A party. To Yuffie, it was like a star shining in the night sky. It wasn’t just a simple function where people got together, ate food, and chatted with each other. The same as a beautiful but unreachable star, a party was also an event that she couldn’t experience.
Of course, she’d be lying if she said there had been no parties back in Millil. Sometimes they were social gatherings, other times graduation celebrations, and even occasions when her popular classmates in their church school had parties. Except Yuffie had never attended any of them. Because she’d never spoken to anyone in the classroom, let alone the popular kids, so she was naturally excluded from being invited (rest omitted or she’d explode from trauma).
However, those dark memories were already in the past. Now that she was a student in the Academy of Magic, she had just as much right as the others to go to parties. In other words, today marked Yuffie’s party debut!
“This should do it!”
In her dorm room, she huffed in triumph at her reflection in the mirror. There she stood, looking like a party goods store turned into a human. She wore a brightly colored T-shirt with the words “It’s Party Time!” written in large letters, and her pants were flashy with a blinking polka dot pattern. The frames of her funglasses were decorated in bright colors, and the star- and heart-shaped lenses added to the pop feel. The small charms on her colorful bracelets jangled every time she moved.
I should be able to make friends now…
Yuffie clenched her fists. She vaguely remembered that there was no dress code for the party, so after saying goodbye to Noah, she had headed straight to the store.
I can’t talk to people, plus I’m plain… So, I need to make sure my clothes leave a lasting impression on people…
With that in mind, she bought all the clothes she could. She looked a bit like a traveling clown who visited the village every once in a while, but there was no doubt she’d be unforgettable.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Wow, what a great outfit!”
“What are you wearing? I’ve never seen anything like it before!”
“You look awesome! Maybe you could tell me where you bought your outfit?”
“Hee hee hee… Who knows, I might even become the star of the party!”
Yuffie looked incredibly happy as she fantasized about being the most popular and eye-catching person at the party. When Friend saw her, he let out a surprised “Meoooow?!” Then he hissed and retreated under the bed in fear. Obviously, cats couldn’t understand humans’ fantastic fashion sense. But that was beside the point.
“Let’s do this!”
She left the dormitory, bubbling with excitement and anticipation. On the way to the venue, it felt like the other students stared at her in shock… But that must have been her imagination.
The venue was a different hall from the one where the entrance ceremony was held. It was also unusually large. The party was already in full swing by the time she got there. Even from outside, she could hear the lively noise and chatter.
Darn, I missed the kick-off… But! I can still recover!
Thinking that it wasn’t too late to join, she tried to enter the hall…
“…Let me just wait a bit and check things out first.”
Feeling a little timid, Yuffie decided instead to sneak a peek into the venue—CRACK! The lenses of her funglasses shattered into pieces!
“Ahhhhhhhh, my eyes… My eeeeeyyyyyesssss…!”
She rolled around on the spot, clutching her eyes. The gathering of the Kingdom’s top caste created a blinding explosion of light to rival even the sun and inflicted serious damage to Yuffie.
“Breathe in… Breathe out…”
After soothing her lungs, which felt like they’d been drilled through, she peered into the hall again. The dazzlingly glamorous stage, the crystals of the chandelier sparkled like a starry sky. Rows of delicacies, their flavors impossible to imagine, were arranged on lavishly decorated tables that plebes like her would never be able to afford in their lifetime.
Her classmates’ outfits were just as luxurious as the decorations in the hall. The boys wore dashing tuxedos and tailcoats, and the girls wore dresses studded with colorful jewels. Not a single student was decked out from head to toe in party goods.
That was when Yuffie finally realized that her outfit “stood out” and not in a good way. People had already formed groups, and no one lingered alone like a loser. Which meant the only thing she could do was join one of the groups herself…
No way, no way, no way! Absolutely, totally impossible!
Even talking to one person required as much effort as climbing Mount Ecest (12,800 meters above sea level), the highest mountain in the Kingdom. Attacking such a large gathering of people alone was tantamount to suicide.
Suddenly, her eyes fell on a cluster that stood out from the rest of the hall—Lyle, Edward, and Erina. They were surrounded by so many other students, seemingly enjoying their time. Erina had the same aura as the Saint who had come to Yuffie’s village a long time ago, so it went without saying that the other students trusted and admired her deeply.
I wish I could be like that too… Yuffie thought as she watched them, green with envy. Understanding dawned at the same time too. There’s no place for me here…
Her heart broke. She felt stupid for getting all dressed up and excited on her own.
“I wish I could use healing magic, too…” Mumbling sadly, Yuffie took off her funglasses.
Even if you lack social skills, as long as you’re talented, people will come to you willingly.
But right now, Yuffie had neither the power of healing magic nor social skills—she had nothing. Comparing the sparkling atmosphere of the party to herself, alone in her lame clothes, she wanted to disappear from this world right away. She spun on her heel and trudged back to the dorms.