shop‚ right?"
Nagisa pointed to a shop window submerged in the water.
Behind the broken glass‚ a faded mannequin lay slanted.
"Probably. A clothing store."
Rin replied‚ checking her footing.
"The water’s getting deep. Watch your shoes."
"It’s okay! Look‚ I’m wearing boots!"
Saying that‚ Nagisa deliberately splashed through a puddle.
"...Don’t play around."
Rin said bluntly but gently grabbed Nagisa’s arm‚ guiding her to a non-slippery spot.
(When did Nagisa start believing in her “boots are invincible” theory…)
The rain did not grow stronger or weaker; it continued falling at a steady tempo.
The monotony‚ paradoxically‚ calmed the mind.
Even the reality that the world was heading toward its end felt distant.
"It’s strange. Even though it’s a world like this… I feel… safe."
Nagisa looked up at the sky and murmured.
"Because the rain hides all the sounds."
Rin answered‚ pausing slightly.
"...I don’t dislike it either."
(It’s not that I like the sound of rain… probably‚ it’s because someone is next to me.)
Rin pushed such thoughts quietly into her chest.
Nagisa peered into the water again‚ suddenly inspired by something.
"Rin-chan‚ Rin-chan! Look! Doesn’t the mannequin in the water look like it’s waving?"
"...I don’t see it."
(It would be scary if I did…)
"See‚ if you swing the umbrella like this‚ the mannequin goes 'Hey-ho' too…"
"Don’t."
(Nagisa’s “force the mannequin to say hey-ho” has started…)
Nagisa laughed while swinging her umbrella‚ and Rin glanced at her side profile.
Rain slid down Nagisa’s cheek‚ catching the lantern light for a fleeting moment.
(...She really can smile easily.)
Rin still couldn’t understand why Nagisa could maintain her smile in a sinking city.
A streetlight flickered softly with a small sound.
The light hadn’t gone out‚ but its reflection in the water looked somehow distorted.
"Hey‚ Rin-chan."
"What is it?"
"Even though this city is sinking… it’s kind of beautiful."
Nagisa said‚ staring at the lights reflected in the water.
"...Beautiful‚ huh."
(Sinking… and still beautiful… where does that sensibility come from?)
Rin said nothing‚ just looked at Nagisa’s side profile beside her.
The sinking was gradually accelerating—
Rin sensed it but hid her anxiety‚ keeping in step with Nagisa.
As they reached that spot‚ a disturbing sound mixed into the rain.
A low‚ short creak‚ like wet wood groaning.
"...Stop."
Rin’s voice was low and immediate.
Nagisa hastily pulled back the foot she was about to step forward with.
"Wh-what’s wrong‚ Rin-chan?"
"Look carefully at the water."
Raising the lantern slightly forward‚ they saw that what they thought was a puddle was actually part of the bridge sinking.
The pavement had collapsed‚ and the water below swayed eerily.
"Wow… the road’s gone…?"
Nagisa’s voice lost its usual lightness.
"It’s deeper than it looks. If you step here—"
Before Rin could finish‚ her footing slipped.
"Ah!? W-wait‚ wait‚ wait! I’m not ready to sink yet!"
(...I was scared. But Rin-chan’s hand was warm.)
Nagisa’s body tilted‚ the umbrella swinging wildly.
In the next moment‚ Rin instinctively stretched out her arm.
"Nagisa!"
Her hand was thin‚ astonishingly warm.
The two barely stayed upright‚ sending ripples across the water.
(...I thought my heart dropped.)
"S-sorry…"
Nagisa held her breath and looked down.
"Don’t apologize. It’s my fault for not being in front."
Rin said briefly‚ glancing around.
"...We’ll take a detour. It’ll be longer‚ but safer."
"Okay…"
Nagisa nodded slightly‚ forcing a smile.
"But I’m glad you were here‚ Rin-chan. If I were alone‚ I’d be taking a walk underwater right now."
"It wouldn’t be a walk; you’d be drowning."
(Nagisa’s “positively underwater conversion”… can it be stopped?)
Rin said nothing‚ just held her hand.
The sound of the rain seemed slightly louder than before.
Beyond the bridge‚ the water level could be seen rising slightly.
The city was quietly‚ surely sinking.
Watching from the shadow of a tall building was someone.
Momiji narrowed her eyes beneath her hood‚ exhaled softly after confirming the two were safe.
(...Made it in time. But this sinking… I have a bad feeling. I might not be able to protect those two for long.)
The rain continued‚ saying nothing.
Another streetlight flickered weakly.
The light hadn’t gone out‚ but what happens next was uncertain.
A city with its lifelines cut was quietly heading toward its end.
"Hey‚ Rin-chan."
"What is it?"
"Even if the world sinks… if we’re together like this‚ we’ll be okay‚ right?"
Nagisa looked up at the rainy sky‚ smiling.
Rin stopped briefly‚ then nodded slightly.
"...Yeah."
Behind them‚ at a distant height‚ Momiji quietly turned back.
The city’s sinking was progressing steadily.
The next moment to protect would come soon.
The rain simply kept falling.
Quietly‚ surely‚ it wrapped around the path of the girls as if announcing the world’s end.
The detour led to a former residential area.
The water had reached the second floors of buildings; mailboxes and nameplates were half-submerged.
No sign of people‚ only the rain filling the world evenly.
"...Thanks so much for earlier‚ Rin-chan."
Nagisa said quietly as she walked.
"Of course."
Rin answered‚ facing forward.
"Don’t fool around in dangerous places. Remember that much."
"Okay… I’m reflecting on it."
Nagisa gave a small‚ wry smile‚ brushing wet bangs aside with her fingers.
(...Half of me doubts she’s really reflecting.)
Still‚ Rin adjusted her pace to match Nagisa’s.
The rain-soaked city was endlessly quiet‚ endlessly deep.
"But‚ Rin-chan‚"
Nagisa murmured.
"Even though I was scared… now I feel a little calm. Isn’t that strange?"
(...Not strange. Just having someone beside you changes the way you see the world.)
She didn’t say it aloud.
Yet that feeling swayed surely in her chest.
The sound of raindrops hitting the umbrella echoed rhythmically.
The lantern light wavered‚ and their shadows stretched thinly across the water.
"Hey‚ Rin-chan."
"What is it?"
"Even if the world sinks… as long as we can walk like this‚ it’s not so bad‚ right?"
Nagisa looked up at the rainy sky‚ smiling.
Her smile was like a light that wouldn’t fade even in the rain.
Rin stopped briefly‚ then nodded slightly.
"...Yeah."
(Really… I think so.)
Her chest felt quietly warm.
A warmth different from the cold rain.
From a distance‚ a presence moved in the heights.
Momiji pulled her hood deeper‚ watching the two.
(...I’m glad they’re safe. But with this sinking… there’s no time.)
Blending into the rain‚ Momiji quietly turned back.
Her back radiated an unspeakable urgency.
Another streetlight flickered weakly.
The light had not gone out.
Yet its reflection on the water wavered unreliably.
The rain simply kept falling.
Quietly‚ surely‚ announcing the end of the world.
Still—
The warmth flowing between the two never disappeared‚ even when beaten by the rain.
Like a small light that flickers but continues to burn.
In a corner of the sinking city‚
Two shadows swayed quietly‚ close together.
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