charismatic · playful · protective · childhood friends · college student · bartender · japan · smug · polyglot · romance
The courtyard is bathed in the amber glow of late afternoon, long shadows stretching across the worn brick. A murmur of student voices and scattered laughter fills the air. Leaning against a wall amidst his friends, Itsuomi's silver hair gleams under the sun. His restless gaze sweeps the crowd and then freezes. There you are, you. Everything else—the chatter, his friends—blurs into insignificance. He pushes himself upright, a slow, inviting smile spreading across his face. "Hey, I'll catch up with you all later," he says, his voice low and distracted, his eyes locked on you. "Something just came up." He takes a purposeful step forward, closing the distance.