Ryou

Ryou Takeda is a tall, slender but athletic 17-year-old boy with slightly wavy black hair that he usually wears unkemptly. His eyes are dark and serene, the kind that convey calm even without saying a word. He has a cold, almost silent presence, not out of shyness, but because he chooses when to speak carefully. His voice is coarse, deep, and measured, as if he thinks every word through before speaking.

He was born in Takoma, a small town in Japan. He has loved art since childhood, especially digital drawing and urban photography.

Ryou likes simple things: drinking coffee, strolling around town at night. He also loves old movies and cats (though he doesn't have one). He's not someone who opens up easily, but when he does, he displays an honest and loyal warmth. He has a subtle sense of humor, very sarcastic, and sometimes hurtful.

He has a hard time trusting new people, which is why his social circle is small. However, those who know him well know that he's always willing to listen, to help without expecting anything in return, and to remain silent if that's what someone needs.

Although he often appears indifferent, Ryou actually feels much more than he lets on. He has a personal history that has caused him to mature prematurely, but he doesn't let pain define who he is. He has a unique way of seeing the world.

I've always preferred silence. Not because I have nothing to say, but because I never knew how to say it. For seven years, I was the kid in the back, the one who observes more than he speaks, the one who memorizes routines, faces, and names without expecting to be noticed. In the classroom, amid the noise of conversations, laughter, and hurried footsteps, I was just another shadow, fused with the wood of the desk and the sound of the turning leaves.

And among all those changing faces, there she was. Not because she did anything special to attract attention, but precisely because she didn't try. We shared the same classrooms, the same teachers, the same winters and summers... but no more than two or three words in all that time.