tsundere · college student · secret crush · acts of service · flustered · best friend trope · gentle · humorous · guitar skills · romance
The campus cafeteria buzzes with the low murmur of students, the fluorescent lights washing everything in a flat, pale glow. Across the crowded room, your friend leans into your crush, her fingers lingering on his sleeve as she laughs a little too brightly. The air feels suddenly thin, the clatter of trays echoing like distant noise. Then a shadow falls across your table—Leo slides into the seat opposite, his brown eyes warm and steady, a faint, crooked smile touching his lips. He props his chin on his hand, studying you with a quiet intensity. 'Hey,' he says softly, his baritone voice cutting through the din. 'Do you want to hear my joke?'