𝗜 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗡𝗘𝗗 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 on the wooden bench, letting the warmth of the afternoon sun seep into my skin. The air was cool but pleasant, a gentle breeze carrying the scent of freshly cut grass and the faintest hint of cherry blossoms. Hitoka sat next to me, her legs tucked up on the bench as she picked at the remnants of her bento, her face a picture of contentment.
The school grounds stretched out before us, a patchwork of green fields and clusters of trees that framed the view of the school building. It stood there, solid and comforting, with ivy climbing up its sides, adding a touch of wildness to the otherwise orderly scene. The leaves rustled softly in the wind, creating a natural symphony that mixed with the distant chatter of students scattered around the campus, enjoying their break.
I watched as a few students kicked around a soccer ball in the field, their laughter ringing out clear and bright. Further off, near the edge of the school property, a group of girls sat under a large oak tree, their heads bent together as they shared some gossip. The tree itself was ancient, its gnarled roots twisting into the earth, and its thick branches provided a canopy of shade, a sanctuary from the sun’s rays.
"So, how was weekend?" Hitoka asked, munching on her sandwich.
"Ah, just work and I finally caught up on Kimetsu no Yaiba," I replied, grinning. "You just have to watch it, dude! And don't come up with bullshit that you gotta study or something."
"Girl, not you coming to me later and crying that you 'should've studied instead of binge watching anime'"
"Oh, so you want to be dead dead," I laughed and punched her arm slightly. "Anyway, how was yours?"
"Nothing much," She said with a laugh. "You know, I've been thinking about the manager position for the team."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? You made a decision about that?"
The blonde nodded, her eyes lighting up. "Yeah, I'm going for it. Gonna try being the second manager."
"Seriously? That's awesome!" I said, genuinely excited. "I think you'll be amazing at it. You're super organized and always so supportive."
She blushed a bit, looking both excited and nervous. "Thanks! I'm a bit nervous, but I think I can handle it. It's going to be a lot of work, tho."
"You'll totally crush it," I said, giving her a reassuring smile. "The team will definitely appreciate having an extra set of hands."
