You Did it Sumire!

Party and Problems

 and snacks. The table was laden with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, catering to every preference. Sumire and Kita-san opted for refreshing fruit punch and a selection of sushi, while others enjoyed their preferred drinks. Atsumu-san and Suna-san were deep in conversation, reminiscing about old times, while Kita-san kept a watchful eye on Himari-san, gently preventing her from having another drink. Sumire found the couple endearing and couldn't resist capturing the moment, secretly snapping a picture and sending it to her older sister.

"Yamashita-san," a cheerful voice called out. Sumire turned around to see Suzuki-san standing there, radiant in a beautiful pink dress, holding a drink and beaming at her.

"Oh, hello, Suzuki-san. You look wonderful," Sumire greeted her warmly.

"Thank you! It took me a moment to recognize you. You look quite different today – in a good way, of course. In class, you seem rather plain," Suzuki-san remarked with a smile.

"Um, thank you?" Sumire replied, puzzled. Suna-san and Miya-san had paused their conversation and were now watching the interaction with interest.

"Oh, I didn't know you had friends other than me. That's good. I thought you were a loner. I'm happy for you, Yamashita-san," Suzuki-san said, smiling.

Suna-san, growing annoyed at the one-sided conversation, was about to interject, but Sumire acted first.

"Ah, yes. This is Suna-san from the Commerce Department. He's also a volleyball player. And this is Miya-san. He's not from our college, but he's a good friend of mine. Over there is Kita-san, a first-year in the Agriculture Department, and Himari-san, a teacher from Hyogo who's like an elder sister to me. They're all very close to me, so as you can see, I'm not a loner," Sumire said with a genuine smile, her friends looking proud – except for Himari-san, who started tearing up.

Suzuki-san gave Sumire a tight-lipped smile. "I'm sorry if I offended you, Yamashita-san. It was nice to meet your friends," she said, bowing to the group. "I actually came to get you to meet the seniors of our department. They wanted to do a little introduction. Please come to the table near the exit. I'll take my leave now."

As soon as Suzuki-san left, Sumire exhaled and sat down. Suna-san patted her head while Miya-san asked, "Was she your friend?"

"Yeah, she's my classmate and kind of a friend," Sumire replied.

"She's the one who's always late to class and doesn't understand personal space, right?" Kita-san asked.

"Yeah," Sumire confirmed.

"Well, I don't think she's a good person. Just be careful of her," Suna-san advised.

"Yeah, I will," Sumire said, smiling at Suna-san. "I think I should go to the psychology department table now. I don't want to be the last one arriving and have all eyes on me," she added, nervously biting her nails, prompting Suna-san to lightly tap her head.

"Don't worry. It's going to be okay, Sumire. We're right here. Just call me or Suna, and we'll come and get you," Miya-san reassured her, with Suna-san nodding in agreement.

"Okay, thank you for looking out for me. I'll try to come back soon," Sumire said, waving at the group as she made her way to the designated table.

The table for the psychology department was a lively scene. The seniors, seated on the right side, were visibly inebriated and boisterous, while the juniors were huddled nervously on the left. This being their first party of this kind, it was natural for them to feel anxious around the seemingly intimidating seniors. Sumire cautiously approached her side of the table, choosing a seat behind two tall classmates to stay as inconspicuous as possible. The room was packed, and the atmosphere was overwhelming. She noticed Suzuki-san sitting opposite her with a few other girls from their class, who also seemed intimidated. When their eyes met, Suzuki-san began typing on her phone, and soon Sumire's phone vibrated.

Suzuki-san: Hey, come sit by me. I'll make some space.

Yamashita-san: I'll draw too much attention if I get up.

Suzuki-san: Are you going to sit there the whole time? Come here; it's better to stay together.

After a moment of deliberation, Sumire sent an "OK" and scanned the room for the least conspicuous path. Once satisfied with her plan and after receiving an impatient look from Suzuki-san, Sumire got up quietly and moved quickly, keeping her eyes fixed on the space next to Suzuki-san. Within seconds, she was seated safely beside her classmate, placing a hand on her heart to steady her breathing.

However, she soon felt a strong, unsettling gaze on her. Shuddering, she looked around and saw a guy staring intently at her. Sumire quickly averted her eyes, feeling uneasy. Sensing her discomfort, Suzuki-san held Sumire's hand, causing her to flinch but then relax, grateful for the supportive gesture for the first time. Sumire smiled softly at her classmate, who nodded in understanding, but the uneasy feeling persisted. The guy's gaze felt like it was burning a hole in the back of her head, making her breathing hitch.

"Suzuki-san, I think I'll go now. I don't feel good," Sumire whispered. Suzuki-san, understanding the situation, stood up with her and escorted her back to their friends' table.

"Thank you so much, Suzuki-san. Really, thank you," Sumire said gratefully.

"It's alright. Just be safe," Suzuki-san replied before leaving.

Still feeling uneasy and finding it difficult to breathe, Sumire decided to move away from the crowd to be alone for a while. She hated this feeling – the sensation of someone's eyes on her. She decided to go and sit on the second bench near the auditorium, her safe space, and listen to some music. Time seemed to blur as she lost herself in the calming melodies, finally feeling at ease until her phone vibrated again.

Suna-san:Where are you? Are you okay? I just met that friend of yours. Tell me where you are.

Sumire quickly sent her live location, not wanting to worry him, when someone interrupted her.

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