The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the Academy grounds as students left for home. The usual noise of dismissal gradually faded as classrooms emptied and corridors grew quiet, leaving behind the peaceful atmosphere that made after-hours study sessions both productive and pleasant.
Hikaru walked alongside Yuki and Kenta toward their usual meeting place in the Academy library. Their weekly study group had become one of the most reliable and enjoyable parts of their school routine. The three friends had developed a good rhythm over the past month—Yuki organized their materials and kept them focused, Kenta asked questions that helped everyone understand concepts better, and Hikaru explained things in different ways when someone got confused.
"I'm still struggling with those math problems from yesterday's lesson," Kenta admitted as they climbed the stairs toward the library's main floor. "Koji-sensei explained how to calculate distances and angles for shuriken throwing, but I keep getting confused with the formulas."
"We can work through the diagrams together," Yuki replied patiently. "Sometimes drawing out the angles and distances makes the math problems easier to understand."
As they settled at their usual corner table and began spreading out their materials, Hikaru noticed movement through one of the tall windows that looked out over the Academy's training grounds. A solitary figure was practicing basic forms under the fading daylight.
"Is that Kajiwara-kun?" Yuki asked, following Hikaru's gaze toward the training ground where the figure continued his practice despite the approaching darkness.
Ryōta stood alone on the packed earth, running through basic taijutsu sequences with careful precision. His larger frame moved with improving coordination, though practicing alone created a somewhat lonely atmosphere.
"He stays late every day," Kenta observed sympathetically. "I used to do the same thing before joining our study group, practicing by myself because I was too embarrassed to ask for help."
Hikaru watched his training partner continue his forms, remembering their recent conversations about how Ryōta struggled with regular schoolwork despite working so hard at physical training.
"Actually," Hikaru said, turning back to his study partners and rubbing the back of his neck, "I already invited Kajiwara-kun to join our study sessions when we were training together. He's been doing physical training with me recently, but he's really struggling with classroom material. He mentions having trouble understanding lessons and not having anyone to ask for help. I thought studying together might help him the same way it helped all of us."
Yuki nodded immediately. "Of course we should invite him. We talked about helping other classmates who might be struggling, remember? This is exactly what we wanted to do."
"I think it would help," Kenta said enthusiastically. "When I was struggling alone, I really wished someone would invite me to study with them. And if Hikaru-kun thinks he'd fit in with us, that's good enough for me."
"Should we go get him then?" Kenta asked, glancing toward the window where Ryōta continued his practice. "We can introduce him to you two properly and start our first session together."
"Good idea," Hikaru agreed. "Let's go."
"I think that's a good idea," Hikaru agreed.
They gathered their study materials and made their way outside, crossing the Academy grounds toward the training area where Ryōta continued his determined practice. The evening air was crisp with the approaching winter, while the setting sun painted the training ground in warm colors.
Ryōta was so focused on his forms that he didn't notice their approach until Yuki called out a polite greeting from a respectful distance. His reaction was immediate surprise followed by obvious self-consciousness.
"Oh, Yuki-san, Kenta-kun!" Ryōta said, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand and grinning widely. "Are you guys done with your study session already?"
"Actually, we came to get you," Hikaru said with a smile. "Remember how I mentioned our study group? These are my friends I told you about—Yuki and Kenta."
"Really?" Ryōta's face lit up with excitement, and he bounced slightly on his feet. "You guys are okay with me joining?"
"We know how hard it can be to study alone," Yuki said simply. "We help each other understand things, and maybe we can help you too."
"Besides," Kenta added warmly, "I used to think the same thing about myself. But it turns out that working together helps everyone learn better. Learning isn't a competition—it's about helping each other."
"I do spend a lot of time on physical training," Ryōta admitted with growing interest. "And I've been trying different approaches to conditioning that might help explain some of the theory we learn in class."
"That sounds really helpful," Hikaru confirmed enthusiastically. "Our group works best when everyone contributes their strengths to help solve common problems."
"When do you usually meet?" Ryōta asked with growing enthusiasm.
"Weekend afternoons at the library," Yuki replied, counting on her fingers. "Just for a few hours to review lessons and help each other with homework."
"That sounds really nice," Ryōta said with obvious relief. "I'd like to try it if you think I'd fit in okay."
"Of course you will," Kenta assured him warmly. "We're all just trying to understand things better and help each other succeed."
"Then it's settled," Yuki declared with satisfaction. "Starting this weekend, we'll be a four-person study group."
The brief study session that followed was slightly awkward at first as everyone adjusted to having a fourth person, but gradually they found their rhythm. Ryōta's questions about classroom concepts provided new angles for discussion, while his insights about how physical training connected to their lessons helped bridge gaps between theory and practical application.
"This is working out well," Kenta observed as they concluded their session and began gathering materials. "Having four different perspectives makes everything more interesting."
"And it's nice that we figured out how to work together naturally," Yuki agreed with satisfaction.
