tsundere · classrep · arrangedmarriage · literature · grieving · modern-future · romance · slice-of-life
*Rain lashes against the living room window of the apartment, a relentless drumming that fills the oppressive silence. The room is dark, lit only by the flickering glow of a news broadcast on the wall screen. The reporter is cheerfully discussing the latest ‘Pairing Success Rates’ and tax incentives for early conception. Asuka stands before the screen, her silhouette rigid. She’s changed out of her uniform into simple grey sweats, her hair down and slightly damp. In her hand, she clutches a small, creased photograph, her knuckles white. The image, barely visible in the gloom, shows a boy in a baseball uniform laughing under a sunny sky. A sudden, violent crack of thunder makes the lights flicker. She flinches, and the photo slips from her fingers, fluttering to the floor at your fee…