The White Room Dropout - A CotE Fanfic

Part 18: Unsettling Gathering

Hitomi's voice broke through my daze, her words tinged with surprise. "Sorry I'm late, Takumi-kun," she said, her tone filled with a mix of familiarity and unease.

Takumi glanced at Hitomi and offered a casual response, "It's okay, Hitomi-chan. You made it just in time." He gestured for the group to enter the room, his gaze momentarily scanning the area.

As we stepped into the room, I felt a wave of uneasiness wash over me. I did my best to avoid Takumi's gaze, making sure I wasn't noticed by him. The memories of what he had orchestrated in the past, the bullying and the fallout, still haunted me. I couldn't forget how he had manipulated Ayumi into turning against me, ultimately leading to that dreadful incident. It had left deep scars, both physically and emotionally.

I quickly surveyed the room, taking in the scene of the mixer. The atmosphere was filled with a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation. The space had been transformed with colorful decorations, soft music playing in the background, and clusters of students engaged in conversations. It was an attempt to create a lighthearted atmosphere, where people could mingle and get to know each other.

Keeping a watchful eye, I noticed that Takumi seemed to be engrossed in conversation with Hitomi. They appeared comfortable in each other's presence, exchanging light-hearted banter and laughter. At least for now, he seemed preoccupied with Hitomi, diverting his attention away from me.

As I continued to navigate the room, trying to blend into the crowd, a guy approached me with a friendly smile. "Hey there, I don't think we've met before. I'm Yoshino Seiji. Mind if I join you for a chat?" he asked, his voice friendly and inviting.

I returned his smile, grateful for the distraction from my worries. "Nice to meet you, Yoshino-San. I'm Karuizawa Kei," I replied, trying my best to sound composed.

"Nice to meet you, Karuizawa-San" Yoshino replied, taking a seat beside me. "So, how are you finding the mixer so far?"

I let out a small chuckle, trying to ease my nerves. "It's... interesting. I'm still getting used to the whole mixer concept. How about you?"

Yoshino shrugged, a playful glint in his eyes. "Well, it's my first time attending one of these mixers too. I thought it would be a good opportunity to meet new people and make some connections. Plus, it's a nice change of pace from the usual routine."

Yoshino leaned back in his chair, his playful smile widening. "So, Karuizawa-san, which school are you attending? I'm curious to know more about you."

I shifted slightly in my seat, not entirely comfortable with his sudden interest. "I attend Chiba Kaisei High School," I replied, trying to keep my tone casual.

Yoshino nodded, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. "Ah, Chiba Kaisei High School. That's impressive. I've heard it's a prestigious institution. You must be quite intelligent."

His compliments made me uneasy, but I tried to maintain a polite demeanor. "Thank you, Yoshino-san. It's a decent school, and I do my best."

Yoshino leaned in closer, his tone taking on a flirtatious edge. "Decent? No, Karuizawa-san, I think you're selling yourself short. You're not just decent, you're absolutely adorable. Your smile could light up the entire room."

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, my smile becoming more forced. "Um, thank you for your kind words, Yoshino-san. I appreciate the compliment."

Yoshino's flattery became more intense, his eyes lingering on me in a way that made my skin crawl. "You know, Karuizawa-san, I couldn't help but notice how stunning you are. Your beauty is simply captivating. You're the most attractive person here."

Feeling increasingly uncomfortable, I searched for an exit from the conversation. "Well, Yoshino-san, I should probably go and talk with other people. It was nice talking to you."

As I turned to leave, Yoshino suddenly grabbed my hand, his grip firm. "Wait, Karuizawa-san, don't leave me just yet. I find you absolutely irresistible. Let's continue talking, just the two of us."

Feeling my discomfort intensify, I took a step back, trying to extract my hand from Yoshino's grip. "Yoshino-san, please let go of me. I would prefer to mingle with other people."

But Yoshino's grip tightened, and a sinister smile played across his lips. "No, Karuizawa-san, you can't leave me just yet. I'm not finished with you."

My heart raced, panic coursing through my veins. This situation was spiraling out of control, and I needed to find a way to extricate myself. Gathering my courage, I spoke with a firm tone, "Yoshino-san, I insist that you release my hand. This is inappropriate, and I do not appreciate your behavior."

Yoshino's smile faltered for a moment, his eyes flickering with annoyance. "Come on, Karuizawa-san, don't be so uptight. I'm just trying to show you some attention. Don't you want to have a good time?"

As Yoshino persisted in his flirtatious advances, my discomfort grew, and I felt the walls closing in around me. The urge to scream and break free from his grip threatened to consume me, but I knew I had to stay composed. I couldn't let Takumi find out about me.

"No, Yoshino-san, I really should go and talk to other people," I insisted, my voice trembling slightly. The desperation in my tone was hard to hide.

But Yoshino's grip on my hand tightened, and his smile turned into a sly smirk. "Why would you want to leave? We're just getting to know each other better," he said, his tone laced with a hint of menace.

My heart raced, and I scanned the room, searching for an escape route. Just as I was about to give in to the rising panic, Ichinose appeared by my side, like a ray of hope in the darkness. "Karuizawa-san, there you are! Sorry to interrupt, but I've been looking for you," Ichinose said with a warm smile.

Relief flooded over me as Ichinose engaged Yoshino in friendly conversation, deftly redirecting his attention away from me. I took a step back, finding a momentary refuge in the background.