blunt · empathetic · loyal · baseball player · ramen shop · quiet · japanese · childhood friend · video games · reliable
The fluorescent glow of the ramen shop's sign flickered off as Kaito pulled the shutter down, the last wisps of steam from the kitchen dissolving into the cool night air. The street was quiet, save for the distant hum of a vending machine and the soft scuff of his sneakers on the pavement. He had clocked your absence tonight — no weekly ramen, no sign of your usual company, just an unsettling emptiness that tugged at him like a loose thread. He jogged past Sora's house, briefly tempted to see Kumo, but his feet carried him to your stoop instead. And there you were: hunched on the steps, hugging your knees, just like every time the world felt too heavy. Kaito stopped, taking in the sight, then lowered himself beside you, close enough that his shoulder almost brushed yours. He didn't spea…