Monday came around faster than Ryo would have liked, and he was dreading the start of another week filled with awkward encounters. He had barely survived the weekend with Saki's teasing, and now he had to face both her and Hana in the same place again.
As soon as he entered the schoolyard, he spotted Hana waving at him from across the courtyard, her smile as bright as ever. Ryo forced a smile and waved back, hoping to avoid anything that would draw more attention.
Unfortunately, his hopes were dashed when Saki appeared out of nowhere, slinging her arm around his shoulders like they were the best of friends.
"Morning, Ryo," she said cheerfully, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Miss me over the weekend?"
Ryo sighed. "Can you not?"
Hana, who had made her way over by then, blinked in confusion. "What's going on?"
"Oh, nothing," Saki said with a grin. "Just reminding our dear Ryo that he's got his hands full with us."
Ryo groaned inwardly. This was exactly what he had been trying to avoid.
Before Hana could respond, the sound of soft footsteps caught their attention. Mei was walking toward them, her usual calm expression in place. She didn't say anything as she approached, simply standing off to the side and watching the interaction quietly.
For a moment, the four of them stood there in awkward silence, the tension almost palpable. Ryo could feel his nerves starting to fray.
But then, to his surprise, Mei broke the silence.
"We shouldn't be late for class," she said quietly, her eyes flicking to Ryo for a brief second before she turned and walked away.
Hana, Saki, and Ryo all exchanged glances, but no one said anything. Instead, they followed after Mei, the awkwardness still lingering in the air.