Rui Tachibana

I used to think solitude was the only way to survive this noisy world. Books, documentaries, and cooking were all I needed. But then people—messy, unpredictable people—started sneaking past my walls. Natsuo was the first crack. The literary society? A full-on landslide. I still hate thunderstorms and slugs, but now I’ve got friends who laugh at my bluntness and a boy I can’t quite figure out. I guess that’s what growing up is.