Satoshi woke up on his second day of high school feeling a bit more at ease than the previous day. He decided to use his bicycle this time—it would be quicker and give him a few more minutes of sleep each morning.

"Why didn’t I use my bicycle yesterday?" Satoshi wondered aloud.

"Well, you were nervous on the first day and forgot about it," I replied.

"More like you forgot to mention my bicycle even existed," Satoshi retorted with a grin.

"Hey, it’s my story, so I can do what I want!" I shot back.

“Sure, sure, lazy author,” Satoshi muttered with a laugh. “Anyway, I’m off!”

He pedaled down the road toward Takamori High, feeling the crisp morning air rush past him. The rhythm of the pedals and the wind in his face helped calm his nerves. Reaching the school gate, he saw his friends Ryo and Akira waving at him.

"Good morning!" Satoshi called out, parking his bicycle.

"Good morning, Satoshi!" Ryo replied, while Akira added, "About time you showed up! We’ve been waiting."

"Sorry, I decided to cycle today. Anyway, did you watch the new anime episode yesterday?" Satoshi asked.

"Yeah! I can't believe how good it was," Ryo said, excitement sparking in his eyes.

"Ugh, not anime talk again. Can we talk about something else for once?" Akira groaned.

“It’s fun, Mr. History Buff. You should try watching some,” Ryo teased.

“No thanks, I’ll stick to my books,” Akira replied with a playful scowl.

Their banter continued as they entered the school building and made their way to class.

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Inside, their new friends Haruto and Yuta greeted them. “Hey, good morning, guys!” Haruto waved.

“Morning!” Satoshi, Ryo, and Akira chimed back.

Their homeroom teacher, Mr. Tanaka, walked in with a smile. "Alright, everyone. Today, we’ll be doing something different. Instead of the usual self-introductions, let’s break into groups and prepare a three-minute presentation on a topic I’ll assign you.”

Satoshi was grouped with Haruto, Yuta, and a new girl named Aoi Yamashita. They quickly started brainstorming, and Satoshi’s thoughtful and open approach impressed Aoi.

During lunch, Aoi approached Satoshi with a friendly smile. “Hey, would it be okay if I joined you and your friends for lunch?”

“Of course! The more, the merrier,” Satoshi said, and his friends nodded in agreement.

"Hehe, seems like someone has an admirer," I teased.

"Cut it out, Author-san! It's not like that," Satoshi replied, flustered. "Besides, I'm not really interested in romance right now."

"Is that so? Well, don’t worry, Satoshi. There's plenty of time for that," I reassured him.

They all found a table in the bustling cafeteria, quickly falling into an easy rhythm of conversation. It didn’t take long for Aoi to blend in seamlessly with their group. They talked about their favorite subjects, hobbies, and, of course, anime—much to Akira’s chagrin.

"You’re into quite a lot of things, Satoshi," Aoi remarked, looking genuinely intrigued. "You seem to have something in common with everyone."

“Yeah, I get that a lot,” Satoshi said modestly.

As the lunch break ended, they headed back to class, and the rest of the school day passed with introductory lessons and casual conversations. Before they knew it, the final bell rang.

“Want to grab a bite at McDonald’s?” Ryo suggested as they walked out of the school gates.

“I’d love to, but I have to get home and cook dinner,” Satoshi replied. “Both my parents work late.”

"Wow, that's pretty cool that you can cook," Aoi said, impressed.

Satoshi smiled. “It comes in handy. Anyway, see you all tomorrow!”

He waved goodbye and rode home on his bike. Once home, he quickly whipped up dinner, and his parents arrived shortly after. They sat down for a family meal, sharing stories from their day.

“How was school today, Satoshi?” his dad asked.

“It was good, Dad. I’m starting to get the hang of it. And Ryo and Akira being in my class helps,” Satoshi answered.

“That’s great, son,” his mom said with a smile. “It’s important to have friends around.”

After dinner, Satoshi retired to his room, feeling a little more settled than the day before. He lay in bed, thinking about his new friends and the day’s events. He was happy with how things were going, even if they were just small steps toward something greater.

“Maybe this high school thing won’t be so bad after all,” he thought with a quiet smile.

And with that thought, Satoshi drifted off to sleep, ready for whatever tomorrow would bring.