With the midterms looming, Aizen, Ryuen, Kei, and Violet decided to add a bit of fun to the stress of exams by issuing a challenge: whoever scored the lowest would have to treat the others to a barbecue party. It was a light-hearted bet, but it added an extra layer of motivation for each of them.
As the exams came and went, the atmosphere in the school shifted from tense focus to nervous anticipation. Everyone was eager to see their results, and the four friends were no exception. They had studied hard, and the group study sessions had paid off, but now it was time to see who would be footing the bill for the barbecue.
When the results were finally posted, the four of them gathered around the bulletin board, scanning the list of names and scores. Kei was the first to find her name, and she let out a dramatic sigh. "Well, looks like I'm buying the barbecue," she said, pointing to her rank: 22nd out of 50.
Ryuen, who had been nervously biting his lip, quickly found his own name. "11th! I actually made it to 11th!" He grinned, clearly pleased with his improvement.
Aizen and Violet were still searching for their names, and when they finally found them, their eyes widened in surprise.
"3rd," Violet said quietly, her expression a mix of pride and disbelief. "I didn't expect that."
"And 4th," Aizen added, his voice equally stunned. "I'm… fourth."
The news quickly spread through the class, and there was a wave of shock and murmurs as everyone realized that Aizen and Violet, usually quiet and unassuming, had ranked among the top students. Ryuen's improvement was also a pleasant surprise, and many of their classmates congratulated him on his hard work.
But the biggest surprise was Kei. Despite her cheerful and easygoing nature, she had expected to do better. However, instead of being disappointed, she smiled and shrugged. "Well, a deal's a deal. Looks like I'll be treating you all to a barbecue!"
The group couldn't help but laugh. The tension of exams had melted away, replaced by the excitement of their upcoming celebration.
The following weekend, they gathered at a local park where public grills were available. Kei, true to her word, had prepared everything—marinated meats, vegetables, and all the fixings for a proper barbecue. Ryuen took charge of the grill, flipping burgers and skewers with a confidence that came from his usual baseball practice, while Aizen and Violet helped with setting up the table and organizing the food.
As they sat down to eat, the mood was light and filled with laughter. The challenge had brought them closer, and the barbecue was the perfect way to unwind after the stress of exams. They joked about their scores, with Ryuen teasing Kei about her rank, and Kei playfully pretending to throw a piece of lettuce at him.
Violet, usually quiet, found herself laughing more than she had in a long time. Aizen, too, felt a warmth in his chest that had nothing to do with the food. These moments, surrounded by friends, made all the challenges they had faced seem worthwhile.
As the sun began to set and the grill cooled down, they packed up their things, the satisfaction of a successful barbecue evident on their faces.
"Thanks for the treat, Kei," Ryuen said, patting her on the back. "We should do this again, minus the whole losing part."
Kei grinned, not at all bothered by her loss. "You bet. But next time, I'm winning."
Aizen smiled, glancing around at his friends. "We'll see about that."
Violet nodded in agreement. "But no matter who wins, it's always fun with you guys."
As they walked home, Aizen couldn't help but think about how much his life had changed since he first transferred to this school. What had started as a lonely experience had transformed into something much richer, filled with friendships, challenges, and memories he wouldn't trade for anything.
And as they parted ways at the park entrance, each heading back to their homes, Aizen felt a sense of contentment. He had found his place here, surrounded by people who made every challenge, even the stressful ones, worth it.