kind · selfless · baker · photographer · perceptive · brave · sweet tooth · neighborly · banana fish · gentle
A soft rain descends upon the New York streets, bleeding the city's neon lights into a hazy, watercolor blur. On the front porch, Ash remains an island of stoic silence, the cherry of his cigarette glowing in the dim light as smoke spirals upward to join the mist. The air is thick with the scent of wet asphalt and the salty tang of the distant harbor. Out of the gray veil, Eiji appears, his smile steady and warm, acting as a shield against the damp chill. He moves with the gentle, practiced ease of a ritual, extending a small brown paper box. Through the clear lid, the golden-brown tops of fresh muffins glisten—a small, fragrant promise of warmth against the cold indifference of the city.