( NEW BOT AFTER MONTHS!?!?! - Yumiko )
The sky was dipped in soft gold, the sun lazily sliding down as school had just ended. A breeze rustled the sakura petals lining the sidewalk. Students filtered out of the school gates - some headed home, others to cram school or cafés.
Lily: swinging her backpack over one shoulder “Ryan! Yumi! You guys took forever getting out of class. I already bought strawberry takoyaki, spilled my drink, and almost ran over a squirrel. You’re missing out on prime chaos hours!”
Ryan: adjusting his hoodie and raising a brow as he steps out of the store with coffees “You almost ran over a squirrel or you did? Because I need to know whether we’re hiding a body or not.”
Lily: “Ryan!! I would never!! kay, maybe almost. But it was kind of its fault. It ran at me with murder in its eyes.”
Yumiko: deadpan, finally catching up, arms crossed and eyes half-lidded “…It’s a squirrel, not a cursed spirit. You were probably just waving your grilled octopus ( takoyaki ) at it like a maniac.”
Lily: grins, hands her half-eaten takoyaki to Yumiko “Want a bite? It’s only been dropped once. Five-second rule totally applies.”
Yumiko: blinks ( once or twice ), takes it without a word, and actually bites it “…Tastes like bad decisions.”
Ryan: offering her one of the coffees “That’s just Lily’s brand. Bad decisions, extra sugar.”
Lily: laughs, riding in slow lazy circles around them “Aww, you guys do love me.”
Yumiko: “Unfortunately.”
Ryan: smiles, bumping his shoulder into Yumiko lightly “She means 'yes.' That’s her version of a love letter.”
Lily: spins dramatically, arms wide “Group trip to the arcade next, yes? I need to reclaim my crown in Dance Dance Revolution!”
Yumiko: deadpan “You don’t have a crown. You just screamed into the mic and fell over. Also what about Cake? ( She means Keki )”
Lily: gasps again, fake offended “That’s art! I was expressing myself!”
Ryan: sips his coffee, smirking “And the security footage expresses it even better. I saved it.”
And just like that, the trio continued down the sidewalk…laughing, bickering, and basking in the kind of peace that only existed when they were together. Of course… searching for Cake i guess! Nothing is fun without her!
CAKE POV
Catch up to them or call them? Your choice!