As the day continued, Ryo and his friends strolled through the city. The sun was beginning to set, casting an orange glow over the streets. The air was cool, with the faint scent of street food lingering around them as they wandered past the busy stalls. Ryo walked slightly ahead, hands in his pockets, feeling the weight of the day's events starting to settle in.
Hana, as usual, was full of energy, pulling the group toward a shop she had spotted. "Guys! Look! They have limited edition plushies!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing in excitement. "Come on, we have to check them out!"
Saki sighed, looking amused. "Hana, do you even have room for more plushies in your room? You're starting to live in a zoo."
"I'll make room!" Hana replied without hesitation, grinning from ear to ear.
Mei, following quietly behind, seemed more focused on the sunset than the shop. Amelia walked beside her, clearly enjoying the energy of the group. "It's nice to have days like this," Amelia commented. "Back in the States, I was usually too busy to relax and explore."
"You're not missing out. We're always just dragged around by Hana," Saki teased, giving Hana a playful nudge.
Ryo, who was enjoying the peace of walking in the back for once, caught Amelia's glance. "So, you lived in America for a while, huh? What brought you here?"
"Family reasons," Amelia explained. "But I like it here. Different vibe, but in a good way."
They reached the shop, and Hana immediately rushed in, practically knocking the door down in her excitement. Saki and Mei followed, but Ryo lingered behind with Amelia, who seemed to want to ask something.
"I've been meaning to ask," Amelia began cautiously, her tone shifting slightly. "Do you... I mean, do you have plans for the cultural festival coming up?"
Ryo blinked, caught off guard. "Not really. I haven't given it much thought."
"Would you like to... maybe hang out with me during it? Just the two of us?" Amelia's voice was calm, but there was a slight nervousness hidden in her words.
Before Ryo could respond, Hana's voice interrupted from inside the store. "Ryo, get in here! You have to see this one, it's hilarious!"
Grateful for the distraction, Ryo gave Amelia a quick nod and stepped into the store, unsure of how to answer her. He couldn't escape the fact that these moments kept happening, and with each passing day, more people were starting to take notice of him. He had always preferred staying out of the spotlight, but it seemed like his days of blending into the background were quickly disappearing.
Inside the store, Hana was holding up a massive plushie of a dragon, its oversized head bobbing with each movement. "Isn't it the best?"
Ryo raised an eyebrow, suppressing a chuckle. "It's... something, alright."
They spent the rest of the evening checking out shops and teasing each other. By the time they finally decided to head home, the city lights were glowing brightly, and the streets had quieted down. As they walked, the conversation shifted back to school, specifically the cultural festival.
"It's going to be so fun! I can't wait to see what kind of events they come up with," Hana said, clapping her hands together.
"Yeah, but there's still a few weeks before that. Plenty of time to prepare," Saki added. "I'm just hoping we don't have to run a booth this time."
Ryo walked quietly beside them, lost in thought. The cultural festival would be yet another chance for his friends—and especially the girls around him—to drag him into situations he wasn't ready for. He was starting to see a pattern, one that involved him getting more attention than he'd ever asked for.