The morning after their spirited debates and science presentations, Ryo found himself falling into the rhythm of normal school life. It was peaceful, for once—a strange but welcome change from the whirlwind of activities they'd gone through recently. The classrooms buzzed with the sound of lectures, scribbling pens, and the occasional whisper as students worked through their assignments.
The first class of the day was math, and Mr. Tanaka—his usual chipper self—was introducing a series of complex equations. As he enthusiastically wrote formulas on the board, Ryo tried his best to keep up. Mei, sitting next to him, effortlessly jotted down notes, her pen gliding across the paper.
"Hey," Ryo whispered, leaning slightly toward her. "Did I miss something? How did we go from linear equations to this chaos?"
Mei didn't even glance up. "You didn't miss anything. You just weren't paying attention."
"That hurts," Ryo muttered, earning a quiet chuckle from her.
Behind them, Saki, who clearly wasn't following the lesson either, leaned forward and tapped Ryo's shoulder. "Psst, Ryo. If you figure it out, let me know. I might owe you a snack for saving me from another one of Mr. Tanaka's after-class lectures."
Before Ryo could respond, Mr. Tanaka turned around, his eyes scanning the room. "Something funny back there?"
The three of them sat up straight, shaking their heads in unison.
"Good. Then perhaps you'd like to solve the next problem on the board."
Saki immediately pointed to Ryo. "He volunteers!"
Ryo shot her a betrayed look. "Seriously?"
"Good luck, Ryo," Mei said with a rare playful smirk.
With a resigned sigh, Ryo got up and walked to the front. The equations looked like an alien language, but with Mei mouthing a quick hint from her seat, he managed to stumble through it.
---
**Lunch: A Familiar Face**
By lunchtime, the trio regrouped under their usual oak tree, joined by Alice, Ayumi, and Kazuki. The courtyard was lively, with students enjoying the crisp autumn air.
"Where's Hana?" Alice asked, glancing around.
It was a valid question. Hana's absence had been noticeable over the past few days. She was usually the first to rally the group for outings or activities. Her boundless energy and constant chatter had always been a cornerstone of their dynamic.
"She said she had something to take care of," Ayumi replied. "Probably club stuff. You know how she gets when she's involved in something."
"Yeah, but it's been quiet without her," Kazuki added. "Too quiet."
Saki leaned back against the tree, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Don't tell me you miss her, Kazuki. I didn't peg you as the sentimental type."
Kazuki rolled his eyes. "I'm just saying she livens things up. Unlike you, who's only here to tease people."
"Teasing is my way of showing affection," Saki replied nonchalantly.
Alice smiled softly. "I'm sure she'll pop up soon. It's Hana, after all. She can't stay away from us for long."
---
**Afternoon: A Hurdle in Literature Class**
The next class on their schedule was literature, taught by the ever-dramatic Ms. Fujimoto. Today, she assigned them to write a creative piece inspired by an old Japanese folktale.
Ryo stared blankly at the prompt. Writing wasn't exactly his forte.
"This is going to be a disaster," he muttered under his breath.
"It's not that bad," Mei said, already outlining her story. "Just pick a story you like and put a twist on it."
"Easier said than done," Ryo replied.
Saki, sitting behind them, leaned forward with a devilish grin. "If you need inspiration, Ryo, I could always tell you a story about the legendary teasing queen who outsmarted her classmates."
Ryo sighed. "Somehow, I feel like you're not helping."
Ayumi giggled from across the room. "Don't worry, Ryo. If you get stuck, just ask Alice. She's great at creative stuff."
Alice blushed slightly but nodded. "I'd be happy to help."
As the class worked on their assignments, Ms. Fujimoto moved between the desks, occasionally stopping to read over someone's shoulder. When she reached Mei's desk, she paused and smiled. "Excellent as always, Mei. Your use of imagery is impressive."
When she reached Ryo, however, her brow furrowed. "Ryo, is that… a stick figure battle?"
"It's a *draft*," Ryo said quickly, flipping the page to hide his doodles.
The entire class burst into laughter, and even Ms. Fujimoto couldn't suppress a smile. "Just make sure the final version is written in actual words, okay?"
"Noted," Ryo replied, his face turning red.
---
**After School: A Surprise Visit**
As the group gathered their things and prepared to leave, a familiar voice called out from the hallway.
"Hey, everyone!"
They turned to see Hana jogging toward them, her bag slung over her shoulder and a bright smile on her face.
"Hana!" Ayumi exclaimed. "Where have you been?"
"Busy, busy, busy!" Hana replied, catching her breath. "The photography club is planning an exhibition, and it's been nonstop work. But I missed you guys!"
"We missed you too," Alice said with a warm smile.
Hana's eyes sparkled. "So, what's the plan? Are we going out this weekend? There's a new arcade downtown that looks amazing!"
"We already have plans for a café," Saki replied, crossing her arms. "But I guess we can squeeze in an arcade visit afterward."
"Awesome!" Hana cheered. "I knew you wouldn't let me down."
As they walked home together, the group's energy felt complete again. Hana's enthusiasm was infectious, and even Ryo couldn't help but smile as she launched into a detailed description of the arcade's attractions.
---
**Evening: Quiet Reflections**
Later that evening, Ryo sat at his desk, finishing his literature assignment. His mind wandered back to the day's events—the chaos in math class, the hilarious moments in literature, and the way Hana had brought her usual spark back to their group.
His phone buzzed with a message from the group chat:
Hana: *Can't wait for Saturday! Hope you're ready to lose at the claw machines, Ryo!*
Saki: *Bold of you to assume Ryo even knows how to play.*
Ryo sighed and shook his head. With friends like these, his days were never boring.