pullmeoutalive | It never rains in California

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It never rains in California

[ the weather had been nice on her end, when her last job of the day had wrapped up. And Makoto still had a good chunk of day left over, so after a call home to let her mother know where she'd be, and a text to her fellow Makoto to make sure it was okay, she'd hopped the train.

... And then it had started to rain.

A lot.

Luckily, she has a baseball cap this time, which helps, although once she's off the platform (and subsequent bus) and out in the weather, there's little hope for the rest of her staying dry in this downpour. Then the question became... where was she even supposed to find Makoto? Swimming practice couldn't happen, unless they had an indoor pool... should she ask around town? Was it that tiny of one? Or maybe she should just cave and call him. ]

I probably should... this weather isn't exactly making it easy to spot anyone.

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[ when he suddenly stops, Makoto looks up at him. Had he seen something? The water's churning too furiously for her to catch a good glimpse, but maybe if she goes a little closer... ]

What's wrong?

[Makoto frowns, wondering if he was hearing things--and then he sees the glimpse of white, clinging to a tree branch in the river. The kitten seems unharmed, but the water is certainly not going down, and it looks absolutely terrified.

And Makoto's breath catches in his throat when he sees, and he frowns.]

There!

[...yeah okay, and he's already moving to pull off his shirt.]

Oh no--!

[ wait why is he taking off his-- ]

Makoto-kun, h-hold on! That's not safe!

[ like she wouldn't go in there, but... ]

[Don't mind the fact that he's now shirtless. He'll leave the rest on though, because unlike some people, he's not always wearing a swimsuit.

But he does pause to give Makoto a brief, hopefully reassuring smile.]

It'll be fine. The river isn't too dangerous, even like this, so long as you're careful.

[BESIDES, THE KITTEN, MAKOTO.]

[ she's not minding the fact at all because there are more important things than Makoto's well-defined upper half.

Like that river. And that kitten.

... Which is why she caves, as worried as she still looks. ]

Then be careful... okay? I can get a little closer, so you can pass the kitten to me.

[He nods firmly, certainly not intending to mess up with something so serious as this.]

You be careful too. The bank will probably be slippery.

[But he's going to just have to trust her to do so and do her part, because he is hurrying now to the river and splashing right in.

He keeps his feet until he can't, and then it's all smooth strokes and the front stroke as hard as he can towards that cat in the middle of the river. It's not an easy swim, but it's also not as terrifying as the ocean--and the difficulty makes him stay completely focused, instead of thinking of Haruka on the ground, half-dead from this very river.

He makes it to the branch and grabs on, taking a moment to breathe, and then reaches for the kitten. Alright, this'll get tricky...

But at least the kitten remembers him and thus doesn't fight back when he reaches for it, grabbing it carefully and edging along the branch to try to get closer without submerging the both of them.]

[ Makoto's so used to entering the fray, to being the one doing the dangerous things, that it's even harder to be the one watching. It'll be fine, she knows. He's a good, experienced swimmer. And she'll have to do her part, too.

So she makes her own, careful way to the bank, and he's right: it's slippery. But she widens her stance to make falling in less of a risk, before she leans closer to reach for the kitten. ]

Come on...

[He runs out of branch eventually, and at the very edge of the branch he reaches out as far as he can, kitten held as carefully as he can possibly manage in one hand. (Thank goodness the kitten is so small).

And with Makoto reaching as far as she can as well, he brushes hands with her, and reaches out again, this time sure that she'll manage to catch the poor, wet cat.]

[ she does, and she can only be grateful that the poor, frightened thing doesn't sink its claws into her hand. But once she has the cat, she's backing up immediately to safer ground, and cradling the bundle of wet ball to her chest as she murmurs quiet reassurances.

Well, that's one out of the water. ]

[They're both pretty lucky that the kitten is so sweet, or there would be a lot more blood.

But Makoto just, upon seeing them both safe and sound, dives back into the water with a splash. He's pretty exhausted, as swimming against the current isn't easy, but he still makes it back to the shore relatively easily, stumbling up it and wheezing out a sigh.]

