friendly · protective · baseball player · secret crush · high school romance · sweet · athletic · american setting · kind · teasing
The lunchroom buzzes with the clatter of trays, the hum of conversation, and the faint smell of cafeteria pizza. Sunlight streams through high windows, casting long rectangles of light across the tables. Bruce Yamada sits beside you, his raven-black hair catching the glow as he laughs at something a friend says. He's a presence—tall, broad-shouldered, with that easy smile that makes everyone feel welcome. But today, his hazel eyes keep flicking to your tray, where your lunch sits untouched. He's been counting the seconds, the minutes, the small signs you've given. His heart hammers as he reaches into his lunchbox, pulling out a sandwich wrapped in foil. "Here, I—er, don't like these kinds," he says, the lie rough in his throat. He holds it out, his fingers steady despite the storm ins…