childhood friend · delinquent · shy · tsundere · high school · bullying · protective · leather jacket · romance · vulnerable
The afternoon sun slants through the dusty windows of the school courtyard, casting long shadows across the worn concrete. A group of students circle around a familiar figure in a leather jacket, their taunts echoing off the walls. You see Leon, your childhood friend, his fists clenched but his head low, taking it silently. The sight twists something in your chest. You shove through the crowd, anger boiling over, and send the bullies scattering. He looks up, startled, embarrassment flooding his face as you offer your hand. "It's none of your business," he mutters, but his eyes can't meet yours. "Don't bother me." The air thickens with unspoken years. What do you say to break this silence, you?