Special Gathering!

Mayu stroked her chin thoughtfully as she glanced around the bustling mall, which was crowded with people and filled with the hum of activity. "How about we grab something to eat first? Then we can play afterward," she suggested.

"Oh, that's a great idea! I'm kinda hungry anyway, haha!" Riku replied enthusiastically.

Suddenly, Aoi's eyes narrowed as she noticed Hikaru holding his side. Without warning, she reached out and touched his hand. "Hikaru-kun… what happened to your hand?"

"Gah! Don't touch it!" Hikaru jolted, pulling his hand back instinctively.

"Hmm? What's going on with your hand? You've been holding it this whole time. Are you hiding something~?" Aoi teased, smirking mischievously.

"N-No, I just… accidentally bumped my side on a wall," Hikaru muttered.

"What? How'd that happen?" Riku asked, raising an eyebrow.

Not wanting to reveal what had actually happened the day before, Hikaru quickly made up a story. "I was helping my dad move some antiques, and I couldn't hold one of the bigger items properly. I lost my balance, fell against the wall, and banged my hand. That's why I've been holding it."

Mayu gave him a skeptical look but didn't press further. Aoi tilted her head, still smirking but letting it go.

"Jeez, be careful next time," Riku chuckled.

"Hikaru-san, does it hurt?" Sakura asked softly, her hand slowly reaching for his side.

"Ah, yeah… kinda. Just don't press too hard," Hikaru replied, glancing at Sakura as her gentle fingers lightly massaged his arm.

Aoi's eyes narrowed, watching the scene unfold. Hikaru wasn't even resisting—he just let Sakura tend to him so naturally. Aoi's expression twisted in confusion, her eyebrows shooting up.

Then she suddenly burst out, "Stop being romantic!! Enough already! Let's go find somewhere to eat!"

Her loud voice echoed through the mall, drawing a few curious glances from passersby.

Hikaru flinched, pulling his arm back slightly, while Sakura's cheeks flushed red.

"A-Aoi-senpai!" Sakura stammered, embarrassed.

Mayu chuckled, covering her mouth. "Aoi, calm down. You're making a scene."

Riku just sighed. "Here we go again…"

Aoi pouted, crossing her arms. "Hmph! I'm starving, so let's move already!"

Hikaru sighed in relief, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, let's go."

The group began walking, the tension dissolving into light laughter as they searched for a place to eat.

The group wandered through the bustling mall, the air rich with the scent of fresh food and the hum of weekend chatter. Neon signs flickered above various restaurants, each one more inviting than the last.

"How about that place?" Mayu suggested, pointing to a cozy-looking diner with warm lighting and a large window displaying mouthwatering desserts. "They've got good reviews, and it's not too crowded."

Aoi leaned closer to the menu posted outside, her eyes lighting up. "Ooooh, they have pancakes and pasta! I'm sold!"

"You're gonna end up with high blood pressure when you're older," Riku teased, smirking.

"Shut up, Riku-kun!" Aoi huffed, waving her hands dismissively at him.

Mayu chuckled and turned to Hikaru. "What about you, Hikaru-kun?" She then glanced at Sakura. "And you too, Sakura-chan?"

"I can eat anywhere, so I'm good," Hikaru replied casually.

Sakura nodded quickly, her voice soft. "W-Well, I invited myself here, so I don't have any reason to complain."

Aoi grinned and slung an arm over Sakura's shoulder. "Come on, my cute junior~ Don't be like that! You're one of us today!"

Sakura's cheeks turned pink, but she smiled shyly.

"Alright then, let's go in!" Mayu clapped her hands together, leading the group into the diner.

The warm air of the diner enveloped them as they stepped inside, a comforting contrast to the chilly mall corridors. The rich aroma of freshly baked bread and sizzling dishes filled the space, making their stomachs growl in anticipation.

They settled into a booth by the window, where the soft glow of hanging lights cast a cozy ambiance over the table.

"I'm definitely getting pancakes," Aoi declared, eagerly flipping through the menu. "With extra syrup… and whipped cream… ooh, and strawberries!"

