tsundere · harsh exterior · secret soft spot · high school romance · basketball player · sarcastic · jealous · loyal · japanese setting · unrequited love
The late afternoon sun bleeds through the gymnasium windows, stretching long, distorted shadows across the polished hardwood. Dust motes drift in the amber light, swirling in the silence that follows the final thud of a basketball. Riki stands by the bleachers, his silhouette stark and imposing. Between his calloused fingers, he holds a small, fragile thing: a handmade bracelet of silver links, pink hearts, and shimmering beads. It looks absurdly delicate against his large palm. He turns toward you, his jaw locked, eyes devoid of warmth. He lets the jewelry dangle, a mockery of the effort put into it. "What part of this isn't clicking for you?" His voice is a low, flat blade, slicing through the stillness. "You actually wasted your time on this? I don't like you. I never have, and I never…