The next morning, Hana was buzzing with excitement as she finalized the details of the vacation. After convincing Ryo to join, she felt a sense of relief. But just as she was about to pack her bag, there was a sudden knock on the shop door.
Mei and Kenta were already preparing the shop for closing, but Hana took a moment to peek outside. Standing there, looking awkward and somewhat disheveled, was a man she hadn't seen before. He wore a crooked smile and had an overly enthusiastic energy about him, his hair tousled and his clothes not quite matching in the way that suggested he wasn't the most organized person.
"Uh, hello?" Hana greeted, blinking in surprise. "Can I help you?"
The man grinned sheepishly. "Hi, I'm Kai—Ryo's assistant. He told me you're going on a little vacation, and, well, I was hoping I could join too. You know, since I'm always tagging along anyway." He scratched the back of his head, clearly a bit embarrassed by his request.
Hana blinked in confusion for a moment. "Ryo's assistant? Wait, you work with him?"
Kai nodded enthusiastically. "Yep! I know, I know—Ryo's always so serious, but I keep things... interesting." He chuckled awkwardly. "I promise, I'm not a troublemaker. I'm just kind of... well, a little clumsy."
At that, Hana couldn't help but smile. "I see," she said, raising an eyebrow. "You're welcome to join us, of course. The more, the merrier, right?"
Kai's eyes lit up like a child getting a new toy. "Really? Oh, thank you! I promise I won't be a hassle!"
Behind him, Ryo, who had just arrived at the shop, gave a sigh, half amused, half resigned. "I had a feeling Kai would show up," he said, giving a quick glance at his assistant. "I guess you can come. But no funny business."
Hana laughed softly at the sight of Ryo, who seemed unbothered by Kai's unexpected appearance. "I'm glad," Hana said, smiling warmly. "It'll be good to have you both along."
Kenta, who had been eavesdropping from behind the counter, suddenly sprang into action. "Kai's coming too? This is going to be so much fun!" he said excitedly. "I didn't think we'd have so many people on this vacation!"
Kai looked at the group, his eyes bright with eagerness. "So, when do we leave? Where are we going?"
Hana, still chuckling at the idea of having Kai along for the ride, handed out the plans she had carefully written out. "We'll leave tomorrow morning. It's a cozy cabin by the lake, about three hours away from here. We'll have plenty of time to relax, eat, and enjoy nature."
Kai clapped his hands together in excitement. "Perfect! I'm in!"
As the preparations continued, Hana felt a wave of warmth wash over her. The idea of a relaxing vacation was becoming more real by the second, and the thought of spending time with Ryo, Kenta, Mei, and now Kai—who, despite his clumsiness, seemed like a good guy—was making her heart feel lighter.
The group was starting to feel more like a little family, and the idea of escaping from the chaos of everyday life felt like a dream come true.
---
**The Next Day**
The next morning, the group met bright and early to head out to the cabin. Hana, Kenta, and Mei were packed and ready, all excited for the getaway. Kai, of course, was already too hyped up, carrying a bag that looked far too heavy for him to manage.
As they piled into the van, Ryo sat quietly in the front, keeping a watchful eye on the road ahead. Kai bounced around in the back, trying to organize the bags in a way that made sense (but mostly just making things more chaotic). Kenta sat next to him, happily chatting about all the food they could eat at the cabin, while Mei rolled her eyes but joined in the conversation.
Hana couldn't help but laugh at the scene. It was like a strange but wonderful family road trip, and despite the odd mix of personalities, she felt content. It was the first time in a long while that she didn't feel so alone.
"Let's make this a good trip, everyone!" Hana said, her voice filled with excitement. "We're going to have a lot of fun!"
Kai grinned from ear to ear. "You can count on me to keep things interesting!" he said, sending everyone a thumbs-up.
Ryo's gaze flickered back to them, his stoic expression softening just slightly. "Just don't cause too much trouble," he said quietly, though there was a hint of a smile playing at the corner of his lips.
The group settled into a comfortable rhythm as the van rolled on toward the cabin. And while the trip was bound to be filled with surprises and laughter, Hana felt a sense of happiness she hadn't realized she'd been missing.
The vacation had begun—and something told her this was just the start of an unforgettable adventure.