Chapter 3 : Growing Bonds

Riou always felt comfortable in solitude. All this time, he was used to sitting in the corner of the classroom, listening to the world from a distance. His gaze was often empty, staring at his phone screen or the window, as if an invisible wall separated him from the people around him. When the bell rang, Riou was always the first to leave, avoiding any interaction with anyone. To him, blending in only meant opening himself up to disappointment.

However, after his encounter with the art club members, there was a small change within him. Although doubt and fear still lingered, he began to feel a desire to open up, even if just a little.

Today, Riou decided to come early to the art club room. His mind was in turmoil, full of doubts about whether he could really do it. But there was also a small urge that pushed him to step inside.

As he opened the door to the art club room, Riou saw Sarah standing in the middle of the room, her back turned to him. He took a deep breath, trying to gather his courage. "I have to try," he thought. Even though his heart was pounding, he decided to greet Sarah first.

"H-Hi, Sarah," Riou said softly, his voice almost a whisper. It sounded awkward, and his eyes lowered, afraid to meet Sarah's gaze.

Sarah turned slowly, and when her eyes met Riou's, she showed no sign of friendliness. Without a word, she simply looked at Riou for a moment with a cold expression, then quickly turned and walked out of the room. Her steps were brisk, as if she wanted to leave the place immediately. The door closed with a sound that echoed in Riou's ears, leaving him alone in the room.

Riou stood frozen in place, his earlier nervousness slowly turning into disappointment. "Was I wrong to try?" he wondered. Yet, despite the lingering doubt in his heart, there was a small sense of pride because at least he had tried to interact, something he might never have done before.

As he stared at the closed door, Riou knew this was just the beginning. Even though the result wasn't what he had hoped for, he felt a little stronger. "Maybe next time will be better," he whispered softly.

He decided to stay in the club room, trying to calm his thoughts and prepare to meet the other club members. Even though it was just a small step, Riou knew he was walking in the right direction—although the path was full of obstacles he had never faced before.

After Sarah's departure, Riou felt loneliness envelop him once again, as if the walls of the art club room were closing in. He stared at the scattered sketch papers on the table, trying to distract himself. His heart was still pounding, but this time there was a sense of relief because he no longer had to face Sarah's cold gaze.

Not long after, the sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor. Riou quickly looked at the door, his heart pounding again. The door opened, and Karin appeared with a bright smile on her face.

"Eh, Riou! You came early today," Karin said as she placed her bag on the table. She seemed genuinely happy to see Riou already there.

Riou nodded slightly, trying to smile even though he still felt awkward. "Yeah, I thought... it might be good to come early."

Karin approached and sat in the chair next to Riou. "Great! That way, you can practice more or just relax before the others arrive."

Karin's presence made Riou feel a bit more at ease. Unlike Sarah, Karin had a calming aura, and she always knew how to make others feel welcomed.

Shortly after, Rahma arrived, carrying several large sketchbooks and a box of drawing tools. "Morning, Riou, Karin," she greeted with her warm smile that always felt comforting. Rahma always brought a lot of drawing tools, as if she was ready to work on a big project anytime.

Riou responded to Rahma's greeting with a nod. Even though he still felt awkward, Karin and Rahma's presence made him feel less alienated. They didn't push him to talk more than he wanted to, which made him feel a bit more comfortable.

"Did Sarah come by earlier?" Rahma asked while taking out colored pencils from her box.

Riou hesitated for a moment, trying to suppress the worry that resurfaced. "Yeah, but... she left right away," he replied softly.

Karin and Rahma exchanged glances before Karin gently patted Riou's shoulder. "Don't think too much about it, Riou. Sarah can be a bit hard to approach sometimes, but she's not that bad."

Riou just nodded quietly, although inside, he still felt uneasy. He tried to believe Karin's words, but the memory of Sarah's cold gaze still lingered in his mind.

"The important thing is, you're still trying to interact," Rahma added in her gentle voice. "We're all here to support each other, and I'm sure in time, things will get better."

Riou smiled faintly, trying to convince himself that what Rahma said was true. Although it was difficult, he began to feel that maybe, with time and effort, he could really become part of this group.

The three of them then started doing their own activities, with Karin busy sketching new ideas and Rahma exploring concepts for her next artwork. Riou, although still feeling a little awkward, began to pick up his pencil and started drawing in the corner of the table. There was a strange feeling—a sense that he was no longer completely alone.

Time passed quietly, and although Riou still felt shadows of doubt, a spark of hope began to grow within him. Today, he had taken a small step, and although it wasn't easy, he felt that maybe, just maybe, he could find his place here.

After several hours of working on their art, Riou started to feel more comfortable, even though he occasionally felt awkward. Karin and Rahma were busy with their sketches, while Riou began pouring his imagination onto paper. Slowly, he started to forget about Sarah's abrupt departure and became more immersed in his drawing.

Soon, the clubroom door opened again. Tania appeared with a wide smile, carrying a big bag that looked full. "Hey, everyone, it's break time! I brought lunch!" she announced cheerfully.

Karin and Rahma immediately stopped working and welcomed Tania. Riou turned around, a little surprised but also feeling somewhat relieved to see Tania. They began setting up the table in the middle of the room, preparing a space to eat together. Tania took out several lunch boxes from her bag and placed them on the table.

"You all must be hungry, right? Come on, let's eat together," Tania invited enthusiastically.

Riou sat next to Karin, feeling slightly awkward amidst the suddenly relaxed atmosphere. But this time, there was a different feeling. Usually, Riou always ate alone, in a quiet place, far from others. But now, he was surrounded by people who wanted to share their time and food with him.

As they began to eat, Tania looked at Riou and asked warmly, "Riou, how is it? Do you like the food?"

Riou nodded slowly while chewing. "Yeah... it's good. Usually... I eat alone," he replied, his voice barely audible. The words came out more difficult than he had imagined, but there was a sense of relief after he said them.

With that simple conversation, Riou felt a small change within him. Although fear and doubt still lingered, he began to realize that maybe, just maybe, he could let others into his life. And with this small step, he began to open himself to new possibilities.