As the group left the cozy café, the afternoon sun hung low, casting long shadows across the pavement. They walked in a loose formation, with Hana and Saki chatting excitedly ahead, already planning their next outing. Mei walked beside them, occasionally chiming in with quiet observations, while Alice lingered slightly behind, lost in her own thoughts.
Ryo, as usual, found himself in the middle, trying to keep pace without drawing attention to himself. Despite his best efforts, it seemed that no matter where he went, he was always part of the conversation, always involved.
"So, Ryo," Saki called back to him with her signature grin, "what do you think? Pretty fun, right?"
He shrugged, hands stuffed into his pockets. "Yeah, it was alright."
Saki raised an eyebrow. "Just alright? Come on, admit it, you had fun."
"I did," he said, smiling slightly despite himself. "It was nice."
"There we go! See, I knew you'd enjoy it."
Hana turned around and clapped her hands together. "I'm glad we all got to hang out today. It was a great way to relax after such a busy week at school."
Mei nodded in agreement. "It's nice to have these moments between everything else."
Alice, who had been quiet most of the time, spoke up softly. "I agree. I'm not used to this, but I'm really glad I came today."
Hana beamed at her. "We'll have plenty more chances to hang out! Don't worry."
They continued to chat as they made their way through the busy streets, passing various shops and restaurants. The city around them buzzed with life, people going about their weekend routines. It was a stark contrast to the calm of their school life, yet somehow, Ryo found himself enjoying the change of pace.
As they neared the train station where they would all part ways, Hana's eyes lit up as she spotted something across the street. "Oh! Look over there!"
The group followed her gaze to a small park nestled between two tall buildings. It was a modest space, with a few benches and a fountain in the center, but what caught their attention was a street vendor selling colorful balloons and snacks. A small group of children were laughing and playing nearby, their voices carrying through the cool autumn air.
"Let's go!" Hana said, already making her way across the street.
Before anyone could object, she was dragging Ryo along, her grip on his arm firm. "Come on, Ryo, you'll love it!"
"I—what—" Ryo barely had time to react before they were standing in front of the vendor. Saki and the others followed closely behind, amused by the sudden detour.
Hana turned to the group, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Let's all get something! It's on me!"
Saki smirked. "Generous as always, Hana."
Mei looked at the selection, her eyes lingering on a small chocolate treat. "I'll take one of those."
Alice hesitated for a moment before pointing to a colorful balloon. "I'll have that one."
"And you, Ryo?" Hana asked, turning to him expectantly.
Ryo scratched his head. "Uh, I don't know. Maybe just some candy."
Hana laughed. "You're so easy to please. Alright, one candy for Ryo!"
After everyone had made their choices, they found a spot near the fountain to sit and enjoy their treats. The sound of the water trickling behind them mixed with the distant chatter of the park, creating a peaceful backdrop to their conversation.
As they sat there, Saki couldn't resist teasing Ryo again. "You know, Ryo, I think you're starting to enjoy all these outings more than you let on."
Ryo sighed, but there was no real annoyance in his voice. "Maybe a little. But don't get used to it."
Saki laughed. "Too late."
Hana, who had been watching the children play nearby, suddenly got up. "Hey, let's join them!"
Before anyone could stop her, she was running toward the group of kids, her enthusiasm contagious. The others exchanged amused glances before following her lead, joining in the spontaneous game of tag that had erupted in the small park.
For a while, Ryo found himself laughing alongside his friends, caught up in the carefree energy of the moment. It was strange, he thought, how much his life had changed in such a short time. He'd gone from being a quiet, background character in his own story to someone who was actively involved in the lives of others.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm orange glow over the city, the group finally decided it was time to head home. They walked back to the train station together, their footsteps a little slower now, tired but content.
"Today was fun," Alice said softly as they waited for the train. "Thank you for inviting me."
Hana smiled brightly. "Of course! We're all friends now, right?"
Alice nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yeah. Friends."
As the train pulled into the station, the group said their goodbyes and went their separate ways. Ryo found himself walking alongside Alice once again, the quietness between them comfortable.
"You really enjoyed today, didn't you?" Ryo asked, glancing at her.
Alice nodded. "I did. It's been a long time since I've felt like I belonged somewhere."
Ryo wasn't sure how to respond to that, so he simply smiled. "Well, you're always welcome to join us. We're a strange bunch, but it's never boring."
Alice smiled back, her eyes softening. "Thanks, Ryo."
They walked in silence for a few more minutes before parting ways at the next intersection, each heading toward their respective homes.
Later that night, Ryo lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. He couldn't shake the feeling that things were changing, that his once quiet and uneventful life had become something more. He wasn't sure how to feel about it, but for now, he decided to just go with the flow.
After all, with Hana, Saki, Mei, Alice, and the others around, there was never a dull moment. And while he wasn't exactly looking forward to the attention, he couldn't deny that a part of him was starting to enjoy the ride.