"540)}arsfugal™" "I didn't know... soaked by someone else's umbrella... clinging to someone's suit..." "The warm body pushed up against my back..." "The chill breeze of the air conditioner against my face..." "Shinjuku..." "Shinjuku station..." "Thank you for riding with us." "When I was little the sky was closer..." "So much closer." "as with it comes the smell of the sky." "I exit out the station gates." "1000)}June" "and... beer?" "I think I've seen her somewhere..." "Here." "Thank you." "U-Um..." "Have we met before?" "N-No." "my mistake." "It's okay." "Maybe it's fitting..." "Narukami no sukoshi toyomite" "Sashi kumori" "Ame mo furanu ka?" "Kimi wo todomemu" "A faint clap of thunder" "Clouded skies" "Perhaps rain comes will you stay here with me?" "2000)}The Garden of Words 5 days earlier than average." "and Kagoshima prefectures expect strong rains over a wide area." "I'm home." "Welcome home." "I bought croquettes." "Great." "Dinner will be ready soon." "Thank you." "Where's Ma?" "Ran out." "we get all the croquettes to ourselves." "She left a letter saying not to go looking for her." "But maybe..." "Leave her be." "I'm sure she'll be back after fighting with her boyfriend." "I've picked out a place." "I'll be leaving next month." "Living alone?" "With my girlfriend." "Don't think that's why mom ran out?" "right?" "you know?" "damn it." "yeah?" "Well then I'm gonna go live with my boyfriend!" "after all." "That's 'cause she's never worked hard her entire life." "You're the one who's been piling on the years." "All done." "You do the dishes." "I've aged enough." "Won't you be glad to have more space?" "'suppose so." "'kay?" "Sure." "have you heard of this?" "a haiku?" "It's a tanka." "As if." "Ask Ma when she gets back." "like I'm supposed to." "But I think to myself "This is not what I should be doing now."" "Rain..." "Hello." "Hello." "Hey..." "No school today?" "And your office..." "Is it closed today?" "I'm skipping work again..." "And drinking beer in the park in the morning." "Drinking beer alone isn't good for your health." "You need to eat something with it." "You know a lot for a high school kid." "It's not me." "My mom's the drinker." "I've got snack food." "Want some?" "didn't you?" "I... after all." "We've all got our little quirks." "Maybe..." "Definitely." "it's about time for me to go." "Heading to school now?" "I've decided to only skip school on rainy mornings." "maybe we'll see each other again." "when it's raining." "It was the first day of Kanto's rainy season." "Entrance Exam" "About Tuition" "A shoemaker? but I enjoy creating designs and making shoes." "I'm still terrible at it." "Of course..." "I want to make it my career... if I can." "I've never told anyone this before." "Do you have any idea how late you are?" "right?" "Hey... before I went to sleep... in the moment I woke up..." "I realized I was praying for rain." "childish place." "With nothing but impatience." "so very far away from me..." "To me she represents nothing less than the very secrets of the world." "there are only two things I know for sure." "One:" "She must think of me and my 15years as just some mere kid." "And two:" "Making shoes is the only thing that will lead me out of this place." "Please stay behind the yellow line for your safety." "Please be careful of the closing doors." "Good morning." "I thought you might not come today." "It's a miracle you haven't been fired yet." "Wow!" "Is that a shoe design?" "Hey!" "I can't see?" "It's not something worth showing." "Really?" "really." "sit down over there." "I'm going to eat breakfast." "Would you like to join me?" "but I've brought my own." "You made it yourself?" "you know." "Oh?" "Then let's make a trade." "I'm not really that good a... you know." "It's your own fault." "That's a side of you I didn't expect." "What?" "Sorry." "But it's tasty in its own way." "It's got... bite." "Don't patronize me." "Can I have another?" "Hurry up!" "bro!" "be careful." "Mom!" "Thank you." "What could the three of you have gotten me?" "Hey..." "Do you think it's too late for me?" "And you know what?" "I could actually taste the food." "So your taste disorder has improved?" "I wouldn't go that far." "all I could taste was alcohol and chocolate." "I think you deciding to just quit was really for the best." "Maybe so." "like you're touching something fragile." "you didn't believe me." "You only listened to the voices around you." "Then we'll start the paperwork for you leaving after the holiday." "I'll notify the higher-ups." "Okay." "Sorry to cause you all this trouble even after we split up." "really..." "About that old woman you met." "the one you keep talking about who brings her lunch box to the park." "It seems like you've really struck a chord." "get some rest." "Ever since then I've been nothing but lies." "Rain..." "It's raining again today in Kanto." "the commuters all have umbrellas in their hands." "700)}July" "this is for you." "For me?" "see... right?" "This book isn't cheap..." "Thank