Rain-Soaked Forward Rolls

A Wet Afternoon Begins

The school day had just ended when the rain finally stopped, leaving the pavement outside Shirakawa High glistening like a smooth mirror. Water pooled along the edges of the walkway and the lingering sound of dripping leaves filled the air. Students rushed toward the gates, umbrellas closing and shoes splashing, eager to go home.

But three girls didn’t leave.

Aira, Hana, and Mei stood together near the open space beside the school garden. The ground was still wet enough to reflect the sky. The setting sun peeked through the clouds, giving the world a warm orange glow. The perfect mood for mischief.

Aira looked down at the shiny pavement and smiled.
“This looks fun,” she said.
Hana raised a brow. “Fun how?”
Aira stepped forward, crouched, placed her hands on the wet ground, and pushed herself into a forward roll.

Her uniform blouse pressed against her, her skirt flipped, water splashed everywhere, and she came out on the other side soaked from shoulder to knee. She sat up with a stunned look on her face.

Then she broke into laughter.

Hana and Mei stared for a moment, then burst out laughing too.

“Aira, you look like a wet towel!” Mei said.
Aira flicked water from her hair. “It’s warm. And it’s fun. Come on!”

The two girls didn’t even hesitate after that.

They were best friends, after all.

One Roll Becomes Three

Hana went next. She took a deep breath, bent down, and rolled forward across the slippery pavement. Her skirt flew up more dramatically than Aira’s, and she squeaked halfway through.

Aira clapped and laughed. “You sound like a mouse!”
“I do not!” Hana protested, dripping water everywhere.

Mei stepped up last. She adjusted her skirt as if preparing for battle and then rolled forward with too much force. She slipped, spun oddly, and ended up rolling sideways before coming to a stop on her back.

All three girls stood soaked. Their skirts stuck to their legs, their blouses clung to their skin, and water dripped from their hair. But their laughter echoed across the courtyard.

“Why is this so fun?” Mei said, wiping her face.
“Because we’re idiots,” Hana replied with a grin.
Aira nodded. “Happy idiots.”

They lined up again.

And again.

And again.

Each roll ended in splashes, squeals, and laughter. At one point, Aira rolled too fast and slid several meters on her back, arms flailing like a crab. Hana laughed so hard she had to hold her stomach. Mei nearly fell over.

Their uniforms were fully soaked now. Water ran down their sleeves, their socks squished with every step, and their hair clung to their cheeks. Their skirts lifted every single time they rolled, but none of them cared. They weren’t thinking about being proper high school girls. They were thinking about how alive they felt.

A Moment Worth Remembering

After countless rolls, the girls collapsed onto the wet pavement, lying on their backs and breathing heavily.

Hana looked up at the sky. “We’re going to get sick.”
Aira shook her head. “Probably.”
Mei smiled. “Worth it.”

Aira held up her hand. The other two did the same, and the three hands met in a small, watery high-five.

“We have to remember this day,” Mei said.
Aira smiled softly. “I will.”

The breeze was cool but not cold. The pavement glowed with reflections of the sky, and the sound of distant students heading home slowly faded. It felt like the world belonged only to them for a few minutes.

Just three girls laughing in the aftermath of rain.
Just three friends making a memory without realizing it yet.

The Walk Home

After deciding that they were soaked enough, the girls gathered their bags and began the squishy walk home. Aira’s steps left little wet footprints on the ground. She wrung out her skirt, but it didn’t help much.

“Your mom is going to kill you,” Hana teased.
“I know,” Aira said. “But I’ll smile at her. She’ll forgive me.”
Mei poked her cheek. “Your smile is not magic.”
“Yes, it is.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Yes, it is!”
They bickered all the way to the corner where they split paths.

Before parting, the three girls turned to each other with soft looks.

“Thanks for today,” Aira said.
Hana nodded. “Let’s do something fun tomorrow too.”
Mei grinned. “Maybe something that doesn’t involve becoming fish.”

They laughed again.

And then they went home.

A Mother’s Reaction

When Aira stepped into her house, her mother froze.

Her wet socks left puddles on the floor. Her blouse clung to her, her skirt dripped constantly, and her hair looked like she had showered with her clothes on.

“Aira.”
Her mother stared with wide eyes.
“What happened to you?”

Aira tried to think of a good explanation but only ended up giving a weak smile.

“We… rolled.”
“You rolled?”
“Like, on the ground.”
“On the wet ground?”
“Yes.”
“With your uniform on?”
“Yes.”
“And your skirt?”
“Yes.”

Her mother pressed her fingers to her forehead.

“Aira, why would you do that?”
“It was fun,” Aira said quietly. “Really fun.”

Her mother sighed, exasperated but not angry. She grabbed a towel, wrapped it around her daughter’s shoulders, and gently rubbed her hair.

“You’re supposed to be a proper young lady.”
“I know.”
“And proper young ladies don’t roll around outside after the rain.”
“I know.”
“And proper young ladies definitely don’t come home dripping like drowned kittens.”
“I know…”

Aira waited for another scolding, but instead her mother chuckled softly.

“You’re impossible,” she said.
Aira looked up. “You’re not mad?”
“I’m mad. Very mad.”
“But…?”
“But I’m glad you’re happy.”

Aira blinked.

Her mother brushed a strand of wet hair from her face.

“You only get to be young once,” she said. “If rolling on wet pavement with your friends makes you smile like that, then maybe it’s not the worst thing.”

Aira felt her chest warm. She hugged her mother tightly, still dripping everywhere.

“Thank you,” Aira whispered.
“Go shower,” her mother replied, pushing her gently. “You smell like rain and mud.”

Aira’s Reflection

Later that night, after a warm shower and dry clothes, Aira sat by her bedroom window. The rain had started again, tapping softly against the glass.

She closed her eyes and thought back to the laughter.
The splashes.
The feeling of rolling across the wet pavement without caring what she looked like.
The echo of her friends’ voices.

She hugged her pillow and smiled.

Today was ordinary.
And yet…
It felt like a day she would remember forever.

Not because it was special.
But because it was simple.
Pure.
Happy.

A tiny memory that warmed her from the inside.

Aira whispered softly to herself, “I want more days like this.”

The rain fell gently outside.
And in her heart, the warmth stayed.