The weekend arrived faster than Ryo had anticipated, and with it came the festival that Hana had invited him to. The usually quiet streets of the town were now bustling with colorful decorations, food stalls, and excited chatter. The evening sky glowed with lanterns, casting a soft, warm light over the crowd.
Ryo was trying to focus on the festive atmosphere, but his mind kept drifting to one thought—this was technically a date. With Hana.
The idea still made his heart race. But he wasn't here for romance, right? It was just the festival, and he didn't want to hurt Hana's feelings by backing out at the last minute.
"Ryo! Over here!"
Hana's voice snapped him out of his thoughts, and he turned to see her waving excitedly from the entrance. She looked stunning in a casual summer dress, her usual energetic smile on full display. For a brief moment, Ryo was struck by how different she looked outside of school.
"You made it!" she said, bouncing up to him. "I was worried you'd change your mind."
Ryo gave a sheepish smile. "Yeah, well, I thought it'd be fun to see the festival."
Hana giggled. "I'm glad you came. There's so much to do! Come on, let's start with the food stalls."
As they walked through the crowded streets, Hana chatted excitedly about the festival while Ryo nodded along, trying to stay relaxed. He had to admit, the smell of freshly made takoyaki and yakisoba was starting to lift his mood.
But then, as they reached the first food stall, a familiar voice interrupted.
"Well, well. Fancy running into you two here."
Ryo turned to see Saki leaning casually against a nearby stall, a mischievous grin on her face. She was also dressed in casual clothes, looking far too relaxed for someone who was clearly enjoying messing with him.
"Saki?" Ryo blinked in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
Saki shrugged. "Just enjoying the festival, same as you. Didn't think I'd miss out on all the fun, did you?"
Hana frowned slightly but quickly masked it with a smile. "Oh, you're here too, Saki? What a coincidence!"
Saki's grin widened as she looked between them. "A real coincidence, huh?"
Ryo felt a bead of sweat form on his forehead. This was starting to feel a lot more complicated than he'd planned.
Before things could get any more awkward, the soft clack of sandals on the pavement caught Ryo's attention. Mei appeared from the shadows, wearing a simple yukata and carrying a small bag of festival snacks. Her expression was as calm as ever, but her presence immediately shifted the atmosphere.
"Ryo," Mei greeted quietly, her dark eyes scanning the scene. "I didn't expect to see you here."
Ryo was about to explain the situation, but before he could say a word, Yuto's loud voice boomed from behind him.
"Well, this looks interesting! Didn't expect to see all the girls of Class 2-A gathering around Ryo like this."
Yuto walked up, laughing heartily, clearly enjoying Ryo's growing discomfort. "So, is this part of the harem story I've been hearing about?"
Ryo glared at his best friend. "Yuto, this isn't funny."
Yuto smirked. "Hey, man, I'm just here to watch the fireworks—both literal and metaphorical."
Hana crossed her arms, looking at Yuto with an exasperated smile. "Don't tease him too much, Yuto. We're just here to enjoy the festival."
Saki chuckled. "Sure, sure. Let's just say Ryo's got his hands full tonight."
Ryo felt his stomach twist. Was he really about to spend the entire evening juggling these three girls? Yuto's presence wasn't helping, either—he was clearly here just to stir the pot.