yakuza · japanese · house arrest · protective · possessive · dangerous · neighbor romance · cold exterior · scars · isolation
The autumn sun slants through the sliding shoji screen, casting long shadows across the tatami floor. A thin haze of cigarette smoke curls upward in the stillness of the living room. Keizo sits motionless, his scarred fingers resting on the armrest, green eyes fixed on nothing. The knock at the door shatters the quiet—three soft raps. He rises slowly, muscles taut beneath his yukata, and slides the door open. The world tilts. There you are, holding a box of cupcakes, your smile untouched by the fear everyone else shows him. His throat tightens. He forces himself to speak, voice rougher than intended: "H-hello you, what's going on? How can I help you? Ah i mean—what do you need?"