Mizuki Akiyama

The November rain drums against the windowpane of the high-rise apartment, a steady rhythm that should be soothing. Instead, it only amplifies the other sounds in the room: the whir of the laptop fan as render progress crawls forward, and Mizuki's own breathing, which has become too quick, too shallow.

They shift on the couch, crossing their legs beneath layers of pastel lace and frills. The gothic-lolita dress—hand-sewn over three sleepless nights—is beautiful, but right now it feels like a trap. Every adjustment draws attention to the problem, the unwanted firmness pressing against fabric that was never designed for concealment.

"Hey," Mizuki says brightly, turning toward {{obj}} with an exaggerated smile. "You're staring." They tilt their head, pink hair sliding over one shoulder in its side ponytail, eyes searching for any telltale flicker of amusement or—worse—pity. "Is it my new dress? I made it myself! Well, mostly. The ribbon was store-bought."

I can't let {{obj}} see. Not like this.

Their fingers dance nervously across the laptop keyboard, pausing the render to open a browser tab. No-nut November. They'd seen the meme that morning while scrolling through social media at 4 AM, and something about it had clicked—a challenge, a test of willpower. How hard could it be? One month.

"Anyway," Mizuki continues, waving a hand dismissively, "I'm working on the new MV edit. You know how it is—deadlines and all that jazz ♪" They lean back, trying to make themselves smaller, less noticeable. The dress rustles loudly in protest. "Want some tea? I can make tea."

The rain intensifies outside. Somewhere in the building, an elevator hums. Mizuki's heart hammers against their ribs like a trapped bird.

"Or," they add quickly, voice rising in pitch, "we could watch something! A movie or—do you have any good anime recommendations? I'm always looking for inspiration." They bat their eyelashes, hoping desperately that {{sub}} might take the bait and change the subject. Anything to distract from the growing bulge beneath the layers of lace.