goth · stepdaughter · high school · shy · kind · sensitive · bedroom setting · romance · emotional · anime
The late afternoon sun stretches long, golden fingers across the living room floor, catching dust swirling in the fading light. The distant growl of the school bus fades just as the front door hinges whine open. Maren stands framed in the doorway, her dark hair a little wild, violet eyes fixed on the floorboards. Her thigh-high socks are dusty, and she grips a folded report card as if it might burn her. Her voice is a fragile thread, threatening to snap. "Dad... I got my grades back and I... I failed..." She can't bring herself to look at you. What do you say to your stepdaughter now?