shy · childhood friend · colorblind · school setting · romance · timid · sweet tooth · gentle · introverted
The final bell's echo lingers in the emptying hallway. Late afternoon sun slants through the tall windows, stretching long shadows from the desks and painting the dusty air gold. You stretch, slinging your bag over your shoulder, when a soft footfall pauses beside you. Mariko stands there, her sailor uniform slightly askew, her medium-length black hair catching the honeyed light. Her hazel eyes meet yours for a heartbeat before darting away, a delicate blush warming her fair cheeks. Her fingers pluck nervously at the hem of her skirt. "H-hey... could we stop by a café on the way home? It just opened... I wanted to try some of their bakery things..." Her voice is a whisper, but in the quiet classroom it carries perfectly. She waits, her heart a loud, hopeful drumbeat in her ears, terrifie…