The rain had softened to a drizzle, but dark clouds still hung low, offering little in the way of starlight. A chill wind rustled around them.
"Let's go. There's nothing to see in a sky like this."
Alain's gaze wasn't fixed on the monotonous expanse above. He took Misha's arm, his eyes scanning the cityscape, and led her quickly to the rooftop railing. From here, the city spread out before them, a panorama of twinkling lights.
And below, bathed in the soft glow of streetlights and the faint drizzle, lay Crystal Flower Park. "We're sticking to the plan."
Alain looked into her deep blue eyes, his voice firm.
He took her hand, and they stepped out of the TV store. The shop next door, thankfully, was a convenience store.
"Want to get your own umbrella?" he asked.
"I'll share yours," Misha replied. "Two umbrellas would mean we couldn't hold hands, wouldn't it?"
Alain turned to her, a flicker of something in his eyes. "Okay."
His grip on her hand tightened. He bought a single umbrella, and together they set off for Crystal Flower Park.
Tap, tap, splash.
His slightly larger leather shoes and her slightly smaller loafers found puddles. The rain created tiny curtains of water where their soles met the pavement.
But neither of them noticed. Their eyes were fixed ahead.
Misha, walking just a step behind him, held Alain's hand and studied his profile. She knew he was helping her, playing along with her carefully crafted scheme.
If even she, the architect of the plan, didn't believe in it, how could it possibly work?
Rain or shine, TV broadcasts or static – they needed to see the reality on the ground to know if it had failed.
And besides… even if this little plan did fail, so what? Alain would still be there. Their world would keep turning.
This thought eased Misha's mood. She quickened her pace, drawing level with Alain.
"Let's go," she said, looking back, her deep eyes sparkling with renewed determination. "Let's go see the flower show."
"Mm." Alain saw the return of his gaming battle buddy, and a small smile touched his lips.
Seeing his smile, Misha felt her own spirits lift further.
The dim gloom around them gave way to the bright spill of streetlights. The flustered, rain-soaked pedestrians were replaced by those strolling calmly beneath umbrellas.
The frantic downpour softened to a leisurely drizzle.
City lights flickered to life, drawing out office workers in search of after-work entertainment. The air thrummed with a renewed vibrancy.
Their short journey ended, for the moment, when they reached the park.
"I'm a little tired," Misha said. "You're sweating, let me wipe it for you."
She pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed at the beads of sweat on Alain's forehead.
As Alain enjoyed this unexpectedly wifely gesture, his gaze settled on the darkened park.
The flowers, intended for the show, hadn't been covered in time.
They drooped, wilted, their heads bowed low. Colorful petals lay scattered on the ground, forming a chaotic, circular pattern around the central crystal flower.
The landmark of Crystal Flower Park – a large, sculpted crystal flower – stood glistening in the drizzle. Raindrops traced paths down its clear petals, finally dripping onto the soaked earth.
"As expected… the plan failed," Misha said, a bittersweet smile on her lips. She shook her head.
The real world was like that. Just when a plan seemed poised for success, a torrential downpour could arrive and wash everything away.
Sometimes… there were unavoidable, fundamental setbacks, no matter how you adjusted the plan.
Like, not understanding anything, and yet finding herself living with this kind, gentle, slightly mischievous gamer beside her.
Like a clumsy mishap during a clothes fitting, or a sudden splash of hot oil while cooking.
Or, just when she felt she was getting used to the real world, a heavy rain almost extinguishing her pretty good mood.
"I still have a long way to go," she murmured.
But with this gamer beside her… with Alain's company, this one failed plan felt insignificant.
It failed because of rain. So, next time, they'd just make a better plan, wouldn't they?
"Next time, should we go to an indoor garden?" she suggested.
"No. We're still going to see the flower show."
Alain's unexpected stubbornness surprised her.
She looked at his profile. Alain, his expression set with his usual firmness, was looking at the drooping flowers. It was as if, in his eyes, they weren't dying blooms, but rather vibrant life waiting to be unleashed.
"But we're going to change our perspective."
He finally looked away from the sea of flowers, his gaze settling on a tall building beside them, a tower reaching into the night sky.
"Let's go."
"…Mm, I'll follow you."
Alain took her hand and steered her towards the building.
The gleaming department store, its neon lights reflecting in Misha's eyes. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of flowers Alain intended to show her.
Inside, he navigated somewhat clumsily to an elevator.
At this moment, Alain wasn't entirely sure if his next move would succeed, or if Misha would even like it. After all, his strength had never been in following rigid plans, but in adapting to the circumstances.
But even adaptability could be shattered by the unexpected.
He sincerely hoped that he and Misha wouldn't be met with some cliché, unforeseen obstacle.
He pressed the button for the top floor. A whoosh, and the only sensations in the confined space were a slight feeling of weightlessness and the subtle fragrance of Misha's perfume.
The girl, holding Alain's hand, could sense his underlying anxiety.
Misha resolved that, no matter what scene Alain presented to her next, she would offer her most enthusiastic praise.
Because, at least for now, Alain's heart was connected to hers.
The elevator ride, neither too long nor too short, delivered them to the top floor.
They stepped out into a brightly lit shopping area.
Alain scanned their surroundings and spotted a staircase. He took Misha's hand and hurried towards it.
The staircase wasn't unfinished or neglected; on the contrary, it was well-maintained and decorated. Clearly, the mall intended for customers to use it.
"Thank goodness…" Alain breathed a sigh of relief at this stroke of luck – being able to reach the rooftop.
After this… it was in the bag.
The tap tap tap of their footsteps echoed in the stairwell. They didn't speak, their gazes fixed on the end of the climb.
At the top was a dark door, reflecting only a sliver of the night sky.
Tap!
With a final step, Alain and Misha pushed through the door and onto the rooftop.
It was like a frog emerging from the bottom of a well. The vast night sky, channeled through her eyes, imprinted itself deeply on Misha's heart.
____
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