A Day of Light

The air was crisp, carrying the scent of spring blossoms as Yuuto stood in front of the school gates. The sunlight filtered through the cherry blossoms, painting the ground in shades of pink and white. For the first time in what felt like forever, he wasn't bracing himself for chaos.

Eva, Rika, and Reina were waiting for him at their usual spot near the school garden. Today wasn't about strategy or unraveling another scheme—it was a day to breathe.

"You're late," Eva teased, leaning against the tree with her arms crossed.

Yuuto smirked. "I didn't realize we were on a schedule for hanging out."

Reina chuckled. "Eva's just impatient because she doesn't know what to do when things are calm."

"Not true!" Eva protested.

Rika grinned. "It's a little true."

The four of them laughed, the sound light and free. After everything they'd been through, it felt almost surreal to be standing here, talking about nothing of consequence.

---

A Challenge in the Kitchen

Later that afternoon, the group decided to hang out at Yuuto's house. His parents were out of town, leaving the place unusually quiet.

"We should cook something," Rika suggested as they piled into the kitchen.

Eva raised an eyebrow. "You? Cooking? This I have to see."

"I'm not that bad," Rika said, pouting.

Reina stepped forward. "I can help. I used to cook with my grandmother all the time."

Yuuto nodded. "Alright, what's on the menu?"

"Something simple," Reina said thoughtfully. "How about curry?"

The group agreed, and soon the kitchen was alive with activity. Yuuto and Eva were tasked with chopping vegetables, while Rika and Reina handled the rice and spices.

"This is dangerous," Yuuto muttered as Eva waved a knife in the air while talking.

"Oh, relax," she said, grinning. "I'm perfectly capable of multitasking."

Yuuto raised an eyebrow. "Says the girl who almost burned toast last week."

Eva shot him a mock glare, and the two of them dissolved into laughter.

---

A Taste Test Gone Wrong

As the curry simmered on the stove, the group gathered around to taste-test the sauce.

"Alright, moment of truth," Rika said, scooping a small spoonful and handing it to Yuuto.

He took a bite and immediately winced. "That's… spicy."

"Too spicy?" Rika asked, concerned.

Yuuto coughed. "Let's just say it's got a kick."

Eva took a taste next and burst out laughing. "Rika, did you dump an entire jar of chili powder in here?"

Rika blushed. "I thought it needed more flavor!"

Reina tried it and smiled. "It's not bad, actually. Just… intense."

Despite the mishap, the group managed to salvage the curry by adding more coconut milk. By the time it was ready, the kitchen was filled with the comforting aroma of spices.

They sat around the table, bowls of steaming curry in front of them, and dug in.

"This is surprisingly good," Eva admitted.

"Thanks to Reina's quick thinking," Yuuto said.

Rika pouted. "I helped too!"

"And nearly burned our tongues off," Eva teased.

---

A Game of Cards

After lunch, the group moved to the living room for a game of cards.

"Let's make it interesting," Rika said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Loser has to do a dare."

Yuuto groaned. "Why does everything have to involve dares with you?"

"Because it's fun," Rika replied, grinning.

The game was a mix of strategy and chaos, with Eva accusing Rika of cheating, Reina calmly winning hand after hand, and Yuuto struggling to keep up.

In the end, Yuuto was the unlucky loser.

"Alright, what's the dare?" he asked, bracing himself.

Rika smirked. "You have to sing a love song."

Yuuto's face turned red. "Absolutely not."

"A dare's a dare," Eva said, laughing.

Reina smiled. "We won't judge, promise."

With a resigned sigh, Yuuto stood up and began singing a horribly off-key rendition of a popular love song. His friends were in stitches by the time he finished, their laughter echoing through the room.

---

A Quiet Moment

As the sun began to set, the group moved to the backyard, where they sat on the grass and watched the sky turn shades of orange and pink.

"This feels nice," Rika said, lying back and looking up at the clouds.

"It does," Reina agreed. "After everything we've been through, I think we've earned a moment like this."

Eva glanced at Yuuto. "What about you? How are you feeling?"

Yuuto thought for a moment before answering. "I feel… grateful. For all of you."

The others smiled, their expressions soft.

"You're not so bad yourself," Eva said, nudging him playfully.

The group fell into a comfortable silence, the kind that only comes from being with people who truly understand you.

A New Beginning

As the evening wore on, Yuuto couldn't help but feel that this day marked a turning point. For so long, their lives had been consumed by drama and conflict. But now, for the first time, there was hope for something more.

Looking around at his friends, Yuuto realized that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together.

And for now, that was enough.