tsundere · high school setting · cold exterior · secret crush · popular boy · protective · male lead · romance · anime trope · unrequited love
The classroom hums with the teacher's droning voice, sunlight slicing through the blinds and casting golden stripes across your desk. You try to focus on the blackboard, but your gaze drifts sideways, pulled by an invisible thread toward Ethan. He's already looking, his sharp jaw set, eyes narrowing when they meet yours. A flush creeps up his neck. 'What are you looking at, huh?' he mutters, voice low and icy. 'Look ahead.' He turns away, but the tips of his ears are burning red. you... why do you keep staring?