New Friends and Old Habits

Haruki wiped the sweat from his brow as he stepped off the range, feeling a sense of accomplishment from his morning practice. The cafeteria at Yamato Archery Academy was buzzing with activity as students filled the tables, chatting and laughing over breakfast. Haruki grabbed a tray and joined the line, scanning the room for a familiar face.

"Haruki! Over here!" a voice called out. It was Riku Nakamura, waving enthusiastically from a corner table. Haruki made his way over, nodding to a few other students he recognized along the way.

"Morning, Riku," Haruki greeted, setting his tray down and taking a seat.

Riku grinned, his usual easygoing demeanor on full display. "Morning! Thought you might want to join us for once. You're always so focused on practice, we barely get to see you."

Haruki shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You know me. Just trying to stay sharp for the competition."

"Yeah, yeah, Mr. Serious," Riku teased, nudging Haruki playfully. "But come on, there's more to life than just archery. Like, for instance, have you ever tried the mystery meat they serve here on Fridays? It's a real test of endurance."

Haruki chuckled, shaking his head. "I'll take your word for it."

The table was soon joined by a few more students, including Mei Takahashi and Kenta Fujimoto. Mei, with her bright and bubbly personality, and Kenta, always ready with a sarcastic remark, added to the lively dynamic.

"So, Haruki," Mei began, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Riku was telling us about how you're some kind of archery prodigy. Is it true you hit the bullseye on your first try?"

Haruki laughed, shaking his head. "Hardly. My first few shots didn't even hit the target. My dad had to teach me the basics."

Kenta smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Sounds like Riku's been exaggerating again. Next, he'll be telling us he's the best archer here."

Riku feigned offense, placing a hand over his heart. "Hey, I might not be the best, but I'm definitely the funniest. That counts for something, right?"

Mei giggled, shaking her head. "You wish. But seriously, Haruki, you've got some serious skills. It's impressive."

"Thanks," Haruki said, feeling a bit bashful under the praise. "But everyone here is pretty talented. That's why we're at Yamato."

Riku leaned in, a conspiratorial look on his face. "Speaking of talent, have you heard about the new transfer student? Apparently, she's some kind of archery genius. I heard she once split an arrow in half from fifty meters away."

Kenta rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on, Riku. That sounds like something out of a movie. Next you'll be saying she can shoot arrows with her eyes closed."

Mei laughed, covering her mouth with her hand. "It does sound a bit far-fetched, but I guess we'll see. Maybe she'll give Haruki a run for his money."

Haruki shrugged, not overly concerned. "Competition's good. It pushes us to get better."

"Spoken like a true athlete," Riku said, mock-seriousness in his tone. "But let's hope this girl isn't some archery robot sent to crush our dreams."

The group burst into laughter, the easy camaraderie lightening the mood. As breakfast wound down, Haruki felt a warmth that had nothing to do with the food. For all his focus on archery, moments like these reminded him that there was more to life at the academy than just practice and competition.

After breakfast, the group headed to the training grounds together. Haruki felt a growing sense of anticipation. Today was the day they were supposed to meet the new transfer student. As they arrived at the range, they saw a small crowd gathered, everyone buzzing with curiosity.

"There she is," Mei whispered, nudging Haruki. "That's the new girl."

Haruki followed her gaze to see a tall, lean girl with sharp features and an air of confidence. She was adjusting her bow, seemingly unaware of the attention she was drawing.

"Guess we'll see if the rumors are true," Kenta muttered, crossing his arms.

The new student stepped up to the range, drawing an arrow with fluid grace. The crowd fell silent as she took aim and released the arrow. It flew through the air and hit the bullseye dead center, causing a ripple of impressed murmurs.

"Well, I'll be damned," Riku said, whistling softly. "Looks like we've got some serious competition."

Haruki watched the new student with interest, feeling a spark of excitement. This was going to be an interesting year.