Weekends are for fun, right?

“Alright kids, enjoy your first weekend on the island.”

Ms. Kurokawa shut down the projector and started packing her things. The first week of classes was in the books. For a newbie like me, the entire week flew by. It felt like I was being flooded with all sorts of knowledge, learning the secrets of this world. Of course, I still felt out of place since I didn’t know any magic myself, but I was going to soak in all the information I could.

But, with classes ending on a Friday, there was a new pressing matter in my life. What should I do over the weekend? I should probably spend a good amount of time studying, but what kind of impression would that leave? Being holed up in my room over the first weekend on the island would be a major red flag. Maybe Shun would be up to something…

“Yo man, you have any plans this weekend?”

Shun, right on cue. It was time for him to come to my friendless rescue once again.

“No, I actually don’t yet. Do you?”

“Bummer man! I don’t have any plans either.”

Or, maybe not. We both finished gathering our things and walked to the shoe lockers together. After swapping out our indoor shoes for our outdoor shoes, we walked out to the front gate, loitering with no particular place to be. We watched as students passed us by in droves, most with plans for a fun weekend surely.

“Where’s your roommate man? You two don’t walk back to the dorms together?”

“I don’t know. She left class really quickly. I don’t think she’d want to be seen walking with me anyway. I should ask you the same question. Where’s Sonozaki?”

Shun let out a playful laugh. “Good point man, but you know we don’t get along. He runs with a different crowd than I do. Plus, his flirtatious attitude with the ladies really rubs me the wrong way.”

Really, Sonozaki’s attitude with the ladies rubbed Shun the wrong way. Had he ever looked at a mirror?

“You know Shun… oh nevermind.”

“Hey Adachi! Nakamura!”

A familiar voice called out to me and Shun from the distance. We turned to face the school, a blonde bundle of energy was quickly approaching us, with an ice queen in tow. Shun quickly perked up and fixed started fixing his hair.

“Well hey there Ichinose,” Shun said with a bright smile. He seemed to have a switch for his natural charisma that he could flip at any time.

“What are you two up to?”

“Ichinose, you don’t need to run you know,” Yukino remarked as she finally arrived to our group.

“I was just excited to see them! And how many times do I have to tell you, it’s Emi!”

Yukino let out a long sigh. I wondered how long it would take before Emi broke Yukino’s spirit with her constant high energy attitude.

“They seem busy. Let’s leave them to their business.”

I’m not sure how Shun and I looked busy just standing here by the front gate. Yukino was probably looking for any excuse to ditch a chump like me.

“We’re not busy at all, actually. We were just trying to figure out something to do tonight and this weekend.” Shun replied.

“Well, the school year has started, so spending the weekend studying and doing homework is a good idea.”

I had the same thought as Yukino, but even I didn’t want to study the entire weekend. “We can’t study the entire weekend Yukimura. Shouldn’t we at least try to have some fun?”

“It’s our first weekend on this awesome island!” Emi interjected. “Classes just started too, Yukino, we barely have any homework!”

Yukino sighed again. It appeared that Emi was trying to rope her into some weekend activities.

“If I go into town with you on Saturday, will you stop pestering me so frequently?”

Emi’s face lit up. “You bet! Thanks Yukino! Roommate bonding!”

“Where are you two going?” Shun asked. He gave me a quick wink. What was he thinking?

“No idea yet! Oh hey, do you two want to come?”

I guess it wouldn’t hurt to explore the island a bit with classmates.

“You know we’re totally down man.”

Well, I guess I was spoken for by Shun. If we were all going to go out, there was one other person I wanted to invite. It was time to take some initiative.

“Would it be okay if I invited Hayashi as well?” I asked. I figured inviting her out to town with a group of “friends” would be a way to extend the metaphorical olive branch.

“The more the merrier!” Emi replied enthusiastically.

“For sure man, she seems like a nice girl.”

My question was more directed towards Emi and Yukino but Shun showed no hesitation in chiming in.

“If no one is opposed, I assume it’s fine.”

Shun looked back towards the school. “Speak of the devil.”

