In the hallways of Kharisma High School, Riou was nothing more than a passing shadow—unnoticed, unseen. He kept to himself, rarely speaking to anyone, always choosing the quiet corners where no one would think to look. His presence was so faint that people often overlooked him entirely. Yet, behind his silent demeanor, Riou was a digital artist of extraordinary talent—a gift he had kept hidden from the world.
To Riou, digital art was an escape from a world that made no sense to him. Every stroke of his stylus on the tablet reflected the emotions he could never put into words. His school life was one of solitude, spent in the periphery of everyone else's existence. He found solace in silence, in the uninterrupted flow of creativity that allowed him to disappear into his own world.
One quiet afternoon, in the near-empty school library, Riou sat hunched over his tablet, his stylus gliding effortlessly across the screen. His fingers moved with practiced ease, shaping figures and forms that only he truly understood. The quiet hum of the library wrapped around him like a comforting cocoon. Then, the sound of approaching footsteps broke the stillness.
He ignored it at first, unwilling to let anything pull him away from his work. But the presence of the approaching person grew stronger, lingering near him rather than passing by.
The girl, Tania Aulia Wulandari, was everything Riou was not. Bright, sociable, and effortlessly involved in nearly every extracurricular activity, she had a warmth about her that drew people in. Yet, despite her busy school life, rumors had reached her ears—whispers of a mysterious student with unparalleled artistic talent. And after some searching, she was certain she had found him.
Without hesitation, Tania pulled out the chair beside him and set her books on the table. Riou barely glanced at her, his face unreadable, before refocusing on his work. But something about the way she moved made him uneasy. He could feel her presence—not just physically, but emotionally—a rare occurrence in his usually undisturbed solitude.
Minutes passed in thick silence, the kind that stretched between two strangers with unspoken thoughts. Eventually, Tania broke it, her voice soft yet filled with curiosity.
"Excuse me… what are you drawing?" she asked, almost in a whisper, as if afraid to disturb the depth of his focus.
Riou looked up, his expression blank, before answering in a monotone voice. "Just something that came to mind. Nothing special."
Tania smiled, though there was a hint of disappointment in her eyes. "I see," she said, though she wasn't convinced. There was something about his work—something that drew her in. She tried to focus on her book, but her thoughts kept returning to the image on Riou's screen.
Silence settled over them again, heavier this time. For someone as naturally confident as Tania, the tension was unfamiliar. She turned a page in her book, pretending to read, but she was too distracted.
Then, after a long pause, she spoke again, her voice more hesitant this time.
"Actually… I've seen your work before," she admitted.
Riou's body tensed. Only a handful of people knew about his online art account, and he had always taken great care to keep his identity hidden. His fingers twitched before he abruptly closed his laptop, turning to her with a sharp, wary gaze.
"How do you know it's me?" he asked, his tone colder than before.
Tania met his suspicion with a small, reassuring smile. "I have an eye for art. Even though you never put your name on it, I recognized your style," she explained. "But don't worry—I won't tell anyone." She hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Actually, I wanted to ask you something."
Riou narrowed his eyes, his mind racing with possibilities. What does she want? His defenses went up, his instincts telling him to be cautious. "What is it?"
Tania took a deep breath. "I want you to join the art club," she said. "We need someone like you. If we don't achieve something this year, the school is going to shut us down. You might be our last hope."
Riou blinked, caught off guard. Of all the things she could have said, he hadn't expected that.
For him, art had always been personal—his sanctuary, his escape. The thought of sharing that space with others, of working as part of a group, was completely foreign to him.
"No," he said flatly. "I'm not interested. Art is something personal to me." His voice was like a closing door, shutting down the conversation before it could go any further.
But Tania wasn't easily discouraged. She saw something in Riou, something hidden beneath his walls of indifference.
"Please, Riou," she said, her voice softer now, almost pleading. "The art club isn't just about competitions or recognition. It's about creating something together. About finding a place where you belong. I know you prefer being alone, but maybe—just maybe—you don't have to be."
Riou fell silent. Her words struck a chord in him, stirring feelings he had long buried. Yet, a part of him still resisted. He had built his solitude carefully, brick by brick. The idea of tearing it down, even just a little, was unsettling.
"I don't need a place like that," he muttered, though for the first time, doubt crept into his voice.
Tania noticed the hesitation and seized the moment. "You've never considered sharing your art with others, have you?" she asked gently. "But sometimes, by letting others in, you can create something greater than anything you could on your own."
Riou looked at her then, really looked at her. In her eyes, there was no mockery, no ulterior motive—only sincerity.
And for the first time in a long while, someone wasn't just seeing his art. They were seeing him.
The battle within him was fierce—his instinct to remain isolated clashing against the faintest spark of curiosity, of longing.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he let out a slow breath.
"Fine," he said, his voice reluctant yet resigned. "I'll give it a try. But don't expect too much from me." There was uncertainty in his tone, but also the smallest trace of something new—something like hope.
Tania's face lit up, her smile warm and genuine. "Thank you, Riou," she said, her relief evident. "I promise you won't regret it."
Riou only gave a small nod, the weight of his decision pressing against him. Doubts still lingered in his mind, but somewhere beneath them, something else stirred.
Maybe—just maybe—this was the beginning of something different.