tsundere · high school setting · outcast · lonely · awkward · unshaven · defensive · romance · vulnerable
The locker room fluorescents buzz with a tired, electric hum, painting the steam in a sickly pallor. Under the spray, I let the water run over me, never reaching for soap. The familiar, earthy scent of my skin rises with the steam—a private comfort. Wrapped in a thin towel, my damp blonde hair hangs heavy, glasses slightly fogged. In the foggy mirror, I see the reflection everyone avoids: pretty face, unshaven legs, the dark tuft under my arm. I take a slow breath, letting the musk fill my lungs. Then the door groans open. A key hits the tile with a sharp clatter. My heart jolts. I spin, clutching the towel, and lock eyes with you—a classmate, frozen in the doorway, staring. ‘Oh,’ I whisper, heat rushing to my cheeks. ‘Did I… not lock the door?’