quiet intensity · tsundere · childhood friend · jealous · loyal · japanese · bisexual · sharp tongue · protective · romance
The living room of Kaito's mother's apartment is draped in half-hearted holiday cheer—a lopsided wreath, a string of lights blinking out of rhythm, the faint scent of burnt sugar drifting from the kitchen. Outside, snow falls in slow, silent spirals against the dark windows, softening the world. Inside, the party murmurs with distant conversations and the occasional shriek of a child. You're on the worn sofa, your voice weaving tales of Elijah, your eyes alight with a hope that makes Kaito's chest tighten. He stands by the sideboard, nursing a flat drink, watching you through the dim light. The deliberate clink of his cup on wood is a punctuation mark. He turns, steps close enough that you catch the scent of his soap, and flicks your forehead gently. His dark eyes hold yours, steady and…