The sun was setting over the campus, casting long shadows across the courtyard as Hanada made his way back to his dorm. It had been another busy day of classes, work, and spending time with friends. As he reached his room, he found his roommate, Takashi, sprawled out on his bed, scrolling through his phone.
"Hey, Hanada," Takashi greeted, not looking up from his screen. "How was your day?"
"Pretty good," Hanada replied, tossing his bag onto his bed and flopping down beside it. "Just the usual craziness. How about you?"
"Same old, same old," Takashi said, finally putting his phone down. "Oh, by the way, the guys are coming over in a bit. We're having a 'boys' night' in."
"Sounds fun," Hanada said, smiling. "I could use a break."
A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door, and their friends Yuuto and Hiroki walked in, carrying snacks and drinks.
"Hey, guys," Yuuto said, setting down a bag of chips on the desk. "Ready for some downtime?"
"Absolutely," Hanada said, sitting up. "What's on the agenda?"
"Just hanging out, talking, maybe watching a movie," Hiroki said, handing out sodas. "You know, the usual."
They all settled into their usual spots, with Yuuto and Hiroki taking the floor while Hanada and Takashi remained on their beds. The room was soon filled with the sound of crinkling chip bags and the clinking of soda cans.
"So, Hanada," Yuuto began, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "We heard a rumor about you."
Hanada raised an eyebrow, curious. "Oh? And what's that?"
"That you're a 'boob guy,'" Hiroki said, laughing. "Is it true?"
Hanada felt his cheeks flush slightly, but he chuckled along with them. "Well, I mean, who isn't, right?"
Takashi laughed, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, nothing wrong with that. Everyone's got their preferences."
"Exactly," Hanada said, feeling more relaxed. "I appreciate the beauty of the female form, just like any other guy."
Yuuto leaned in, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "So, who's your top pick among the girls we know?"
Hanada thought for a moment, smiling as he pictured the girls in their group. "Honestly, Akari. She's beautiful inside and out."
The room fell silent for a moment, the guys nodding in agreement.
"Akari is amazing," Hiroki said, thoughtfully. "You're a lucky guy, Hanada."
"I know," Hanada said, his smile softening. "She's everything I could ever ask for."
"Alright, enough of the sappy stuff," Takashi said, grinning. "Let's get back to the fun. Who's up for a movie?"
"Me!" Yuuto and Hiroki chorused, raising their hands.
Takashi grabbed the remote and started scrolling through their movie options. "How about a comedy? Something light and funny."
"Perfect," Hanada said, settling back against his pillow. "We could all use a good laugh."
They ended up watching a classic comedy, the room soon filled with laughter and the occasional groan at the cheesy jokes. As the credits rolled, they turned their attention back to their conversation.
"So, Hanada," Hiroki began, a sly grin on his face. "What's your favorite thing about Akari, besides, you know, her looks?"
Hanada thought for a moment, his expression turning serious. "It's hard to pick just one thing. She's kind, smart, and she always knows how to make me smile. She's got this amazing energy that just lights up the room."
The guys nodded, their expressions more thoughtful now.
"Sounds like you really love her," Yuuto said quietly.
"I do," Hanada replied, his voice steady. "She's the best thing that ever happened to me."
There was a moment of silence, filled with a deeper understanding and respect. The guys exchanged glances, their playful teasing replaced by genuine appreciation for their friend's happiness.
"Alright, enough of the mushy stuff," Takashi said, breaking the silence. "Let's talk about something else. Like, who's up for a midnight snack?"
"I could eat," Hiroki said, rubbing his stomach. "What do we have?"
"Not much," Takashi admitted, opening the mini fridge. "But we can order something."
"Pizza?" Yuuto suggested, his eyes lighting up.
"Perfect," Hanada said, pulling out his phone. "I'll order."
As they waited for the pizza to arrive, the conversation turned to lighter topics—classes, hobbies, and upcoming plans. They laughed and joked, the camaraderie deepening with each shared story and inside joke.
When the pizza finally arrived, they dug in with gusto, the room filled with the smell of melted cheese and pepperoni.
"This is the life," Takashi said, leaning back and patting his stomach. "Good friends, good food, and no worries."
"Agreed," Hanada said, feeling a sense of contentment settle over him. "This is what it's all about."
As the night wore on, they eventually drifted into quieter conversations, the energy in the room mellowing as they grew more relaxed.
"You know," Hiroki said thoughtfully, "it's nights like this that make all the stress of school worth it."
"Yeah," Yuuto agreed, nodding. "Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in all the pressures and forget to just enjoy the moment."
"True," Takashi said, yawning. "But we've got each other, and that makes all the difference."
Hanada smiled, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for his friends. "I couldn't agree more."
They talked long into the night, the bonds of friendship growing stronger with each shared laugh and heartfelt confession. As they finally settled down to sleep, Hanada felt a profound sense of peace. He knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, he had a solid support system in his friends and the love of an incredible girl.
---
The next morning, Hanada woke up to the sound of Takashi's alarm blaring. He groaned and rolled over, burying his face in his pillow.
"Time to get up, Hanada," Takashi said, already out of bed and stretching. "We've got class."
"Ugh, don't remind me," Hanada mumbled, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.
The room was a mess of empty soda cans and pizza boxes, a testament to their late-night feast. Hanada smiled, despite his grogginess, remembering the fun they had.
"Last night was great," Yuuto said, sitting up and yawning. "We should do it again sometime."
"Definitely," Hiroki agreed, stretching. "But right now, I need coffee."
"Same here," Hanada said, getting to his feet. "Let's grab some breakfast before class."
They quickly cleaned up the room and headed out, the morning air cool and refreshing. As they walked to the cafeteria, Hanada felt a sense of contentment and happiness. The night of bonding had brought them even closer, and he knew that no matter what, they had each other's backs.
---
Later that day, Hanada met up with Akari for lunch. They found a quiet spot under a tree, the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves.
"How was your boys' night?" Akari asked, smiling as she unpacked their lunch.
"It was awesome," Hanada said, grinning. "We talked, watched a movie, ate pizza... Just a great time all around."
"I'm glad," Akari said, her eyes softening. "You need nights like that to unwind."
"Yeah, it was good for all of us," Hanada agreed. "How about you? What did you do?"
"I had a girls' night with Yui and Aiko," Akari said, her smile widening. "We watched movies and did face masks. It was fun."
"Sounds like a great time," Hanada said, taking her hand. "I'm glad you had fun."
They ate their lunch, talking and laughing, enjoying the simple pleasure of each other's company. As they finished, Hanada leaned back against the tree, feeling completely at peace.
"Akari, I'm so happy to have you in my life," he said softly.
"I feel the same way, Hanada," Akari replied, her eyes shining with love. "You mean everything to me."
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, savoring the moment. Hanada felt a deep sense of gratitude for the love and friendship that filled his life. He knew that no matter what the future held, he was ready to face it with the people he cared about by his side.
---
That evening, Hanada and Akari took a walk around the campus, the cool evening air refreshing after the warmth of the day. They talked about their plans, their dreams, and the adventures they hoped to have together.
As they strolled past the lake, Hanada stopped and pulled Akari close. "I love you, Akari," he said, his voice full of emotion.
"I love you too, Hanada," Akari replied, her eyes shining with tears. "So much."
They kissed, the world around them fading away. In that moment, everything was perfect.