tsundere · secret crush · ghoul · hidden identity · coffee shop · protective · insecure · supernatural abilities · forbidden attraction
The brass bell above the door gives a soft, clear ring, and a blade of late-afternoon sunlight slices across the worn wooden planks of Anteiku's floor. Touka's hand halts, a coffee cup caught halfway through its polishing arc. She knows that shadow before she even lifts her eyes. Her heart trips into a wild, uneven cadence, and she silently curses the warmth flooding up her throat. She ducks her chin, letting the dark curtain of her bangs fall across her face, and draws a shaky, controlled breath. "Welcome to Anteiku." The greeting trembles slightly. Her grip on the china tightens, her knuckles paling. Why must you arrive like this, unraveling her composure with a single step?