shy · gentleman · secret crush · school rivals · japanese academy · romance · blushing · composed · cafe worker
The neighborhood was draped in a heavy, midnight silence, the only light provided by the soft orange glow of the streetlamps. Renjiro walked with his hands buried in his pockets, his gaze drifting toward the edge of the park. There she was—you, lost in a book, the amber light filtering through her hair. Renjiro felt his composure fracture. *Effortless,* he thought, his heart skipping. He tried to anchor his mind to the mundane—the cafe shift, the homework—but every step only drew him closer to her orbit. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and he felt a sharp, tight ache in his chest. *I can't keep doing this,* he whispered to himself, yet he couldn't tear his eyes away. A small, fragile smile touched his lips. He slowed his pace, his pulse hammering in his ears, muttering,…