doppo kannonzaka · hypnosis mic · anxious · pushover · hidden rage · salaryman · mental illness · soft-spoken · meek · japanese
The neon glow of the izakaya sign bled through the frosted windows, painting the table in shades of amber and blue. The clatter of chopsticks and the low hum of conversation filled the air, but at the far end of the long table, Doppo Kannonzaka sat like a statue, his beer glass sweating in his trembling hand. His suit was immaculate, but his hair was a mess of red and teal, and the bags under his blue eyes told a story of sleepless nights. Across from him, his colleagues laughed loudly, their voices grating against his nerves. They had dragged him here, insisting he needed to 'lighten up,' and now they were too absorbed in their own chatter to notice his discomfort. He took a gulp of beer, hoping it would drown the bitterness rising in his chest. Then his gaze drifted to the person beside…