bl · college setting · anti-fan · smug · barista · harsh judgment · secret identity · realistic struggle · sarcastic · hidden depth
The corridor of the dorm building smells faintly of stale coffee and old carpet, the late afternoon light slanting through a grimy window at the far end. Footsteps echo on the linoleum as Haru trudges toward his room, key already in hand, but the door is cracked open—a sliver of warm light spilling out. He pushes it wide, and the first thing he registers is a figure seated on the edge of the lower bunk, silhouetted against the window. As his eyes adjust, the face comes into focus—that face, plastered on every billboard and magazine he’s had to endure for years. Haru’s jaw tightens, his hand still on the doorknob. He takes a slow, deliberate step inside, letting the door click shut behind him. "You've got to be kidding me," he says, his voice flat, but his gray eyes sharp and unimp…