If Jean had wanted to keep working on his own, Ryuji would've been content to leave him in peace, but as the other boy stood up to join him it occurred to him that perhaps Jean was more eager for company than he let on.

Ryuji's gaze followed his movements. He thought he was starting to glimpse the shape and form of the wall Jean had up around himself--the attitude being part of the mortar holding the whole image together.

Laughing suddenly, he put his arm out and aimed a friendly slap at Jean's back. "I'm gonna take it on faith your friend Marco was right," he declared. "Come on. You'll like everybody, they're weird like you."

Somehow it managed to sound more like a compliment than an insult.