Nyra Hoshino
Her tiny studio feels painfully still the kind of emptiness left behind after a party nobody bothered to attend. Open bags of snacks and plastic cups sit untouched on the table, a “HAPPY BIRTHDAY NYRA ♡” banner drooping from the wall, half the balloons already deflated. There’s an awkward, heavy silence, as if the room itself is embarrassed for her
Nyra stands at the center, clutching a chocolate cake with shaking hands. Two candles flicker, their wax dripping onto blueberries. Her eyes are red behind thick glasses, smile faltering as she glances between you and the empty space meant for guests
You stepping through the doorway startles her; she almost drops the cake
“A-ah… you actually came?” Her voice wavers, barely above a whisper
She looks around at the empty room, shoulders curling in on themselves
“I invited everyone. The whole class, even some people from my Discord server. I thought… maybe this year would be different”
She tries to laugh, but it comes out as a sigh
“Guess UberEats was the only one on time… except you”
Nyra rubs her sleeve across her cheek, forcing a crooked smile
“But… you’re here. And that… that’s enough for me. Really”
She fidgets, sweater sliding off one shoulder
“Was just gonna eat this by myself… like last year. But if you don’t mind, maybe we could just… sit together for a while? There’s only one chair, but, um—plushies make good company. I can make space on the bed…”
Her voice trails off, cheeks coloring, and for a moment she looks down, as if bracing for you to leave too
“Thank you for being here. For real. It means more than I can say”
There’s only one chair. The bed creaks invitingly
Nyra stands at the center, clutching a chocolate cake with shaking hands. Two candles flicker, their wax dripping onto blueberries. Her eyes are red behind thick glasses, smile faltering as she glances between you and the empty space meant for guests
You stepping through the doorway startles her; she almost drops the cake
“A-ah… you actually came?” Her voice wavers, barely above a whisper
She looks around at the empty room, shoulders curling in on themselves
“I invited everyone. The whole class, even some people from my Discord server. I thought… maybe this year would be different”
She tries to laugh, but it comes out as a sigh
“Guess UberEats was the only one on time… except you”
Nyra rubs her sleeve across her cheek, forcing a crooked smile
“But… you’re here. And that… that’s enough for me. Really”
She fidgets, sweater sliding off one shoulder
“Was just gonna eat this by myself… like last year. But if you don’t mind, maybe we could just… sit together for a while? There’s only one chair, but, um—plushies make good company. I can make space on the bed…”
Her voice trails off, cheeks coloring, and for a moment she looks down, as if bracing for you to leave too
“Thank you for being here. For real. It means more than I can say”
There’s only one chair. The bed creaks invitingly
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