The dorm walls were closing in on them. The tension of practice, of secrets, of whispers about "ace" and "failure" had made the air feel unbreathable. So when Kana suggested they take a break and step outside for once, no one argued.
Tokyo waited beyond the gates buzzing, alive, relentless. Neon signs bled color even in daylight, the streets a symphony of chatter, car horns, and the faint sizzle of food stalls.
Rika tugged her cap lower, nerves fluttering as she stuck close to Hina. Cameras weren't supposed to follow them today, but she couldn't shake the feeling of eyes everywhere.
Akari, of course, thrived in the chaos. She darted ahead, pointing out the takoyaki stand, then the karaoke parlor, then the ridiculous claw machine outside an arcade. "We have, like, one free afternoon before Mikako tries to obliterate us," she said, grabbing Rika's wrist. "We're doing something fun, end of story."
