I haven't seen him in a while now. I hesitatingly look at my cellphone resting on the windowsill next to me; he hasn't called either. It's not like I'm worried, but it's unlike him to not bother me at least twice a day. A little annoyed, I sigh and rest my head on my hand as I look out the window. It has rained for the past three days, but it's warm. Takao would probably come up with a stupid idea like playing basketball outside, saying something like "letting the rain shower over you makes you taller" or some other cultural and ethnic belief he's heard somewhere.

He lives close to me and he usually goes past my house when he comes home from school or the store, but I haven't noticed him on the streets either. Of course, I would notice Takao by him noticing me - usually he'd wave at me like a goofball if he saw me and yell "Shin-chan", ugh -, but I haven't heard nor seen anything. And I would notice him in the crowd too, that easy-going attitude that seems to seep through his posture, his hair carelessly slicked back and a large smirk on his face. ... He's very noticeable. And so am I, I think to myself after gritting my teeth from hitting my head against the window frame I was just leaning out of. It's sometimes hard, being so tall and all. Takao probably doesn't feel that way, of course not, he has even whined to me how he dislikes being so short compared to me. While I pack together my training outfit, I remember that and grab an umbrella from the hook hanging next to my wardrobe.

I was slightly taken aback when I didn't see Takao at practice either. We were supposed to train together, perfecting our pass-n-shoot technique. It wasn't only the disappointment that interrupted my gameplay tonight. I kept missing my shots, making me more frustrated than ever. Of course. Takao wasn't here. He's the one who somehow gets me all my lucky items lately. I got used to it and relied on him to bring me whatever I needed. I listen to Oha-Asa again, paying close attention.

"Cancer is today on the 7th place, so you might feel a little down! But worry not, as everything else, this shall too pass! Your color today is gray, befitting your position and the weather outside!" Well, isn't that dreadful. "Your lucky item today is a 100-yen coin! Keep it with you to cheer yourself up later on!" But I don't have any cash on me and Takao isn't here. "You'll get along well with Leos today, but steer clear from Scorpios! With both of you having claws, you might hurt each other!" Wasn't Takao a Scorpio?

Unsatisfied, I remove my headphones and tell Ōtsubo that I'll be going home. He agrees, knowing and understanding that I'll only be in their way if I stayed. Having quickly washed up and changed my clothes, I opened up my umbrella again and began walking home. The streets were empty, as usually during the rain. Sometimes I think that Takao is the only person who likes rain.

"Shin-chan?" I hear the usual upbeat voice question me. I turn around and see Takao a little ways behind me, soaking wet. "Shouldn't you be at practice?" "Shouldn't you? And don't call me Shin-chan," I retorted back, watching him shift from one foot to another. "No," he just answered. I narrow my eyes at him and raise my glasses a little to see his face better. "Where have you been for those past few days?" I asked as he ran next to me to walk home together. "Suzume's ill, so I've been looking after her." Takao's younger sister. He's good with little children, isn't he? He even made friends with Sasaya, who's really shy. "Is she alright?" I ask, feeling mild concern. "Getting better every day," he smiles at me and rattles a white apothecary bag in front of me. "You could have at least called." "What?! Did Shin-chan miss me?" he grinned and laughed heartily. "Not really." Not true.

"Well, haven't you listened to Oha-Asa? Cancer and Scorpio haven't gotten along very well according to the stars lately," he opened his mouth to catch some of the rain pouring down from the sky. "So, being cautious, I haven't contacted you." "I thought you didn't believe in Oha-Asa," I said, pondering how I could had missed our correlations. "But you do." Trying to change the topic, I remark if he isn't disgusted wearing such wet clothes. "Not really. What, you'd be willing to give me your umbrella?" "I don't want to get taller," I answer, adjusting my sports bag to my other shoulder, so it wouldn't be in his way. "I thought you didn't believe in that," he grins. "I don't." But you do.

We stop at a vending machine a few steps away from his house; we came from the other side this time so he'd make it home sooner to his sister. He suddenly tosses me something shiny and after catching it I realize that it's a 100-yen coin. "Buy yourself some red bean soup, Shin-chan, you look like you're feeling a little under the weather!" he smiles and starts going up the stairs to his house. "Will you come to practice tomorrow?" I ask while he's unlocking the front door. "Wouldn't miss it in the world, Shin-chan! See you tomorrow!" After that I turn to the vending machine and having slipped in the coin, I smile to myself.