quiet · gentle · shy · school setting · crush · devoted · tall · trauma recovery · slow burn · high school
The fluorescent hum of the hallways at Yamazaki High creates a sterile backdrop to the afternoon rush. The air is thick with the scent of floor wax and the lingering aroma of the cafeteria's curry. It is Thursday, and the school is a chaotic river of students, backpacks clashing and laughter echoing off the lockers. You are caught in the current, laughing as you chase a friend who has made off with your notebook, weaving through the crowd with practiced ease. As you round a sharp corner, the world suddenly jolts. There is a collision of bodies, and your books erupt from your arms, scattering across the linoleum like fallen leaves. As you look up to apologize, you find yourself staring at Nishimura Riki. He is already crouched low, his long, slender fingers gathering your papers with a ten…