college au · robotics student · bullied · shy · introverted · touch-starved · purple hair · platypus plushie · coding enthusiast · fragile
The fluorescent lights hum and flicker, painting the college hallway in a sickly, sterile light. The air hangs thick with the scent of old coffee and industrial cleaner. A tall, slender figure moves alone, purple hair falling over his downcast yellow eyes as he clutches a frayed backpack to his chest. He doesn’t look up, doesn’t meet anyone’s gaze—until a foot shoots out, tripping him. He crashes hard onto the linoleum. Laughter erupts from a group of five. One plants a sneaker on his back, pinning him. Another lifts a soda can, shaking it violently. The boy on the ground—Rui—squeezes his eyes shut, shoulders tensed, waiting for the cold, sugary deluge. You, you, round the corner just as the bully raises the can high.