After hours of gaming, the sun began to set, casting a warm glow through the windows of Aizen's apartment. Ryuen stretched his arms above his head, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Man, that was fun, but I think I'm all gamed out for today."
Aizen nodded in agreement, placing his controller on the table. "Yeah, it's getting late anyway. Thanks for hanging out."
"No problem," Ryuen replied as he grabbed his backpack. "I'll head home and get ready for tomorrow. Beach day is going to be awesome!"
With a quick wave, Ryuen left the apartment, leaving Aizen alone in the now-quiet living room. The excitement of the beach trip had settled in, and Aizen realized there were still a few things he needed to take care of before tomorrow.
Deciding that it was as good a time as any, Aizen grabbed his keys and headed out. He needed to pick up some last-minute supplies for the trip—snacks, drinks, and maybe some extra sunscreen. But before heading straight to the supermarket, Aizen had another idea.
As he stepped out of his apartment, he glanced next door. Violet's apartment was just a few steps away, and he wondered if she was home. He hadn't seen her all day, and though they had gone on a few walks together recently, he still found himself wanting to check in on her.
He walked up to Violet's door and hesitated for a moment before knocking softly. A few seconds later, the door opened, and Violet appeared, looking pleasantly surprised to see him.
"Aizen," she greeted him, her voice calm and gentle as always. "What brings you here?"
"Hey, Violet," Aizen replied, offering a small smile. "I was about to head to the supermarket to pick up some stuff for tomorrow, and I thought maybe you'd like to come with me. We could get everything we need for the trip."
Violet's expression brightened at the invitation. "Sure, I'd like that. Just let me grab my things."
A few moments later, they were walking side by side towards the supermarket, the evening air cool and refreshing after the day's heat. The streets were quieter now, with only a few people out and about, which made the walk feel peaceful and relaxed.
As they walked, Aizen noticed that Violet seemed more at ease than usual. Maybe it was the anticipation of the beach trip, or perhaps it was the comfort of their growing friendship. Either way, Aizen was glad they had become close enough to enjoy moments like these together.
When they arrived at the supermarket, they quickly set about gathering everything they needed. Aizen grabbed snacks and drinks, while Violet picked up some essentials like sunscreen and a new beach towel she had spotted on sale.
As they browsed the aisles, they chatted about the upcoming trip, their conversation flowing easily. Aizen found himself laughing more than usual, appreciating Violet's dry sense of humor and the way she subtly teased him about his gaming habits.
With their baskets full, they headed to the checkout, and soon enough, they were back on the street, their bags of supplies in hand.
"Thanks for coming with me," Aizen said as they walked back home. "It was nice to have some company."
"I'm glad you asked," Violet replied, her tone warm. "It made the shopping a lot more fun."
When they reached their apartment building, they paused at the entrance, neither of them quite ready to say goodbye.
"I guess I'll see you tomorrow," Aizen said, a hint of anticipation in his voice.
"Yeah," Violet nodded, smiling softly. "Tomorrow's going to be fun."
As they parted ways and headed to their respective apartments, Aizen felt a sense of contentment settle over him. The beach trip was going to be a great way to wrap up their summer vacation, and he was looking forward to spending the day with his friends, especially Violet.
With everything ready for tomorrow, Aizen headed inside, feeling a sense of excitement for the day ahead. The beach trip was more than just a getaway—it was a chance to create new memories with the friends who had made his first year of high school something special.