"Hey! That was one time!" Aoi shot back, puffing her cheeks, but there was a playful sparkle in her eyes.
Hikaru chuckled at their back-and-forth. It had been a while since he'd seen Aoi so excited about something. "You sure you'll be okay?" he asked, his voice teasing.
"Of course!" she said with a confident grin. "I'll be a pro this time."
Aoi took her skates and handed one pair to Mayu. "Here, take these. You know, just in case you're scared to skate alone."
Mayu rolled her eyes but took them anyway. "You really do like pushing people, don't you?"
"Only because I know you'll love it!" Aoi grinned and then turned to Hikaru and Sakura. "Come on, let's get you both fitted too!"
Sakura, who had been silent for most of the conversation, looked a little unsure. She glanced at the ice rink, then back at the rental counter. "Um, I've never really skated before..."
"Don't worry! I'll teach you!" Aoi said cheerfully, her hand on Sakura's shoulder as they both approached the counter. "You'll be fine!"
After everyone got their skates, they made their way to the locker rooms to change. Hikaru was the first to step into his pair, feeling the snug fit of the boots. He stood up, testing his balance before looking around. The ice rink wasn't huge, but it was big enough for a decent amount of skaters. Some were already gliding around gracefully, while others were holding onto the edge of the rink for dear life.
Aoi was already skating around the rink with surprising ease, her movements light and graceful despite her earlier claims of being a "beginner." She was having too much fun to notice the others were still getting ready.
Hikaru turned to Sakura, who had a look of uncertainty on her face as she stepped onto the rink. "Don't worry, Sakura. Just take it slow, okay? We're not racing, just enjoying ourselves."
Sakura smiled nervously and nodded. "I-I'll try..."
Mayu, who had already gotten her skates on, stepped up to Hikaru with a smirk. "I hope you're ready for the challenge. You're not going to let Aoi show you up, right?"
Hikaru smiled back. "I'm not so sure. I've never been much of a skater."
Riku, who had been quietly tying his skates, overheard their conversation and chuckled. "You both should be careful. I'm not sure how good either of you are."
"I'll be fine," Hikaru said, standing up and taking his first step toward the rink. He felt the cold ice beneath his boots as he slid, testing his balance.
Sakura hesitated but took his words to heart. She took a slow step forward, her hands gripping the rail of the rink as she tried to keep her balance. The ice was slippery, but with each careful movement, she grew a little more confident.
"Good job, Sakura-san!" Hikaru called out, offering her a reassuring smile.
Aoi zoomed by them, clearly enjoying the experience. She waved over her shoulder. "Come on, slowpokes! Catch up!"
"I swear, she acts like she's skating in the Olympics," Riku muttered, shaking his head as he skated past them, effortlessly keeping his balance.
Mayu followed closely behind, her expression calm as she glided gracefully on the ice. "Aoi's not going to let up, is she?" she asked, her voice a little amused.
"Not in a million years," Hikaru replied, chuckling.
It was a strange but peaceful feeling, being surrounded by his friends, the sound of skates cutting through the ice, and the soft glow of the rink's lights. He wasn't thinking about the chaos or the danger that had filled his life recently. This moment was simple, and it was good.
Hikaru slowly skated forward, cautiously at first. He hadn't realized how out of practice he was. His legs wobbled a little, and he struggled to get his footing at first. But as the cold air hit his face, and he found his rhythm, he started to enjoy it more.
Sakura was still holding onto the rail, but she was moving a little faster now, her small steps gaining more confidence. "I think I'm getting the hang of this!" she said, a soft smile creeping onto her face.
"Great job, Sakura-san!" Hikaru cheered, feeling a sense of pride for her.
Aoi skated by again, this time even faster. "Hey, Hikaru-kun, I'm gonna try a spin!" she shouted as she picked up speed.
"Hah! You're gonna fall flat on your face!" Riku called out, his voice laced with mockery.
But Aoi just grinned, clearly confident in her abilities. With a smooth motion, she spun in place on the ice, the swirling movement leaving a trail of graceful patterns. She laughed and glided back toward the others.
"See? Told you I'd be fine!" Aoi beamed, looking back at Hikaru with a smug grin.
"You're insane," Riku commented, shaking his head, but his tone softened into something akin to admiration. "You're actually good at this."
Aoi puffed out her chest. "Of course I am!"
Hikaru couldn't help but laugh, the lighthearted moment filling him with warmth. They were just friends having fun, no gods, no fighting, no death.
