Embraced in the Pouring Rain

It's fine now—it's utterly unbelievable. At least from Vita's perspective. 'Why is this guy here...?' Seriously.

"Bianca, you..."

A low voice cuts through the relentless patter of rain. Held tightly in his arms, Vita is too stunned to respond. Carlyle himself trails off after that, unable to continue. The rain keeps falling, soaking into the embrace. Vita's amethyst eyes widen in shock, then squeeze shut.

Why is he here? Carlyle Schultz, of all people.

"You okay...?"

For some reason, Vita ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠doesn't want to answer him. It pricks at her pride. Why? Why? He's hugging her so tightly it's hard to breathe, as if confirming her very existence.

Then rough hands cup her cheeks.

"Are you okay, Bianca—!"

She meets his sunken golden eyes. Or rather, she thought they were sunken—but what she's facing are blazing golden eyes. A storm of emotions swirls within those golden pupils, fierce and passionate. Vita sees it all.

The sound of raindrops falling in the dark forest, the whisper of wind—all of it vanishes in an instant.

"Snap out of it, Bianca."

Instead, a slightly hoarse, urgent low tone dominates her ears. As he speaks, Carlyle runs his hands over her body—arms, legs, even her back—checking meticulously for injuries.

Vita blanks out for a moment, then pulls herself together and finally speaks. She means to ask how he got here, how he found her. But what slips from her lips is something utterly bizarre.

"Why'd you come here...? I mean, you..."

He's hugging her tightly again.

"You're okay. Good."

It's almost absurd. Carlyle's face even brightens a little. What the hell is this guy?

"Wh-what...?!"

"Seeing you get all prideful like that."

She can't believe the chuckling idiot. Seriously, she can't wrap her head around it. This person she never expected is right in front of her.

"Heard you tumbled down from above."

Carlyle tells her.

"Let me check if you're hurt."

"...N-not really."

Vita forces out a reply. What is this? What should she even say? Suddenly, emotion wells up, choking her throat.

"You're really not hurt...?"

His hand strokes her hair, his voice tender. That's why it hits her like this.

"...Yeah. Luckily."

Carlyle's expression still holds some doubt, but it's true—she's barely hurt.

"Jeez, you..."

Only after she insists she's fine does he finally sigh in relief.

"Don't ever do this again."

His voice sounds almost angry.

"...What business is it of yours?"

Vita's amethyst eyes fix on one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spot: Carlyle Schultz's face. The worry and urgency from before, now mingled with relief. She sees all those emotions. A whirlwind of feelings churns within him—a sensation that's utterly foreign to her.

"I'm so glad... really..."

All the while, Vita remains in his arms. He whispers I'm glad over and over, maybe five or six times, burying his face deep in the crook of her neck.

For a moment, Vita wonders if this is some bizarre dream. How did Carlyle...? She has no idea how he found her in this dark, rainy forest alone. What about Emily, his partner? Thoughts swirl, but none matter right now. Dark, cold mountainside, pouring rain. Scary, exhausting. Until moments ago, Vita's heart had been heavy, seeing herself like this. Suddenly, without reason, sorrow had overwhelmed her, tears pooling as she collapsed.

A childish whim, perhaps—like being the last one left in the world. Resenting her transformation into a girl all over again. It had been tough, in every way.

I'm fine. I'm really fine. She'd repeated it to herself. But the truth was, she wasn't.

Shhhh—the rain pours relentlessly. Shoulders and hair soaked, drenched and miserable. But Carlyle is here. Right by her side.

"It's okay now."

He holds her body close as he says it.

As if your words make a difference... Vita tries to think that inwardly. Even without Carlyle Schultz saying it, she could've pulled herself together. Or so she tells herself.

But honestly? Maybe not. Maybe she couldn't have.

If this guy hadn't come... it might've been too much.

And now, he's comforting her like she's a child—ridiculous, really—and Vita suddenly finds the situation funny, a genuine laugh bubbling up. She doesn't even know why she's laughing.

"...Yeah, okay."

So she answers him, hugging back tightly.

"I'm okay now."

Really okay this time. Not because of him. Just... just.

"You're such an idiot."

Vita blurts it out. Look at his state—hilarious. Pouring rain, dangerous terrain, and he came charging after her like a madman.

"You're really fearless. Too fearless."

She giggles, and his expression softens bit by bit.

In the rainy forest, a gentle voice reaches her.

"You were scared, all alone?"

Vita freezes at his words.

"N-no...?"

She doesn't want him thinking she cried out of fear, so she rubs her eyes with small fists. Sure, she was scared—but admitting it is embarrassing.

"What do you take me for...!"

She bristles a little. Treating me like a kid?!

Carlyle chuckles.

"You're scared of everything, delicate in body and heart. So I..."

He realizes how recklessly he'd bolted out here.

"Anyway, I found you. That's what matters."

