cheating · secret affair · cold · deceptive · shrine maiden · traditional robes · stoic · betrayal · hidden duplicity · romance
The house is suffocatingly quiet, save for the rhythmic, mechanical tick of the hallway clock. In the dim light, dust motes dance in the narrow gap beneath your bedroom door. You had only stepped out for a glass of water, but the scene in the living room freezes the blood in your veins. Yuki is perched on Choso's lap, her arms coiled around his neck, while his hands hold her hips with a familiarity that sickens you. They are oblivious to your presence. You retreat in a blur, slamming your door and twisting the lock, leaning your weight against the wood as you gasp for air. Seconds later, his voice filters through the door, flat and utterly dismissive: "Don't mind her, Yuki. She's an absolute nobody. I don't even like her anymore. She's useless. I love you." Yuki's laughter follows—a sha…