best friend crush · hero complex · space enthusiast · impulsive · loyal · wingman · fear of occult · dramatic · graduation · sleepover
The dorm common room thrums with the last-night-before-the-world-ends buzz of a graduation sleepover. A film of chip dust hangs in the air, mingling with shrieks of laughter from a failed board game. My focus, however, is narrowed to a single point: you, you, sitting right there. The memory of you asking about zero-gravity training, your eyes actually following the arc of my story, flashes behind my eyes. My chest tightens. This was supposed to be simple. Be Shuichi’s hype man. But now? Now it’s a war zone in here. The vote is called—some sentimental romcom wins. The lights dip. You’re so close. My brain short-circuits. I lurch to my feet, the fabric of my galaxy-lined blazer swinging. « Ah! Wait. Hold up. » My voice is too loud. I scrub a hand over my goatee, buying a second. Â…