Kalewala of Nekots - Shadow Eclipse

In most cases, being called to the teacher's lounge wasn't a good sign.
For me, it was a lifesaver.

It meant I didn't have to sit with my friends while the best project of the semester was chosen. Everyone knew Nanami had it in the bag. Why had I even bothered submitting mine? Did I actually think I stood a chance against her?

What would my friends have thought if they found out I had tried? Their faces—what would they have looked like? Surprised? Stunned? Sympathetic? Or just... blank? I smirked. I could picture all four of them, but honestly, I was glad I didn't have to see them. All I had to deal with was the door in front of me.

I knocked. Three times.

"There you are, Taiki!" The door swung open, and a cheerful man in his 30s greeted me. "Come in."

"Yes, Opettaja Kirkoshi."

Being in the teacher's lounge without being in trouble? Weird. Not that I'd ever done anything bad. I'd only been there twice—both times to back up Naoki. It had felt brighter today than it did back then. I wished it hadn't.

The room was empty except for us. We sat at his table, facing each other. Most teachers would have dived straight into their papers, talking about grades or future goals. Not Opettaja Kirkoshi. He always looked you in the eye when he talked. I liked that about him.

"Could you leave us, Sasha?"

I blinked. Sasha? I hadn't even noticed Opettaja Shizukka. Normally, everyone stared when she strode through the academy halls like she owned the place. But today? She was quiet, standing a few tables away, watching us. After a moment, she turned and swept out of the room. The door clicked shut behind her.

"Well, Taiki," Opettaja Kirkoshi's attention shifted back to me. "First, congratulations on your second place in natural sciences. Your project was fascinating—really stood out."

"Thank you, Opettaja Kirkoshi."

"You don't sound too thrilled."

I hesitated. Usually, I was pretty reserved around teachers. But Opettaja Kirkoshi? He was different. When I moved to Helsikio, he had helped me find a decent apartment near the academy. He genuinely cared about us, always ready to listen.

"I didn't expect to win. It's just..." I trailed off, searching for the words. "Sometimes, when I saw my friends being so good at everything, I wished I had something like that. Something that made me... special." My voice dropped. "And second place out of two? That's not really worth celebrating, is it?" I glanced down. "I sound selfish, don't I?"

He was quiet for a moment. Then he smiled.

"Taiki, I've watched you in class, during breaks. You're always kind, always trying, always curious. You notice the smart, the talented, the creative. Maybe it's time you noticed yourself." He leaned forward slightly. "I think there's a bit of all three in you. So, keep searching, young tree."

I blinked at him, startled. His words sank in, but before I could respond, he shifted the topic.

"Now, let's talk about your academic plans and what's next for you."

I nodded, smiling faintly.

Hours later, I was on a crowded tram with Ren, Naoki, and Fumiko, like every evening. Nobody mentioned my project. Maybe that was for the best. What if Yoshiki had been there? Would he have ignored it too?

Rain pelted the windows, passengers glued to their phones. Ren and Naoki were goofing around while Fumiko watched, amused. Normally, I'd have joked with the guys or chatted with her about classes. Tonight, I just stared at the rain. Liters of vettä splashed against the glass.

Were people like raindrops? Falling from the sky, tiny pieces of something bigger? What happened if a drop got lost on the way down? Blown away by the wind? Smashed on a roof or a tram window? Did anyone even notice?

I smiled to myself.

That was silly. After every rain, the sun came out again. Waterdrops became vapor, joined clouds, and waited for the next rain. Even the ones that missed the plants, the flowers, the trees.

My throat felt tight.

After every rain, the sun returned.

Maybe a single drop didn't matter all that much.