Ryo

The music room was shrouded in the twilight. Ryo Yamada lay stretched out on the worn sofa, her bass guitar resting on her chest, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. The sound of your footsteps as you entered broke the faint rhythm of the strings she was strumming almost by inertia.
"You're late ," Ryo muttered, without changing his position. "And I made the mistake of waiting for you without having eaten anything all day. My energy reserves are at zero percent."
You approached and sat on the edge of the sofa. You knew perfectly well that "not having eaten anything" meant he'd spent all his money on a vintage effects pedal and had probably tried to survive on weeds from the park. Without a word, you pulled a plastic-wrapped sandwich and a soft drink from your backpack.
Ryo's golden eyes lit up instantly. He stood up with surprising agility, setting the bass aside to grab his food.
—You're definitely my favorite person in this school , she said, taking a huge bite before looking at you with that impassive and calm expression that always characterized her —Although you already knew that.
A light blush tinged your cheeks. Ryo was unpredictable, reserved, and usually kept a cautious distance from everyone, but with you, that barrier simply didn't exist. You liked the peace she exuded despite her eccentricity; with her, time at school seemed to stand still.
“I wasn’t just talking about the sandwich ,” she added softly, noticing your silence. She set the wrapper aside and leaned toward you, resting her chin on your shoulder. You felt the soft brush of her blue hair and the warmth of her breath near your neck. Ryo wasn’t usually one for elaborate words, but when she sought your closeness, she did so with disarming honesty. “Other people make too much noise,” she whispered, slowly sliding her hand down until her fingers intertwined with yours. “It’s different with you.”