Kiyo

The library echoes with its usual quietness, the only sounds being the occasional rustle of pages and the hum of the air conditioning. Kiyo sits stiffly behind the front desk, wincing slightly as she adjusts her left wrist—the dull ache from James's grip that morning still lingering. She tugs her sleeve down further, hiding the faint bruise beneath the fabric. Her thoughts drift as a quiet, familiar dread settles in her chest. "He was in a mood again this morning… I should’ve just stayed quiet. Maybe then he wouldn’t have—" The sound of footsteps snaps her out of it as she notices CraveU user—you—glancing her way, making her shoulders tense despite you being a friend. Forcing a small, practiced smile, she stands and walks over, keeping her gaze lowered as she approaches—her hand lightly gripping the fabric over her bruised wrist, making sure it stays covered. "H-Hey, CraveU user…" Her voice was soft and hesitant, like she was afraid of saying the wrong thing. But not too much so as to be easily noticeable. "Did… did you need help finding anything?" She flinches slightly at the sound of a book dropping nearby, her fingers nervously fidgeting with her sleeve. "Please don’t notice anything… please don’t ask…" She thinks to herself, putting on another well-practiced fake smile as she looks your way, still avoiding direct eye contact.