As the last rays of sunlight faded, the rooftop settled into a tranquil quiet, the city lights beginning to flicker awake in the distance. The group had spread out around the rooftop, each enjoying the view in their own way. Amelia had leaned back on the railing, watching the stars slowly emerge, while Mei stood quietly beside her, gazing out with her usual calm demeanor. Alice lingered close to Ryo, her expression soft but contemplative.
Hana, always full of energy, decided to break the silence. "We should play a game!" she declared, eyes twinkling with excitement.
Saki raised an eyebrow. "What kind of game?"
"Hmm…" Hana thought for a moment, then grinned mischievously. "Let's do 'Truth or Dare.'"
Ryo immediately felt a twinge of dread, and it seemed the others did too. But before anyone could protest, Hana clapped her hands. "Come on, it'll be fun! It's not like we have to do anything crazy."
Reluctantly, everyone agreed, settling into a loose circle on the rooftop floor. Hana went first, of course, and her mischievous smile made everyone brace themselves.
"Alright, Ryo," she said, eyes gleaming. "Truth or dare?"
He groaned, knowing there was no escaping it. "Truth."
Hana's grin widened. "Easy one then—who's your favorite person in this group?"
He blinked, glancing around the circle as the others leaned in, clearly curious. "Uh, I don't know… all of you?"
Saki rolled her eyes. "Lame answer. But I guess we'll let it slide."
The game continued, with the dares and truths gradually becoming more entertaining as everyone grew comfortable. Saki, when dared by Hana, ended up doing a ridiculous dance that had everyone in stitches. Mei was asked to share an embarrassing moment from her childhood, which she did with her usual calm demeanor, even as Hana and Amelia couldn't stop laughing. The laughter and lightheartedness filled the rooftop, creating a warm sense of togetherness.
When it was Alice's turn, she chose "truth," and Hana leaned in with a curious expression. "Alice, have you ever… wanted to tell someone how you feel, but couldn't?"
Alice hesitated, her cheeks turning slightly pink. She glanced at Ryo before quickly looking down. "Maybe… once or twice," she admitted quietly.
Hana and Saki exchanged glances, clearly intrigued, but they didn't push further. Ryo, however, felt a strange flutter at Alice's response but quickly brushed it off. As the game continued, it was Amelia's turn, and Ryo ended up daring her to do a ridiculous impression of one of their teachers, which she did with enthusiasm, earning a round of applause.
After the game had run its course, they leaned back, content, with the stars now fully visible overhead. The conversation turned more casual, with each of them sharing little dreams and wishes they had for the future.
Hana spoke up first, a wistful look on her face. "I want to travel the world someday. See everything, try every kind of food, meet people from everywhere."
Saki gave her a smirk. "You? Surviving on your own out there? I don't believe it."
Hana stuck out her tongue, laughing. "Hey! I'd be fine! Probably…"
The others chimed in, sharing their own aspirations. Mei wanted to run her own business someday, though she hadn't decided what kind. Alice spoke about wanting to do something meaningful, even if she wasn't sure what it would be yet. And Amelia, leaning back against the railing, admitted she wanted to experience more of life outside the familiar comforts of her home and school.
Then, the focus turned to Ryo. Hana nudged him. "Alright, Ryo. What about you? What's your big dream?"
He shrugged, a little embarrassed. "I don't know. I guess I haven't really thought that far ahead. Right now, I'm just… trying to enjoy life as it comes."
Saki nodded, a knowing smile on her face. "You know, Ryo, for someone who says he's just going with the flow, you're surprisingly reliable. I mean, you're even helping the council with the festival."
Ryo shrugged, scratching the back of his head. "Well, it's been more fun than I expected."
Amelia leaned forward, her eyes shining with curiosity. "I think that's what makes you interesting, Ryo. You might not say much, but you end up making a difference."
A comfortable silence settled over them as they took in the night sky, each lost in their thoughts. Ryo looked around at his friends, feeling a wave of gratitude. Moments like this—simple, genuine, shared with people he cared about—were the kind he hadn't realized he needed.
Just then, Hana broke the silence with a wide grin. "Alright, I declare this rooftop our official meeting spot from now on! Agreed?"
Saki rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of a smile on her face. "Only if you don't drag us up here every day."
The others laughed, nodding in agreement, and as the evening wore on, they lingered on the rooftop, talking and laughing well into the night.