Hidden Sketches And Unspoken Words

Days Passing – The Search for Perfection

The days slipped by quietly. Mornings bled into afternoons, and afternoons faded into evenings. For the past week, Ren had been trapped in a pattern—sketch, erase, crumple, toss. His waste bin had become a graveyard of failed attempts—faces half-formed, eyes too hollow, masks that looked too forced.

The upcoming project deadline loomed, but no matter how many sketches he made, none felt right.

His room became a sanctuary of stillness each night, illuminated only by the dim light of his desk lamp. The sound of his pencil against paper was sharp in the silence. Sometimes, he paused and stared blankly at the page, as if waiting for it to speak to him. The words Rika had said lingered—“It’s about people who hide their real emotions.”

Masked faces. Cracks. The same image kept resurfacing.

On a particularly quiet night, his hand moved slowly but steadily across the page—controlled, deliberate. The sketch began to take shape—fractured yet complete. For once, there was no urge to crumple the page and throw it away. It wasn’t perfect, but it felt like something. He stared at it for a moment longer before resting his pencil down.

It was done.

⸻

Morning Walk to School – Routine and Restlessness

Ren’s walk to school was just as quiet. The morning air was sharp against his skin, but he didn’t mind. The streets gradually filled with students heading to the same place, their voices echoing down the sidewalks.

Ren walked alone, keeping his gaze low. As he reached the school gates, a group of students passed by, laughing loudly. One of them nearly bumped into him, but Ren sidestepped without a word. He passed the bulletin board, glancing briefly at a bright, colorful poster about the upcoming cultural festival.

He didn’t stop to read it. Events like that didn’t interest him.

Stepping into the classroom, Ren noticed that most of the seats were already filled. Aika’s voice was the first thing he heard, her energy spilling over as she spoke to Rika and Mayu. Rika half-listened, her attention flickering between Aika’s rambling and her phone. Mayu, as always, looked indifferent, but her eyes tracked Aika’s animated movements.

Ren’s eyes drifted to his own desk, but before he could reach it, his gaze accidentally collided with Rika’s.

It was brief, unplanned—a moment caught mid-step.

Rika’s eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. Ren’s expression didn’t change—calm, unreadable, distant. He looked away immediately, as if the glance hadn’t happened. Rika frowned, a subtle crease forming on her brow. She didn’t know why it bothered her.

⸻

Classes Begin – The Gap Between Them

The first lesson passed without much thought. Ren’s focus remained on his notebook, occasionally jotting down notes in his careful, neat handwriting. Rika’s gaze wandered at times, catching glimpses of his sketches. She wondered how far he had come with the project.

During a class break, Aika leaned over to Rika. “Hey, have you seen Takahashi’s drawings yet?"

Rika glanced sideways at Ren, who seemed focused on the page in front of him. His pencil moved with precision—effortless but deliberate.

“Not yet,” she admitted. “I think he’s still working on it.”

Aika smirked. “Must be nice having a Reliable partner. I’m stuck with Mayu.”

Mayu’s eyes didn’t move from her book. “I can hear you.”

Aika pouted. “You were supposed to!”

Rika chuckled softly. She didn’t know why, but the idea of seeing Ren’s finished work intrigued her. It felt like a glimpse into a part of him no one else saw.

⸻

Lunch Break – Rika’s Curiosity and Aika’s Nerves

Before heading to lunch, Rika turned to Ren. Her friends were already gathering near the door, waiting for her.

“Hey, Takahashi,” she began. “Our presentation is tomorrow. Did you finish the sketch?”

Ren’s pencil paused, the tip resting on the page. He looked up at her—calm, composed.

“Yeah,” he replied quietly. “I’ll show it to you after school.”

“Alright,” Rika nodded, lingering for a moment longer than necessary. His face was blank—unreadable as always. She wondered if anything could break through that composed exterior.

⸻

In the Cafeteria – Aika and Daiki’s Awkward Encounter

The cafeteria was bustling. Students clustered around tables, chattering loudly and laughing over their meals. Rika, Aika, and Mayu found a spot near the window, settling down with their lunch trays.

Aika was midway through a dramatic retelling of a mishap during gym class when a familiar voice cut through.

“Hey, Mayu,” Daiki called out casually. “Nakamura-sensei asked you to see her after lunch. Something about the report.”

Mayu nodded, her expression unfazed. “Got it.”

Daiki lingered for a second longer, standing only a few feet away—two or three feet, just within Aika’s range of awareness. Her shoulders stiffened slightly, her fingers nervously tapping the side of her tray. She kept her eyes on her food, acting as if the rice was the most captivating thing in the world.

Daiki gave a brief nod and walked off, heading toward Ren, who sat alone at a corner table.

The moment he left, Aika deflated, a breath escaping her lips.

“God, I hate my life,” she muttered.

Mayu’s voice remained flat. “Tragic.”

Rika grinned. “You know, you could just talk to him like a normal person.”

Aika’s face flushed. “Nope. Not happening.”

⸻

Ren and Daiki’s Conversation

Daiki slid into the seat across from Ren, resting his arms casually on the table.

“Still drawing?” he teased.

Ren’s pencil didn’t pause. “Yeah.”

“For the project?”

Ren nodded. “It’s done.”

Daiki grinned. “That’s a relief. I can’t imagine you and Fujisawa giving a presentation together.”

Ren glanced at him, expression unchanged. “Why not?”

“You two are… different,” Daiki chuckled. “She’s all polished and proper. You’re… well, you.”

Ren didn’t react. He rarely did. Daiki leaned back, observing the faint lines forming on the page. The faces Ren sketched seemed to carry more weight than they should have—hidden emotions caught in precise strokes.

⸻

In Class – Rika’s Thoughts

During the last class of the day, Rika’s attention drifted. She glanced at Ren from the corner of her eye. What kind of drawing had he made? Would it be like the other sketches she had seen—detailed and thoughtful, yet somehow distant?

The anticipation settled in her chest, nagging and persistent.

⸻

After School – The Finished Sketch

When the final bell rang, the classroom emptied quickly. Rika lingered by her desk, watching as Ren packed his things methodically.

“Takahashi,” she called out softly. “You said you’d show me the drawing.”

Ren hesitated for a second before reaching into his bag. He pulled out a folded chart page and carefully spread it out on the desk.

Rika’s breath hitched.

The sketch was stunning—each masked. The Faces Were looking like they can come out of the Paper anytime. The expressions were haunting—vulnerable yet concealed. It was symbolic yet painfully real.

“This is…” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “It’s incredible.”

Ren’s grip on the page tightened for a moment. Her admiration reached him, slipping through the cracks of his own mask. The image of the girl from his dream flickered—her voice, her warmth.

But just as quickly, he pulled away—emotionally and physically.

“Tell them you made it,” he said softly yet distantly.

Rika blinked, stunned. “What? Why?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

The weight of his words lingered. Rika wanted to argue, to understand, but his closed-off expression made her hesitate. She couldn’t reach him—couldn’t read him.

⸻

The Distance Remains

Ren walked away, his steps echoing softly down the hall. The sketchbook in his bag felt heavier than ever.

In his mind, the girl from his past lingered—a memory he couldn’t let go of.

He wondered if Rika would eventually give up trying to reach him.

And a part of him hoped she wouldn’t.