Arthur stretched his arms as he stepped off the Ferris wheel, feeling an odd sense of calm. The day had been unexpectedly enjoyable, though he would never admit it out loud. Luke was still teasing Sophie about her small shriek in the haunted house, while Alishia walked beside Arthur, her hands tucked into her jacket pockets.
"I can't believe you actually smiled today," Alishia teased. "Are we sure you're the real Arthur Virelith?"
Arthur rolled his eyes. "Don't get used to it."
Luke slung an arm around Arthur's shoulder. "You know, I was expecting you to ditch us halfway through, but you actually lasted the entire day. I'm impressed."
Arthur shoved his arm off. "Like I had a choice."
Sophie smirked. "We did kind of corner you."
"You all definitely did."
The group walked toward the exit, the night air crisp against their skin. The amusement park lights flickered behind them, the laughter and chatter of other visitors filling the background. Arthur checked his phone—getting late.
"Alright, let's at least grab something to eat before we head home," Luke suggested. "I know a really good ramen place nearby."
Arthur opened his mouth to protest, but Alishia beat him to it. "That sounds perfect."
Luke grinned. "Great. Arthur, you're coming."
Arthur sighed. "Do I have a say in this?"
"No," Sophie and Alishia said in unison.
With that settled, they made their way down the street, the warm glow of streetlights casting their elongated shadows onto the pavement.
The ramen shop was small but cozy, the rich scent of broth and spices filling the air as they stepped inside. A few other customers were scattered around, some chatting while others focused on their meals.
The group slid into a booth, the warm atmosphere making them relax even further. Arthur leaned back, watching as Luke enthusiastically browsed the menu.
The cozy warmth of the ramen shop was a welcome contrast to the cool night air outside. The rich aroma of broth and sizzling toppings filled the small space, making the atmosphere even more inviting. Arthur sat at the booth with his arms crossed, watching as the others browsed the menu. Luke, as usual, was being overly dramatic, passionately explaining why the spicy miso ramen was the superior choice.
"I'm telling you, this is the best thing on the menu," Luke declared, tapping the laminated page for emphasis. "Arthur, you have to try it."
Arthur gave him a flat look. "I don't like spicy food."
Luke gasped, clutching his chest as if personally offended. "How can you say that? That's like—like saying you don't like music or sunsets!"
Alishia laughed, shaking her head. "Just let him order what he wants, Luke. Not everyone enjoys setting their mouth on fire like you do."
Sophie smirked. "Besides, didn't you once choke on a single piece of wasabi?"
Luke groaned. "That was different! Wasabi isn't food—it's a biological weapon!"
Arthur shook his head at their antics but found himself unexpectedly relaxed. It was rare for him to be in a setting like this, casually hanging out with people. There was a time when he would have avoided this sort of situation altogether. Yet, here he was—comfortable, even enjoying himself.
When their orders arrived, the conversation died down as they dug into their meals. The first sip of broth surprised Arthur; the flavors were deep and rich, far better than he had expected.
Alishia caught the subtle shift in his expression and smirked. "Tastes good, doesn't it?"
Arthur gave a small nod. "Yeah. Better than expected."
Luke grinned triumphantly. "See? I knew you had taste."
The meal continued with easy conversation, laughter filling the space. It felt natural, like they had been doing this for years. But as their bowls emptied, Sophie suddenly leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand as she studied Arthur.
"So, Arthur," she mused, "what do you do when you're not playing the role of a mysterious loner?"
Arthur set his chopsticks down, glancing at her. "Nothing special."
Luke scoffed. "Oh, come on. You're practically living a double life at this point."
Alishia smiled. "He's right. The Arthur we see in school and the Arthur outside of school are like two completely different people."
Arthur exhaled through his nose. "I'm not that different."
Sophie raised an eyebrow. "Then tell me—who's the real you?"
Arthur hesitated. That wasn't a question he was used to answering. Was he the quiet, withdrawn figure who blended into the background at school? Or was he the person sitting here, engaging in conversation, actually enjoying the company of others?
When he didn't respond, Luke clapped his hands together. "Alright, deep questions aside, we should do this more often. Hanging out, I mean."
Sophie nodded. "Yeah. Maybe next time, we won't have to trick Arthur into showing up."
Arthur rolled his eyes, but Alishia caught the faintest hint of a smirk on his lips.
As they stepped out of the ramen shop and walked toward their apartments, Arthur glanced up at the night sky.
Tonight had been fun.
And for the first time in a long while, he didn't mind admitting it.