That night, after the excitement of the volleyball match and a day full of beach activities, the class gathered for a bonfire by the shore. The sky was dark, the stars twinkling above as the crackling fire illuminated the faces of the students sitting around it. Laughter and chatter filled the air, and for the first time in a while, Ryo felt like he could relax.
Hana sat next to him, poking the fire with a stick, her face glowing in the firelight. "Today was fun, wasn't it?"
"Yeah," Ryo admitted. "It wasn't so bad."
Hana grinned, her eyes sparkling. "See? You can have fun if you just let yourself. I'm proud of you, Ryo."
Ryo chuckled. "Thanks, I guess."
Saki appeared on his other side, handing him a soda. "Good job out there, Ryo. You're not as hopeless as I thought."
"Gee, thanks," Ryo said dryly, though he couldn't help but feel a bit flattered.
Mei sat nearby, quietly watching the fire, her expression thoughtful. Ryo couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking.
As the night went on, the students gathered for a fireworks show. The first burst of color lit up the sky, drawing gasps of awe from the group. Ryo watched as the bright lights reflected in Hana's eyes, her smile wide and carefree.
Kazuki, who had been keeping his distance most of the evening, suddenly approached, his usual confident smirk in place. "Mind if I sit here?"
Before Ryo could respond, Kazuki plopped down next to him, watching the fireworks with a sigh. "You know, Ryo, you're not so bad after all. I can see why they like you."
Ryo raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Kazuki chuckled. "Let's just say, I've had my fun. But maybe this rivalry thing isn't my style after all."
Ryo blinked, caught off guard by Kazuki's sudden change in tone. "Wait… are you giving up?"
Kazuki shrugged. "I never said that. But… maybe I'll take it easy on you from now on."
Ryo wasn't sure how to respond, but before he could figure it out, another burst of fireworks lit up the sky, drawing his attention back to the display. The colors exploded above, casting a glow over the beach and everyone on it.
As Ryo watched the fireworks, surrounded by his friends—and his new rival—he couldn't help but feel that, despite all the chaos, maybe high school wasn't so bad after all.