Ichika and I made our way through the buzz of conversations and laughter toward the table Nozomi mentioned. It was massive, decked out with an impressive spread, slices of pizza steaming under warm lights, bowls of chips, an ice bucket of sodas and juices… and a few bottles that weren't soda.
"So many students drinking like it's normal…" Ichika muttered, wrinkling her nose. "It's honestly disgusting."
I reached for a can of cola, avoiding eye contact with the table's darker offerings. "I've heard people say they drink to escape reality."
Ichika scoffed softly. "Yeah, sure. But most of them don't have a reality they need to escape. They're just trying to look cool. Trying to fit in." She grabbed a paper plate and started piling on pizza, her tone sharp. "I can't stand people like that. Just… be your person, you know?"
I glanced at her, curious. "You think it's that simple?"
"Of course not," she admitted, her voice softening just a little. "But pretending to be someone you're not just for approval? That's how people end up getting hurt."
Was she talking about herself? Or maybe me? Ichika always had this intensity about her, strong convictions, stronger emotions, but sometimes it felt like there was something underneath it all she wasn't saying.
"…You're so opinionated," I said before I could stop myself.
Ichika blinked. "Huh, me?" She looked over at me like I'd just accused her of being a war criminal.
"Yeah," I chuckled. "But… It's not a bad thing. It's refreshing. You always know what you believe in. Not a lot of people our age can say that."
She stared at me for a second, like she was trying to decide if I was messing with her. Then she smiled. "Thanks, I guess. I think I have some opinions I like. And some I'm still figuring out."
"How can you have so many strong opinions?" I asked, half-curious, half-in awe.
Ichika shrugged lightly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I dunno. I guess… It's just experience, that's all."
"Experience?" I repeated, my voice quieter now.
I watched her eyes for a moment longer, wondering if she would elaborate.
But before she could, chaos broke out.
Two drunk students nearby suddenly shoved each other, stumbling through the crowd. One of them was pushed back, hard, and slammed into me from behind. I barely had time to react.
"Woah-!" I lost my balance, crashing into Ichika.
"Ah!" she yelped.
We hit the floor together, and to my horror, I landed right on top of her, again.
Time slowed.
My hands had instinctively grabbed her shoulders to break the fall. Her skin felt soft, almost too soft, like the curve of a painted canvas. I could feel her heartbeat under my palm, fast, erratic, and I was sure mine was the same. Our faces were inches apart. Her eyes locked onto mine, wide with surprise. Her lips slightly parted.
For a split second, the world fell away. It was just us. Nothing else existed. Just me, Ichika, and the silence of that held breath.
Then-
"Oh my gosh, they're gonna f**k!"
Laughter. Shouts. Screams.
A crowd was already forming around us like moths to a flame, pulling out their phones. Flashlights blinked. Videos started rolling. I could hear the shutter clicks, the gasps, the endless sea of voices all screaming the same thing, misunderstanding.
Why? Why didn't they see the guy who pushed me? Why didn't they care?
They weren't watching the fight anymore. They were watching us.
Ichika's reputation. Her image. Her dignity.
Gone.
My chest tightened. Guilt rising like bile in my throat. I froze, unable to move, paralyzed by my thoughts.
I ruined everything. She's going to hate me. I should've blocked the guy, I should've protected her, I should've done something. Now everyone's going to think we're dating, or worse. That we were making out. That she's… easy.
It's my fault.
I've destroyed her. Her reputation, her peace, her everything.
She's going to hate me.
She's going to cut me off.
She's going to say I assaulted her.
I'm going to be expelled. Maybe even arrested.
I got up slowly, my knees trembling, and reached out a hand toward her.
"I-I'm so sorr-"
Ichika took my hand and stood. Her eyes met mine, dark and furious. Not with embarrassment, something deeper. Disgust. Not toward me, but the crowd.
"Let's go," she said firmly.
"B-but what about-"
"Now," she snapped.
Without waiting, she gripped my hand and pulled me through the crowd, straight toward the exit. People parted, still whispering, recording. My heart pounded louder than the bass of the music.
At the doorway, Nozomi appeared, breathless.
