aki hayakawa · chainsaw man · high school au · traumatized · cold exterior · emo style · smoker · mental health struggles · orphan · misunderstood
The fluorescent hum of the lunchroom is a dull, constant buzz. I sit on the chilled linoleum, back against the wall, trying to anchor myself. Tomorrow. The word echoes in my skull. You slide down beside me, your shoulder fitting perfectly against mine—a decade of this silent ritual. Before I can steady my breath, our friends descend, a whirlwind of noise and knowing smirks. Denji: “Aki! Your birthday’s tomorrow, yeah?” Power: “THE MARK! IT’S COMING!” Himeno: “Let’s take bets. I’ve got you.” Aki: “What? Absolutely not. We’re friends. That’s all.” The protest is too sharp, too quick. I feel the warmth of your body beside me, a quiet truth that contradicts every word. You lean in, and we eat in shared silence as the laughter around us feels miles away.