you... very much." "It's my pleasure." "Um..." "I'm actually making a pair of shoes right now." "Wow..." "A pair for yourself?" "I haven't decided whose shoes yet..." "They're women's shoes." "and... I wasn't able to walk properly anymore." "Are you talking about your job?" "Yeah..." "About a lot of things." "I don't know anything about her." "her age..." "What worries she carries..." "Even her name..." "And yet I can't help but be charmed by her." "The rainy season is officially over 10 days later than normal in the Kanto region." "The current temperature in the city is 26 degrees." "the sunny days came one after another." "now I think to myself "I'm glad that he's not skipping class anymore"..." "But in reality I wish the rainy season had never ended." "This park sure is big." "I can't believe we're in Shinjuku." "pardon us." "Go ahead." "right?" "Where should we go next?" "Isn't there a greenhouse?" "Let's check it out." "It's like a totally different place on sunny days." "Thanks for the help." "Takao?" "but I've got my part-time job today." "This late?" "And I don't want to impose." "so just this once..." "I can hear you." "see you later." "He's a cute kid." "Did you notice his shoes?" "They're handmade." "What?" "Seriously?" "though." "doesn't he?" "I wonder if he'd make shoes for me?" "Who knows?" "Teenagers' interests change on a whim... and the rainless days continued." "I had no excuse to head to that place." "it was summer vacation." "700)}August" "I worked part-time almost every day over the summer." "maybe chicken with cashew nuts?" "Looks good to me." "We'll order it." "Thank you very much." "I wanted to earn what I could for tuition to a vocational school." "too." "but..." "I think it's clinging to those feelings that is keeping me a little kid." "That's why I've decided to create shoes that'll make her want to get up and walk." "What~ will the weather~ be tomorrow~?" "I'm not a bit smarter at the age of 27 than I was at the age of 15." "stuck in the same place." "700)}September" "It's just like Tsukishima... to have got that confused for a week!" "English class is no big deal." "That's cause Kiso's a pushover." "Akizuki!" "long time no see." "Looks like you guys got a tan." "we went to the beach a bunch." "You're still as pale as ever." "What'd you do over summer break?" "Worked the whole time." "The whole time?" "That's a lonely way to spend your high school days." "housework." "I skip school sometimes!" "Akizuki." "this guy never shows up for 1st period when it rains." "I've got a condition where I can't ride the subway on rainy mornings." "weirdo." "Teacher's Office" "Miss Yukino?" "Miss Yukino!" "Sato..." "Miss Yukino... save it for later." "Miss Yukino!" "Same goes for the rest of you." "everyone." "I'll be here until after 5th period." "I'd be happy to." "Yuki came to school?" "You didn't hear about Yuki quitting'?" "No." "I didn't even know who she is." "right?" "Yuki was always having trouble with the 3rd year girls." "but Miss Yukino didn't do anything wrong. and as payback everyone in the class treated Miss Yukino terribly." "They spread so many rumors even her parents heard about them." "It went so far she couldn't come to school any more." "Yuki's just too kind." "She should have brought it right to the police." "We told Mr. Ito again and again!" "But he didn't want to make trouble for the school in public." "what's the matter?" "Those upperclassmen..." "Do you know their names?" "Miss Yukino!" "He totally sucks at it." "You're so cruel." "you sure go through 'em." "frosh?" "Aizawa?" "An admirer?" "Who the hell are you?" "It seems like Miss Yukino is quitting." "Huh?" "Like I care about what happens to that slutty hag." "Who does this guy think he is?" "Huh?" "What's this?" "What's your deal?" "Let's go tell a teacher..." "Never seen this kid before." "Who are you?" "Fallen for that old hag?" "What a creep!" "Does he even know how old she is?" "she must have tricked him." "though." "Since she ain't a teacher no more." "Damn straight." "You should thank us." "I'm waiting for the rain." "Narukami no sukoshi toyomite" "Furazu to mo" "Warewa tomaramu" "Imoshi todomeba" "A faint clap of thunder" "Even if rain comes not" "I will stay here" "Together with you" "that's the correct answer." "That's the right response to the tanka I told you when we first met." "I wonder if you will be staying here?" "I answer..." "I will be here." "It was in the classic Japanese literature textbook." "Miss Yukino..." "I'm sorry..." "I thought you would realize I was a classic literature teacher." "everyone at school knows about me." "aren't you?" "what happened to your face?" "I was acting like you and drank too much beer." "Then I tripped and fell on the Yamanote line platform." "my!" "that's all." "Look..." "It looks like we just swam across the river." "I think this might  this might be  the happiest  time of my life." "Yukino..." "Yes?" "I think I've fallen in love with you." "remember?" "I'm going to be moving next