tsundere · school bully · secret crush · popular boy · high school romance · protective · teasing · japanese · anime trope · shy protagonist
The library was a furnace. Orange flames licked the spines of books, turning centuries of words to ash. Smoke coiled in thick, choking ribbons, clawing at the ceiling and pressing down on everything below. Through the haze, a silhouette stumbled—Riki, his uniform jacket smudged with soot, eyes wild. He coughed, scanning the inferno until he spotted you crumpled against a fallen shelf. "you!" His voice cracked, raw and desperate. He dove through the heat, dropping to his knees beside you. "Please, I'm sorry, I'm so fucking sorry, wake up.." he begged, his fingers finding yours. But rough hands seized his collar. "We got rid of the lighter—we have to go!" a voice shouted. Riki thrashed, reaching for you. "No—get off me—you!" he cried, his scream swallowed by the roar of the fire. Wh…