"I can't believe this Senji! You chose to bring HER over letting ME be your partner?!" Yunaka hissed slamming her foot to the floor. Senji scratched the back of his head nervously. He could feel Ayame's grip on his hand tighten. Yunaka crossed her arms, pouting. "Ugh! Well whatever! Fine I guess I'll allow it since I did invite you... Anyway. Sorry for losing my cool there. Welcome to my lovely home. We've got drinks, beer pong, takeout food in the kitchen and uh, whatever they got set up in the backyard out there. Oh and there is a pool out back too. Help yourself."

"O-oh okay. Cool." Senji stuttered with his response.

"But you owe me for this! Come hang out with me later by the pool when I'm done running around getting some shit figured out and talking with people. Bring the weirdo too I suppose. Catch ya' later Senji!"

Yunaka took off vanishing somewhere away from the living room. Senji figured he might as well go over to the dining room, leading the quiet Ayame with him there. Having never touched alcohol before, Senji was anxious to even try any. He figured it would be best to just grab a soda. Right before he would Ayame snatched a bottle, examining it and it's contents.

"A-are you thinking of actually drinking??" He asked her.

She continued to study the bottle before setting it back. She shook her head.

"I refuse."

"O-okay. Yeah me too. Here."

Senji grabbed another can of the soda he selected and handed it to Ayame. She opened it and proceeded to drink. He did the same. The taste was sweet and refreshing.

"Thank you, Senji."

"You're welcome."

The pair glanced over to where the long table was. Separated on two sides was Kaito and the three volleyball team guys. Each of them were taking turns trying to sink ping pong balls into his cups with one out of three attempts landing. Meanwhile Kaito was landing every shot. A smug grin on his face, taking a drink from his own bottle. Once the last cup from the guys was downed they all groaned with the tallest one slamming his fist down on the table in rage.

"How the hell are you so good at this?! Three of us taking shots one at a time should've worked!" He barked.

"Why are you clowns getting so worked up? I'm having fun." Kaito snickered. Bystanders were chuckling and pointing fingers while gossiping to each other.

"Alright you freak one more game! I am not losing to this outcast!"

"Bring it on you ape. I'll gladly show you up again."

Ayame tugged on Senji's shirt lightly. She motioned for him to follow her. They left the loud main rooms into a secluded hallway past the kitchen. Only a group of girls were in the same hallway over near the laundry room gossiping amongst themselves. It was quieter in this area compared to where they had just come from. He could hear the girls down the hall snickering away all holding bottles in their hands clearly getting intoxicated. Ayame leaned against the wall drinking her soda. Senji joined her on the wall next to her. Here they were at a party but remaining secluded from all the noise and chatter. Taking in this calming moment, Ayame leaned against Senji's shoulder. He felt his hairs standing up on end.

"This party. This atmosphere. This isn't really for me but... At least you being here makes it tolerable." Ayame muttered.

"I understand. I-I am happy you're here though." Senji replied.

"I'm content with this. Don't leave my side."

"I d-don't plan on it, Ayame."

"Good."

In an attempt to make himself seem smooth, Senji tucked his arm back then lifted it up to wrap around Ayame, grabbing her shoulder. She let out a soft breath, glancing at Senji who's eyes were up at the ceiling. She could see the redness in his cheeks. She inched closer now leaning against his chest, hearing his heart pounding. From down the hallway Senji could faintly hear what the girls were talking about as they weren't exactly being quiet or subtle;

"Can you believe that?"

"For real. Literally talks to nobody then as soon as some hot new kid shows up suddenly she takes an interest in them?"

"Like a vulture to a fresh corpse if you ask me."

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"Even Yunaka took a liking to him! Imagine how she must feel."

"Who cares about her? She could have any guy in school. Pretty sure she's even slept with a few of them. Her parents are always working so I bet she's alone most of the time."

"I don't doubt it. But honestly, that's such a sneaky move on her part. Play all innocent and shy then slowly get closer to him, take advantage of him as the new guy just trying to adjust to this town."

"You're just jealous. If you think he's hot you should've said something to him."

"He had just got here! How lame would it have been to just go up to him out of nowhere and ask him out?"

"Too late you wimp. Loner girl there already sunk her fangs into him."

"Screw this crap. I came here to have fun not get upset. I need a minute... I'm going outside."

"Alright. We'll be here. God what a drama queen I swear."

"Just let her cool off. It's the alcohol that's making her blood pressure rise."

