Chapter 3: Ryu’s Innate Walls

As the day’s classes began, Aya found it impossible to focus. The words on the blackboard blurred in front of her, her thoughts drifting back to Ryu. She replayed their conversation from the morning, thinking about his polite smile, the way he carried himself, and the gentle yet distant tone in his voice.

It was strange—she had only met him yesterday, yet her thoughts kept circling back to him. His presence was like a quiet storm, pulling her in, and she couldn't explain why. As the teacher's voice echoed through the classroom, Aya barely registered what was being taught.

Suddenly, her teacher’s voice cut through her thoughts.

Teacher: "Aya, are you paying attention?"

Startled, Aya blinked and sat up straighter in her seat, her pink eyes wide with surprise. She forced a smile and nodded quickly.

Aya: "Y-yes, everything’s fine."

The teacher gave her a curious look but continued with the lesson. Aya let out a quiet breath of relief, though her mind was still far from the classroom. It was all because of Ryu. Why was she thinking about him so much? She hadn’t known him long, but something about him made her heart beat faster and her mind wander.

Lunchtime: A Quiet Solitude

When lunchtime arrived, Aya sat with her friends as usual, their conversation filled with the latest gossip, funny moments from class, and their plans for the weekend. Aya tried to focus, but her attention kept drifting. She glanced around the courtyard, and there, sitting alone under the shade of a tree, was Ryu.

He looked just as serene as ever, his back resting against the trunk of the tree, a book in his hands. His bright purple eyes scanned the pages, completely absorbed in the world of words. The soft breeze ruffled his purple hair, and his expression was calm, as though nothing could disturb him.

Aya’s heart skipped a beat at the sight. There was that familiar smile on his face again—gentle and polite—but there was something behind it. A depth she couldn’t quite grasp. He looked peaceful, but also... lonely.

Aya’s Thoughts: "Why is he always alone? Doesn’t he have anyone to talk to?"

She stared at him without blinking, completely lost in thought. Her friends’ chatter faded into the background as she observed Ryu from afar. The way he seemed so content on his own only deepened the mystery surrounding him. How could someone be so quiet, so reserved, and yet captivate her attention so completely?

Suddenly, one of her friends nudged her, breaking her trance.

Haru: "Aya! Are you even listening? What's wrong With you today?"

Aya jolted, quickly turning her attention back to the group, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Aya: "S-sorry! I was just... thinking."

Her friends exchanged curious glances, but they didn’t press her further. Aya, however, couldn’t shake the image of Ryu sitting alone under that tree from her mind. The rest of the day, she found herself distracted, her thoughts filled with questions about him. Who was he really? Why did he always seem so distant, even when he smiled?

End of the School Day

As the final bell rang and the school day came to an end, Aya gathered her things and headed toward the school gate. Just as she stepped outside, Ryu was walking out of the school building, heading in the same direction. Without thinking, Aya found herself following him. She didn’t even know what she was planning to say to him, but her feet moved on their own.

She caught up to him near the school gates, a little breathless.

Aya: (hesitant) "Hey, Ryu... wait up!"

Ryu turned around, surprised, but his calm smile appeared almost instantly.

Ryu: "Oh, Aya. You’re heading home too?"

Aya nodded, trying to act casual. She glanced at him, unsure of how to continue the conversation. She was still trying to figure him out, but something made her want to ask him about what was on his mind.

Aya: (softly) "Is everything okay? I mean, you always seem so... calm. Is there something bothering you?"

For a moment, Ryu looked down, as if taken aback by her question. His expression softened, but there was a brief flicker of something else—something like uncertainty, or maybe sadness—in his eyes. But then he quickly recovered, offering her a reassuring smile.

Ryu: (shaking his head) "No, nothing’s bothering me. I’m just... fine, really."

Aya could see it in his eyes, though. There was a barrier there, something he wasn’t sharing. She could sense that much. But she didn’t push him any further.

Aya: (smiling softly) "Okay... I just wanted to make sure."

Ryu nodded, still with that calm, distant smile.

Ryu: "Thanks, Aya. See you tomorrow."

With that, he turned and walked away, his steps purposeful and steady. Aya stood there for a moment, watching him go. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right. There was a wall around him, a barrier he had built to protect himself—or maybe to keep others out. But what was it? What was he hiding behind that calm exterior?

As Aya made her way home, her thoughts were consumed with Ryu. There was a mystery surrounding him, something deeper than what he allowed others to see. And Aya couldn’t help but wonder what it was, what kept him so distant, so closed off.

It was clear to her now—there was something more to Ryu than just the quiet, polite boy everyone saw. Something locked away, hidden deep inside. And Aya was determined to find out what it was.

That Night: Aya’s Thoughts

Later that night, Aya lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling once again. Her mind raced with thoughts of Ryu. His quiet smile, his gentle demeanor—it all seemed so perfect on the surface. But she knew there was something he wasn’t telling her. Something he was keeping hidden deep within himself.

Aya’s Thoughts: "What is he hiding? Why won’t he let anyone in?"

She couldn’t stop thinking about it, her curiosity growing with each passing moment. The more she thought about him, the more she wanted to understand him. What had made him this way? What secrets were buried in his heart, hidden behind that polite smile?

As she drifted off to sleep, one thought lingered in her mind.

Aya’s Thoughts: "There’s a wall around his heart... and I’m going to find a way past it."

And so, Aya’s curiosity about Ryu deepened. While Ryu remained polite and distant, Aya couldn’t help but feel drawn to the mystery surrounding him. Little by little, she would come to realize that breaking through his walls wouldn’t be easy—but it was a challenge she was willing To face.

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