As they prepared to leave the Academy, the four friends decided to walk home together through the village streets. The late afternoon had a pleasant, relaxed feeling that made none of them want to rush back to their houses just yet.
"You know what I've been craving lately?" Kenta said as they passed through the market district. "Those honey cakes from the bakery near the shrine. My mouth waters every time I smell them."
"Oh, I love those!" Ryōta said excitedly, gesturing enthusiastically with both hands. "My grandmother makes something similar, but she says the bakery has a secret ingredient that makes theirs extra fluffy."
"What kind of foods do you like, Yuki-san?" Hikaru asked, realizing they'd never really talked about everyday things like favorite foods.
"I really like simple things," Yuki replied thoughtfully. "Rice with pickled vegetables, miso soup with lots of seaweed, and those little fish cakes they sell at the morning market. My family doesn't eat fancy food very often, but when we do, I always choose dango."
"Dango is the best!" Kenta agreed enthusiastically, pumping his fist in the air. "Sweet, chewy, and you can eat it while walking around. Perfect festival food."
"Have you guys tried the new ramen stand that opened near the training grounds?" Ryōta asked. "The owner makes his broth from scratch every morning, and you can smell it cooking from two blocks away."
As they continued walking and talking about their favorite foods, Hikaru realized how much he was enjoying this casual conversation. After all the intense training and studying, it felt good to just chat about normal things like what they liked to eat and which shops had the best snacks.
"You know what?" Hikaru said as they passed a small dango shop with a cheerful red banner hanging outside. "Today feels like a good day to take a break from serious training. Want to get some dango and just enjoy the afternoon?"
"Really?" Kenta asked, his eyes lighting up. "You're not going to do evening training today?"
"Even ninja need rest days," Hikaru said with a smile, stretching his arms above his head in a relaxed manner. "Besides, I think celebrating our new study group member is more important than another training session."
They entered the small dango shop, which was warm and cozy with the smell of sweet sauce and grilled rice dumplings. The elderly shopkeeper greeted them cheerfully and recommended his special sauce that had "just the right balance of sweet and savory."
They found a table near the window and ordered different varieties of dango to share—some with sweet red bean paste, others with a glossy brown sauce, and a few with kinako (roasted soybean flour) for a nutty flavor.
"This is really good," Ryōta said happily, taking another bite and closing his eyes to savor the flavor. "Much better than when I try to make them at home."
"Making dango is harder than it looks," Yuki agreed. "Getting the texture right requires a lot of practice."
"My sister tried making them once," Hikaru said, laughing at the memory. "They came out either too hard or too mushy. She was so frustrated that she banned me from the kitchen for a week."
"Your sister runs that yakitori stall in the market, right?" Kenta asked. "I've been wanting to try it, but the line is always so long."
"It's worth the wait," Ryōta said enthusiastically. "Hikaru-kun brought me there after our first sparring session. The yakitori is incredible, and Ayako-san is really nice."
As they continued eating and talking, the conversation drifted from food to their families, their favorite places in the village, and funny stories from their childhood. Hikaru found himself genuinely relaxed for the first time in weeks.
"You know," he said, leaning back in his chair contentedly and patting his satisfied stomach, "I think I needed this more than I realized. Sometimes you get so focused on training and improving that you forget to just enjoy spending time with friends."
"It's important to have balance," Yuki said wisely. "If we only study and train all the time, we'll burn out. Having fun together makes us better friends and probably better students too."
"Plus, now I know where to go when I want the best dango in the village," Ryōta added with a grin, finishing his last dumpling.
As the sun began to set and they prepared to head home, Hikaru felt grateful for how the day had developed. They'd successfully expanded their study group, had a great casual conversation, and discovered a new favorite spot for relaxing together.
"Same time next weekend for our first four-person study session?" Yuki asked as they prepared to part ways.
"Definitely," Ryōta replied eagerly. "And thank you again for including me. This has been one of the best afternoons I've had in a long time."
"Thank you for joining us," Hikaru said sincerely. "I think our group is going to be even better with four people."
As they walked their separate ways home, Hikaru reflected on how much his social life had grown since starting at the Academy. He'd gone from being completely isolated to having real friends who cared about helping each other succeed—and who could just sit around eating dango and talking about everyday things.
Sometimes the simple moments are the most important ones, he thought as he headed home. Training is important, but so is having people you can relax with.
When he reached his house, Ayako was already preparing dinner.
"You're home a bit later than usual," she observed. "Did you have a good day?"
"Really good," Hikaru replied with a smile. "We added a new member to our study group, and then we went to that dango shop near the shrine to celebrate."
"That sounds lovely," Ayako said approvingly. "It's important to have friends you can enjoy simple pleasures with. Those are the relationships that last."
That evening, as Hikaru reviewed his notes and planned his training for the next day, he felt more motivated and refreshed than he had in a while. Taking time to relax and enjoy his friendships hadn't made him less dedicated to his goals—it had reminded him why those goals mattered in the first place.
Tomorrow I'll get back to serious training, he decided. But I'm glad we took time to just be friends today.