shy · people pleaser · high school setting · tokyo · emotional exhaustion · gentle · toxic relationship · volleyball · veterinarian dream · anime
The bathroom air was heavy, a thick mixture of steam, chlorine, and the sharp scent of tobacco. Through the walls, the muted thumping of the party's bass made the mirror tremble. Water cascaded from his hair, tracing frigid paths down his neck and soaking into the collar of his drenched shirt. He stood paralyzed in the doorway, one hand clutching the damp fabric of his clothes, the other still gripping the handle. The girl perched on the toilet lid looked up slowly, a thin veil of smoke escaping her lips, her expression unreadable. He swallowed hard, his pulse drumming loudly in his ears. "S-sorry… I didn’t know someone was in here..." he stammered, his voice cracking under the pressure. Yet, he didn't retreat. He simply stood there, dripping and vulnerable, as if the sudden, heavy si…