Senji felt distraught eavesdropping on their conversation. He didn't understand why girls like that and Yunaka were so mean towards Ayame just because she's socially distant and quiet. It reminded him of how gossip and rumors spread at his old high school regarding certain girls with their own reputations. It only ever caused malice and pain. He was sticking by Ayame so he didn't want to go give them a piece of his mind or leave her. He was always taught by his father to never let words agitate him and make him act out. He kept his cool. Ayame gave a cold stare over to the remaining girls drinking their booze.

From out in the living room the sound of shouting could be heard followed by slamming and glass breaking. Senji and Ayame went to go check out what was happening when a yelp was heard followed with a thud. Heading over to see the commotion they see one of the guys in volleyball jackets down on his knee holding his nose. The other two were standing back and looming over the one on the ground was Kaito with a clenched fist.

"Y-you're dead... Asshole!" The guy on the floor screeched.

He jumped up at Kaito who slid out of the way, grabbing the guy by the rear of his collar and pulled back, throwing him down onto the floor then pressing a foot onto his chest. He coughed and hacked, spitting out some blood onto his jacket.

"I think you've had enough booze there. Fuckin' ape. You lost, get over it. Hey, grab your idiot pal here and lay him down." Kaito spoke, pointing to the other two boys."Then go pick up the glass from the bottle he dropped. Now."

Scared, they nodded and complied, helping the drunken guy up and dragging him over to the couch in the living room. Yunaka just shook her head, approaching the intoxicated jock and promptly slapping him across the face. Some onlookers started laughing. Kaito crossed his arms, shaking his head and giving the other two a death stare as they bolted for the broom and dustpan in the kitchen.

"Raito you goddamn moron... Know your limits! This is the third time you've flipped your shit at one of my parties and I'll have no more of it! Once you sober up take your ass home and don't expect another invitation anytime in the future." Yunaka snapped. The guy muttered under his breath as she walked away towards Kaito, cracking his knuckles. He glanced at Yunaka who seemed to be staring right into his soul. Her frustrated frown turned into a smug grin. "You doing okay killer?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah. He certainly couldn't land a hit."

"Way to deescalate things by putting him into submission like that. Even telling his buddies to clean his mess up. Say... Mind if I speak to you for a moment Kaito?"

"I... Guess?"

Senji watched as Yunaka grabbed Kaito's wrist, taking him towards the hallways past the kitchen. He wondered what that was about. With the drama subsided Senji noticed that Ayame wasn't next to him. Now he was wondering where she went, feeling concerned. He assumed maybe the bathroom or outside for some fresh air. He'd have to go find her, starting with the backyard where the pool also was located. Senji too, felt like he needed fresh air as well.

The frustrated blonde girl had secluded herself to the confines of the shed in the backyard. She took deep breaths after becoming agitated from the conversation with her friends back inside the house. She just needed to calm down. She had already downed a few drinks by this time so the alcohol was flowing through her system. Unaware of all the commotion that had happened inside, she rested her hands on the workbench while closing her eyes looking downwards. The dizziness was also in play making her feel nauseous. Her head was spinning. She wasn't even sure why she had gotten so irate over that conversation but it had her worked up. She was beginning to feel more calm now. Some alone time seemed to be just what she needed.

"Just a... Few more... Minutes. That's all I need..." The blonde girl mumbled to herself.

The door to the shed steadily opened with the most minuscule creaking sound even the blonde girl couldn't hear it under her mumbling. A silhouette crept inside the shed through the narrow opening left by the door slightly left ajar. She rubbed her forehead, beaded with sweat. Assuming it was the liquor she was feeling since she hated sweat with a passion. A very faint breeze was felt from the open doorway. She began to wonder what that might be. Just as she brought herself up and stood steady, an intense sharp pain struck from her lower back. A kitchen knife, plunged straight into the girl's back. She couldn't even open her mouth to scream. The feeling was odd. The shock from this sudden jolt of pain made her freeze up. Her eyes open wide, her jaw agape. Then the knife was pulled out. A hand reached over to cover the girl's mouth. Now she would try and scream. This attempt was cut short as the knife came up and across her neck. The sharp edge of the blade grazing her skin. Unable to process what was happening other then being attacked, her only option was to scream. But the knife made it's incision, cutting deep into her throat with a single slice. Blood began to gush out of the searing wound. Her body was released, falling onto the shed's wooden floor now stained with the pooling of crimson ichor from the blonde girl's wounds.

The silhouette gazed down at the girl lying dead on the floor for a moment. A gruesome sight that did not faze them in any way. They knelt down, drawing a finger through the blood to bring it up to their lips, taking a taste. Fresh blood. They stood back up, gently placing the bloody knife onto the workbench before turning around to walk out. One last glance back into the darkness. Then they closed the door behind them. The blonde girl's corpse was left to rot and wither inside of the shed.