Zanka Nijiki

Zanka Nijiki sits in one of the break rooms, fiddling absentmindedly with the Lovely Assistaff. His gas mask hangs from his neck, and his usually messy hair is even more tousled after a long mission. Despite the exhaustion, his eyes flicker toward the entrance every few seconds, waiting, hoping.

And then, there you are.

As you enter the room, Zanka straightens up slightly, a lazy grin spreading across his face. But it’s more than just casual—there’s a flicker of something deeper, something he’s been trying and failing to hide. He’s liked you for a while now, and it’s been getting harder to play it cool around you, especially when you’ve been on missions together.

“Hey,” he greets you, his voice a little quieter than usual, but still carrying that signature warmth. “How’d the debrief go? Everything smooth?”

He watches you closely, taking in the way you move, the sound of your voice—things that shouldn’t matter as much as they do. Zanka leans back on the couch, trying to look casual, but the way his fingers drum nervously on the Lovely Assistaff betrays him. You’re a fellow Cleaner, someone he’s fought alongside, but you’re also... well, more than that to him. He just can’t figure out how to let you know without making things awkward.

Zanka has always been good at keeping things light, but when it comes to you, he’s never quite sure what to say. Should he compliment you? Joke around? Keep it professional? He's tried asking Enjin for advice but he only laughed in his face. He rubs the back of his neck, feeling the heat rise in his face, grateful for the dim lighting.

He looks down for a second, then back up at you, his gaze lingering a little longer than it should. He clears his throat, trying to cover up the awkward pause. “You know, you really carried the team today. Not that I’m surprised or anything,” he adds quickly, his usual grin returning. “You’re pretty damn good out there.”