Yeah, really. Heaven-sent luck.

He'd caught that faint voice by sheer coincidence. Pure luck. Fate itself. That's why Carlyle tightens his hold on her even more.

And Vita...

"......"

She can't bring herself to speak. Cradled in his broad chest, feeling his warmth, relief washes over her unbidden.

Why? Why does this feel so...? Her chaotic, messed-up mood from moments ago has cleared in an instant.

"No serious injuries?"

Carlyle asks again.

"Uh, yeah... just some scrapes."

"That's a huge relief."

She notices anew how her body trembles slightly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠whenever he strokes her hair. She shrinks into it—the feeling of being protected. Reliable, somehow. She recognizes it, thinks it's odd, but right now, she just wants to stay like this.

I'm lucky, yeah. Just as he says—no major injuries. Burying her face in his embrace, she thinks it silently.

If it weren't for the rain, their tender hug might have lasted longer. They were so focused on each other.

Shhhh—the rain intensifies. They've reunited, but the situation is far from ideal.

"Let's find shelter from the rain first?"

Carlyle's decision is swift. Vita nods. Autumn mountain nights are freezing. Hypothermia would be disastrous, so he shrugs off his outer jacket and drapes it over her.

"Wh-what about you...?"

"I'm fine."

He forces it onto the hesitant Bianca Shama. Then, naturally, he grabs ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her hand to lead her away—but

"Ah, wait..."

Vita crumples to the ground. That nagging ankle twinge earlier wasn't nothing. Damn it.

"Can't walk?"

She hesitates, then nods.

"...Y-yeah, can't."

Her ankle's swollen.

"Hop on my back."

Carlyle kneels without hesitation. But a nighttime mountain path—dangerous even walking, let alone carrying someone?

As if reading her worry, he cuts in.

"Don't worry about stupid stuff. Just hold the flashlight."

Plop-plop—the rain grows heavier. The dense trees offer some cover, but they can't dawdle.

"O-okay..."

In the end, Vita climbs on. Sorry as she feels, there's no choice. She clings tight to not fall. Normally, she wouldn't go this far—but right now, she just wants to.

Thud-thud—they trek the midnight mountain path together. Rain still falls, surroundings pitch black. But with him, she leans completely.

Carlyle's here with me. Unlike before, Vita isn't scared anymore. With Carlyle, nothing is.

This guy's fearless, solid... That's all. Just that. But why can't she say it? Such a strange feeling.

Probably—yeah. This was the second time. Long ago, she'd nearly been assaulted by that thug Nathan. Shortly after turning into a girl.

For some reason, she'd felt no aversion to him then, just inexplicable relief. Under the streetlamp's crimson glow, he'd led the way, her following. Like a strange dream.

Just like now. Similar feeling. But unlike then, Vita knows now. The sensation from grasping his hand under the lamplight back then—and now.

This is... reliance? He gives her something to lean on. Someone she can trust. She knows him better now than back then.

This guy's sneaky annoying, but... Also kind, caring, considerate. Having him beside her makes her feel secure. That's why her messed-up mood has lifted. Nothing more.

Piggybacked on Carlyle, relying on him in the darkness, Vita keeps thinking. Suddenly, it hits her. Indescribable. Her chest tickles, throat tightens.

......

Fingers tremble faintly, breaths cautious. Right now, she doesn't want to think—just savor this undisturbed moment. It feels... a little good.

Drip-drop—the rain continues. To shield Carlyle's head, Vita drapes his jacket over it.

"No rain hitting you now?"

"A bit better, but..."

She's clinging to him anyway. Vita hugs extra tight around his neck, pressing close. More reassuring. Doesn't want to fall. Gotta stick to minimize rain—and the cold.

"You're hugging too tight?"

His teasing chuckle. Vita panics at his words.

"Ah, sorry...!"

She starts to loosen, but he grabs her hands.

"I meant you're doing great."

"Wha...?"

This guy always nails it then fumbles? Vita pouts.

"Then... don't say stuff like that."

"It's fun."

They bicker playfully. Ironically, this is their first time alone like this since the school trip started—first real one-on-one talk. Absurdly enough.

Dark, cold situation. Walking through rainy woods together? Feels pretty nice.

Too bad it'll end... Carlyle thinks. The intensifying rain bodes ill. Need shelter fast. He'd raced here madly after leaving camp, even rolling down the slope himself. Bianca doesn't know, but his body aches all over, probably scratched up. But he found her—worth it.

Means something. Pure miracle chance. No time for second thoughts on the way back. Can't rely on one flashlight in this forest at night. But he'd spotted something earlier.

Looked like a cabin... Not far. He dredges up the memory, pushes on. Hypothermia worries him.

Warm Bianca up first. He hurries, and luckily finds the path.

"Ah, there—!"

A cabin-like building, dark and seemingly abandoned, but they've found it.