"Wait!" she called out.
"Nozomi!" I said, panicked. "I-I can explain everything, "
"I'll tell everyone the truth," she said quickly. "I'll fix this. I promise."
"Don't bother," Ichika replied coldly.
"What? But why? We can, "
"The people in your party," Ichika interrupted, her voice sharp as glass, "are so barbaric it makes me want to vomit. I do not, and will not, hang around people like that."
By then, Minami had arrived, her eyes darting between the three of us.
And I realized… the damage was already done.
She glanced between me, Ichika, and Nozomi, her brow furrowing slightly. "What happened?"
Ichika didn't answer.
She didn't look at her. Or me. Or anyone.
She simply adjusted the sleeve of her blouse and took a calm breath, like she had just walked out of a boring conversation, not an exploding crowd of flashing cameras and whispers.
"Ichika," Nozomi tried again, but Ichika turned with the faintest smile on her face.
"I think I've had enough fun for one night."
That was it.
No anger. No explanation. Just calm, measured words.
Minami looked confused, opening her mouth to press further, but Ichika cut her off with a gentle wave of her hand. "Don't worry about it. I just need some air."
And then she walked. Right out of he gate.
I stood there for a moment, not sure if I should go after her.
Nozomi looked at me, guilt in her eyes. "I didn't mean for that to happen. I swear I didn't know those people would… act like that."
I nodded, still a bit shell-shocked. "It's not your fault."
Minami crossed her arms, watching Ichika's fading figure. "She looked like she was about to punch someone, but now she's just… chill?"
"Yeah…" I muttered, my legs finally moving to follow her. "That's what's bothering me."
By the time I caught up with Ichika down the street, she was walking with her arms folded, her expression unreadable.
"You okay?" I asked, matching her pace.
She glanced at me and offered a small, practiced smile. "I'm fine."
"I mean… all those people with their phones, saying stuff like that…"
"It doesn't matter," she said flatly. "They'll forget about it tomorrow."
I wanted to believe her. But something about the way she said it, the way her voice dipped slightly on the last word, told me she didn't believe it herself.
Still, she kept her shoulders squared, her eyes forward, like nothing happened at all.
I didn't know what to say.
We didn't talk much on the walk back from the party.
Ichika's hand never let go of mine, not in a tight, emotional grip, but more like she'd forgotten she was still holding it. She wasn't trembling, she wasn't fuming… she was just quiet. That bothered me more than anything else.
She said nothing about what had happened. Not the pictures, not the crowd, not the whispers that still echoed in my ears.
When we reached the dorms, she stopped walking.
"Well," she said, giving a small shrug. "That was fun."
It wasn't. Not for either of us.
"You okay?" I asked cautiously, searching her face for any sign of what she was feeling.
She gave me the faintest smile. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
And just like that, she turned and walked off toward the girls' dorms, her steps steady, almost too steady.
I watched her go, feeling a weight settle in my chest.
I wanted to believe her. I did.
I didn't.
Not really.
I returned to my room in silence, sat on the edge of my bed, and stared at my phone for a while. It was almost midnight. My mind was still spinning from everything… Her, the crowd, the stares, the laughter.
I was just about to plug in my charger when my screen lit up.
Ichika:
"You awake?"
I stared at the message, blinking in the dark. The glow from my phone lit the ceiling as I lay in bed, still thinking about earlier. About the crowd. About her.
"Yeah."
Her response came fast.
"Wanna go to the gym?"
The gym?
I sat up.
There were a dozen replies I wanted to send.
"Now?"
"Are you serious?"
"I've never touched a dumbbell in my life."
But all I typed was:
"I don't have a gym membership."
Her response came faster than I could blink.
"Doesn't matter. First time's free at the gym behind the station. I'll say you're trying it out."
"It's midnight!"
"Why the gym?"
"It's open 24/7. I wanna move. Clear my head. Will you come with me?"
I hesitated.
I'd never stepped foot in the gym before. I didn't work out. Not because I was lazy, but because… well, I never had a reason to. It just wasn't my thing. And Ichika? Since when did she go to the gym? She does look fit, but..
"Fine.. just show me where it is.."