With the excitement of Alice joining their group already settling into a new normal, Ryo's life had become a little more complicated. He hadn't expected to grow his circle of friends this much, and now, with the added weight of helping the student council—even though he wasn't an official member—his days felt a lot busier than before.
Lunch was the only time Ryo could get some semblance of peace. But today, even that was interrupted.
"Ryo, we need your input on the event schedule," Takashi called from the doorway, a friendly smile on his face. He was becoming a regular fixture in Ryo's life, ever since Ryo had reluctantly agreed to assist with planning the upcoming cultural festival.
"I'm not even in the council," Ryo muttered under his breath, looking over at his friends, who were already laughing at his predicament.
Hana smirked as she took a sip of her juice. "Told you helping out would drag you into this."
"You should've expected it," Saki teased, leaning closer with a grin. "Once Takashi gets his hooks into you, there's no escaping the student council's clutches."
Mei gave him a sympathetic look, though she remained quiet, as was her nature.
Alice, meanwhile, seemed amused by the whole ordeal. "You're really becoming quite popular here, Ryo. First the council, now everyone in school is looking up to you."
"That's the opposite of what I want," Ryo groaned, resting his head on his hand.
He knew what Alice meant, though. His involvement with the council, albeit minimal, had placed him in a position of visibility—something he had been trying to avoid from the start. Now, even students he didn't know were starting to greet him in the hallways, and it was beginning to feel like his quiet life was slipping out of reach.
Takashi took a seat beside him, leaning forward with a notebook in hand. "We've got the sports day behind us, but now the festival is coming up. We need someone like you to help with logistics—you're good at keeping things organized."
"I just told you I'm not—"
"Not interested, I know," Takashi interrupted, smiling disarmingly. "But you already agreed to help out, and I can't think of anyone better suited for keeping things under control."
"Seriously, Takashi, you're going to turn him into a workhorse," Hana teased.
Saki nudged Ryo. "You'd better watch out, or they'll try to make you president next."
Ryo sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm just doing this until the festival is over."
Takashi laughed. "That's fine. We won't push you too much. Just help us out where you can."
As the conversation shifted back to casual chatter, Ryo leaned back in his chair, feeling like he'd been pulled into a web he couldn't escape from. At least his friends were there to make it bearable.
After School Adventures
Later that afternoon, after helping the student council finalize some preparations, Ryo found himself walking through the city with Hana, Saki, Mei, and Alice. It had become a sort of routine for them to hang out after school—exploring different parts of the city, checking out new shops, and simply enjoying the little bit of freedom before heading home.
"So, what do you guys want to do this weekend?" Hana asked, her usual energetic tone filling the air as they strolled down a busy street.
"We could check out that new café downtown," Saki suggested. "I heard they have these amazing parfaits."
"I'm fine with whatever," Mei said quietly, her gaze flicking over to Ryo as if waiting for his input.
"Anything that doesn't involve more work," Ryo said with a sigh. "I've already had my fill of planning this week."
Alice chuckled, walking beside him. "Still dealing with the council stuff?"
"Yeah," Ryo replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't know how I got roped into this."
Hana grinned, linking arms with him. "Because you're too nice, that's why! You need to learn how to say no."
Saki chimed in. "Or, better yet, stop being so capable. People only ask you for help because they know you can get the job done."
Ryo shook his head with a small smile. "Maybe I should start messing things up so they don't ask me anymore."
As they passed by a clothing store, Alice paused, glancing at the display window. "Oh, this shop looks nice. Let's check it out!"
The group filed into the store, browsing through the racks of clothes. It wasn't long before Saki found something to tease Ryo about, holding up a bright pink sweater with a mischievous grin.
"Hey, Ryo, this would look great on you."
Ryo shot her a flat look. "Not happening."
Hana laughed. "Come on, it'd be adorable!"
Even Mei smiled, though she didn't say anything.
Alice chuckled, shaking her head. "Poor Ryo, always getting teased."
Ryo glanced at her. "You're not helping."
After a few more minutes of browsing, the group eventually left the store, continuing their casual exploration of the city. They wandered into a park and found a quiet spot to sit under a tree, enjoying the late afternoon breeze.
"You know, this is nice," Ryo said, leaning back against the tree trunk. "No student council, no responsibilities. Just hanging out."
Hana nodded. "See? This is what school life should be about—enjoying ourselves with friends."
Saki stretched out on the grass, looking up at the sky. "I could get used to this."
Mei quietly sat beside them, her calm presence always comforting.
Alice, meanwhile, looked thoughtful. "It's funny, isn't it? How much things have changed since I got here. I didn't expect to make friends so quickly, but I'm glad I did."
Ryo smiled softly. "We're glad you're here too."
The group fell into a comfortable silence, the sounds of the park—children playing, birds chirping, the occasional laugh—creating a peaceful backdrop. For once, Ryo felt like he could relax, if only for a little while.