The following days at school brought a sense of unease that hung over the students like a fog. Even though nothing had erupted into outright conflict, there was an unspoken tension between the student council and the upperclassmen. For Ryo, this meant a series of quiet conversations, some between Takashi and himself, others within his own circle of friends, as they tried to figure out how to navigate the brewing unrest.
It was during lunch one day when Takashi found Ryo sitting in the school courtyard with Hana, Saki, Mei, and Alice. Ryo had just taken a bite of his sandwich when Takashi dropped into the seat beside him, looking more worn out than usual.
"Hey, Ryo. I hope you've been keeping an ear to the ground," Takashi said, rubbing his temples as though a headache was threatening to overtake him.
Ryo swallowed quickly, nodding. "Yeah, I've heard a few things, but nothing too concrete. Are they still upset?"
Takashi sighed heavily. "More than upset. I overheard some of them talking about pulling out of the festival entirely unless their demands are met."
Hana, who had been mid-laugh with Saki, instantly sobered, her expression growing serious. "They're really going that far?"
"Seems like it," Takashi muttered. "If we don't find some way to smooth things over, the festival could be a disaster."
Ryo frowned, glancing around at his friends. He knew how important the festival was, not just for the school, but for all the students who had been working so hard to make it a success. The thought of something like this being derailed because of internal squabbles didn't sit well with him.
"What exactly are their demands?" Mei asked softly, her calm voice drawing everyone's attention.
Takashi ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. "They want more representation on the festival planning committee. They think the student council is hogging all the decisions, especially for the bigger events."
Ryo leaned back in his chair, considering the situation. "I guess it's not completely unreasonable. Have they been included at all?"
Takashi hesitated, then shook his head. "Not really, at least not in any major way. We've been so focused on trying to make the festival perfect that we didn't think to include them in some of the more important decisions. I can see why they're upset, but their reaction seems a bit extreme."
Alice, who had been quietly observing, spoke up. "Why not just include them now? There's still time before the festival. If you can make them feel heard, maybe they'll back down."
Takashi looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded slowly. "That might work. I just don't know if they'll be willing to come to the table now, after everything."
Ryo stood up, stretching his arms. "I'll talk to them. Maybe I can convince them to calm down and work with us instead of against us."
Takashi looked relieved, standing as well. "You'd do that? I didn't want to drag you into this mess any more than you already are, but... you're probably the best person for the job."
Hana grinned. "Our Ryo is good at keeping the peace."
Saki elbowed Ryo playfully. "Yeah, I don't think anyone can stay mad when he's around."
Ryo rolled his eyes, though a small smile tugged at his lips. "Let's hope they don't throw me out on my first attempt."
After School
That evening, Ryo found himself outside the third-year classroom, where most of the upperclassmen who were causing trouble were known to hang out. He took a deep breath before stepping inside, scanning the room for familiar faces. It didn't take long to spot Haruki, one of the more vocal students who had been complaining about the council's decisions.
"Haruki," Ryo called out, walking over.
Haruki glanced up, his expression neutral. "Ryo, right? What do you want?"
Ryo kept his tone calm and non-confrontational. "I heard there's been some tension about the festival planning. I wanted to see if we could talk things over before it gets out of hand."
Haruki leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Talk things over? The student council hasn't listened to a word we've said from the start. Why would anything change now?"
Ryo shook his head. "It's not like that. Takashi and the others didn't mean to exclude you. They've just been overwhelmed trying to make sure everything runs smoothly. But if you're willing to sit down with them, I'm sure you can work something out."
Haruki's eyes narrowed slightly, though he didn't seem outright hostile. "What's in it for us?"
Ryo paused for a moment, thinking. "What do you really want? More say in the planning? A chance to make your ideas heard?"
Haruki glanced at the other upperclassmen before looking back at Ryo. "We just don't want to be sidelined. This is our last festival before we graduate, and we don't want it ruined by decisions we didn't even get a say in."
Ryo nodded. "I get it. How about this—we'll arrange a meeting between you guys and the council. You can lay out your concerns, and they'll listen. No decisions will be made without your input from here on out. Fair?"
Haruki stared at Ryo for a long moment, then slowly stood. "Alright. We'll meet. But if they brush us off again, we're walking."
Ryo smiled, relieved that the situation hadn't escalated further. "Deal. I'll set it up."
The Next Morning
The meeting between the upperclassmen and the student council took place early the next day. Ryo stood off to the side, watching as Takashi and Haruki sat across from each other, both looking serious but willing to talk. The tension in the room was palpable, but as the conversation progressed, it became clear that both sides were willing to compromise.
The upperclassmen were given more representation on the festival planning committee, and in exchange, they agreed to help with the more labor-intensive parts of the preparation, easing the burden on the student council.
As the meeting wrapped up, Ryo felt a sense of accomplishment. It wasn't the kind of heroics most people imagined, but in its own way, it was just as important. Keeping the peace and making sure everyone worked together was a skill that Ryo was coming to appreciate more and more.
Takashi clapped him on the back as they left the room. "You really saved us there, Ryo. I don't think we would've been able to pull that off without you."
Ryo smiled modestly. "Just doing what I can."