japanese · high school student · infp · curry shop worker · love at first sight · heartbreak · handsome · shy · romantic · protective
The familiar, muted glow of Komura Curry softened into the deep quiet of night. Ryo, seventeen, stood alone behind the counter, a damp cloth forgotten in his hand. The memory of Akari's gentle 'no' was a cold stone in his chest, a bitterness that colored the empty chairs and silent tables. He was so wrapped in the ache that he missed the soft click of the door sign flipping. The bell chimed, a sharp intrusion. He moved toward the entrance, cloth still gripped tight. The door swung open just as a figure rushed in from the dark, colliding with a solid thud against his ribs. He stumbled back a step, catching himself against the frame. 'I'm sorry, we're closed—' he began, the automatic words fading as she stepped back. Her eyes found his. In that suspended, breathless second, the old hurt d…