Mark flopped into his seat with a tired sigh, the weight of the day slowly draining from his shoulders. The conversation with Akiha earlier still echoed in the back of his mind, her soft voice and unexpected kindness lingering like a warm aftertaste. But now wasn't the time to dwell on it—not when his usual crew had already gathered around his desk, chatting away like nothing else in the world mattered.
Rhein was the first to greet him, his usual big grin plastered across his round, friendly face. He was the kind of guy who made people feel welcome, even if they barely knew him. His dark hair was a little messy, his shirt slightly untucked, and there were crumbs from a pastry still clinging to the corners of his mouth.
"Yo, Mark!" Rhein called out, nudging a chair closer with his foot. "You took forever to get back, man. I thought you ditched us for the day."
Mark gave him a tired smirk. "Yeah, I got caught up. Had some stuff on my mind."
"Let me guess," said Jake, the pale-skinned boy sitting to the right, his fingers flipping a pencil with surgical precision. His face was always unreadable, like he was thinking ten steps ahead in a chess match no one else was playing. "You were off having some mysterious emotional moment again. Typical Mark."
Mark snorted. "I wasn't crying in the rain, if that's what you're implying."
Jake smirked faintly. "Didn't say you were."
Sitting a little away from the others, not quite in the circle but close enough to listen, was Gale—the quietest of the group. He had dark, slightly wavy hair that always covered one eye and a presence so low-key that sometimes even teachers forgot he was in the room. But his eyes were sharp. Always watching, always absorbing everything.
"So," Rhein said, clapping his hands together, "what's the plan for Saturday? That's tomorrow, you know. We better not just sit at home again."
Jake shrugged, still flipping his pencil. "Depends. You got something good in mind?"
Rhein leaned in, grinning like he'd been waiting to say this all week. "My cousin's setting up a new game center out near the mall. VR setups, retro arcade machines, high-speed racers, the whole deal. He said we can check it out early—like, before the place even opens to the public. Free snacks, too."
Mark raised an eyebrow. "You're just telling us this now?"
Rhein shrugged, trying to act casual but obviously proud. "Wanted to make it a surprise. Plus, I had to make sure he wasn't bluffing. He pulls this kind of thing sometimes just to flex."
Jake leaned back in his seat. "That actually sounds pretty sick."
Gale, to everyone's surprise, spoke up quietly. "What time?"
The group turned toward him, a bit startled. Gale didn't usually chime in unless it mattered to him.
Rhein blinked, then grinned. "He said we could come by around eleven. He'll let us in through the back. We just gotta look like we're not trying to rob the place."
Mark chuckled. "What, no ski masks?"
"No ski masks," Rhein confirmed with mock seriousness.
Jake tapped his chin, his expression thoughtful. "I'm down. I've been meaning to test some new reflex timing in a real VR sim. Retro stuff might be good for that."
Mark glanced toward Gale. "You're coming?"
Gale gave a small nod. "Yeah."
That was all he said, but it was enough. If Gale was willing to show up, it meant the plan had officially passed the "worth my time" test. The kid rarely left his house unless it involved strategy games or horror films.
"Alright," Mark said, sitting back. "Sounds like we've got a Saturday plan."
Rhein pumped his fist into the air. "Heck yeah! I've been stuck playing mobile games on a cracked screen for two weeks now. I need something real."
Jake smirked. "Your 'real' is probably just you mashing buttons on that old DDR machine."
"Don't judge the rhythm, man!" Rhein said, feigning offense. "That machine has soul."
The group laughed, and for the first time all day, Mark felt the tension in his chest loosen. Just being with the guys—talking trash, making stupid plans, and sharing laughs—was exactly what he needed. The chaos of the week, Miwa's coldness, Chizuru's absence, even the unexpected kindness from Akiha—it all faded into the background for now.
Just boys being boys, planning a weekend escape from school, responsibility, and the weirdness of teenage life.
When the final bell rang, they gathered their things, still chatting as they filed out of the classroom together.
As they walked down the hallway, Mark glanced around once more, half-hoping to catch a glimpse of Chizuru or Akiha.
Neither was in sight.
But that was okay. Tomorrow was a new day. One with games, friends, and maybe even a little freedom.
He could deal with the rest later.