The bus rolled to a stop in front of the school, its brakes hissing as it settled. Kan and his teammates, still buzzing from their tournament, peered out the windows at the sea of faces waiting for them. As the doors opened, a wave of cheers erupted from the crowd.
Kan stepped off the bus, his duffel bag slung over his shoulder. The cool evening air was electric with excitement. All around him, his teammates were being engulfed by friends and family, their names called out in joyous shouts.
"Wick! Over here!"
"Emily, we're so proud of you!"
"Jason! Jason!"
But Kan barely registered the chaos around him. His eyes scanned the crowd, searching for one face in particular. He moved through the throng, his heart racing not from the tournament, but from anticipation.
Where was she?
He turned in a slow circle, trying to spot her familiar silhouette, her smile, anything. The longer he searched, the more his excitement began to mingle with worry.
