Ryo walked through the school hallways, his mind drifting between thoughts of upcoming assignments and the group of friends he'd been hanging out with. After the sports festival, things had become a bit more relaxed, but there was still a lingering sense of anticipation in the air. Everyone was talking about the cultural festival that would take place later in the year, and though Ryo wasn't the biggest fan of crowds or attention, his friends had other plans.
As he approached his locker, Hana rushed up to him, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Ryo, did you hear about the student council's new plans?" she asked, bouncing on her feet.
"What are you talking about?" Ryo asked, pulling out his books.
"They're planning some big event next month. Nothing like the festivals, more like a class competition. You know, fun stuff like quizzes, talent shows, and mini-games," Hana explained, her voice filled with enthusiasm.
"Wait, another event? I thought we'd just relax for a while," Ryo muttered, but Hana shook her head.
"Oh, come on! It'll be fun! Besides, we need something to spice up the normal school days, right? Imagine Saki entering a talent show!" Hana laughed, her voice rising as Saki, who was standing nearby, joined them.
"I'm not that bad, you know," Saki said with a smirk. "But I might surprise you, Ryo. Who knows, maybe I'll make you blush on stage."
Ryo sighed, knowing Saki was never one to miss an opportunity to tease him. "Yeah, yeah. Let's just get to class."
Mei silently nodded in agreement, trailing behind them as the group walked to the classroom. It wasn't long before the usual chatter filled the room, but Ryo's attention was quickly pulled away by a familiar face at the door—Takashi, the student council president.
"Hey, Ryo," Takashi said as he approached. "Got a minute?"
Ryo glanced at him and stood up. Takashi had become a regular face around Ryo and his friends since their first meeting. Despite Ryo's attempts to remain under the radar, it seemed like word about him had spread around school, and Takashi was intrigued.
"What's up?" Ryo asked.
"We've been working on something new for the student council, and I was wondering if you wanted to be involved."
"Me? Why?" Ryo raised an eyebrow, glancing over at his friends, who were watching with interest.
"Well, I've heard from a few people that you're dependable, even if you like to keep a low profile. We could use someone like you to help out with planning events," Takashi explained.
Ryo scratched the back of his head, a bit uncomfortable with the praise. "I don't know if that's really my thing..."
Saki chimed in from her seat, grinning. "You mean to say you don't want to do it because it'll draw more attention, right?"
Ryo shot her a look. She wasn't wrong. "Yeah, something like that."
Takashi chuckled. "I get it. But the work is pretty manageable, and you won't have to be in the spotlight much. It's more about behind-the-scenes planning."
Ryo considered it for a moment, but the last thing he wanted was to get involved in more school activities. Between his friends and the already growing circle of people around him, he wasn't sure how much more attention he could handle. "I'll think about it," Ryo finally said.
"Alright, no rush. Just let me know if you change your mind," Takashi said, offering him a smile before heading off.
As Takashi left, Ryo's friends immediately swarmed him.
"You're not seriously thinking about joining, are you?" Saki teased, leaning in closer with a playful grin.
"Don't worry, I'm not," Ryo said, sighing. "I've got enough going on."
"Good!" Hana exclaimed. "I mean, we've got other things to do, like that outing we talked about. Don't forget!"
Ryo's memory jogged, recalling that Hana had invited him and the rest of the group to an outing at a festival in the city. It wasn't a school festival, more like a seasonal celebration happening downtown.
"Oh yeah, that's coming up soon, right?" Ryo asked.
"Yep! And I already got our tickets!" Hana said excitedly.
"What about the foreign exchange student? You guys heard about her, right?" Mei quietly added, her voice soft but clear. The others paused, realizing they hadn't thought much about it.
"Oh, yeah! Alice, right? I heard she's from the UK," Saki said.
"She's in our class now. I saw her sitting in the back row yesterday," Mei pointed out.
"Maybe we should invite her to hang out sometime," Hana suggested, ever the friendly and excited one. "It'd be great to get to know her!"
Ryo remained quiet, but he had noticed Alice. She seemed to keep to herself, much like he had when he first transferred to this school. It was a familiar feeling, and though Ryo wasn't the best at making new friends, he couldn't help but feel a little curious about her.
The bell rang, and the group settled into their seats. Throughout the day, Ryo's thoughts occasionally drifted to the growing group of people in his life. Things had definitely changed since he first arrived at the school. What had once been an easy, laid-back routine had now turned into a series of adventures, outings, and, of course, new friends. It wasn't bad, but sometimes it was overwhelming.
During lunch, the group decided to eat outside. The fresh air and open space were a welcome change from the usual crowded cafeteria. As they sat on a bench under the shade of a tree, talking and laughing, Ryo spotted Alice walking by. She glanced in their direction but quickly looked away, her pace quickening as if she didn't want to intrude.
"Hey, Alice!" Hana called out, waving her over.
Alice hesitated for a moment before approaching, her expression cautious but polite. "Hi," she said softly, her accent noticeably different from everyone else's.
"You wanna join us?" Hana asked, her friendly demeanor in full force. "There's plenty of room!"
Alice looked at the group, and though she seemed a bit unsure, she nodded and took a seat on the edge of the bench. Ryo could tell she was still adjusting to the new environment.
"So, Alice, how are you finding the school so far?" Saki asked, leaning forward with interest.
"It's... different," Alice said after a brief pause. "But everyone's been nice. I'm still getting used to things."
"Well, if you ever need anything, feel free to ask us!" Hana said, smiling brightly. "We're always around."
Ryo glanced at Alice, noticing the subtle way her eyes flickered toward him for a moment before she quickly looked down at her hands. He wasn't sure what to make of it, but he figured it was just part of being the new student.
As the conversation continued, Ryo found himself listening more than talking, observing the dynamics of his friends. It was strange to think about how much his life had changed in such a short time. From avoiding attention to being surrounded by people who genuinely cared about him, it was a lot to take in.
But one thing was clear—there was no turning back now.