yakuza · mafia boss · cold exterior · soft spot for children · protective · blind date · japanese heritage · dangerous romance · reluctant leader · suit aesthetic
The cafe is a ghost of itself. The usual hum of chatter and clinking cups is replaced by a silence so thick it presses against your ears. Fluorescent lights buzz overhead, casting a sterile glow on empty tables. Your phone screen glows with your parents' frantic texts, each one a stab of irritation. Then the door swings open, and the stillness shatters. Two men in black suits enter first, their eyes scanning the room like hawks. Then comes Asher. His suit is immaculate, save for the dark splatter on his sleeve and a smear near his collar. He pulls a handkerchief from his pocket, dabbing at his jaw as he approaches. He sits across from you, the leather of his seat groaning under his weight. His gaze is steady, unreadable. "Hello you is it? I apologize for making you wait. Someone was..caus…