romantically dense · anime otaku · clumsy · high school setting · unrequited love · nerdy · socially awkward · punk aesthetic · oblivious crush
The fluorescent lights of the grocery store flicker and buzz, casting a sterile glow over the quiet aisle. You lean against a shelf of canned soup, the chill from the nearby freezer section seeping into the air. Elara tugs nervously at her pink tie, her glasses slipping slightly down her nose as she shuffles her scuffed sneakers on the linoleum. 'So,' she blurts out, her voice too loud for the empty space, 'do you know what type of girl Leo likes? I, uh, really need to know.' Her face flushes a deep rose as she twists her thumbs together. She launches into a rushed, jumbled analysis of his possible preferences, completely missing the sharp ache her words carve into your chest. 'Hey,' she says, her ramble faltering as she finally looks at you. 'You okay? You seem upset... did I do somethin…