Party Time

"There, you got caught on the clip there, any further and you're dress could have ripped!"

Tsumugi carefully plucked the caught edge of Subaru's dress off the nearby desk hook, on the side of the metal frame.

Thank-goodness it was only my dress that caught her eye...

"I was going to check with you; did you know where the party was?"

"Party?"

"Yeah, tomorrow... Hoshikawa's birthday..."

Subaru's lingering look of puzzlement told Tsumugi everything.

"Didn't you know?"

Subaru shook his head lightly.

"No one told you?"

Subaru just gave a blank stare.

"I'm so sorry, I thought you would have known about it already. I'm so sorry!"

She stepped back and dipped her head up and down, causing her twirls to flail wildly, and her contained breasts to shake as well.

"I'm sure someone would have already invited you..."

"It's not your fault."

Tsumugi went upright again, and stood still before him, and a couple of seconds later - so did her plump boobs, before just nodding a little.

"Hum, true... Well I'm inviting you on behalf of the others. I'm absolutely sure you'll be welcome... so odd that no-one told you though... oh well."

Maybe they assumed I'd already been told... or didn't bother because I'm seen as anti-social...?

"It is tomorrow, starts at six, just across from the station, on the second floor."

Tsumugi then reeled off the details, but Subaru didn't react at all.

Parties are usually noisy... with heaps of people... in tight spaces...

"Nearly everyone from class will be there... so please come."

She pleaded with her bright eyes again, while Subaru contemplated further.

"Even a few of the boys have gotten an invite."

That's only adding more risk...

"I'm sure... I'll think about it..."

"Yeah, no pressure. We don't usually get too rowdy..."

She bubbled with an excited smile.

Subaru still only nodded slightly.

"Well, best get back to the gym... we were winning against the other class..."

Seto quickly set off, only then finally slipping back into her t-shirt.

"...I'll let you know how we fair. Bye now..."

Subaru was left alone again, with something else to worry about now.

"So, um... Subaru are you going to come?"

Junko appeared beside the open class room door at the end of the day, just as Subaru was about to leave, being the fourth person to ask today now, but it again caught him unprepared.

"I mean; to the party?"

"Um... I haven't decided yet...

"Oh please do... it'll be, like, loads of fun."

Junko caught sight of Kei, who was going to slip past them both, but was stopped too.

"Akashi, you'll be there right?"

"Oh uh - yeah I was invited."

"See Subaru, you don't want to be left out now do you?"

Kei also looked on with curiosity, adding to the pressure.

"Okay - I will..."

"Oh good, it'll be worth the effort, trust me."

Momofuji strutted off with an overly happy expression, while Kei lingered beside Subaru for the other teen to be well clear.

"You didn't sound very enthusiastic... have you not gone to a gathering for a while?"

"No. And I'm not... I've told you how I don't like crowds... but now I've been invited - I'm expected to show right?"

"Usually..."

Subaru sighed, while slightly drooping his arms and shoulders.

"I'd rather spend my time quietly accomplishing something, rather than... yahoo with a bunch of excited... students."

Kei leaned over and lightly slapped his slumped left shoulder.

"I don't know what 'party' you're expecting, but it won't be that."

Subaru looked to her with interest, as she passed on some clarity.

"There may be a little singing, but most of the time we'll just mingle about, chat, grab some food, and sit about and relax... so even you could tolerate that right?"

If that's true... then yes...

"There's even a rooftop balcony at the venue, so heaps of room. Word was; we have the whole place booked for it, so 'the more the merrier'..."

"I guess I can tolerate our class just mingling..."

"And most of class B too..."

Kei added, stepping past.

Oh... I don't really know many from the other class... Maybe I shouldn't...

"Sorry I can't come with today, I've got practice."

Kei backed away, but stopped as she noticed Subaru's renewed hesitations.

"You have to go, now you've told someone you would... and they'll tell others."

She's right... I don't really have a choice now do I...

"Don't worry... what could go wrong?"

Kei turned about and headed for the stairwell, leaving Subaru deep in his unsettled feeling.

"Oh my gawd... you look positively gorgeous!"

Minami Yoshikawa - the birthday girl, dashed over and took a closer look as Subaru arrived.

"Uh... thanks."

"I'm so glad you came, I really hoped you could, so thank-you."

Subaru had decided to wear a mostly plain, single piece, predominantly a white dress, that went all the way down to his ankles, with a light-blue 'sash' that hung from one shoulder, down to around the hips, while giving the impression that he had some hip, added with the padded bra, it likewise added some more shape up top.

I may have overdressed though...

"I really love the outfit... very cool."

In comparison, everyone else, including Yoshikawa, mostly wore fairly light casual attire, with a couple of rare exceptions.

"Wow - you look radiant!"

Tetsuko shimmied over, wearing a sparkly gold knee-height skirt and a blue jacket-vest-like top, with white buttons and details, which lightly emphasised her features.

"So glad you could come tonight."

With all the previously arrived eyes on him, Subaru really wanted to hide more behind the loose sash, but it wouldn't have been enough.

A few more admirers gathered to appreciate 'her' appearance in the fancy outfit, that had been another choice of his sister, on their shopping trip together, and for not wanting to stand out; he'd made the opposite happen, again.

Perhaps there'd been a memo... or at least some talk about it being more casual... I really need to tune into the network... every so often at least...

The smallest one in the room appeared, with phone in hand, and patiently waited for her own opportunity to interact with the finely dressed 'Princess'.

"Sekiya-sama, please - a photo?"

The 'a photo' turned out to be many more, which reminded Subaru of his sister's 'photo-shoots', but Inori wasn't asking for poses like Hitomi did.

"A couple more... please."

Inori snapped away at least a dozen more, but at least she couldn't get up in his face, as she was far too short.

"Thank-you Princess."

She scampered back to her previous spot and studied her caught images on her phone for a while.

Subaru soon caught sight of Kei, who murmured in the corner with some of the other guys in attendance, then after many more greetings, with others from their next door class, he found the blue duo, near the snack table, and wandered over.

"It's free... so dig in."

Akane announced, waving over the offering.

With a few bites and a drink to steady the nerves, another scan of the room revealed the majority were there, but also that Onomiya was clearly absent.

Apparently I'm not the worst introvert in class after all...

The party officially started; after a short thank-you from the host and the birthday girl, before the group got details about what was available to them, such as the karaoke rooms and even a VR games room.

I wonder what that looks like... I suppose I can find out for myself...

Eventually becoming a little separated from the others, Subaru wandered the corridors looking for the room of interest, and as he was just passing by one darkened doorway, suddenly someone reached out and tugged him in.

"Huh?!"

It's too dark... I can't see...!

Whoever it was, they snatched him, grabbed his wrist and waist, then forced him briskly up against the wall, holding Subaru before them inside the small room, that went even darker as the door slowly closed.

"Uh wait... who...?"

The darker space hadn't let his eyes adjust yet, as the unknown figure pinned him, before whispering softly.

"I finally got you!"