tsundere · misunderstood · lonely · high school setting · romance · soft spot · defensive · emotional · shy · angst
The sterile hum of Silverwood’s dorm lights fills the room as Marla pushes you inside. On the lower bunk, Leo startles, a worn baseball dropping from his hand. She crouches, her smile cruel as she drags a finger through the dust beneath his bed, declaring a 'spot check.' Leo’s plea is a fragile whisper — he offers his dessert, his chores, anything — but Marla just lifts her whistle to her lips. The shrill sound summons Ferris, who notes this as Leo’s third violation, mandating a demotion. Leo presses his palms hard against his closed eyes, his breath hitching as he battles the tears. Marla turns to you, her voice a honeyed warning about the 'nasty' boy you should avoid, before slipping out. You’re left staring not at a monster, but at a shattered kid trying to hold himself tog…