Chapter 6: Friends

Shinagawa Station was larger than Yokosuka Station, at least five train lines intersect and making a switch at Shinagawa is confusing for people not from Tokyo, especially for me, I didn't even know half the train lines that run across this station, it was already lunchtime and there already was a queue at the turnstile.

I made a quick text to Himouro that I was already at Shinagawa and he quickly replied.

"Look sharp, friends from Todai are joining." The text immediately sent a chill down my spine, the small gathering of classmates had blown up into an intercollegiate Mixer. I hurriedly walked up to the nearest washroom to take a look at myself, there was no way I'm walking in there looking like this. I tried to ruffle my long sleeves and removed my tie, I cursed, I still look like some freshman college kid having his first night out in college, which I am, by the way, this won't do, I'll be the topic of jokes until senior year.

I hurriedly rushed to a Uniqlo at the southern exit of the station, hoping they had a sale, I'm going to bust my wallet for this damned mixer, I hope to God my parents would send my allowance tomorrow there was no way I would last the winter at this rate.

Uniqlo was bursting at the seams, the good news is, they were having a winter sale, the bad news, it attracted a large crowd. It's going to take me half an hour to clear this, I texted Himouro.

"Will be late for 30 minutes, stopping by Uniqlo to get some stuff." I hope I wouldn't be the last person to arrive, it was bad manners but I would rather commit that sin than walk up the joke of the evening.

I was busy rummaging the display when I felt a gentle tap and heard a familiar voice.

"Hey," the girl said casually, "Himouro-Kun sent me here to meet you."

I wasn't able to hide my confused expression, I remembered her face, she's a classmate in my Morning class and frequently sits beside Himouro, But I rarely interact with her outside of class. The awkward stares hung as it took me a couple of seconds to recall her name, Akari Fujimoto.

I stiffly made a bow at the same time reaching out for a handshake which she nonchalantly passes off as a high five, the very definition of an awkward hello. I silently cursed at Himouro for setting this up. He should mind his own business.

"Good afternoon Fujimoto-san," I said in a formal tone, hastily hiding the shirts that I wanted to try on.

"Call me Akari," She said smiling while patting my back "We're not highschoolers anymore Itsuki lighten up"

She was awfully feeling close to me, it made me feel uncomfortable at the same time curious. I was breaking new grounds previously filled with fog and somehow it was exciting. So this is what University Life was like.

***Author's note***

here are some terms:

Todai: It is slang for Tokyo Daigaku, it means Tokyo Unversity

Mixer: It is a term for a get-together among college students, more like a party and blind date at the same time.

Thank You for Reading,

Kem