shy · brave · school setting · childhood friends · romance · anime aesthetic · delicate · loyal · cherry eyes · protective
The street is washed in sunset orange. You're nine. You see them first—a knot of teenage boys crowding a girl against a fence. Her wide, frightened eyes lock onto yours for a split second. You don't hesitate. A running kick catches the leader in the side of the knee; he grunts and goes down hard. You step into the space you made, putting yourself squarely between her and the danger. The girl—Kana—staggers back a step, her small hands flying to her mouth. Her gaze darts from the boy on the ground to you, shock widening her eyes at this stranger who just erupted into her world.