The festival had ended, and life returned to its usual pace, though the impact it had left on Ryo's relationships was undeniable. While things between him and the girls—Saki, Hana, and Mei—seemed relatively normal on the surface, there was an underlying tension that Ryo couldn't ignore. He was constantly aware of the subtle glances they exchanged, the unspoken words hanging in the air.
As the days passed, however, the focus shifted away from romance and back to school life. New faces entered the scene, shaking things up in unexpected ways.
One afternoon, Ryo was lounging on the rooftop with Yuto, enjoying the peace and quiet. The sun was setting, casting a golden hue over the school grounds.
"So," Yuto said with a grin, "any more love drama since the festival? You've been quiet about it."
Ryo groaned. "Please don't bring that up. I'm trying to forget about it for a while. Besides, there's no drama. Everything's fine."
Yuto raised an eyebrow. "Fine, huh? Sure, buddy. You keep telling yourself that."
Before Ryo could respond, the door to the rooftop creaked open, and in walked a group of unfamiliar faces. They were a mix of boys and girls, some from different classes, and they immediately caught Ryo's attention. Among them was a tall guy with spiky blonde hair and a confident smirk—someone Ryo had seen in passing but never really interacted with. His name was Tetsuya, a well-known figure in the student council.
"Yo, Ryo, right?" Tetsuya called out, walking over with a casual wave. "Mind if we join you?"
Ryo blinked in surprise. He wasn't used to people from other classes seeking him out. "Uh, sure. Go ahead."
The group settled down, and Tetsuya introduced the others—Haruka, a cheerful girl with short black hair and glasses; Natsuki, a laid-back guy with a sharp sense of humor; and Yui, a quiet but observant girl who rarely spoke but always seemed to be analyzing everything around her.
As they talked, Ryo learned that Tetsuya was the vice president of the student council, and Haruka and Yui were members as well. They were looking for new recruits, and apparently, Ryo's name had come up.
"You're always in the middle of things, aren't you?" Tetsuya said with a grin. "Figured you'd make a good addition to the council."
Ryo laughed nervously. "Me? In the student council? That's a terrible idea."
Yuto snickered beside him. "You'd spend the whole time spacing out during meetings."
"Hey!" Ryo protested, though he couldn't deny it.
Haruka smiled. "It's not all meetings. We do a lot of planning for school events, and we could use someone with your… unique talents."
"Like what?" Ryo asked, genuinely curious.
Tetsuya shrugged. "You're good with people. Everyone knows you, and even though you try to avoid attention, you always end up being the center of it. It's a useful skill."
Ryo wasn't sure if that was a compliment or not, but he didn't argue. The idea of joining the student council seemed absurd, but there was something intriguing about it.
As the conversation continued, Ryo found himself getting along with the new group surprisingly well. Tetsuya was easygoing but sharp, always pushing for more without being overbearing. Haruka was full of energy, constantly coming up with ideas for future events. Yui remained mostly quiet, but when she did speak, it was with precision and insight that caught everyone off guard. Natsuki, on the other hand, became a quick source of entertainment with his sarcastic quips and laid-back attitude.
The afternoon flew by, and before Ryo knew it, they were making plans to meet again, this time with the idea of involving him more in school activities. It was strange—Ryo had never been one for school politics or events, but he couldn't deny that there was something refreshing about this new dynamic.