Honoko was making her way towards the front gate. She left class right away, why was she still here?

“Hey there Hayashi.” Shun said with a hair flip.

“Can it Adachi. I’m not a fan of the pretty boy act.”

Honoko’s fiery attitude shut that down quickly.

“Hey Hayashi, do you remember me?”

“Of course I do,” Honoko responded as she flung her school bag over her shoulder. “You’re Ichinose, that loud and jubilant girl.”

“Yup that’s me!”

Honoko gave Yukino a once over. I still didn’t understand why Honoko said she didn’t like Yukino. The two had barely interacted in any capacity and that was enough to form a strong impression? Yukino was still a complete mystery to me and I had undoubtedly talked with her more than Honoko had. Although anything would be more than one introductory conversation.

“The four of us will be going into the city tomorrow,” Yukino said plainly. “Your roommate Nakamura suggested that we invite you.”

I was surprised that Yukino was the one to extend the invitation, that seemed more like something in Emi’s wheelhouse.

“Oh Nakamura suggested you invite me? So you wouldn’t have invited me otherwise?”

Honoko really put the worst possible twist on Yukino’s words.

“Take it easy, Hayashi. That’s not what she meant. At the very least I’d like to see you there too.”

Honoko flashed Shun a death stare. Wisely, Shun shut his mouth before Honoko got really worked up.

“That’s not it! Nakamura was just trying to get on your good side since you’re his roommate!”

“Alright, fine, I’ll go. But I have somewhere to be so I will talk to you all later-”

Before Honoko could make her timely escape Emi interrupted.

“Hold on missy! I can make us a group text! Let’s all exchange contact info!”

Emi pulled her smartphone out of her bag. Some charm of a character I didn’t recognize hung off her phone case. It seemed fitting for her personality. Following suit, Shun pulled out his phone as well. Going with the flow, I pulled out my phone as well. Other than acquiring Honoko’s contact information for emergencies, these would be the first phone numbers I got on this island. And people would be giving them to me on their own volition. Even Yukino joined in on the exchange.

“Alright, now I really have to go.”

“Okay bye Hayashi! I’ll message you soon!”

“Later Hayashi.”

“Bye.”

“I’ll see you back at the room later.”

And with all our goodbyes said, she was gone. It was an interesting group, but I was soon about to experience my first weekend outing in years.

I sat by my dorm room window gazing at the stars in the night sky. On such a remote island, there was practically no pollution, leaving the scattered stars in perfect view. Honoko was still no where to be found, even though it was after 9 PM. I wondered if she had been back to the room at all since school let out. A bright light flickered on my nightstand accompanied by a quick vibration. My phone screen was illuminated displaying a message notification. It was from none other than Emi.

I guess she made a group text after collecting everyone’s contact info. Was I really allowed to join a group like this? Emi was definitely the social butterfly of the class, but everyone else was popular in their own way too. Yukino had that cold and mysterious beauty vibe which attracted the attention of both guys and girls, Honoko was quite attractive in addition to being a highly ranked student in Class A, and Shun was sociable enough, somehow.

I, on the other hand, was completely ordinary. Average looks, not popular in middle school, a bit socially awkward, and possessed no magic ability at all. Of course, no one knew that last part yet, but it still weighed on my conscious. It was a miracle in and of itself that a group like this was even giving me the time of day. Hesitantly, I clicked the accept button on the notification. Immediately I was greeted with a bombardment of messages.

Shun here. I’m looking forward to it as well. 

I will see you all tomorrow. 

Oh hey Nakamura you finally joined!

None of the messages were from Honoko. She must have been really busy. I decided to go for a safe, but generic introduction to the group text.

I was greeted by a reply no more than five seconds after sending my message.

Emi’s enthusiasm was really a calming presence, which was a bit strange. But her hyperactivity made me feel more comfortable with the group, so I really appreciated it.

Even though I had some nerves about tomorrow, I was still worn out from the first week of school. After a long message exchange coordinating plans with Shun, Emi, and Yukino, I drifted off into a well deserved slumber.