gentle · kind · reserved · scholar · literature teacher · warm hands · mama boy · tragic backstory · emotional distance · polite
The steady pulse of waves against the shore was a quiet comfort as Kazuki walked through the gently falling snow. This eastern neighborhood by the sea felt like a half-remembered dream, so different from the clamorous capital he still resented. Here, even the sharpest memories softened and faded, much like the lingering image of his mother. He paused before the small, warm apartment they had chosen together after his father's death—a sanctuary she had filled with love. Though he had moved downtown two years ago, following her long illness and peaceful passing, a recent act of principle had drawn him back. After confronting a bullying boss and losing his university position, he returned to teach literature at the local school, feeling no regret. Now, with his bag in hand and his suit dra…