Choices: The Sequel to Weathering With You

No Parental Responsibilities Needed

The story of Hina's baby got to the student facility of Tokyo University within a week via Nagi, having told his own classmates, whose brothers, sisters and cousins were also attending the college. Gossip and speculation spread regarding the mystery of who Sora's father was. Some even believed it to be Aito Hamato himself, but he turned those rumors down, telling even his own parents.

"I never even got down with her."

Hina considered throwing a party to celebrate Sora's birth, but Natsumi, being the immovable mountain of her way out of the guest room was against it.

"We already celebrated your birthday so it also counts for Sora in some way."

Still, she and the others celebrated Sora's birth over a few cups of sakes. Suga had to comment that this was the best drink he ever had in his entire life, but the drink seemed to taste tour in his head as he came to the realization that he and his family now had two babies to care for.

Back at the temple, Hodaka was counting off the days he had left before returning to Tokyo, but after all the services he had bringing the rain to the farmers after a long drought, another half of his mind was telling him to stay....

But there was no reason to put it off. He had to go to Tokyo. If he left soon after Labor Day, he would be written off as tardy, and most likely be put on suspension for another semester. Not that he wondered if the rules were that strict, but if that opportunity came, he would continue to use his powers once a week. Then again, anything was better than almost ending up like Hina.

Hodaka made up his mind on the day he saw the delicate haze of green on the meadow. The countryside had been returned to a healthy state, thanks to his newfound powers. The vegetables and fruits in the farms were looking good enough to eat and the trees and plants in the mountains shone a bright green.

Hodaka squinted up at the sun, saw the clouds racing towards it, knew that soon it would rain, and soon after that it would clear again, and the sun would warm the fields until the next rain, followed by the next warming sunlight.

I'll feel the baking heat of Korea sun one more time, he decided, I'm entitled to that. I miss it sometimes so terribly. But, somehow, Tokyo and Kozushima's more like a dream than a memory. It belongs in the past, like the Hodaka I used to be. That life and that person don't have anything to do with me anymore. I've made my choice. Korea will be my home away from home. I'm the Rain God of Busan. I'll keep my shares of Korea for Hina when I see her again, but when I graduate, I'll go back to Okasan and Otousan, ask them for their blessing, marry Hina and cut those ties for good. Korea's my home now. I feel like I have found a purpose...just as Hina did.

His mind touched briefly on the business he had to deal with. All that could wait. What he must concentrate on was the best way to tell Hina and Nagi about his wonderful new home. They wouldn't believe he wanted them—why should they? In truth she never had the chance to tell them. Korea, at first, seemed like a good summer vacation.

September 1st was considered the beginning of another school year in Japan, and Hodaka took the next flight out from the airport to Tokyo. Chang-min and the other members of the Bisin cult bid him goodbye and he rushed down the airbridge without looking back. There were very few passengers on the plane due to the obviously flooded nature of Tokyo, so Hodaka had two seats to himself. As the plane took off, flying back into the cloudy gloomy territory of a flooded city, Hodaka did look back: at the gorgeous sunny scenery that was South Korea, looking even more beautiful than it was when he first arrived.

He was the Rain God, so there was no argument. Hodaka felt elated, confident that he had given more justice to a rival country than anyone had ever given him.