week." "Back to my hometown in Shikoku." "I made the decision a while back." "there in that place." "Even if I'm barefoot..." "So then..." "Akizuki." "thank you for lending me these clothes." "I'll get changed now." "But yours aren't..." "Excuse me..." "I'm going home." "Thank you for your hospitality." "but I made too much." "So if you'd like..." "I haven't decided whose shoes yet..." "They're women's shoes." "I was acting like you and drank too much beer" "Then I tripped and fell on the Yamanote line platform." "Narukami no sukoshi toyomite" "Furazu to mo" "Warewa tomaramu" "Imoshi todomeba" "A faint clap of thunder" "Even if rain comes not" "I will stay here" "Together with you" "Um... please forget what I said earlier." "I was wrong..." "I hate you after all." "you struck me like a person I should avoid." "spouting off some random tanka at me... yet never say a peep about yourself... didn't you?" "That's just unfair!" "I would have never told you about the shoes." "you think I'll never amount to anything!" "So why didn't you say anything to me?" "You thought maybe you'd humor the little kid's fantasies for a while?" "Tell me I'll never live up to my expectations!" "Tell me I'll never measure up to my dreams!" "You knew from the very beginning!" "god damn it!" "Tell me I'm in your way!" "Tell me that little kids should run along to school!" "Tell me that you hate me!" "You..." "It's because you act like that!" "You never say what's important!" "You pretend it's none of your business!" "alone!" "Every morning!" "Every morning I put on my suit to go to school..." "But I was... scared..." "I just couldn't go..." "In that place..." "You..." "You... saved me!" "and it came time to switch to our winter uniforms..." "I got terrible marks on my final exams..." "I wasted who knows how many pieces of expensive leather..." "I worked part-time over winter break as well..." "I wondered to myself... how was she doing?" "Kotoba ni dekizu kogoeta mama de hitomae de wa yasashiku ikite ita" "Shiwayose de konna fuu ni zatsu ni ame no yoru ni kimi wo dakishimeteta" "Dourowaki no bira to kowareta jouyatou machikado de wa sou dare mo ga isoideta" "Kimi ja nai warui no wa jibun no hageshisa wo kakusenai boku no hou sa" "Lady kimi wa ame ni kemuru suita eki wo sukoshi hashitta" "Doshaburi demo kamawanai to zubunure demo kamawanai to" "Shibuki ageru kimi ga kieteku" "Rojiura de wa asa ga hayai kara ima no uchi ni kimi wo tsukamae" "Ikanai de ikanai de sou iu yo" "Betsubetsu ni kurasu nakidashisou na sora wo nigirishimeru tsuyosa wa ima wa mou nai" "Kawarazu iru kokoro no sumi dake de kizutsuku you na kimi nara mou iranai" "Lady kimi wa ame ni nurete boku no me wo sukoshi mite ita" "Doshaburi demo kamawanai to zubunure demo kamawanai to" "Kuchibue fuku boku ga tsuiteku" "Zuibun kimi wo shirisugita no ni hajimete arasotta yoru no you ni" "Ikanai de ikanai de sou iu yo" "Kata ga kawaita shatsu kaisatsu wo deru koro" "Kimi no machi ja mou ame wa koburi ni naru" "Kyou dake ga ashita ni tsudzuiteru" "Konna fuu ni kimi to wa owarenai" "Lady kimi wa ima mo kou shite chiisame no kasa mo sasazu ni" "Doshaburi demo kamawanai to zubunure demo kamawanai to" "Shibuki ageru kimi ga kieteku" "Rojiura de wa asa ga hayai kara ima no uchi ni kimi wo tsukamae" "Ikanai de ikanai de sou iu yo" "Doshaburi demo kamawanai to zubunure demo kamawanai to" "Kuchibue fuku boku ga tsuiteku" "Zuibun kimi wo shirisugita no ni hajimete arasotta yoru no you ni" "Ikanai de ikanai de sou iu yo just living quietly in front of people" "I embraced you roughly on that rainy night at street everyone was in a hurry it is me who unable to hide my own intensity" "Lady you were shrouded by the rain and ran through the empty station for a bit but it doesn't matter if I'm completely drenched" "You make splashes in the water and disappear so I have to catch you now don't go'" "I no longer have the strength to grasp the sky that is on the verge of tears unchanging and just hurting me" "Lady you were drenched in the rain while looked at my eyes just a little bit but it doesn't matter if I'm completely drenched" "I whistle and follow you" "Eventhough I've gotten to know you so much now like our first quarreled night don't go'" "the shirt on my shoulders has dried the rain has slowed down to a drizzle already" "Only today will continue into tomorrow" "I can't end it with you" "Lady now you know you don't have  even a small umbrella with you" "but it doesn't matter if I'm completely drenched" "You make splashes in the water and disappear so I have to catch you now don't go' but it doesn't matter if I'm completely drenched" "I whistle and follow you" "Eventhough I've gotten to know you so much now like our first quarreled night don't go'" "This letter has gotten quite long without me even realizing it." "Thanks so much for reading it all..." "Akizuki." "I wish the warm days of Spring come soon." "862)}" " Yukari Yukino" "too." "I think that now." "when I can walk much farther on my own  I will go see her."