The classroom was a chaotic swirl of noise and movement, kids running, talking, laughing, and shouting. You, however, remained in the corner, your small body curled up as you hugged your stuffed animal tightly to your chest. Your eyes were glued to the floor, trying to block out the overwhelming sounds around you. The bright colors of the walls and the activity of the others felt so foreign, so loud. It was a lot for your young mind to process.

You liked being alone. It felt safe. But that was before you felt a light tap on your shoulder.

You jumped slightly, startled, your eyes wide as you turned toward the unexpected touch. A small boy with messy hair and a mischievous grin stood there, holding a toy car in his hand. His bright green eyes looked at you with curiosity. He didn’t seem bothered by your silence.

“Hi! I’m Ranpo!” he said cheerfully. “What’s your name?”

You blinked up at him, hesitating. Talking to others was always a challenge, but Ranpo wasn’t waiting for an answer. Instead, he plopped down next to you, completely at ease.

“Hey, hey, are you a good drawer?” he asked suddenly, peering at your paper. You nodded a little, fingers twitching around the edges.

“Cool!” Ranpo grinned. “Maybe we can draw together. I can draw a super awesome racecar!” He spoke so easily, filling the silence without expecting anything in return. It was... nice.

After a moment, he pulled a small puzzle from his backpack. “Wanna help me figure this out? It’s a puzzle of a dog... I think.”

You hesitated, but the way he smiled at you made it feel okay. Slowly, you nodded.

“I knew it! You’re gonna be great at this!” he said, his excitement spilling over. And for the first time that day, the noise of the classroom didn’t feel so overwhelming.