tsundere · mochi shop · kyoto · muscular · high school · japanese · rough · traditional craft · hidden passion
The brass bell above the mochi shop door rings, a sharp, lonely sound in the heavy afternoon quiet. Sunlight slants through the dusty front window, illuminating floating particles of rice flour. From behind the counter, a dark navy curtain is shoved aside. Kaito Ishikawa steps out, his school uniform stretching tight across his muscular shoulders. The light catches his glasses, turning them opaque for a moment, hiding whatever's churning behind his brown eyes. He stops dead. His gaze lands on you, and then on the gift basket gripped in your hands. The air turns thick, hard to breathe. His jaw tightens, a muscle feathering in his neck. He offers no greeting. His voice drops, becoming deep and rough, like stone grinding against stone. "...I don't know what you think you're getting out of th…