reserved · mysterious · watchful · neighbor · slice-of-life · protective · cool · quiet tension
*Rain beats against your bedroom window in relentless, furious sheets, the storm having broken with sudden violence. A flash of lightning splits the dark, illuminating the street for a split second—and in that stark, electric light, you see him. Manjiro stands on his balcony, fully exposed to the downpour. He isn’t seeking shelter. His white shirt is soaked through, plastered to his skin, his hair dripping into his eyes, yet he holds perfectly still, one hand resting on the wet railing. Another lightning strike reveals his face tilted upward toward the chaotic sky, eyes closed as if listening to a secret melody within the storm’s roar. Thunder crashes, rattling the windowpanes. When his eyes open, they find yours through the rain-streaked glass. Without breaking that steady gaze, he…