There were places for recreation from left-to-right–there was a place for anyone that wanted to have fun.
It looked nothing like what you would expect to find in a school.
While we had places like this at the general school area, this area was solely for fun.
Weird.
Anyway, Kagura led me to a karaoke room; it was called Big Echo. On entrance, we were guided to the front desk.
"Good evening, how many people?"
"Actually, I'm going to my friend's room."
She gave the details, and we were led to the room.
"Now before I forget, here's my acc. It's Kagura-chan."
"Ok."
I added the account as we were heading to the room, then as we entered we heard a loud sound.
"…destined for love!!!"
That was the first sound I heard on entering the room. It seemed as though everyone was immersed in singing.
I sat in a corner and kept to myself, until a girl came and sat by me.
"Hey, my name is Yumeiko."
It was a girl with long dark brown hair that got darker the higher it went–it was to the point that the hair that emerged from her skull looked darker than black itself.
She wore a big sweater and some headphones though she kept them on her neck.
She looked like someone that kept to herself and didn't have many friends. She also had an unusual presence.
"Hey, I'm Nakamura," I beamed as I offered my hand with a wide grin–it was a good opportunity to make a friend with another loner.
"I'm surprised to see someone like you here," she ignored my hand and kept talking but I didn't mind.
Someone like me? Is she referring to someone that is a loner?
Did I misunderstand and she's not also a loner? Shit then I must look weird, I must look very weird.
I–
"Earth to Nakamura."
She cut me off from my existential crisis from not having friends though it was premature of me since today was just my second week.
Though maybe that was just me trying to cope.
"Oh, sorry about that."
"Like I was saying, I'm surprised to see someone like you here."
"...Do I look too much like a loner?"
"You do," she said.
Way to rip off the band aid.
"…but that's not all," she continued.
"Then what else?"
"You're like a corpse."
"A corpse?"
"No… perhaps a robot? Yeah, that fits. Your personality—it feels fake."
What's this girl talking about?
"I don't know how to react to that."
"Of course, you wouldn't. A robot can't understand complex stuff like that."
"Hey, that's kinda hurtful."
"By the way, I'm a fortune teller, that's why I can tell."
"Don't you need a crystal ball for that?" I joked.
"To be frank, us fortune tellers cold read rather than 'read into your destiny.'"
"But aren't you too young to be a fortune teller?"
Most fortune tellers were old women. At least according to what I read, as I had never seen one before.
"Not all fortune tellers are old women, however, that being said, I'm quite an exception," she kept quiet and looked at me.
Maybe she wants me to be impressed?
"Ahem," she faked a cough. "My family run a fortune telling store, because of some issues, I'm the only one who can take over."
"Oh. So, what do you see in my future?"
"Didn't I say we don't see your future?"
"But you tell people's future, and they turn out correct. You probably predict it based on their actions, so do mine."
"Well, to be honest, I see great tribulation in your future."
"Hmm," I nodded.
"You're not surprised?"
"And here I thought you read me? Can't you guess why I'm not surprised?"
"It's not always perfect…"
"So basically, you know nothing about me except that makes no sense, so how and why did you read a stranger?" I asked with an unreadable expression.
Fortune tellers asked questions or rather gave open-ended answers so they would know more about their clients before giving them answers.
While they used cold reading that was hardly enough especially cases involving someone's future that needed some pre-established information.
And, Yumeiko said she could say my future. Of course, her reading was vague, still it was just enough to make me interested.
Very interested.
"Do you know about me?" I asked slowly–forcing a smile.
[There's an illustration here with Nakamura smiling at Yumeiko but the smile is very creepy, Nakamura has Tsurime eyes (or squinting eyes), and Yumeiko has a nervous sweat.]
"No, also your voice is colder."
Seems like she doesn't want to mention my weird smile.
"Yeah, I noticed," I avoided the subject about the information she knew about me and changed it to something else. "Anyway, what do you see in my past?"
"You're not going to ask how I know?"
"I have a faint idea so no need."
"...About your past—there was some hardship."
"That's way too vague, doesn't everyone experience some kind of hardship?"
"Yours was more intense."
"I see."
"And don't worry this info won't be spread."
"Why is that? It's not like I'm forcing you; it's not like anyone is actively looking for it."
"Actually, someone wanted to make sure of something. Her name is Hayashi Nanase."
The girl from the train.
"She's the one who gave you info about me, right?"