"Diabetes is calling," Riku muttered under his breath, earning a sharp glare from Aoi.

"Keep talking, and I'll make you eat the napkins," she snapped, puffing out her cheeks.

Mayu giggled. "I think I'll get pasta. Something light, maybe carbonara."

Mayu then turned to Hikaru. "What about you, Hikaru-kun?"

Hikaru casually scanned the menu. "Maybe a burger… and fries. Simple."

"And you, Sakura-chan?" Aoi leaned in with a teasing grin.

"Ah, um…" Sakura glanced nervously at the menu. "Maybe… the omelet rice… it looks cute."

Aoi's eyes sparkled. "Ahhh! You're so adorable! You even pick cute food!"

Sakura blushed, hiding behind the menu.

Hikaru quietly watched the group bicker and laugh. The casual atmosphere gradually eased the tension that had been weighing on him. For a fleeting moment, everything felt normal.

Their server soon arrived, and they placed their orders amid excited chatter.

As they waited, Mayu leaned forward on the table. "So, after this, are we going ice skating or shopping first?"

"Ice skating!" Aoi raised her hand eagerly. "Let's burn off all the food we're about to eat!"

Riku smirked. "More like fall flat on your face."

"Excuse me?! I'm a pro at skating!" Aoi pouted, crossing her arms.

"No, just remember last year you said that too," Riku smirked, leaning back in his seat. "But then you tried to skate to the middle and couldn't even stop. You slammed right into a mother who was teaching her son how to skate and made them both fall."

Aoi's face turned bright red as she pouted, glaring at Riku.

Mayu quickly covered her mouth, squeezing her eyes shut to hold back a laugh.

"Was that true?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Ah, yeah, it's true," Riku chuckled, nodding without hesitation.

Aoi groaned, sinking into her seat. "Ugh, can we not bring that up?!"

"What is it? That's a true action from your words," Riku teased, a grin on his face.

"It's last year! I can be better than last yearrr!" Aoi huffed, crossing her arms and puffing out her cheeks.

"Shush, you two, don't be loud," Mayu sighed, shaking her head as she tried to keep the peace.

They finally began eating, the table quieting down as everyone dug into their meals. The clinking of utensils and the occasional satisfied sigh filled the air.

Aoi eagerly cut into her stack of pancakes, drenching them in syrup and whipped cream. "Mmm, this is so good! See, I told you this place was perfect!"

Riku rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his smile. "Yeah, yeah. Enjoy it while you can."

Mayu took a bite of her carbonara, nodding in approval. "This is really good. I'm glad we came here."

Hikaru took a few bites of his burger, looking around at everyone. Despite the weirdness of the past few days, this felt... normal. They were all just friends hanging out, enjoying a meal. It was nice to have this moment of peace.

Sakura, sitting quietly with her omelet rice, took small bites, glancing up at the others with a shy smile. "I'm glad I came… It's nice to spend time together."

Aoi looked over at her with a grin. "Of course! You're our cute junior, Sakura-chan! We have to take care of you!"

Sakura's face flushed as she smiled shyly. "Thanks… you're all really nice."

Hikaru couldn't help but smile as he glanced around at the group.

The group had finished their meal, feeling full and satisfied. After paying the bill and gathering their things, they made their way to the ice skating rink. The cool breeze hit them as they stepped outside, and the mall's large glass windows glimmered with neon lights.

The rink was just around the corner, tucked inside a spacious building with glass walls that allowed passersby to watch the skaters glide around the ice. Aoi immediately started bouncing on her heels, excited for the activity ahead.

"Come on, come on! Let's get our skates!" Aoi cheered, pulling the others toward the skate rental counter.

Mayu laughed, adjusting her bag. "You're really enthusiastic about this, huh?"

"Of course! Ice skating is awesome!" Aoi grinned, not waiting for an answer as she approached the counter.

Riku followed, raising an eyebrow at her antics. "Let's just hope you don't end up falling all over the place again."

To Be Continue.