Chapter 34: The Day of the Picnic
The park was still alive with laughter as the group of friends gathered around, but today was different. Aiko had planned something special—a picnic in the afternoon to celebrate their newly formed bonds. The morning's lighthearted energy was still hanging in the air, but there was something else too. There was a sense of anticipation, like something good was just waiting to happen.
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Setting Up the Picnic
The picnic spot was a quiet corner of the park, under the shade of an enormous tree, its branches wide enough to protect them from the sun. Naoto and Rika arrived first, and they immediately started setting up the large blanket, arranging the food that Aiko had brought along.
Rika couldn't help but smile at the sheer amount of snacks Aiko had packed. Sandwiches, fruit, chips, cookies, and even a homemade cake. Aiko, ever the entertainer, was always about giving her friends the best experience.
"So, what do you think?" Rika asked Naoto, stepping back to assess the setup.
Naoto looked at the spread, then back at Rika. "I think we're going to eat way too much."
"True," Rika chuckled. "But that's the point of a picnic, right?"
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Naoto gave a small smile, and for a moment, there was a peaceful quiet between them—just the two of them, setting up for something simple, yet meaningful.
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The Others Arrive
As they finished setting everything up, the rest of the group arrived, each one carrying their own little contribution to the picnic.
Sora had a basketball under his arm, clearly ready for a game after eating. "What's this? No one invited me to the food prep!" he joked, plopping down beside Aiko.
"Yeah, because you probably would have eaten it all before we even had a chance to set up," Aiko replied, playfully shoving him.
"Ha! You can't blame me for being hungry," he grinned.
Yuto and Mei followed behind, both carrying bags. Mei smiled, handing a bag of drinks to Aiko. "Here. I brought some soda."
"Thanks, Mei!" Aiko grinned, already taking a drink and handing it to the group. "Alright, let's eat!"
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Picnic Fun
Everyone dug into the spread, chatting about school, random jokes, and their favorite TV shows. Sora, as expected, started teasing Yuto, trying to challenge him to eat as much as possible. Yuto, never one to back down from a challenge, immediately dove into a sandwich, competing to see who could finish faster.
"Are you really trying to win this?" Aiko laughed. "It's not a race!"
"Oh, but it is now!" Yuto grinned, shoveling more food into his mouth.
Mei watched them both with an amused expression, while Naoto and Rika shared an exasperated look. It wasn't often they saw this side of their friends—this unrestrained, carefree part of themselves that didn't hold anything back. It felt so… normal.
"Hey, Naoto!" Aiko suddenly called out. "Are you going to join the fun or just sit there all day?"
Naoto blinked, then smirked, realizing he had been so caught up in the moment that he hadn't noticed his friends' antics. "I'm not sure I want to get involved in your mess," he said, his smile teasing.
"You just don't want to admit you're outmatched," Sora taunted.
Rika couldn't help but chuckle. It felt so good to be surrounded by people who made her forget about everything else—the stress of school, the uncertainty of her feelings. Here, with her friends, she could laugh freely.
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A Game of Tag
After they finished eating, the group decided to play a game of tag—because why not? The rules were simple: whoever was "it" had to tag someone else to pass it on. But of course, the simple rules quickly became a full-blown competition as the group darted around the park.
Rika found herself running beside Naoto, trying to avoid being tagged. "You're not going to tag me, right?" she asked, laughing breathlessly.
Naoto glanced at her and raised an eyebrow. "Do you want me to?"
Rika didn't know how to answer that. She wasn't sure if she wanted him to tag her or not. But before she could say anything, Sora sprinted past them, causing Rika to stumble in surprise.
"Hey! No fair!" she shouted, but Sora was already out of earshot.
Laughter filled the air again as the group ran in different directions, and for a moment, everything felt perfect. They were just friends, nothing more, nothing less—uncomplicated.
Naoto stopped running for a moment, out of breath. He turned to watch Rika chase after Sora, her face glowing with happiness. There was something special about these moments. It wasn't just about fun or laughter—it was about the connections they were building.
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The Quiet Moment
As the game came to a pause, everyone sat on the grass to catch their breath, their laughter still ringing in the air.
Naoto looked at Rika, still smiling from the game. "You're good at running."
Rika raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were supposed to be fast."
Naoto shrugged. "I'm not a marathon runner."
"You could have caught me, though," Rika teased.
"Could have, but I didn't want to be 'it' again," he joked.
They both laughed, and for a moment, they didn't feel the weight of their unspoken feelings. Everything seemed easy, like it was meant to be.
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