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You sit up, a little surprised and touched by the spread Mira prepared for you. She places the tray in front of you with a small smile.

"I thought you could use a proper breakfast," she says, sitting down beside you. "It'll give you a bit of energy to face today."

You thank her and start eating, savoring the sweet, refreshing pineapple and buttery croissants. For a brief moment, you feel a little bit of normalcy return, even if just for breakfast.

"Hey do you mind asking the others if we could hang out today? Its been a while and i do miss them"

Mira nods, giving you a warm smile. "Of course, it sounds perfect. I'll text everyone and see who's free to come by today."

As she picks up her phone, you start to feel a bit lighter at the thought of spending time with friends again. After everything that's happened, having a day to relax and reconnect sounds like exactly what you need.

——-

Vasco, daniel, zoe, jay, zach and jiho arrive with snacks and drinks.

As everyone gathers in Mira's living room, laughter fills the space, and a sense of normalcy settles over you. Vasco and Jay start setting up the snacks, while Daniel hands out drinks, making sure everyone has what they like. Zoe and Jiho settle down with Mira, already chatting about the latest school news, while Zach sits down beside you with a warm smile.

"You look a lot better," he says, nudging your shoulder. "It's good to have you back with us."

The easy atmosphere feels like a breath of fresh air, and for a moment, you can forget about everything else.

————

Vasco, puffing his chest out, confidently says, "I could outrun you any day, Zach. You just watch."

Zach scoffs, a smirk forming. "Is that so? You're on, Vasco. I'm way faster."

The others chuckle as the two start playfully arguing, their competitive spirits rising. Daniel grins and says, "Looks like we might have to take this outside and settle it once and for all."

Everyone laughs, and the room fills with a light-hearted energy, making you feel at ease.

Zach and Vasco continue to stare each other down, the playful rivalry thick in the air. Vasco rolls up his sleeves. "Alright, let's race. Right here, right now."

Zach smirks, already stretching. "You're on. Let's make it interesting: loser buys everyone pizza."

The others cheer, egging them on as they all head outside to watch. Mira sets up a starting line, and with a quick countdown, they're off—sprinting down the block as everyone cheers.

As Vasco crosses the finish line first, the group erupts in cheers. He raises his arms in victory, a triumphant grin on his face. "I told you I was faster!" he exclaims, looking over at Zach, who is still catching his breath.

Daniel, not one to back down from a challenge, steps forward. "Alright, Vasco, let's see if you can keep that title. You and me, right now."

The others quickly gather around to witness the next race. Vasco nods confidently, and they line up at the starting line once more. Mira counts down again, and with a shout of "Go!" they both take off, racing down the street with everything they've got.

The competition is fierce, and as they near the finish line, it's clear they're neck and neck. The crowd cheers loudly, urging them on as they both push their limits.

As they reach the finish line, Daniel just barely edges out Vasco, crossing first with a burst of speed. The group erupts in cheers, and Vasco throws his hands up in mock defeat, shaking his head with a laugh.

"Alright, alright! You got me this time," he concedes, playfully nudging Daniel. "But next time, I'm taking you down!"

Daniel grins, catching his breath. "You put up a good fight! I didn't think I'd win against you."

Mira claps her hands together, beaming at both of them. "You guys are awesome! This was so much fun. We should do this more often."

As everyone starts to relax and chat, you feel a wave of happiness wash over you. It's been a while since you've all been together like this, and despite everything that's happened, moments like this remind you of the strength of your friendship.

Zach leans against a tree, munching on some snacks. "So, what's next? Another race or maybe some games?"

You suggest, "How about some team games? It could be fun to mix it up a bit!"

The group enthusiastically agrees, and you all start brainstorming ideas for games to play. The laughter and excitement fill the air, making you forget about everything else, if only for a little while.

The suggestion to play tag brings a wave of laughter from the group.

"Tag? Seriously? We might be a bit old for that!" Zach chuckles, raising an eyebrow.

"But it could be hilarious!" you counter, a smile creeping onto your face. "And it's a classic!"

Mira nods, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I'm in! It'll be fun to let loose for a bit. Besides, who doesn't love a good game of tag?"

Vasco and Daniel exchange glances, and soon they both grin. "Alright, why not?" Daniel says, crossing his arms. "Let's see who's the fastest of us all."

With everyone on board, you quickly establish the rules. The person who is "it" will have to count to twenty while the others scatter to hide. After a few seconds of playful arguing over who will be "it" first, Jiho volunteers, grinning.

"Alright! You all better run fast because I'm going to tag every single one of you!" he declares, making a mock scary face that has everyone laughing.

As Jiho begins to count, you and the others start sprinting off in different directions, laughter echoing behind you. You duck behind a large tree, peeking out to see where everyone else is hiding. The thrill of the game rushes through you, and for the moment, all your worries feel miles away.

The sound of Jiho's counting fades as you strategize your next move, adrenaline pumping.

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