* * *
“Wait… no way… no!”
I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Someone just suddenly appeared in the rain, and it was someone that impossible to see here.
This wasn’t a dungeon or a gate site—it was a peaceful, isolated campsite.
But my eyes—as an S-Class Awakened—were not so easily deceived.
There was no way I’d mistake the “Gray Coat.”
That tall build, that unique outfit, that aura… it had to be him!
And he wasn’t even carrying an umbrella—in this downpour!
I jumped up, grabbed an umbrella, and ran out of the tent.
I didn’t open it until I was already halfway there, so I got completely soaked, but I couldn’t stop myself from heading toward him.
I raised the umbrella high and held it over the “Gray Coat’s” head before finally coming to a stop.
“Um, uh, it’s raining!”
As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted them.
Of course he knows it’s raining—it’s pouring!
What kind of obvious statement was that?
But what was I supposed to say?
Meeting him like this, so suddenly and out of nowhere, I wasn’t at all prepared—mentally or emotionally.
I didn’t know what to say or how to even look at him.
I just… didn’t want my idol to be caught in the rain.
That was all.
Only after shielding him with my umbrella could I finally start thinking again.
Like how his appearance… seemed a little different from my memory.
“Huh? His mask…”
It was different.
It used to cover his whole face.
But now it only covered up to his nose—his lips, lower cheeks, and jaw were exposed.
I’d never heard of the Gray Coat wearing a mask like this.
Did I mistake him for someone else?
Just someone dressed similarly?
But…
As I hesitated, examining him, his gloved hand reached up and touched mine, which was holding the umbrella.
A large hand.
Worn slightly at the palm from gripping a greatsword—just as I remembered the Gray Coat’s hands to be.
“You, on the other hand…”
“Ah…”
“You’re the one getting soaked.”
That voice, too—it was unmistakable.
A distorted, static-laced voice.
Very few people had ever spoken to him, so even fewer would recognize it.
The mask might’ve changed, but… this really was the Gray Coat.
Even if I was still confused.
When he gently pushed against the umbrella in my hand, I reflexively held on tighter.
“But if I don’t hold it like this, you’ll get soaked, M-Mr. Hunter!”
The umbrella I brought was a large two-person one, but the difference in height between us was at least a full head.
And his shoulders were so broad, his build so thick, that he nearly filled the umbrella all on his own.
Which meant… foolish me, rushing out with only one umbrella, didn’t have any room under it.
But I didn’t mind! I was sure—even this umbrella would rather keep him dry than me.
As I stubbornly stood my ground, he looked at me quietly.
Then, slowly, his lips parted, as if in thought.
“…Then let’s do this.”
He smiled…
I didn’t know why he changed the design of his mask, but thanks to the open mouth area, I could see his expression—and it was lovely.
I never imagined he’d smile at me.
Seeing it up close, it was devastatingly charming.
As if someone already so cool had added warmth and kindness to the mix.
But then, just as I wondered, “Is that really his real face I’m seeing?”, he stepped closer.
The Gray Coat approached me in one long stride—so close our toes nearly touched.
Startled, I nearly dropped the umbrella.
When my grip weakened, he took the umbrella from me and held it himself.
Then, standing right beside me, the Gray Coat lightly shook my head dry.
His fingers ran through my hair, sending raindrops scattering in every direction.
And now… my entire field of vision was him.
Shoulders much broader than mine.
A thick neck.
A strong, dependable frame, right in front of me.
Even his chiseled jaw and lips were right there.
My face burned.
And with all the humidity, it felt like steam was rising from the top of my head.
“Uh, I…”
“It’s still cold out.”
Was he worried because I’d gotten wet?
He even opened his signature gray coat and tried to pull me inside.
I nearly fell into his arms but barely managed to grab his arm and resist.
“I-I’m fine! I’m an Awakened, so I’m super durable. Really.”
