The next morning, Ryo strolled through the bustling school gates, the crisp autumn air already filling him with a sense of calm. He spotted Mei and Saki near the lockers, chatting and laughing over something on Saki's phone.
"Morning, Ryo!" Mei greeted with a wave, a soft smile lighting up her face.
"Hey, Mei, Saki," Ryo replied, smiling back.
Saki looked up from her phone, her eyes gleaming mischievously as she leaned toward Ryo. "You seem unusually cheerful this morning, Ryo. Got a little extra pep in your step? Or did you finally confess to someone in your dreams?"
Ryo's face flushed slightly, caught off guard. "W-What? No! You're jumping to conclusions again, Saki."
Saki chuckled, nudging him lightly. "Relax, I'm just messing with you. But hey, you're really fun to tease, you know that?"
Mei laughed along, trying to suppress a grin as Ryo rubbed the back of his head, a bit flustered.
Just then, Alice appeared around the corner, her blond hair catching the sunlight streaming through the windows. She approached them with her usual calm grace, though her eyes softened when she spotted Ryo.
"Good morning, everyone," Alice greeted, her accent giving her voice a soft lilt. "Did I miss anything interesting?"
Saki leaned over to Alice, feigning a dramatic whisper. "Just me giving Ryo a hard time. I think he's getting used to it, though."
Alice smiled, casting a gentle look at Ryo. "Oh? Well, I think you're doing just fine, Ryo."
Ryo chuckled, feeling the warmth of their presence as they all made their way to homeroom together.
---
**Classroom Antics**
During the first period, they found themselves working on a group project for history. Their teacher, Mr. Tanaka, had assigned them a rather dry topic: "Ancient Japanese Feudal Systems." Yuto, ever the "creative thinker," quickly tried to liven things up.
"So," Yuto began, scribbling ideas on a piece of paper, "what if we create a comic strip to explain the feudal system? Something with samurai battles, maybe a little action sequence?"
Hana looked intrigued but a bit doubtful. "A comic strip? You think Mr. Tanaka would be okay with that?"
Alice tilted her head thoughtfully. "Actually, if we explain it in a creative way, he might appreciate the effort. Plus, it would make our presentation stand out."
Ryo nodded, encouraged by the idea. "Alright, comic strip it is. We just have to find a way to make it historically accurate while keeping it interesting."
Saki leaned in, smirking. "I could see you as a samurai, Ryo. Think about it, all noble and serious, carrying a big sword—oh wait, you'd probably get lost on your first mission."
Ryo rolled his eyes, though he couldn't help but laugh. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Saki. I'll just leave the sword-wielding to you."
With their topic set, they divided up tasks: Yuto and Saki would handle the artwork (Yuto being surprisingly good at drawing), while Ryo and Alice would work on the historical details. Hana and Mei would pull it all together, crafting a storyline to keep their "history comic" both accurate and entertaining.
---
**Lunch: A New Challenge**
After a busy morning of planning, they gathered at their usual table for lunch, with Yuto boasting about his newfound role as the "lead samurai artist."
"I'm telling you," Yuto said with a grin, "I'll make you all look like legends. Especially you, Ryo. You're the noble hero of our story, whether you like it or not!"
Saki couldn't resist. "Noble? More like the clueless sidekick who accidentally saves the day."
Ryo groaned, shooting her a look. "I think I'd rather play the wise old sage at this point."
Everyone laughed, and Ryo noticed Alice watching him with an amused smile. She had been fairly quiet, but her warm gaze reminded him of how she always seemed to be observing, absorbing every little interaction.
"Ryo, I think you'd make a good hero," Alice said softly, her tone genuine. "Sometimes it's the quiet ones who surprise everyone."
Ryo felt his cheeks warm. "Thanks, Alice. But let's see if I survive Yuto's version of history first."
---
**After-School Activities: Volleyball Practice**
That afternoon, Kazuki stopped by their classroom, leaning against the doorframe with his usual easygoing demeanor. He caught Ryo's eye and waved.
"Hey, Ryo," Kazuki called. "You up for some volleyball practice? We could use an extra set of hands."
Ryo perked up, nodding enthusiastically. "Yeah, count me in!"
The others decided to tag along to the gym, watching as Ryo joined Kazuki and a few other classmates for a friendly match. It didn't take long for things to heat up, with Ryo discovering that Kazuki was much better than he'd expected. The game became competitive, each point met with cheers and laughs from their friends on the sidelines.
"Come on, Ryo! Don't let Kazuki show you up!" Mei shouted, clapping her hands in encouragement.
Ryo grinned, diving to make a save as he called back, "I'm giving it my best!"
Kazuki smirked, effortlessly sending the ball over the net. "Better keep up, Ryo. I'm just getting warmed up."
Despite the intense pace, Ryo managed to keep his team in the game, and they eventually claimed a narrow victory. As they wrapped up, Kazuki clapped Ryo on the shoulder, grinning.
"Not bad, Ryo. You've got some skills."
Ryo laughed, feeling accomplished. "Thanks. I didn't think I'd survive against you!"
---
**A Quiet Walk Home**
After practice, the group split up, with Ryo, Alice, and Mei walking together. As they strolled, the setting sun cast long shadows across the quiet streets, painting everything in warm shades of orange and pink.
Alice walked beside Ryo, her expression relaxed. "That was quite the match. I don't think I've ever seen you that focused before."
Ryo chuckled, scratching his head. "Guess I got caught up in the moment. Kazuki's a tough competitor."
Mei chimed in, glancing up at the sky. "It's nice, though, having a day without anything too crazy happening. Just… normal school stuff."
Alice nodded, her gaze softening as she looked at her friends. "I agree. Sometimes it's the little things that matter most."
They walked in companionable silence for a moment before Mei suddenly grinned, her usual calm giving way to excitement.
"Oh! I just remembered," she said, digging into her bag. "Look what I found in the library earlier."
She pulled out a small sketchbook, flipping through pages filled with her quick doodles—some of their friends, others of fantasy scenes and characters. She paused on a recent sketch she'd made of their history project, depicting Ryo as a proud samurai and Yuto as a rather clumsy sidekick.
Ryo laughed. "So this is how I'm remembered? A samurai and a comic book hero?"
Mei winked, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "I think it suits you, actually."
They laughed together as they continued down the path, basking in the simplicity of the moment.