The bus hummed softly as it rolled down the highway, the sunlight streaming through the windows in golden patches. Inside, it was calm, with the occasional sound of quiet conversation or the rustling of snack bags breaking the peace. Sona sat next to Miura near the back of the bus, her stuffed animal still tucked under her arm as she watched the scenery blur past the window.

At the front of the bus, the manager fiddled with the sound system, his fingers tapping through a playlist. A mix of upbeat and mellow tracks shuffled through the speakers, drawing mild reactions from the band.

“Next,” Kid called lazily, sprawled out in his seat with his eyes half-closed.

“That one’s too slow,” Urara complained, leaning back in her chair with her arms crossed.

The manager sighed, skipping to the next track. The soft intro of Tek It by Cafuné filled the air, before getting skipped. Urara perked up immediately, sitting up straight and pointing toward the speakers. “Wait! Go back—that one!”

The manager stopped skipping and let the song play. Urara turned to Sona, her green eyes sparkling with excitement. “Do you know this one?” she asked.

Sona hesitated, clutching her stuffed animal tighter as she shook her head. “No…”

Urara gasped, clutching her chest in mock horror. “What?! Oh, we’re fixing that right now.”

Sona blinked, glancing uncertainly at Miura, who raised an eyebrow but didn’t object. Urara hopped up from her seat, offering her hand to Sona with a dramatic flourish. “Come on! You can’t just listen to Tek It—you have to dance to it.”

“Dance?” Sona asked, her voice small but curious.

“Yeah!” Urara grinned, her enthusiasm contagious. “I’ll show you—it’s easy. Come on, kiddo, don’t leave me hanging.”

Sona hesitated for a moment, then slowly slid off her seat and took Urara’s hand. The rest of the band turned their heads, watching with mild curiosity as Urara led Sona to the open space near the middle of the bus.

“Alright,” Urara said, bending slightly to match Sona’s height. “Just follow me, okay? You don’t have to be perfect—just have fun.”

As the beat kicked in, Urara began swaying her hips, her movements fluid and carefree. Sona stood stiffly at first, her wide eyes watching Urara’s every move. But as the chorus built, she started mimicking Urara’s steps, her motions small and shy.

“That’s it!” Urara encouraged, clapping her hands in rhythm. “You’re a natural!”

Kid leaned back in his seat, watching with a smirk. “Looks like she’s already more graceful than you, Rara.”

“Shut it, Blondie,” Urara shot back without missing a beat, twirling dramatically. Sona giggled at the playful exchange, her movements growing more confident as she twirled alongside Urara.

Miura watched from the back, her arms crossed as she leaned against the window. A faint blush crept up her cheeks as she saw Sona’s face light up with laughter. Urara had a knack for breaking through walls, and it seemed Sona wasn’t immune to her charm.

As the song reached its final chorus, Urara grabbed Sona’s hands and spun her around in an exaggerated circle. Sona squealed, her laughter bubbling over as she stumbled slightly but stayed upright. The rest of the band couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight.

Reyn clapped lightly, shaking his head. “Alright, alright. Let her catch her breath before you turn the bus into a dance floor.”

Urara grinned, giving Sona a playful bow. “What do you think, kiddo? Fun, right?”

Sona nodded, her red eyes shining with newfound joy. “Yeah… it was fun.”

Sona returned to her seat next to Miura, her small frame sinking into the cushion as she caught her breath. Urara plopped down across the aisle, giving Sona a wink before pulling out her phone to scroll through memes.

“That was cute,” Kid remarked, leaning over to nudge Urara’s arm. “Yeh should teach her your infamous headbang next.”

Urara laughed. “One step at a time, Blondie. Let her master the basics first.”

Miura smirked faintly, glancing down at Sona, who was now humming softly to herself. “You’re making friends quickly,” Miura said quietly.

Sona looked up, her cheeks pink. “They’re… nice.”

“They are,” Miura agreed, her voice unusually gentle. “And they’ll take good care of you. I’ll make sure of it.”

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the horizon in hues of orange and pink, the bus pulled into a rest stop. The band stretched their legs, stepping off to take in the crisp evening air.

Reyn headed toward the convenience store, his hands stuffed into his jacket pockets. “I’ll grab us some pizzas,” he called over his shoulder. “Anything else we need?”

Kid grinned, leaning casually against the bus. “Grab somethin’ sweet, mate. Gotta keep my energy up.”

Urara snorted. “You just want an excuse to eat junk.”

“Oi, let me have my fun,” Kid shot back, feigning offense.

Reyn rolled his eyes, disappearing into the store as the rest of the group lingered by the bus. Sona stayed close to Miura, her hand lightly gripping the edge of Miura’s coat.

When Reyn returned, he carried two steaming pizza boxes and a bag of drinks. “Pizza Time,” he said, stepping onto the bus. The smell of melted cheese and warm crust filled the air as everyone piled back in, their mouths watering.

The group gathered around the small table near the front of the bus, opening the boxes to reveal two perfectly cheesy pizzas. Reyn handed out paper plates while Urara reached for the first slice.

“Alright, Sona,” Urara said, holding up a slice for the little girl. “Ever had pizza?”

Sona shook her head, her wide red eyes fixed on the food like it was a treasure she’d only heard about in fairy tales. “No…”

“Well, you’re in for a treat,” Urara said with a grin, placing the slice on Sona’s plate.

Sona hesitated for a moment before taking a small bite. Her eyes widened immediately, her expression shifting to one of pure wonder. “It’s… awesome!” she exclaimed softly, her voice full of awe.

Urara laughed, leaning back in her seat. “Told ya. Pizza’s the best.”

The group dug into their food, the warmth of the meal and their camaraderie filling the bus with an easy sense of joy. Kid and Urara, as usual, couldn’t help but turn dinner into a competition.

“Oi, yeh’re eatin’ that like a bird,” Kid teased, gesturing to Urara’s half-eaten slice. “Speed it up, love. I’m already on my second.”

Urara glared at him, grabbing another slice. “Oh, it’s on, Blondie. You’re going down.”

Reyn sighed, shaking his head as he sipped his drink. “You two never quit, do you?”

“Never,” they said in unison, their voices muffled by mouthfuls of pizza.

Sona watched the exchange, her eyes lighting up as a small giggle escaped her lips. It was soft at first, almost hesitant, but as Kid and Urara continued their antics—pretending to “race” through their slices—Sona’s laughter grew louder.

The sound caught everyone off guard. Miura froze mid-bite, her purple eyes widening slightly. Reyn stopped sipping his drink, and even Kid and Urara paused to look at the little girl, who now had both hands over her mouth, trying to stifle her laughter.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then Kid grinned. “Well, would yeh look at that. The kid’s got a proper laugh.”

Urara joined in, her laughter spilling over as she playfully nudged Sona’s arm. “Told you we’d grow on her.”

The whole bus erupted into laughter, the warmth of the moment wrapping around them like a blanket. Miura’s lips curved into a faint smile as she watched her bandmates share this unexpected, heartfelt moment with Sona. It was chaotic, messy, and loud—but it was theirs.

As the bus rumbled back onto the road, Sona leaned against Miura’s side, her stuffed animal still clutched tightly in her hands. Her small voice broke the quiet, filled with contentment. “This is fun.”

Miura glanced down at her, her hand lightly brushing Sona’s hair. “Yeah,” she murmured. “It is.”