“Being Awakened doesn’t make you invincible. If you catch a cold because of me… I’d feel responsible.”
“…”
The umbrella was already in his hand now.
And he was clearly angling it toward me.
If we didn’t want to get wet—if I really wanted to keep him dry as I originally intended—then the only way was for me to move in close.
Really close.
I hesitated… but before I knew it, my grip had slackened.
By the time I came to my senses, I was already in his arms.
The embrace of the Gray Coat, felt again after days apart… was soaked in cologne.
So strong, I could barely catch any trace of his natural scent.
It was almost overwhelming.
I don’t remember it being this strong before…
But luckily, the smell of the pouring rain helped soften it a little.
But aside from that, everything was just as I remembered.
Maybe it was because I was enveloped in a strangely familiar and comforting embrace, but despite the pouring rain, all my attention was drawn to him and the things around us.
The sound of raindrops tapping on the umbrella, the rustle of fabric brushing in the wind, the gentle rhythm of a heartbeat, the faint sound of breathing.
It was so warm, so peaceful—I could fall asleep like this…
I almost instinctively hugged him back, like a reflex, before I barely remembered—he wasn’t Taehwan.
We shouldn’t be doing this under a tiny umbrella.
An umbrella can only shield so much from the rain, and there were better places to stay dry!
“U-Um. If you’re not too busy… would you like to rest in the tent for a bit?”
“…Would that be alright?”
“Yes, of course! My friend’s away right now, so it’s just me. He’ll take a while to get back, and I’m kind of bored being alone, so… I’d really like it if you came!”
‘Gray Coat’ looked down at me quietly as I pleaded with sincerity in my voice.
Then he gave a small nod.
Just that little sign of agreement made the corners of my lips curl up in a smile.
If I wasn’t tucked into his arms, I probably would’ve jumped up and down with joy.
Is this what people mean by a “private fan meeting”? Well, kind of.
“Great! The tent is over that way—ah.”
“Stay still.”
I was about to dash off ahead to the tent, but ‘Gray Coat’ caught me before I could move.
And in that brief moment of hesitation—my feet lifted off the ground.
He had picked me up.
Held me close.
Startled by the fact that even on tiptoes I couldn’t touch the ground, I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck.
I worried it might be inappropriate… but then, he laughed.
A soft laugh, even with sound.
His laughter tickled my chest.
“Please hold still for a moment.”
“O-Okay…”
With me in his arms, ‘Gray Coat’ walked across the wet ground with steady steps.
By the time my feet touched solid ground again, we were inside the tent.
Thanks to him carrying me, I didn’t get any wetter.
‘Ah… my heart feels like it’s going to break…’
Instead, it was my heart that got drenched.
So completely soaked, in fact, that my body started to feel hot—like I was full of steam.
I had to take conscious deep breaths just to keep myself from overheating.
To think I’d be in someone else’s arms like this—someone who wasn’t Taehwan, and not even in an emergency situation.
I’m not a child anymore; I’m old enough to know better.
And I’m not even that short… so why did he even think to carry me?
And why did I go along with it—why did I hold on to him?
Maybe it’s because we’re similar in size and build.
Somehow, just like I used to cling to Taehwan, I find myself doing the same with this man.
‘Wow… really… it’s him. Gray Coat.’
The tiny doubt I had—that maybe I’d misseen him because it was dark and raining—vanished completely under the bright lantern light inside the tent.
I was sure of it.
Everything was just as I remembered, except for the mask.
‘Gray Coat.’
Big, cool, reliable—my idol.
Thankfully, the tent was large enough to fit someone Taehwan’s size.
If it weren’t, someone as tall as him would’ve had a hard time staying dry.
I was so glad I could offer my idol a comfortable space to wait out the rain.
“Thank you for letting me use it.”
While I stared at him in a daze, he placed the neatly folded umbrella—now shaken dry—into my hands.
It was only then I remembered this wasn’t the time to be spacing out.
* * *
