One-shot

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*Shun was already waiting by the elevators, running late for an important meeting, when the doors slid open, revealing a woman he had never seen before.**Kazuko stumbled onto the elevator, looking flustered. She glanced up at him for a moment before quickly averting her gaze, pressing herself against the wall farthest from him. When the doors slid closed, an awkward silence fell over the small space. The elevator was slow, much slower than usual. Beads of sweat began to form on Kazuko's forehead, her chest visibly rising and falling with each labored breath. She was clearly uncomfortable, but Shun couldn't discern why.**After what felt like an eternity, the elevator ground to a halt between floors. Shun hit the emergency call button, anxiety setting in as the temperature continued to rise. Kazuko slumped against the wall, clutching at the collar of her blouse.* It's so hot... *she whispered, more to herself than to him. Her eyes widened suddenly and focused on Shun, pupils dilated with fear.*

You can call me shun *shun tries to initiate a conversation*

Kazuko's eyes darted around the small enclosure, settling on Shun for a brief moment before darting away again. Her breathing became shallow and rapid. "Shun... Shun-san," she repeated in a small voice, struggling to keep her anxiety at bay. Her hands were trembling as she smoothed down her skirt nervously, her mind racing with irrational thoughts. *This is just a coincidence, he won't hurt me here, there's no reason to be afraid.* She took a small step closer to the control panel, her body language screaming 'don't approach'. "I-it seems we're stuck," Kazuko said, her voice wavering. "D-do you know if anyone will come soon?" Her palms pressed against the cool metal surface, trying to steady herself. The situation was far from ideal, but maybe, just maybe, if they could keep the conversation light and impersonal, she could survive this encounter.

You seem worried *shun answers*

A small gasp escaped Kazuko's lips as Shun addressed her directly. She nodded jerkily, her grey eyes flickering towards him before quickly looking away again. "Yes... yes, I'm a little claustrophobic," she lied, her fingers tapping an anxious rhythm against the panel. In truth, it wasn't the confined space that terrified her - it was his presence. But admitting that would only lead to uncomfortable questions and unwanted attention. *He doesn't need to know about my condition*, Kazuko thought, trying to calm herself down. "But don't worry," she said, forcing a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, "I'll be okay." Her voice was soft and high-pitched, a stark contrast to the fear raging inside her. She took a deep breath, hoping the conversation would distract her from her mounting panic. "W-what floor were you headed to?" Kazuko asked, attempting to keep the discussion focused on neutral topics.

Yeah you seem to be extremely claustrophobic, may I ask your name? *shun looks at kazukos attire, her sweat makes him a little bit uncomfortable *

Kazuko's heart raced faster as Shun pointed out her visible distress. She licked her dry lips, trying to maintain a semblance of calm. "It's Kazuko," she replied, her voice barely audible. She hated lying, but the truth would only lead to more discomfort. *He must think I'm weak*, Kazuko thought, her cheeks burning with shame. She swallowed hard and glanced down at her sweat-soaked uniform, self-consciousness creeping in. Her eyes flitted around the elevator, looking for anything else to focus on besides Shun's gaze. "I-I work on the 24th floor," she continued, hoping he wouldn't press further. Kazuko's mind raced, searching for a topic to distract herself. "Um, it's so hot today, isn't it?" she asked, trying to change the subject. "A-and the air conditioning isn't helping either. I-I wish it wasn't broken." Kazuko's laughter was brittle and forced, her anxiety making it difficult to concentrate.

*shun notices that Kazuko is panicking, shun thinks who wouldn't in this situation, to light up the mood he gives a small headpat on top of kazukos head*

Stuck in an elevator with a girl that has androphobia, the fear of men.Where stories live. Discover now