Party: Melancholic Night

After taking a shower, Neo stared at the clothes Erick had lent him that were hanging in his closet. As he examined the clothes more closely, they stood out among the other clothes there.

Compared to the others he had seen in the store, these seemed special. He was afraid to wear them and ruin them. But Erick had gone out of his way to lend them to him, so not wearing them wasn't an option.

As soon as he put them on, fear began to take over his body. His hands were sweating and he felt chills all over. He was afraid to go to the party. He wasn't very good at social events, and being in a place with so many people would surely force him to interact.

But if he didn't go, Takeshi would definitely do something. Neo had to go or he would regret it forever. Outside, the streets were dark with only a few lights. A cold wind brushed against Neo's cheeks, and he was relieved to be wearing warm clothes. The sound of his footsteps was the only thing he could hear. He couldn't see anyone in the distance, but he had the feeling that he was being followed.

Memories of his nightmare began to overwhelm him - the terrifying images of the faceless figure chasing him, the blade of a sword piercing his throat.

He quickened his pace as he tried to focus on happier memories. Strangely, thoughts of the hot meals in the cafeteria came to his mind. Maybe he was hungry. Still nervous, he sought refuge in his mind. He remembered the melodic words he had heard when he was half-conscious. Saya's singing was truly enchanting; Neo wanted to hear it again.

Several students could be seen near the entrance of the school. The entrance moved slowly and Neo had to identify himself as a Hoshi student. Only Hoshi students were allowed in that day.

The gymnasium stood out in the darkness like a brightly lit beacon. Neo's nervousness returned as he approached the place. He began to question his decisions and whether he was doing the right thing. He was being swept along by the crowd entering together, so he didn't have much of a choice.

Looking up, he saw the banner he had helped Richard hang. He thought it would be satisfying just to see the result of the student council's work.

As he entered, he caught a glimpse of the decorations. The ceiling was draped in white fabric, forming an arched canopy from the corners to the center. Small lights adorned the fabric like stars.

The walls were covered with white fabric and lights, along with many colorful flowers. At the back of the gymnasium was a table filled with food and drinks, decorated with red cloth in the center forming a triangle, and white cloth around the edges. Classical instruments played a melody that blended well with the surroundings.

The gymnasium had been transformed into a magical place.

Richard approached Neo as he noticed the boy admiring the work of his peers. "What do you think of the end result, Neo?" He was accompanied by Sarah, who was wearing a black outfit with gold accents.

"It's incredible, the place looks really beautiful," Neo replied.

Richard smiled and thanked him for the compliment. "Seeing the final result makes all our efforts worthwhile. Thanks for helping with the banner. You're a part of it too."

Neo smiled at the gratitude. "No problem. You guys are the best."

"Enjoy," Richard said and turned to greet someone else. Before joining him, Sarah said to Neo, "I really like your outfit."

The boy was taken aback, surprised by her sudden compliment. If nothing else, it confirmed what he had noticed earlier in his room.

Speaking of outfits, the sea of well-dressed people also turned the hall into a fairytale setting. Neo managed to spot a few people who were not properly dressed, but on the whole, everyone seemed to have followed the dress code.

He looked around for Saya among the people in the hall, but he couldn't find her anywhere.

He spotted Natasha; she was wearing a white dress that complemented her features well and made her even prettier than before. Next to her was a girl in a green sleeveless dress. Neo hadn't seen her before; a rose tattoo on her arm made him sure it was Monica.

He decided to look for the baseball team and wandered around the hall, but there was no sign of any of their members. Hadn't they arrived yet? His attention was drawn to a girl in a purple dress with straight black hair. He was sure it was Luna, the only one wearing a witch's hat. She held a cup of strawberry juice in her hand.

Feeling hungry, Neo decided to get a snack and the same juice Luna was drinking. He looked for a place to sit; there were several benches nearby. The snack he ate wasn't the best he'd ever had, certainly not comparable to Takeshi's uncle's ramen, but it satisfied his hunger.

While Neo ate, he watched the other people talking about their lives and memories, laughing and having fun. Meanwhile, he couldn't remember much from before he woke up on the bench. So he couldn't participate in discussions about his past like the others.

He felt like he didn't belong in this place or anywhere else. Without his memories, he was a shadow of his former self.

The feeling intensified after he finished eating. He felt so lonely.

He began to stare at the ground, his breathing getting heavier and his eyes slightly burning. Amidst the laughter of others, he was on the verge of tears. A hand ruffling his hair interrupted his spiraling thoughts and impending tears.

"Hey, silly, are you okay?"