Ryo strolled through the hallway, the after-school bell echoing faintly in the background. With the weight of his bag slung over one shoulder, he kept a stemady pace, weaving through the students as they lingered in clusters. His thoughts wandered to the upcoming plans with his friends. Hana had suggested a city outing this weekend, and the idea of a casual day away from the usual school buzz was starting to appeal to him.
Just as Ryo turned the corner, he nearly bumped into a girl standing by the lockers. He managed to stop himself just in time, though his sudden halt startled her.
"Whoa, sorry about that!" he said quickly, taking a step back.
The girl blinked in surprise, her deep green eyes locking with his. She looked vaguely familiar, yet different from anyone he'd met. She had light brown hair tied up in a loose ponytail and wore a slightly different school uniform. A transfer student, Ryo guessed.
"Oh, no worries!" she replied with a warm smile, her accent slightly distinct. "I'm still getting used to the flow here."
"You must be new," Ryo observed, giving her a nod. "I'm Ryo. Are you from one of the other classes?"
"Yeah, I just transferred here recently," she replied. "I'm Amelia. Nice to meet you." Her American accent was subtle but unmistakable, adding a unique charm to her introduction.
They exchanged polite pleasantries for a moment, and as Ryo began to walk away, he felt a nudge of curiosity. Foreign students weren't common in his school, and Amelia's friendly nature already set her apart. However, before he could think too much of it, his phone buzzed in his pocket—a message from Hana.
*Group hangout confirmed for Saturday! Can't wait!*
Ryo chuckled at her enthusiasm. The weekend plans were shaping up to be interesting, and he couldn't deny he was looking forward to spending more time with his ever-growing circle of friends.
As he continued down the hall, another familiar voice called out to him, stopping him in his tracks.
"Ryo!"
Turning, he saw Takashi jogging over with his usual laid-back grin.
"Hey," Ryo greeted, raising a hand in acknowledgment.
"You didn't forget, right?" Takashi asked, his eyes gleaming with a teasing glint.
"Forget what?"
Takashi rolled his eyes. "The student council asked for your help again. You promised to swing by, remember?"
Ryo groaned inwardly. It wasn't that he didn't want to help—well, actually, it was. He'd only agreed to assist the council because it seemed easier than arguing with Takashi at the time. But he had no intention of sticking around long enough to become a regular.
"Oh, right. I was just... heading there," Ryo lied, hoping Takashi wouldn't catch on.
"Well, let's go then. You know they could really use someone like you," Takashi said, clapping a hand on Ryo's shoulder as they walked toward the student council room.
"I'm not joining the council, just so you know," Ryo muttered, shaking his head.
"Yeah, yeah. We'll see how long that lasts," Takashi teased, laughing as they made their way inside.
The room was already bustling when they arrived. Several council members were busy with paperwork, organizing files, and discussing upcoming school events. Ryo kept his head low, hoping to make his contribution and slip away quietly.
As they entered, Saki greeted them, leaning back in her chair with her signature mischievous grin. "Look who's finally decided to show up."
Hana, sitting nearby, waved cheerfully. "Ryo! Over here!"
Mei gave a small nod from her seat, her usual calm demeanor in place.
Saki stood up and approached them. "So, Ryo, did Takashi trick you into coming here again? You know, you're not obligated to help out."
"I didn't trick him. He's just too nice to say no," Takashi cut in, laughing.
Ryo shot him a look. "Don't push your luck."
Before the conversation could continue, the student council vice-president, a girl named Rina, approached them. She was well-known for her strict yet caring nature, and her presence commanded respect.
"Ah, Ryo, thank you for helping out today. We just need a hand organizing some files," Rina said, flashing a small smile.
Ryo nodded, following her to a stack of folders near the back of the room. He sighed inwardly—this wasn't exactly how he planned to spend his afternoon, but at least it wasn't anything too demanding.
As Ryo got to work, Hana, Saki, and Mei chatted nearby, occasionally sending teasing remarks his way.
"So, Ryo," Saki began with a sly grin, "what's this I hear about you getting friendly with Amelia, the new transfer student?"
Ryo blinked, caught off guard. "Huh? We just talked for like two minutes."
"Oh, really? Because it sounded like she made quite an impression on you," Hana teased, giggling.
Mei, quiet as always, gave a small nod. "She seems... nice."
Ryo sighed, shaking his head. "You guys are overthinking this."
But before he could defend himself further, the door to the council room slid open once more. This time, a tall figure stepped inside. Ryo felt a strange sense of déjà vu as he glanced up.
Kazaki stood in the doorway, his confident smirk firmly in place.
"Well, well, if it isn't my favorite rival," Kazaki said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Ryo sighed audibly. "What do you want, Kazaki?"
Kazaki shrugged, stepping inside casually. "Just checking in on you, Ryo. I hear you've been pretty busy lately. Joining the student council? I didn't expect you to be so... involved."
"I'm not in the council," Ryo replied flatly. "Just helping out."
"Sure, sure," Kazaki said with a grin. "But I've also heard rumors about you spending time with a certain foreign student..."
Ryo shot him a warning glare. "If you're here to spread gossip, you can leave."
Kazaki raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, no need to get defensive. I'm just making conversation."
Takashi stepped in, his friendly tone contrasting with the tension. "Come on, Kazaki. We're all just here to get things done. No need to stir up trouble."
Kazaki chuckled, clearly enjoying the discomfort he was causing. "Alright, I'll back off... for now. But don't think I'm letting you off the hook so easily, Ryo."
As Kazaki finally left the room, Ryo exhaled, feeling the tension in his shoulders ease slightly. The others, sensing his frustration, quickly shifted the topic back to lighter subjects, teasing him about his ever-growing circle of friends.
Despite the interruptions, Ryo managed to get through the rest of the afternoon without further incident. As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the school, he packed up his things and prepared to head home.
But even as he left, he couldn't shake the feeling that his peaceful days were becoming a thing of the past. With his expanding circle of friends—and rivals like Kazaki always lurking around—his once quiet life was steadily becoming more complicated. And somehow, he had the sinking suspicion that it was only going to get worse from here.