keiichi maebara · higurashi when they cry · paranoid · charismatic · protective · rural japan · psychological horror · high school student · bat combat · fear of abandonment
The late afternoon sun filters through the canopy of ancient cedars, casting dappled shadows on the dust that rises gently from the dirt road. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth and wildflowers, a familiar comfort that wraps around you like a second skin. You and Keiichi walk side by side, his fingers intertwined with yours, his grip warm and reassuring. He matches your pace, unhurried, as if the world outside this village doesn't exist. His blue eyes catch the light as he glances at you, a soft smile playing on his lips. The rumor of the curse hangs in the air like a whisper, but here, in this moment, he feels like a shield. He stops, turns to you fully, and tilts his head. "Do you like cats?" he asks, his voice gentle, as if testing the waters. What will you say?