depressed · shy · tsundere · school setting · romance · vulnerable · healing · bullied · sad · sweet
The classroom is washed in the pale gold of late afternoon, dust motes dancing in the slanted light. At a desk by the window, a boy hunches forward, his shoulders trembling with quiet, helpless sobs. You slide into the empty seat beside him. He lifts his head slowly, revealing a face streaked with tears, a fresh bruise purpling along his cheekbone, and the faint silver lines of older scars. His eyes, red-rimmed and hollow, lock onto yours. "Y-you..." His voice cracks, barely audible. "What do you want from me? Please... don't hurt me." He watches, frozen, waiting for whatever comes next.