The morning after the festival was one of quiet peace. Ryo woke up feeling the lingering excitement from the night before, flashes of laughter, fireworks, and the warmth of friendship still fresh in his mind. The festival had been a whirlwind, and although he'd had his reservations about helping out, he was grateful he'd spent that time with everyone.
As he prepared for school, Ryo wondered what everyone else was feeling. He guessed Hana would be exhausted from running around so much, but that wouldn't stop her from being as energetic as ever. Saki might come in with her usual calm attitude, yet he could already imagine the teasing remarks she'd make about him "pretending to be scared" during the haunted house. And Alice… her words from last night floated back to him. The way she'd thanked him for being there still made him feel a bit warm inside.
---
When he arrived at school, the post-festival atmosphere was relaxed, a gentle lull hanging over the classrooms as students chatted about the previous day's events. Ryo spotted his friends gathering near their usual spot and joined them.
"Hey, Ryo!" Hana greeted him with a big smile, looking a bit tired but as cheerful as ever. "Did you recover from last night's festivities?"
"Barely," he replied with a grin. "But you look like you're ready to do it all over again."
She laughed, adjusting her hair. "Maybe! I could probably go for another round, but I think some of us need a break." She shot a playful glance at Saki, who, as predicted, had a calm but teasing expression on her face.
"Ryo, I didn't know you were the type to jump so easily," Saki remarked, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "You should've seen your face when Mei appeared out of the fog."
Ryo rubbed the back of his neck, grumbling a bit. "It was the dim lighting. They really set it up well, okay?"
Saki just smirked, clearly enjoying herself, while Mei watched the conversation with a gentle smile. Amelia joined them, looking excited as she shared her own stories about the haunted house. Her American accent was more noticeable today as she relayed a particularly funny moment, which made everyone laugh.
"By the way, Alice and I were talking, and we thought…" Amelia started, before glancing at Alice, who nodded encouragingly.
Alice took a deep breath before speaking, "We thought it'd be fun to do something different together soon—maybe a small trip into the city again? Without the haunted house setup this time."
The group brightened at the idea, and plans quickly began to take shape. They'd meet at a different café, visit a few interesting shops, and explore parts of the city they hadn't visited yet.
---
During lunch, they decided to map out their plans for the weekend, each of them contributing ideas. Hana was determined to introduce them to a well-known dessert place that had become her personal favorite. Mei suggested a bookstore she knew would suit Alice's tastes, and Saki talked about a quirky antique shop she'd stumbled upon.
Amelia leaned over, pointing at the map they were using to mark places of interest. "And after that, there's this amazing rooftop garden that has the best view of the city at sunset. We should definitely end the day there."
Ryo looked around, feeling an odd sense of contentment wash over him as they planned. They all had different interests, different personalities, but somehow, their group felt… right. Each of them added something unique, and even though he never imagined himself in the center of such a lively circle, he couldn't picture his school life without them anymore.
---
As the week went by, the festival faded into a memory, and the group focused on their classes and their upcoming city outing. Ryo found himself noticing the subtle dynamics among his friends more often. Saki continued to be a mixture of boldness and blushes, occasionally catching him off guard with her directness, only to get flustered herself if he replied too quickly. Hana, with her endless enthusiasm, seemed to make every small moment a cause for excitement, lifting everyone's spirits without even realizing it.
Alice, with her quiet loyalty, never strayed too far from Ryo's side, always ready to offer a soft smile or a gentle word whenever he looked her way. And Mei, the calm and collected one, somehow managed to be both a soothing presence and a bit of a mystery, her cool demeanor hiding occasional hints of humor that only emerged when they least expected it.
Amelia had quickly adapted to the group, her confident and adventurous personality blending with the others while bringing in a fresh energy. Her moments of friendly competition with Ryo kept him on his toes, and the two had developed an easy camaraderie that fit seamlessly into the group dynamic.
---
When the weekend finally arrived, they all met at the train station in the early afternoon, ready to start their city adventure. They boarded the train with excitement buzzing in the air, laughter and chatter filling the space as they discussed their plans for the day.
As they arrived in the city, Hana immediately took charge, dragging everyone toward the dessert place she'd mentioned. It was a small, brightly colored shop with a line stretching out the door, filled with the aroma of fresh pastries and sweets. Hana beamed, already knowing exactly what she wanted to order.
They all tried various desserts, sharing bites and comparing flavors. Ryo couldn't help but notice the way Alice blushed slightly when she offered him a taste of her cake, or how Saki glanced away with a flustered look when he did the same. Amelia and Hana, however, seemed completely at ease, jokingly competing over whose dessert was better while Mei quietly enjoyed her slice of cheesecake.
Afterward, they made their way to the antique shop Saki had mentioned. The place was filled with oddities from every corner of the world—old clocks, vintage books, strange ornaments, and more. Saki pointed out a particularly strange music box, explaining its history with a hint of pride. Ryo could tell she'd spent some time here, and seeing her passion for the place made him appreciate it in a new way.
Mei, wandering over to a dusty shelf of books, picked up a small, leather-bound journal. She held it out to Ryo with a serene smile. "It seems like something you might appreciate," she said simply, before moving on.
Ryo examined the journal, feeling a strange sense of nostalgia. There was something comforting about the worn pages, and he decided to buy it as a keepsake of the day.
Their next stop was the bookstore Mei had suggested for Alice. The moment they entered, Alice's face lit up, and she wandered off with an excited gleam in her eyes, already lost among the shelves. The others let her explore, finding their own books to look through. Ryo and Amelia ended up browsing a section on world history, while Hana and Saki discovered a hidden corner filled with graphic novels.
By the time they reached the rooftop garden Amelia had mentioned, the sun was beginning to set. The view was breathtaking, with the city stretching out below them, bathed in shades of pink and gold as the sun dipped below the horizon.
They settled down on a bench, the peaceful silence punctuated only by the occasional laugh or murmur as they took in the view. It was a rare, quiet moment, and Ryo found himself grateful to be sharing it with each of them.
Amelia turned to him with a satisfied grin. "Pretty good day, right?"
Ryo nodded, a genuine smile on his face. "Yeah, it was perfect."
As they headed back to the train station, the warmth of the day's memories settled over Ryo. He glanced around at his friends, feeling that his world had changed in ways he hadn't anticipated, and that he was exactly where he belonged.