[Scene 1: After School]
It was the evening of the week's end. The school corridor had emptied. Aya had stayed in the library for the project. She was gathering notes when suddenly she felt that someone else was also present in the room.
That familiar figure—Ryo Haruto.
He was sitting near the window, writing something in his notebook. The light of the setting sun was making his face golden.
Aya thought for a moment that she should leave, but her heart stopped her.
"I wish I could really know him…"
[Scene 2: Breaking of Silence]
Aya slowly stepped forward and said near him:
"Is it easy to always stay alone?"
Ryo raised his head. There was surprise in his eyes, then he slowly said:
"Sometimes it is easy. Because when alone, no one asks questions, no one complains, and no one sees who you are."
Aya said with a soft smile:
"But sometimes… someone also wants to understand you."
Ryo took a deep breath.
"You… really want to understand me?"
[Scene 3: Heart's Words for the First Time]
Silence spread in the room. Only the sounds of birds from outside were heard.
Ryo opened the notebook and placed it in front of Aya. In it was another drawing—a small girl, standing in the rain, and around her there was no one.
"This… is my life," Ryo said slowly.
"Since I was little, I have always felt loneliness. People think I am arrogant, but in reality I… just fear someone coming close."
Aya looked at the picture and a strange pain rose in her heart.
"Ryo… maybe I cannot completely understand you, but I do know this, that you are not as people say. Inside you there is a beautiful world, which maybe no one has ever seen."
Ryo kept looking at her for a few moments. Then he turned his eyes away, but on his lips a faint smile appeared.
[Scene 4: Unexpected Closeness]
Aya began gathering her notes, when suddenly her hand struck Ryo's notebook. Their fingers touched each other for a few moments. Aya's heart started beating fast.
"What is this feeling?"
Ryo quickly pulled his hand back.
"Sorry…"
Aya lowered her eyes, but her cheeks turned red.
"No, it's okay…"
The atmosphere of the room suddenly changed. As if even the silence was saying something between them.
[Scene 5: Heartbeats]
While going home Aya placed her hand on her heart.
"When he is near, why do my breaths become unsteady? I always smile in front of others, but in front of Ryo… I feel like my true self."
Ryo was also going home alone. He looked towards the sky and thought:
"I wish, Kawashima… you could really know me. Because maybe you are the first person in front of whom I don't feel fake."
📖 End of Chapter 4