The next day, as Ryo arrived at school, he immediately sensed that something was off. The usual energetic hum of morning conversations felt oddly subdued. Groups of students stood huddled together in the hallways, whispering about something Ryo couldn't quite make out. His curiosity piqued, and he couldn't help but wonder what had happened.
He made his way toward his classroom, but as he approached, he saw Takashi waiting for him near the entrance.
"Ryo," Takashi called, waving him over. His usual cheerful demeanor seemed replaced by a more serious expression. "We need to talk."
Ryo raised an eyebrow as he approached. "What's going on?"
Takashi sighed, pulling Ryo aside. "There's some tension brewing between a few of the student council members and some of the upperclassmen. They're not happy with how things have been handled lately. I'm worried it's going to cause some real problems, especially with the festival coming up."
"Why are they upset?" Ryo asked, leaning in slightly, intrigued by the sudden shift in the usually harmonious atmosphere.
Takashi looked troubled as he explained, "They feel like we've been ignoring their input on the festival plans. They're accusing us of pushing ahead with our own ideas without consulting them enough, especially when it comes to the bigger decisions."
Ryo crossed his arms, thinking about it. "That's not good, especially this close to the event. Do you think they'll try to sabotage anything?"
Takashi shrugged, though his expression remained grim. "I don't know. I don't think it's that extreme, but the last thing we need is drama right before the festival."
Ryo nodded, his mind already shifting to how best to handle the situation. "If I hear anything or see anything strange, I'll let you know."
"Thanks," Takashi said, clapping a hand on Ryo's shoulder. "We need level-headed people like you to help keep things from boiling over."
As Takashi walked away, Ryo couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in his chest. It seemed like every time he managed to get some peace, something new would come along to stir up trouble.
---
Later that afternoon, Ryo found himself in the library, doing his best to focus on his schoolwork. The quiet ambiance of the library usually helped calm his nerves, but today, he couldn't shake the sense of tension hanging in the air.
Hana and Saki were sitting across from him, flipping through textbooks, though neither of them seemed particularly interested in what they were reading. Mei, as usual, sat quietly beside him, her attention fully focused on her notes. Alice, ever the observant one, noticed Ryo's distraction and leaned over.
"You look like you've got something on your mind," Alice whispered, careful not to disturb the others around them.
Ryo glanced up at her, debating whether or not to share what Takashi had told him earlier. After a moment, he decided to fill them in. "It's nothing serious—yet—but there's some tension between the student council and the upperclassmen. They're not happy about how the festival planning has been going."
Hana frowned, leaning closer. "Why? What's the big deal?"
Saki rolled her eyes. "Upperclassmen always think they know better. They probably just don't like that someone else is in charge."
"It's a little more complicated than that," Ryo said, his voice thoughtful. "It seems like they feel they haven't been consulted enough. They think Takashi and the others are pushing their ideas without listening to the rest of the school."
Mei glanced up from her notes, her eyes showing concern. "That sounds like it could become a bigger issue."
"It might," Ryo admitted. "That's why Takashi asked me to keep an eye on things."
Hana tapped her fingers on the table, clearly considering the situation. "Well, if things do start to go south, we've got your back. I'm sure we can help keep things from getting out of hand."
"Yeah, no one's going to mess with our festival," Saki added with a grin.
Ryo smiled at their confidence, though deep down, he knew it wasn't going to be as simple as that. Handling the emotions and expectations of an entire school was no small feat, especially when there were so many different opinions involved.
"Thanks," he said, appreciating their support. "Let's just hope it doesn't come to that."
---
### Later That Evening
After school, the group decided to grab some snacks at a nearby café. It had become their routine to hang out and relax together after a long day. The café was a cozy little spot they had discovered a few weeks back, and it had quickly become their go-to place for unwinding.
As they settled into their seats, the conversation naturally turned back to the festival. Alice, who had been adjusting to life in Japan, was particularly curious about how festivals here compared to the ones back in the UK.
"So, what's this festival going to be like?" Alice asked, stirring her drink as she looked around the table. "Is it really that big of a deal?"
"It's huge," Hana said enthusiastically, practically bouncing in her seat. "The cultural festival is one of the biggest events of the year. Each class sets up their own booth or event, and it's a lot of fun. Everyone gets to show off their creativity."
Saki grinned mischievously. "Not to mention, it's a great time for confessions."
Ryo groaned, remembering how many times he had seen those cliché festival confession scenes in movies and anime. "Yeah, but let's not get carried away with that stuff."
Hana smirked. "You never know, Ryo. You might get confessed to!"
Ryo quickly shook his head. "Not happening."
Mei, who had been quietly sipping her tea, finally spoke up. "It's also a chance for everyone to work together. Even if there's tension now, festivals have a way of bringing people closer."
Alice smiled at that. "That sounds nice. I'm looking forward to seeing how everything turns out."
As they continued chatting, Ryo couldn't help but feel a growing sense of responsibility. The festival was still a ways off, but with the current tensions and the pressure on the student council, he knew that things could easily spiral if they weren't careful. He had only agreed to help out, but somehow, it felt like he was becoming more involved than he had ever intended.
---
### The Next Morning
Ryo arrived at school early the next day, hoping to get a head start on some of the festival preparations before the rest of the students arrived. As he made his way through the quiet halls, he noticed a few familiar faces gathering near the student council room.
To his surprise, Kazaki, his old rival, was among them.
"Kazaki?" Ryo called out, raising an eyebrow as he approached.
Kazaki turned, his expression unreadable as he acknowledged Ryo's presence. "Ryo. It's been a while."
Ryo hadn't seen Kazaki in some time, and the last time they'd spoken, it hadn't exactly been a friendly encounter. They had always been rivals, but Ryo had always respected Kazaki's determination, even if his methods were questionable at times.
"What are you doing here?" Ryo asked, his curiosity piqued.
Kazaki crossed his arms, glancing at the student council room. "Just observing. Seems like there's been some unrest around here lately. Thought I'd check it out."
Ryo frowned. "You're not trying to stir things up, are you?"
Kazaki smirked. "Relax, I'm not here to cause trouble. Just keeping an eye on things. Besides, I've got my own plans to worry about."
Before Ryo could press further, the bell rang, signaling the start of the school day. Kazaki gave him a nod before walking off, leaving Ryo with more questions than answers.