**Even before he** turned around he knew someone was behind him. While the rain outside was loud, slapping against the concrete aggressively, making the whole world a dull gray color; it didn’t block out all the noise. The footsteps were light, sounding out to the pattern of the storm.

He didn’t look to see who it was, because some part of him already knew. Instead he looked up, the clouds completely covering any inch of sky.

He stood at the very edge of the school building, still underneath the roofing in place so he didn’t get wet. But just close enough to occasionally feel a droplet on his face.

On days like this Shoto would have preferred to stay at the dorms rather than go home, it wasn’t like he didn’t see his family often. They could go a weekend without him. Though the mountains of work he had piled on his desk made him reconsider.

“You aren’t going to walk home in the rain are you?” He questioned as the person finally came into his peripheral vision.

They too looked upwards before smiling, hands reaching to their side to grab something.

It took Shoto a moment to realize what it was, but when they opened it fully and held it above his head he recognized it as an umbrella. It was cheap looking, and small. Probably something they’d had since they were young which he found oddly endearing.

He gripped the handle gently and felt them let go of it, the weight now resting on his hands instead. It was sturdy enough, and would get him home dry. But he was more worried about how they’d get home.

“Don’t you need this?” He hummed, “You live farther than me.”