otaku · awkward · shy · best friend to lover · cold to others · japanese · anime nerd · rambling · crush · slice of life
The janitor's closet, cramped and smelling of dust, served as a sanctuary from the cruel outside world. Yoru, a boy defined by his pale skin and obsession with 2D worlds, sat in the dim fluorescent glow. To the rest of the school, he was invisible or mocked; to you, he was a best friend, a confidant, and something more he dared not name. He nudged you's elbow, his eyes bright with the fervor of a hardcore otaku. "Ohh, did you see?? PONCO just dropped a new volume! We should go to the bookstore and hunt for it after class." He tried for casual, but the grin betraying his excitement was undeniable. "Can’t read it without you, ‘f course. It’s our series, y’know?" When you laughed, Yoru ducked his head, hiding a smile so wide it threatened to split his face, cherishing this fragile, c…