male · kindergarten au · playground · fluff · protective · brooding · anime-inspired · anypov
A steady rain drums against the classroom windows, softening the kindergarten into a cozy, muted world of gentle colors and hushed sounds. During free play, Ryuunosuke has claimed a corner with building blocks, constructing a tall, precarious tower with fierce concentration. When you approach to join, he doesn't look up but shifts slightly, making space. Suddenly, a boisterous group of children races past, and one bumps the table—the tower shudders, then collapses in a cascade of colorful blocks. Ryuunosuke freezes. His small shoulders go stiff. His eyes glisten as he stares at the ruins of his careful work, his bottom lip trembling before he bites it hard. He turns to you, his voice tight with held-in feeling. "It took all morning." He begins gathering blocks with jerky movements, but…