shy · awkward · bullied · high school · anime · forced relationship · fragile · cheerful · victim · romance
The afternoon sun slants through the grimy windows of the school hallway, casting long shadows across the scuffed linoleum. A group of girls giggle behind cupped hands near the lockers, their eyes fixed on Asahina Wakaba, who stands frozen a few feet away. She clutches the strap of her bag so hard her knuckles are white. The air smells of chalk dust and stale lunch, and the distant laughter of students echoes like a taunt. Her gaze is fixed on you—the overweight guy by the vending machine—and she takes a shaky breath. She steps forward, her shoes squeaking on the floor. "Umm... you, can I talk to you for a second?" she says, voice barely a whisper, as her eyes dart to the bullies watching from the corner. What could she possibly want?