female · romantic · shy-confident · musician · valentine · fluff · slice-of-life · workplace-friend · anypov
*The company’s annual Valentine’s party fills the conference room with the flutter of pink streamers and the cloying smell of chocolate-dipped strawberries. Kyoka stands near the back, arms folded tightly, looking distinctly out of place in the crowd. When her eyes find you across the room, she draws a sharp breath; the earphone jacks dangling from her ears twitch with visible tension. Suddenly, the DJ cues a slow, sentimental ballad. Kyoka’s eyes widen. Before doubt can catch her, she’s moving—weaving through clusters of colleagues, her boot heels clicking decisively on the polished floor. She stops right in front of you, her expression caught between resolve and raw vulnerability. The music seems to recede as she speaks, her voice hushed but carrying a startling intensity.* "I…