It had only been a week since Ryo reluctantly started helping the student council with preparations for the upcoming cultural festival. He didn't join the council, of course—that was never going to happen—but when Takashi had persistently asked him for help, Ryo couldn't refuse. With the event still a few weeks away, the workload was manageable, though the attention was starting to wear on him.
"Ryo, could you take these plans to the teachers for approval?" Takashi asked one afternoon after school. The student council room was bustling with activity, but everyone was laser-focused on the festival preparations.
Ryo sighed. "Sure, no problem." He gathered the stack of papers and left the room, thinking about how he'd gotten roped into this.
He was just delivering the documents, but even that put him in the spotlight. A few students passing by noticed him carrying the plans and murmured among themselves. It wasn't unusual for Ryo to hear his name whispered when he walked through the halls these days. Ever since he'd started hanging out with the girls, and now being seen with the council, his quiet existence had been flipped upside down.
On his way back, Ryo noticed the others from his circle already waiting for him outside the gates. Hana waved at him energetically, while Saki leaned against the wall, smirking as if she knew how much he hated all this extra attention. Mei and Amelia stood beside her, chatting quietly. Ryo could feel Saki's teasing coming from a mile away.
"So, how's it feel to be the council's errand boy?" Saki asked as soon as he walked up.
Ryo groaned. "Don't remind me. I didn't even want to do this."
"But you agreed, didn't you?" Amelia chimed in, smiling. "That's pretty admirable of you."
"Admirable isn't the word I'd use," Ryo muttered. "More like dragged into it."
Hana giggled, as energetic as always. "You're too nice, Ryo. That's why they keep asking you to help!"
Mei simply nodded. "It's true. You could say no, but you don't."
Ryo shrugged. "It's not that easy. Takashi doesn't take no for an answer."
"Speaking of which," Amelia said, her voice softening a little, "how are things going with the festival? It must be a lot of work."
"It is, but nothing I can't handle." Ryo rubbed the back of his neck, clearly trying to play it cool.
"You know," Hana said thoughtfully, "since you're so involved with the festival, we should do something fun too—like exploring the city again. We've been pretty busy with school and council stuff lately."
"I second that," Saki added with her usual playful grin. "We can't let Ryo become all about council work. He'll turn boring."
"I'm not boring," Ryo shot back, though Saki's teasing always left him a little flustered.
Amelia smiled warmly. "A break sounds nice. What do you think, Ryo?"
"Yeah, sure. Sounds like a good idea," he replied, feeling slightly relieved at the thought of some normal time with his friends. "How about this weekend?"
"That works!" Hana cheered, always the most excited for any kind of adventure. "We'll have a proper day out, no council work allowed!"
As they left the school grounds together, the conversation drifted to what they would do on their upcoming trip. They threw out ideas for cafes, stores, and places to visit, each suggestion more interesting than the last. Ryo could feel the tension of the council work slowly fading away, replaced by the familiar feeling of being surrounded by his friends.
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By Saturday, the group had gathered early in the morning to explore the city again, just like they had a few days ago. This time, Ryo couldn't help but feel more at ease. It was strange to think that, just a few months ago, he'd avoided drawing attention to himself, content with his quiet existence. Now, he was surrounded by people—girls no less—who enjoyed spending time with him. And, despite his initial reluctance, Ryo didn't mind it nearly as much as he thought he would.
"Alright, let's make today fun!" Hana said, leading the way as usual. Her boundless energy was infectious, and even Ryo found himself smiling.
Their first stop was a trendy clothing store that Hana had been dying to check out. As they wandered through the racks of clothes, Saki occasionally held up outfits, pretending to imagine what Ryo would look like in them.
"This would look cute on you," Saki teased, holding up a bright-colored shirt.
Ryo frowned, completely uninterested. "Not happening."
Saki shrugged with a mischievous grin. "Your loss."
Amelia, meanwhile, was checking out a hat she'd picked up, admiring herself in the mirror. "What do you think, Ryo?"
"It suits you," he said, glancing over.
Amelia's smile widened. "Thanks!"
After their shopping detour, they stopped at a local arcade, where Hana challenged everyone to a few games. Ryo, who was surprisingly good at the claw machines, managed to win a few plushies, much to the amazement of the others.
"Wow, you're actually good at this!" Hana said, her eyes sparkling as Ryo handed her one of the plush toys he'd won.
"Luck," Ryo muttered, trying to downplay it.
Their adventure continued well into the afternoon, as they explored various parts of the city, grabbing snacks and drinks along the way. It was the kind of day that Ryo appreciated—no stress, no obligations, just hanging out with his friends. For the first time in a while, he felt like he could relax and enjoy himself.
But as the day drew to a close, and they made their way back towards the school, Ryo couldn't shake the feeling that this peace wouldn't last. With the cultural festival coming up, things were bound to get hectic again. And with the attention he was getting from the girls, he knew that his once-quiet life was forever out of reach.
For now, though, he didn't mind. As long as he had his friends by his side, Ryo felt like he could handle whatever came next.