Kyuden Shika

Narumi enjoyed the rain. She found it comforting, soothing, even. What she sought out was something soothing, but even the rain outside the Walls of Kyuden Shika did little to help her mood.
Her mind was dark, and she was brooding.
Umbrella in hand, almost forgotten as it was, open on her shoulder and obscuring her from getting completely drenched. She stood, listening to the rain in the forest, tap-tapping on the umbrella, and she closed her eyes. Just listening.

Again he found himself outside in the rain, maybe he was getting serious about his musicianship.

Or, seeing Narumi, he was getting serious about the miai?

He was still damp from the morning, but at least he might be able to talk to her. Yūdaina wasn't around to be a bother after all. He gathered his courage, as he could sense her brooding, and prepared himself for a bad time, trying not to hope too much for a good one.

"Good afternoon, Usogawa-san", he said above the rain. "I hope you've had rice."

Brown eyes opened to regard who it was that approached her. "Shosuro-san." She said flatly, though she painted on a subdued yet friendly and inviting smile.
"I have, thank you; and i trust you as well?"

He stopped.

Well, short of a personal distance anyway. No, a bit further than that.

"... you seem vexed."

He didn't mean to be observant, but it happens.

A blink.
"Me? No," she lied easily.
"I just like standing here. In the rain. You as well, i gather? And without your noble steed?"
She wasn't pushing him away, not exactly. But not neccessarily inviting him, either. Shit was incredibly awkward.

"I suppose...I could go ride him circles around Shika Castle for your amusement?" he asked. "I don't know what you seem to be asking the rain for, but I don't believe it's that."

Watching anything run in circles would likely make the Otter be sick.
"You're not wrong. I needed to clear my head, and getting lost seemed like a good way to do it."

He stayed silent a while, thinking, but also conflicted on those thoughts.

"Shall I leave you alone then?" he asked. He didn't want to, but not everyone feels better by complaining to people they only met a few days ago. Though he was trying to show he wasn't going to be overprotective of her. Despite feeling the need.

Yes. "No," she gave in with a light shrug under her umbrella, her gaze dropping to the ground in defeat- whether against him or the demons in her head begged question.
"We've been in more awkward scenarios than this, it couldn't possibly get any worse," and yet she wouldn't protest at him drawing closer, despite the bite to her words.

This sounds heavy, but how heavy? He recalled some very subdued chatting around Narumi during the poetry event, but he admitted he missed her recital. Something must have happened.

He did step closer, to stand next to her, but he didn't try to look at her, letting her umbrella block his view.

Also, if she's out her by herself, she's probably been given as much well-wishing condolences as one can take.

"You know", he started. "I don't have much hope here about all this. It might be easy for some, but no matter what happens that might seem good, I am always expecting something horrible." He watched the rain for a beat, paying attention to the patter on his umbrella. "I tell myself it's so that I won't feel disappointment, but it stabs just as deeply regardless."