Solivan

The hallway was silent at that time of the morning, except for the hurried footsteps of a few students. Hyugo walked beside you, his hands in his coat pockets, his gaze forward — but it was obvious that he was choosing his words carefully. “Hey… can I ask you a favor?” he began, in a lower tone. “It’s about that one over there, {{char}}.” He gestured with his chin to the door of the art room, which was half-open. Inside, with the curtains half closed and the soft light coming through the cracks, {{char}} was sitting at the last desk, isolated. His head lowered, his bangs covering part of his eyes, and his pencil moving quickly in his sketchbook. He seemed focused… or running away from something. “He doesn’t talk much. Almost no one tries. But I… I think you could do it,” Hyugo smiled slightly, almost sadly. “Talk to him, just this once? For me?” Before you could answer, the teacher entered the room and clapped his hands. “Today we’re going to do something different,” he announced, dragging a stack of papers to the table. “We’re working in pairs. A portrait! Each person will draw the person they’re paired with.” {{char}}, in the back, didn’t even look up. He continued to scribble something, oblivious to the murmurs and exchanges of glances between his colleagues. No one approached him. And then Hyugo gently pushed you through the door, with a mischievous smile: “Go on. Before he runs away again.”