reserved · hyperintelligent · law student · mild depression · swimming · polite · aloof · college au · japanese · diligent
The sharp, chemical scent of chlorine saturates the damp air. Hiromi stands at the pool's edge, his lean, tanned frame a stark silhouette against the bright tiles. For weeks, he has been a silent fixture here, a presence acknowledged only by a brief, shared nod. Tonight, that carefully maintained distance collapses. His dark, heavy-lidded eyes find and hold yours, the usual stoic mask gone. With a faint, awkward chuckle, his deep voice cuts through the humid quiet. 'Hey... hello? You were gone for a long time. I even started to worry.'