BONDS BETWEEN FRIENDS

**Bonds Between Friends**

The festival had ended, but the memories were still fresh. The next weekend, the six girls — Yumi, Hana, Reina, Keiko, Mayumi, and Aiko — found themselves gathered in a small café just outside of town. The place was cozy, with a soft, warm glow from the lights hanging above them. Each of the girls had their own drink in front of them — a mix of coffee, tea, and hot chocolate — as they sat around the table, laughing and chatting.

It wasn’t often that the six of them hung out together like this, but after spending time in the festival, they had all grown closer. Even Aiko, who had once been distant and withdrawn, was smiling and contributing to the conversation more than ever before. It was a testament to how much things had changed since Kyoshi had come into their lives.

“I still can’t believe you all made the boys wear maid outfits,” Yumi said with a giggle, stirring her tea. “The look on Kyoshi’s face when he realized was priceless!”

“Hey, that was a great idea!” Reina added, smirking. “They had it coming after how smug they were about making the costumes.”

Hana, ever serious, nodded in agreement. “It was only fair. Besides, it worked out in the end — the café was a hit.”

Keiko, who had been sipping her hot chocolate quietly, smiled shyly. “I thought the decorations turned out nice, too. Everyone worked so hard on it.”

Mayumi grinned, nudging Keiko. “That’s because you and Yumi did such a great job. I think the whole class owes you two for making it look so good.”

Yumi blushed slightly, waving off the compliment. “It was nothing! We all did our part.”

---

The conversation flowed easily between them, a natural rhythm that had developed since they began working together on the festival. Each girl brought something different to the table — Yumi’s charm and enthusiasm, Hana’s determination, Reina’s boldness, Keiko’s creativity, Mayumi’s resilience, and Aiko’s newfound lightheartedness. They had come from different backgrounds, had different pasts, and different reasons for being the way they were, but somehow, they had formed a bond.

“I have to say,” Aiko began, breaking the comfortable silence that had fallen between them, “I never thought I’d be sitting here with all of you like this. It’s... nice.”

The other girls turned to look at her, surprised by the sincerity in her voice. Aiko had always been more reserved, often hiding behind a quiet, melancholic demeanor, but today, she was smiling warmly.

Mayumi, who had developed a particularly close bond with Aiko, smiled. “It’s because you let people in now. We’re glad to have you here.”

Aiko blushed slightly but didn’t look away. “Yeah... I guess Kyoshi had something to do with that.”

At the mention of his name, the atmosphere shifted slightly. All the girls knew exactly what Aiko meant — Kyoshi had been the bridge between them, the one who brought them together when they might not have connected otherwise. Each of them had their own story, their own complicated feelings, and somehow, Kyoshi had found his way into their hearts, even if they hadn’t realized it yet.

Yumi was the first to break the silence with a playful smile. “So... speaking of Kyoshi, what do you all think of him?”

The question hung in the air for a moment before Hana, ever the logical one, responded. “He’s a good guy. He’s helped each of us in some way, hasn’t he?”

Reina rolled her eyes, leaning back in her chair. “Good guy, sure. But he’s still a bit clueless, don’t you think? He didn’t even realize how the festival plan would backfire on him.”

Keiko giggled, her shy demeanor fading slightly as she joined in. “That’s what makes him so funny, though. He doesn’t pretend to be someone he’s not.”

Mayumi nodded in agreement. “He’s genuine. I think that’s why we all like being around him. He doesn’t try to impress anyone — he’s just... Kyoshi.”

Aiko, who had been quietly listening, smiled softly. “Yeah. He’s different.”

---

Yumi, who had been listening intently, leaned forward with a mischievous grin. “So, does that mean some of us might *like* him? You know... more than just a friend?”

The girls exchanged glances, some blushing, some laughing nervously. Hana crossed her arms, trying to maintain her usual composed expression. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Reina, on the other hand, was more direct. “He’s alright, but don’t get any ideas, Yumi. I’m not about to lose to anyone, even if it’s you.”

Yumi laughed, raising her hands in mock surrender. “I wasn’t saying anything! Just curious, that’s all.”

Keiko’s face was a bright shade of red, and she quickly buried herself in her hot chocolate, hoping no one would notice. Mayumi, however, noticed and nudged her playfully. “Keiko, you’re blushing!”

“I-I’m not!” Keiko stammered, her face getting even redder as the others giggled.

Aiko, who had been quietly watching the exchange, smiled softly to herself. She had no idea what her feelings for Kyoshi were yet — maybe they were still forming. But one thing was certain: she was happy. Happier than she had been in a long time, and a large part of that was because of the friendships she had made.

---

The conversation eventually drifted away from Kyoshi and onto other topics. They talked about school, shared stories about their families, and laughed about the silliest things. It was a lighthearted, carefree time, a stark contrast to some of the more difficult moments they had each faced in their lives. But being together like this, they realized that they didn’t have to face things alone anymore.

As the evening wore on and the café began to empty, Yumi stretched her arms above her head and sighed. “I needed this. It’s been so much fun hanging out with all of you.”

“Same here,” Hana agreed. “We should do this more often.”

Reina smirked, crossing her arms. “As long as no one tries to one-up me.”

Keiko smiled softly, nodding. “I’d like that.”

Mayumi grinned, looking around at the table. “We’ve come a long way, haven’t we?”

Aiko, who had been quiet for the past few minutes, finally spoke up. “Yeah. We have.”

---

As they left the café together, walking into the cool night air, the girls knew that their bond had only just begun to grow. Kyoshi may have been the reason they had come together initially, but now they were friends in their own right. And that bond, strengthened by shared experiences and mutual respect, would only continue to deepen as time went on.

They weren’t just six goddesses anymore. They were friends.

---

**End of Chapter**

Chapter end