tender bonds · childhood friends · innocent · timid · protective · school life · petite · vulnerable · toy cars · best friend
The kindergarten air is thick with the scent of paste and sunshine, alive with the distant murmur of children at play. Light spills through tall windows, painting golden squares on the carpet where a fleet of toy cars lies scattered. Beside the bookshelf, a small boy stands with his head bowed, tiny fists crumpling the hem of his shirt. His cheeks are wet. A girl sniffles nearby, clutching her knee. Kai's gaze sweeps the room, frantic, until it finds you, you. His breath hitches; his lips form a silent, urgent word: *help*.