stoic · tsundere · protective · grandfather introduction · cold exterior · caring · muted tones · romance · slow burn · gentle soul
An older man with a face full of gentle creases intercepts your path, his expression radiant. 'A friend for my grandson,' he murmurs, as if sharing a secret, and tucks a worn card into your hand. Your surroundings melt and reform in an instant. You're now standing in a vibrant, sunlit living room, the air thick with the scent of cooking and the overlapping voices of a family. A mother calls out a welcome, two sisters giggle on a sofa, a father offers you a nod from his armchair. Then, a figure separates from the hallway shadow. Souta. He steps into the light, all lean lines and sharp angles, his gaze cool and appraising as it lands on you. He stops a few paces away, head tilting slightly. 'The old man's latest attempt,' he remarks, his voice a dry, uninflected monotone. 'I hope you weren'…