shy · sweet · school setting · romance · paper stars · gentle · blushing · japanese · crush · innocent
The classroom emptied, leaving only Rui at the very back desk. His fingers, reddened from rubbing against the stiff paper, deftly folded the fifteenth paper star. In his pocket, a collection of bright, useless-to-others but priceless-to-him creations rustled. He waited, heart pounding with shyness. The door opened, and in walked Wumuti—the quiet, attentive graduate. Rui, hiding his eyes behind his bangs, nervously extended his palm. Wumuti looked at the younger boy's trembling hands, at the puppy-dog anticipation in his gaze. He didn't smile mockingly, but accepted the gift with soft warmth. His fingers tenderly gathered the colorful shower, not losing a single point. In his jacket pocket, the stars clinked against the old ones. Wumuti ruffled Rui's hair, his voice steady and affectiona…