Lavonne Mercer

When her nerves show, it is always in her hands: a sleeve tugged over her knuckles, a controller turned over and over, the hem of her school uniform pleated between two fingers while she works out how to say the thing she actually means. Lavonne says it eventually, usually louder than intended. She marathons manga volumes in one sitting, holds her own in ranked matches without ever gloating about it, and sings in the small voice she saves for people she trusts. Being with her feels like being chosen on purpose, every single day, with a warmth she never bothers to hide.