The following week, as the regular rhythm of school life resumed, Ryo found himself sliding back into his usual routine. With the excitement of the sports festival behind them, he relished the quiet moments between classes where he could finally catch his breath. But, of course, in his world, quiet moments were always fleeting.
"Ryo!" Hana's voice rang out across the classroom as she bounced toward him with her usual bright energy. Saki followed her, smirking mischievously, while Mei lingered quietly by the door, her ever-observant eyes scanning the room. Alice, who had become a more regular presence in their group, was trailing a few steps behind, still adjusting to her newfound circle of friends.
"Hey, Hana," Ryo responded, his tone relaxed. He leaned back in his chair, not quite ready to face whatever the girls had planned for the day.
"We've been talking," Saki said, sliding into the seat next to him. "And we're planning another outing soon. You up for it?"
Ryo raised an eyebrow. "Another outing? Didn't we just have one last weekend?"
Hana laughed, leaning forward on his desk. "Come on, Ryo! You didn't think one hangout was enough, did you? Besides, there's this awesome new arcade in the city, and we have to check it out."
Ryo sighed, already sensing that this was another invitation he wouldn't be able to refuse. Despite his initial reluctance, he had to admit that spending time with them had its moments. Even if they did occasionally pull him into situations he would've preferred to avoid.
"You're coming, right?" Alice asked quietly, her voice soft but hopeful.
Ryo looked at her, noticing the subtle way her eyes lit up as she spoke. It was hard to say no to Alice, especially since she was still new to the group and adjusting to life in Japan. "Yeah, I'll come," he said finally, earning a bright smile from her.
Hana clapped her hands together in excitement. "Yes! This is going to be so much fun!"
Just as the conversation was beginning to shift toward their plans for the weekend, the door to the classroom slid open with a loud thud. Standing in the doorway was none other than Takashi, the ever-persistent student council member who had taken a particular interest in Ryo since their first meeting.
"There you are, Ryo," Takashi called out, striding into the room with a wide grin. "I've been looking for you."
Ryo felt a familiar sense of dread creep up on him as he realized what was about to happen. He had managed to avoid Takashi's recruitment attempts for the student council for the past week, but it seemed his luck had finally run out.
"What do you want, Takashi?" Ryo asked, his voice tinged with resignation.
Takashi stopped in front of Ryo's desk, crossing his arms as he surveyed the group around him. "Well, it looks like you've got quite the following here," he said with a chuckle. "But I came here to talk to you about the student council."
Saki perked up, her eyes gleaming with interest. "Oh, this again? I thought Ryo turned you down already."
Takashi laughed, shaking his head. "He said he'd think about it, which means I still have a chance."
Ryo sighed. "I don't think joining the student council is really my thing."
"That's what you keep saying," Takashi replied, leaning casually against the desk. "But I've been hearing a lot about you lately, Ryo. People are talking about how you handled the sports festival and how you're always managing to keep everyone together, even when things get a little crazy."
Ryo frowned. "I'm just doing my best to stay out of trouble. That doesn't make me student council material."
Takashi smiled, undeterred. "You're good with people, and you've got a level head. That's exactly what we need. I know you don't want the attention, but trust me, we're not asking you to be the face of the council. Just help out behind the scenes."
Hana, who had been listening intently, suddenly chimed in. "You'd be great at it, Ryo! You're always helping everyone out anyway."
Mei nodded in agreement. "You've got a way of keeping things calm."
Ryo glanced between them, feeling the pressure mount. Even Alice, who usually stayed quiet during these discussions, seemed to be silently encouraging him. It was like he had no way out.
Saki, ever the instigator, grinned. "Come on, Ryo. You can't let Takashi down, can you?"
Ryo sighed again, running a hand through his hair. He wasn't sure how he kept ending up in these situations, but it seemed that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't avoid being dragged into the center of things. "Alright, I'll help out," he said finally. "But only behind the scenes, and only when I have time."
Takashi's face lit up with satisfaction. "Perfect! That's all we're asking for. You won't regret it, Ryo."
"I already do," Ryo muttered under his breath, earning a laugh from Saki.
Takashi clapped him on the back. "I'll introduce you to the rest of the council later. You'll fit right in, I promise."
As Takashi left the classroom, Ryo felt a sense of impending doom. He had just agreed to something he knew he'd regret, but there was no turning back now. The others, however, seemed pleased with the outcome.
"That's our Ryo," Saki teased. "Always getting roped into things."
Hana grinned. "I think it'll be good for you! You'll get to meet new people and maybe even make some new friends."
Ryo groaned. "That's exactly what I was trying to avoid."
Alice, who had been quiet for most of the exchange, smiled at him. "I think you'll do well."
Ryo looked at her, slightly surprised. Alice didn't say much, but when she did, it carried a certain weight. "Thanks, I guess."
Mei, who had been watching quietly, added, "We'll be here to help if you need anything."
Ryo appreciated the sentiment, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of a much bigger problem. The student council wasn't exactly known for its low profile, and the last thing he wanted was more attention.
Later that day, as the group was preparing to leave for home, Ryo found himself walking with Alice once again. They had fallen into an easy routine of walking part of the way together, and though neither of them said much, the silence between them was comfortable.
"You didn't have to agree to help the student council," Alice said suddenly, breaking the quiet.
Ryo glanced at her, surprised by the comment. "Yeah, I know. But Takashi wasn't going to leave me alone until I did."
Alice nodded. "Still, if it's not something you want to do, you don't have to force yourself."
Ryo smiled slightly. "I appreciate that, Alice. But I guess I don't mind helping out every once in a while, as long as it doesn't get too crazy."
Alice looked thoughtful for a moment before speaking again. "I've never been part of something like that before. It's interesting to see how everyone gets involved in different things at school."
Ryo shrugged. "I guess. I've always tried to avoid standing out too much, but it seems like that's not working out for me anymore."
Alice smiled softly. "Maybe it's not such a bad thing."
Ryo wasn't sure how to respond to that, so he simply nodded. They continued walking in silence, the sounds of the city around them filling the space between their words.
As they reached the intersection where they usually parted ways, Alice paused, turning to face him. "Ryo, thanks for inviting me to hang out with everyone. I've been having a lot of fun."
Ryo scratched the back of his head, feeling a little awkward. "Yeah, no problem. We're all friends, right?"
Alice smiled again, a genuine warmth in her expression. "Yeah. Friends."
With that, she waved goodbye and headed off in the direction of her house, leaving Ryo standing at the corner, watching her go. He had to admit, despite the chaos that seemed to follow him everywhere, he was starting to enjoy the company of his friends. Even if it did mean getting roped into things like the student council.
As he made his way home, Ryo couldn't help but wonder what other surprises were waiting for him around the corner. With his growing circle of friends and his unexpected involvement in the student council, one thing was certain—his life was anything but boring.