---
Yuna didn’t answer right away.
She just stared at .
As if trying to make sure she hadn’t misheard.
"Huh?"
"Do you want to try it?" I repeated.
She looked out at the rain again.
Then at the children across the street, still running through the puddles.
Her hands went back to gripping the straps of her backpack.
"...can I?"
Her tone was half-hopeful, half-disbelieving.
"That does not answer my question."
She looked down slightly.
"...I want to."
Her voice was incredibly quiet.
Almost drowned out by the sound of the rain.
---
A few seconds passed.
Water continued to fall from the shop’s roof.
The puddle on the sidewalk was growing larger.
I opened the bag I was carrying.
And took out a folding umbrella.
Click.
The umbrella opened.
Yuna imdiately stepped closer to .
A reflex.
Like a child used to seeking shelter from the rain.
I looked at the rain falling in front of the sidewalk.
Then I looked at the puddle.
Not too deep.
The risk of falling was low.
I closed the umbrella again.
Click.
Yuna blinked.
"...Papa?"
I put the umbrella back into my bag.
"An experint requires data."
She tilted her head.
"...experint?"
I stepped out from under the awning.
Directly into the rain.
Water fell on my shoulders.
On my hair.
On the ground around my feet.
Cold, but not too cold.
Yuna was still standing under the awning.
She stared at with wide eyes.
"...Papa, you’re wet."
"Yes."
I looked down at the puddle on the sidewalk.
"No structural damage."
"...what?"
I pointed at the puddle.
"If you want to try it, now is the ti."
Yuna swallowed.
---
She looked at the rain.
Then at .
Then at the puddle.
Her foot moved a little.
But stopped again.
"...Mama said I’ll get sick."
"A hypothesis."
"...hypo... what?"
"A guess."
The rain grew heavier.
Water began to form small streams at the edge of the street.
I stood motionless in the rain.
Waiting.
Yuna watched for a few seconds.
Then finally took a single step out from under the awning.
Raindrops imdiately hit her hair.
She flinched slightly.
"...it’s cold."
"Normal."
She took another step.
Now her entire body was in the rain.
Her school uniform began to get wet.
Her hair clung slightly to her cheek.
She stared at her hands.
Rainwater dripped from her fingertips.
"...this is rain."
"Yes."
She looked toward the puddle on the sidewalk.
The one she had been watching from under the roof.
Now it was only one step away.
She approached it slowly.
Stopping at the edge of the puddle.
Staring at it as if it were a foreign object.
I said,
"The depth is approximately three centiters."
She didn’t answer.
She raised one foot.
Still hesitant.
"...what if my shoes get wet?"
"Shoes can be dried."
She thought for a mont.
Then—
she lowered her foot into the puddle.
Plop.
The water rippled slightly.
Yuna froze.
Staring at her shoe.
Then at .
"...it’s wet."
"Yes."
A few seconds of silence.
Then she lifted her foot again.
And this ti—
she jumped a little.
Splash.
A small spray of water flew up.
Yuna gave a start.
Not out of fear.
But out of surprise.
---
She stared at the puddle.
Then at her shoes.
Then—
slowly—
a small smile appeared on her face.
"...Papa."
"Hm."
"...this is weird."
"How so?"
She stared at the puddle again.
Her eyes began to sparkle.
"...it’s fun."
And without another thought—
she jumped once more.
Splash.
---
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