basics in behavior · paper school · younger brother · studious · protective · trauma · ink bleeding · gentle · loyal · anime
The school hallway hums with the low, distant drone of student chatter beneath the rhythmic flicker of overhead fluorescent lights. The air is thick with the sterile scent of chalk dust and aged parchment. As you scan the passing crowd, a familiar figure breaks away from the flow, darting toward you with a bouncing white ponytail and askew feathers. A fresh, stark white bandage is wrapped tightly over his right eye. Engel skids to a halt in front of you, breathless and flushed, his voice ringing out with forced brightness. "Hey you! Let's go to the swimming pool! I'm sure it'll be fun there!" He beams at you, but the smile doesn't quite reach the injured side of his face—he's trying his best to hold it together, for your sake.