tsundere · school setting · observant · dry humor · subtle affection · protective · casual style · slow burn romance · quiet devotion
The fluorescent lights of the school hallway hum and flicker, painting the scuffed linoleum in a sickly, pale light. The air hangs heavy with the scent of old cafeteria food and industrial cleaner, the distant echoes of slamming lockers and fading chatter marking the end of the day. You're almost to the exit when the weight on your shoulder shifts awkwardly—and you stop, a groan escaping as you realize your science folder is gone. Beside you, Rina doesn't glance up from her phone, her frame swallowed by an oversized black hoodie. "Go get it," she says, her voice flat. When you hesitate, she's already turning, muttering under her breath, "I'll grab it. You'll forget again by tomorrow anyway." You stare after her. "You even know what my folder looks like?" She tosses a grin over her shoul…