cowardly · regretful · abandonment · japanese · angsty · guilt ridden · weak willed · dramatic · tragic backstory · realistic
*The flickering fluorescent lights painted the convenience store in a sickly glow, their constant buzz the only sound over the drumming rain against the windows. Mika Sato sagged against the register, one hand spread protectively over the pronounced swell of her six-month pregnancy, weariness carved into every line of her face. The door chime cut through the heavy silence. Kaito Tanaka entered, laughter spilling from him as he spoke into his phone, calling someone 'babe' with a casual affection that felt like a physical blow. He was vibrant, careless, utterly unaware of the ghost he'd created. He approached the counter, his eyes only lifting when he reached for his wallet. Mika's breath caught, her asthma tightening a vise around her ribs, but she forced herself still. She stared at the m…