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Himekawa Taiki was not expecting to see Arima Kana standing in the dimly lit corner outside the supermarket near the park during his late night quest to buy a simple ice cream.
She had been in the rain, it seemed, as her hair was limp, and her clothes soaked. Did she not bring an umbrella? Maybe she was waiting for someone— her manager? Maybe Ruby or that other blonde B-Komachi member was going to pick her up. Or maybe she was doing method acting for a role? Internalizing her part?
Whatever the reason, it was not Taiki's business to meddle. Arima Kana was almost an adult, she should start being responsible for herself. With a shrug, he went inside the supermarket, steps deliberate as he made his way to the frozen section.
It took him a while longer than usual, debating between the strawberry and the chocolate ice cream bar flavor. It was his indecisiveness with the ice cream flavors, he told himself, that prolonged his task, and not his frequent glances at Arima still standing unmoving outside, unintentionally visible from his place.
"Damn it," he muttered with a frustrated sigh as he grabbed both the strawberry and chocolate ice cream bars and walked to the aisle where they sold umbrellas. He would buy her an umbrella and be on his way. That was enough.
...Except there were no umbrellas left. Raincoat? Sold out.
He scratched the back of his neck, "This is troublesome."
After paying for his ice cream, Taiki exited the supermarket and reluctantly walked towards the red-haired actress. Did she not know how dangerous it was for her to be alone this late? He stopped a few steps away, but Arima did not acknowledge his presence even as he spoke, "Hey."
He called her again. When she still did not respond, he bent down to peer at her face, surprised to see her crimson eyes wide, staring into the distance. Slowly, Arima blinked and turned to him, confused, "Himekawa-san...?"
Taiki might have a vague idea of whatever she was going through. This was Arima. In the brief time he had known her, she had always faced all obstacles in her way with sheer determination, seldom showing her weakness except if it involved her eternal rival, Kurokawa, or her unrequited love, Aqua.
If she was this devastated maybe... both? He heard that Aqua chose to date Kurokawa seriously. Poor girl.
It was something Taiki decided he did not want to involve himself. He did tell his little brother to decide between the two women so maybe he was partly at fault. Sadly, Arima drew the short end of the stick. Out of pity, he offered his umbrella to her. "Here, take my umbrella and go home."
Arima made no move to receive his offering and continued staring at him. Growing impatient, Taiki grabbed her right hand to put the umbrella in her grasp, but she hissed in pain. Startled, he let go of her hand.
"What..." 'What happened?,' he meant to ask, his violet eyes lingering on the angry red welt at the back of her hand. But the words died down his throat as he watched her cradle her bruised hand to her chest, her shoulders shaking, her small frame struggling not to shatter.
"It's m-my fault..." Arima mumbled, trying to force a smile despite the tears welling at the corner of her eyes. "S-sorry..."
Watching the woman who had stood so fiercely against him during Tokyo Blade look this fragile made his heart ache. But comforting another person was not Taiki's best attribute. So instead, he settled with retrieving the chocolate ice cream bar from the plastic bag and pressing it against her bruised hand.
Arima flinched, the cold both stinging and soothing, pulling her hand away, but Taiki kept his hold firm. "H-Himekawa-san, really, I'm fine—"
"He's a jerk," he muttered.
Eyes widening, she inhaled sharply and stopped struggling.
The light from a passing bicycle caught his glasses, veiling the emotion that crossed his face. "He doesn't deserve your tears—"
She stared at him, at a loss for words. Taiki should probably stop now, but the unpleasant tightness in his chest made him continue.
"—But you shouldn't also force yourself to smile, Arima."
Her crimson eyes trembled before a wail broke through her lips. The rain fell harder, drowning her cries against his chest, her fingers twisting into his sweatshirt as if he were the only thing keeping her from completely breaking.
Taiki clenched and unclenched his other hand, hovering in hesitation, before he finally let it rest gently atop her head in a silent gesture of what he hoped could give even a little comfort.
Even if he wasn't the one she yearned to receive it from.