・・・ xxii ・・・
Hashimoto Rie led him inside the gymnasium.
A huge, unnerving grin was on her face.
Slowly, quietly,
he followed after her.
Once they stepped through the doors,
signs of the party came to life before them.
Around, it seemed like all of the students in the campus had decided to attend.
The loud beat of the music reverberated from the speakers.
The elaborate designs for the party theme lit the whole space.
Posters, balloons, and confetti were strewn everywhere.
Dozens of ceaseless chatter and babble rang through the buzzing crowd.
There were too many people.
More than he had expected.
A wave of fear and anxiety gripped him.
All of a sudden, he realized that maybe he had made a mistake.
Rie looked around and gave him another big smile, unaware of his discomfort.
"I'm sure you'll have fun, Ao! ...Wait here, I'll get us some drinks," she said.
"I'll be back in five minutes."
Without waiting for his reply,
she turned away and disappeared through the crowd.
He blinked, not even realizing it.
Just like that, he was suddenly alone.
・・・ xxiii ・・・
Rie was wrong.
He did not last five minutes.
Everywhere he turned there were people laughing and talking,
sucked inside their own world.
The noise was too loud.
The lights were too harsh.
The place were too crowded.
Everything was dizzying to look at.
The world spun uncontrollably.
He felt nauseous.
He leaned his back on the wall and covered his eyes.
He felt like vomiting.
・・・ xxiv ・・・
I need to get out.
"You need to get out."
He couldn't wait for Rie to come back.
He could feel the bile steadily rising up his throat.
He tried retracing his steps,
going outside the way he had come in.
It was useless.
The crowd blocked his path.
For a few seconds he simply stood there, head aching.
A girl bumped into him.
She turned around, the wide grin melting from her face when she saw who he was.
"I-I'm so sorry," she apologized and hurried away.
He stared at the spot where she had disappeared.
The same way Rie had.
Too fast.
Too abrupt.
"Perhaps, she was eaten by them."
He shook his head.
I need to get out.
・・・ xxv ・・・
He could not remember how he got outside.
By the time he had noticed it,
he was already standing outside the gates,
surrounded by the cold winter night.
Unable to contain it any longer, he moved to the nearest bush and vomited.
He retched, coughing loudly.
The bile tasted horrible in his throat.
A few passersby turned to glance in confusion.
However, they looked away without a second thought.
Breathe. Breathe.
Once he was done, he sat down on the nearest bench and exhaled slowly.
He tried to steady his heartbeat and calm himself.
Quietly, he turned to look at the dim sky.
Small snowflakes were descending around him.
This was better.
Less noise.
Less people.
"It's... peaceful."
Slowly, he closed his eyes.
A small breath escaped his mouth.
If only this could last...
Tick. Tock.
Tick. Tock.
Tick. Tock.
Tick. Tock—
"—Ao."