Breaking the Ice

The news of the new transfer student spread quickly through the academy, and by the end of the day, everyone was talking about her. Haruki, Riku, Mei, and Kenta decided to get a better look and maybe even introduce themselves. They found her practicing on the range, a small crowd still gathered around, watching her every move.

Riku nudged Haruki as they approached. "Hey, why don't you go first? You're the serious archer here. Maybe you can impress her with your dedication or something."

Haruki rolled his eyes but walked forward, feeling a bit awkward under the curious gazes of his peers. He stopped a few steps away from the girl, who was now adjusting her bowstring.

"Hi, I'm Haruki," he said, trying to sound casual. "Welcome to Yamato Archery Academy."

The girl looked up, her expression neutral but not unfriendly. "Hi, I'm Aiko. Thanks."

"So, you're pretty good," Haruki said, scratching the back of his head. "I saw your shot earlier. It was impressive."

Aiko shrugged, her eyes focused on her bow. "Thanks. I've been practicing for a long time."

Riku, unable to stay out of the conversation, stepped up beside Haruki. "I'm Riku, by the way. And this is Mei and Kenta," he said, gesturing to the others. "We were just talking about how you're like a real-life version of those archery heroes in the movies. You know, splitting arrows and all that."

Aiko raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I'm not that good. But I appreciate the compliment."

Mei stepped forward, her bubbly personality shining through. "So, Aiko, what made you transfer here? We don't get many new students in the middle of the year."

Aiko's expression softened a bit. "My family moved here for my dad's job. I didn't want to leave my old school, but my parents thought this would be a good opportunity for me."

Kenta, always the skeptic, crossed his arms. "Well, you've definitely made an impression. Everyone's been talking about you."

Aiko's eyes flickered with amusement. "I noticed. I'm just here to practice and hopefully get better."

Haruki nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. "Well, you've come to the right place. The competition here is tough, but it pushes you to improve. If you ever need someone to practice with, I'm usually here early in the mornings."

"Thanks," Aiko said, her smile genuine this time. "I might take you up on that."

Riku, never one to miss an opportunity for humor, nudged Haruki again. "Look at you, already making friends. Maybe you should give the rest of us a chance too."

Haruki laughed, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. So, Aiko, what do you think of the academy so far?"

"It's nice," Aiko replied, glancing around. "Everyone's been friendly, and the facilities are great. It's just a lot to take in all at once."

Mei nodded sympathetically. "I get that. When I first got here, I was overwhelmed too. But you'll settle in soon enough. And if you ever need a break from all the archery talk, we have a pretty fun group. We hang out, do random stuff, and just unwind. You're welcome to join us anytime."

Aiko's smile widened. "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, Mei."

Kenta, sensing the conversation was winding down, clapped his hands together. "Well, it looks like you're going to fit in just fine, Aiko. Now, how about we let her get back to her practice before Riku here starts asking her for archery tips?"

Riku feigned indignation. "Hey, I'm just being friendly. But seriously, Aiko, welcome to the academy. We're glad to have you."

"Thanks, everyone," Aiko said, looking genuinely pleased. "I'm glad to be here."

As they walked away, Riku slung an arm around Haruki's shoulders. "See? That wasn't so hard. And now we have a new friend who might just be as serious about archery as you are."

Haruki shrugged, a small smile on his face. "Yeah, I guess so. It's nice to have someone else around who's really into it."

Mei laughed, nudging Kenta. "Looks like our little group is growing. This year is going to be interesting."