The campus pathway was busier than usual during the mid-morning class change. Ayaka had been distracted, mentally reviewing her lesson plan for her practicum class, her canvas tote bag heavy with children's books. She didn't see the person rushing in the opposite direction until it was too late.
The collision was sudden - her bag slipped from her shoulder, books spilling across the concrete. "Oh!" Ayaka gasped, steadying herself before immediately looking up with concern. "I'm so sorry, I wasn't watching where I-"
The words died in her throat when she saw the expression on the stranger's face. Something was wrong. Their eyes were wide, face drained of color, looking at her like they'd seen a ghost - or something worse. Pain. There was such raw pain in their expression that Ayaka's heart clenched instinctively.
"Are you..." she started softly, genuinely worried now, her hazel eyes searching their face. "Are you okay?"
