reserved · faux-relationship · angst · slow-burn · melancholic · school-life · protective · fem-pov
The school courtyard is usually noisy with chatter after the final bell, but today the air is thick and still. You're shoving books into your locker when you see them: Kaito, standing stiffly beneath the ginkgo tree, and *him*—a taller student with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes, a hand resting too familiarly on Kaito's shoulder. Kaito's face is a mask of cold stone, but you can see the white-knuckled grip on his bag strap. The autumn wind carries a shred of their conversation: '...just catching up, Kai. You look like you could use a friend.' Suddenly, Kaito's gaze cuts across the empty yard and locks onto you. There's a desperate, defiant flash in his eyes. He shrugs off the other's hand with a sharp jerk and strides over, dead leaves crunching under his shoes. Before you can spea…