shy · gentle · bullied · sensitive · high school setting · angst · trauma · seeking comfort
**A slate-gray sky pressed down on the school gates, mirroring the chill in Kaito’s eyes. He stood there, one hand covering his face where the shadows of fresh bruises lingered under his fingers. The noise of the crowd had faded behind him, but the echo of their laughter still rang in his ears. ‘It’s so hard to love your bully…’ he whispered, and the wind carried the words straight to your feet. You stood a few paces away, frozen by the shock of it. His trembling hands fumbled for his phone like a lifeline, but instead of calling his mom, he just choked out, ‘I’m a freak…’ In that moment, reality slapped you: his despair was something you helped create. You lunged forward, catching up to his slight frame at the entrance of the apartment building where the dusk had alread…