I was surprised Yumeiko released Hayashi's name so easily–Yumeiko could be lying but I abandoned that thought and came to the conclusion that it was probably true though I wondered why she did so easily.
Maybe she just broke under pressure.
"…Well, I'll be on my way."
The girl left silently, almost like a ghost. She didn't even seem like she existed, however I knew she was real, it was obvious.
I wondered if she followed me here though I didn't notice her at all, so I threw that thought away.
So then Hayashi knows me then, I need to meet her soon before anything spreads.
As the excitement from the singing faded, the room's energy shifted.
It was subtle at first—laughter turning sharper, glances lingering longer. And then, all at once, they turned to me.
"Kagura-chan, you brought a little kid with you."
They all laughed simultaneously, perhaps today was not my day. Yup, it wasn't my day at all.
"So cutie, what's your name?"
"N-Nakamura. Nakamura Eiya," I stuttered.
"So cute!!!"
I'll spare you the details—you can probably guess what happened to my face. And yes, it was all of them.
Eventually it died down and someone proposed an idea while I applied ice on my face.
"Now for the main event of the night—strip or drink."
"Huh?"
Drink? We're high schoolers, so how'd they get alcohol? Why even try it?
It's clearly against the rules. Don't tell me, that's the reason they came here?
Nah, I'm probably overthinking it, maybe it's just juice or something.
I silently doubted they would bring actual alcohol until it was dropped on the table. I read the contents of the bottle and it had 20% alcohol.
20%!!!!
"The rules are that we'll play truth or dare; however if you don't do it, you'll either drink alcohol or strip."
"So Nakamura, wanna play?"
"Uh nope."
"Sorry, but no is not an answer."
Shit, do I really have to agree?
I mean the person talking to me was beautiful. She had chestnut hair and was endowed with quite a bountiful bosom.
And yeah, I could probably see her naked if I played hard enough.
However, that was probably a ruse, I could tell.
I doubted they'd actually strip in front of me—they'd probably just bend the rules to their advantage, and I'll end in a difficult situation or worse I'd be drunk.
And I really wanted to avoid that.
"Just play one round," she glared.
"Yeah, just play."
"Yeah, I wanna see what will happen."
Some girls were interested to see me play.
"Nakamura, just play, 'kay?" The girl held my shoulder, smiling menacingly. Her voice wasn't suggestive, it sounded like a threat.
It seems like normal peer pressure but if I reject, they'll…Oh I see, this is what they call bullying.
I always blamed the bullied, but I really can't do anything. I wish I could just disappear into the chair or something.
Please someone save me.
I silently bowed my head, I was about to accept my fate when–
"Guys, I don't think Nakamura wants to play, so don't force him," Kagura voiced.
"Why? It's not really a big deal or anything. I mean don't tell me you don't want to see these," she caressed her chest, trying to arouse me.
I would love to…If not this was a trap.
"This is supposed to be fun, not forceful," Kagura didn't back down. "What if he's not comfortable showing skin?"
Kagura really is amazing; she's doing this for my sake.
"He's a man, men do this stuff all the time. Moreover, that will only happen if he loses."
"Well, it's still his choice."
"Why are you on his side?"
The voice came from the same instigator that started the cafeteria fight.
So she's here too, huh?
Despite that, I couldn't find out who it was.
"He is my classmate," Kagura answered.
"This is...You know what, let's settle this with a drinking contest," the girl didn't back down.
"Yeah, a drink-off."
"Yeah, Kagura-chan will win."
"Yeah, she's so kind."
Talk about a landslide, everyone's on Kagura's side. This is an attest to her popularity.
But why must everything lead to alcohol?
"I don't think that's healthy."
This time I had enough of this, and tried to stop this behavior, but it only made them angrier.
"Shut up. I'm doing this for your sake," Kagura glared.
"Yeah, shut up," the other girl glared.
"Yeah, who does he think he is?"
"He thinks he's hot shit just cuz Kagura is helping him, she's just being nice, dumbass."
Yeah, who do I think I am? I should just leave them be.
I left them then went to a lone couch then went to sleep.
Heugh
I sighed internally.
I hate parties.
***
Author's Note:
I kinda hate parties too, well, I just hate when I organise them.
They're messy and you have to clean up after everyone also.
I'm always anxious for many people to come but when they do it means more work.
Anyway, thanks for the comments and the engagement. It's really inspiring to see all that.
Also, please remember to leave a comment, a review, and also share. Thanks for reading the chapter and see you in the next one.