Sakura finally let go of the rail, slowly skating on her own. She still wobbled a little, but the smile on her face was bright. "I'm doing it! I'm skating!"
"You're doing great!" Hikaru encouraged, skating alongside her to keep her steady.
Mayu skated past, her movements smooth and effortless, but she slowed down to check on Sakura. "You're getting better. Keep going!"
Sakura's confidence grew with each passing second, and she laughed, skating a little faster. The group was scattered across the rink now, each of them finding their own pace and joy in the moment.
As Hikaru glided effortlessly across the ice, a part of him didn't want this moment to end. It was one of those rare, carefree experiences, where everything felt as it should, where he could just enjoy his friends' company.
As they walked back toward the mall entrance, the cold air from the rink nipping at their faces, Aoi's laughter echoed through the hallway. She was practically skipping, her energy still high from the ice skating session.
"Hahahah! See? I told you I was good at it!" Aoi grinned widely, puffing her chest out in exaggerated pride.
Riku, who had been walking beside her, glanced at Hikaru and Sakura with a raised eyebrow. "Sakura, Hikaru, you guys okay? Earlier you both took some tumbles."
"I'm good," Hikaru replied with a small chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "It was just a bit of a slip. I'm fine now."
Sakura, who had been quiet for a moment, nodded along with Hikaru. "Yeah, I'm okay too. Just a little sore, but nothing serious."
The group continued walking down the mall corridor, the vibrant lights overhead casting colorful reflections on the floor. Aoi, still in her usual energetic mood, kept bouncing around, clearly pleased with herself.
"I told you both you'd do fine," she said, looking at Hikaru and Sakura with a proud smile. "You just needed to get used to it."
"Aoi, there's an arcade. Wanna go?" Mayu asked while pointing to the arcade in the mall.
Aoi's eyes perked up, her expression lighting up with excitement. "Arcade!? Let's gooo!" She immediately grabbed Sakura's arm, tugging her along. "We're going to have a blast!"
Sakura looked a little startled but couldn't help but smile at Aoi's enthusiasm. "Okay… if you say so."
The arcade was a vibrant mix of flashing lights, loud sounds, and the cheerful chaos of people playing games. As they walked in, Aoi immediately ran toward the claw machine, her eyes gleaming with determination. "I'm gonna win that stuffed bear! Just watch me!"
Riku followed closely behind her with a grin. "I'll believe it when I see it."
Meanwhile, Mayu wandered off to the racing game section, while Hikaru and Sakura ended up at the basketball shootout game. The familiar thrum of competition filled the air as the group split up, each finding their favorite activities.
Aoi, true to her word, managed to win the stuffed bear after a few attempts. She proudly held it in her hands, presenting it like a trophy. "See? I told you I could do it!" she said, practically beaming.
Riku slumped onto the floor, groaning. "Ughhh... how can you get that..."
Mayu joined the group after finishing a racing round, and they all gathered together for a few rounds of competitive games. From shooting hoops to winning small prizes from the claw machines, they had an endless amount of fun. Time seemed to slip away as they enjoyed each other's company, the lighthearted competition and laughter keeping the energy high.
As the day began to wind down, the group decided to take a group photo by one of the arcade's photo booths. They huddled together, Aoi clutching her stuffed bear and striking a dramatic pose while Riku rolled his eyes, trying to hide his smirk. Mayu, ever the serious one, adjusted her glasses before flashing a small, genuine smile. Hikaru and Sakura stood next to each other, both smiling warmly at the camera.
When the photo was printed, Aoi immediately took it, waving it around. "This is going straight to my wall!" she declared. "Best memories of the day right here!"
After a few more laughs and goodbyes, the group finally left the arcade. The evening air was cool, the lights of the mall reflecting off the wet pavement outside. Aoi, Riku, and Mayu walked ahead, chatting about their plans for the next time they'd meet.
Hikaru and Sakura were left behind, walking side by side down the street. The soft hum of the city around them felt peaceful after the excitement of the arcade. The photograph from earlier was in Sakura's hands, and she held it gently, a soft smile on her face.
Hikaru glanced over at her. "So... how do you feel? About today, I mean?"
Sakura looked down at the picture in her hands, her smile growing a little wider. "It was really fun. I never expected to have such a good time. I'm glad I came with you all." She paused, her fingers lightly tracing the edges of the photo.
To Be Continue.