Phew...I guess I can count that as some extra training then.

Yeah, I'd say you've done more than enough. [ and for as wet as she is, the smile she gives him is relieved and exuberant. ] But that was really amazing to watch, Makoto-kun! You were super heroic, just like a prince!

[...and despite her exuberance, Makoto just looks a little sheepish as he goes to pick up his shirt and jacket.]

...I just thought that if I didn't, you certainly would. And while I'm sure you could handle yourself, I'm a bit more used to this river.

[ahaha...ha.]

Anyway, we should get this kitten out of the rain. [and them too--]

That's... not wrong, but... [ she fidgets a little, before she sighs and tucks the kitten into her hoodie. That little head is peeking out from the collar, but it looks like it'll stay. ]

A-anyway, where to? I don't want to impose...

[...And he just chuckles at her, shrugging back into his soaked shirt.]

Let's go, Makoto-chan. You're not going to stay out in the rain. My parents would agree completely.

[He smiles at her, nodding firmly.]

Ready to go get dry?

[ she shoots him a cheerful smile in response, thrusting one fist into the air and seconded by a faint mew from her passenger. ]

Ready!

[And off they go, jogging at a quick pace back towards his house. Thankfully, it's not too far from here, and when they get inside, he breathes a sigh of relief and shuts the door behind them.

The warmth of the house is veeeery welcome.

And he glances around and sets to taking off his shoes.]

There's a bathroom right up the stairs, Makoto-chan. If you want to take a shower and try to get warm...

[...what are they going to do about their clothes?]

[ she feels guilty to be creating a massive puddle just by standing there, even with her shoes and hat off. In the end, it hadn't done much; her hair's just as drenched as the rest of her. ]

Oh, I... [ and she laughs nervously. ] I didn't bring a change of clothes or anything [ not that they would have stayed dry ] so you can go ahead and shower! I'll just towel this guy off in the meantime, if you've got a spare.

[That....bothers him instinctively, and then on top of his mother hen tendencies, there's the fact that he really does think that Makoto deserves to go first.

So he ponders that for a moment, frowning.]

I could ask my mother for a change of clothing for you. They might not be to your taste, but...at least you could wear them just until yours are dry--or you can borrow one of my hoodies and some shorts or something, whatever you want.

[His first instinct was to offer one of his own hoodies but he realized that might be a bit awkward so it was just tacked onto the end even more awkwardly GOOD JOB MAKOTO.]

A hoodie's fine-- [ said automatically, before it even sinks in that he's offering his clothes, but backpedaling would make it even more awkward and this is not how she expected the day to go. ]

M-more importantly, you were the one who just dove shirtless into the river, so you definitely need to get yourself warmed up first! I'm okay waiting for sure!

[....well okay!! he's fine with that.

....Which is why he's just smiling a bit and just looking so sheepish.]

My mother would be really displeased if I didn't treat a guest right. Go ahead, and I'll take the kitten and grab some clothes for you.

If she asks, I can tell her that you're the one who needed it most and I threw you into the bathtub myself!

[ N O P E. ]

[...um.]

...Please don't throw me into a bathtub...

[He just...sighs and droops a little because this is silly, standing in the doorway arguing about this.]

I'm sorry for being so stubborn, but...I would really like it if you went first. I would be able to relax more knowing that both you and the kitten are dry.

... Do you think it's any easier for me, knowing that the person who went into the river in a downpour without his shirt is waiting even longer to get warm and dry?

[ with a sigh of her own. ]

You're always looking out for me, so can't you put yourself first this time?

[....oh. When she puts it like that... He gives her the most sheepish look but caves because he can't stand her looking so sad.]

...Alright, alright. If you insist. I'll bring you back a towel or two and pull out some clothes for you, okay?

[And he still feels terrible, making her wait, but...well, it's better for her to be wet and cheerful than dry and looking that sad, he thinks.]

[ and that's really all it takes. Makoto brightens instantly, giving him a victory sign. ]

Got it! Go get warm, Makoto-kun!

[ and in the meantime, she'll (surprisingly shyly) ask whoever's around for an extra towel for kitten drying. ]

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