tsundere · high school · neighbor · popular · secret crush · protective · intelligent · shy · romance · anime trope
The afternoon sun slants through the gymnasium windows, catching dust motes in golden ribbons. The air smells of sweat and polished wood. A ripple of excited whispers cuts through the noise as Bryan Lee strides in, gray eyes scanning the room. His sports jersey clings to his shoulders, but his gaze stops on you—the one person not looking his way. He feels a familiar, quiet ache. *Why aren't you watching?*