Chapter 240 - Presence Of Mind

"Are you fucking stupid?" Some of the people in the room yelled at him unison as he was startled. With a confused look, he asked, "What happened?"

I felt like something was off with those brownies but didn't expect them to be hash browns.

"Dude!!?" The next to him, whose name was Sekiguchi exclaimed, as the dude who was sitting in front of Moriko called out him in a rough tone, "Bruh it's not allowed here, you dimwit!"

"Ayo, don't eat those brownies!" The guy who figured it out in the first place announced in a loud voice. Listening to him, the girl sitting next to laughed and asked, "That's why it feels like everyone around me is drifting away!"

She was definitely influenced. That's why she was laughing like an idiot few moments ago. 

"Drifting away? Aren't you here?" Sekiguchi asked her as he wasn't aware of the extent to which she was influenced. Ishihara waved at Sekiguchi and said asked while looking at the girl, "Is she high?"

" I think..." The boy next to her replied as he has been tolerating her bullshit all this while.

"I ate what?" The girl leaned over to that guy and asked, as he probably misheard her in the heat of the moment and asked, "One?"

"One kiss is all it takes…" A smile formed on her face as she immediately wrapped her hands around his neck. He was still in his senses. He held her by the shoulder and yelled at her, "Get a hold of yourself!"

"Is something wrong with these brownies?" She suddenly asked while staring at him, as he sighed in annoyance and didn't say anything. Sekiguchi laughed awkwardly and stated, "I'm glad I only ate one."

Looking at that girl, I was also glad that I ate only one.

"I ate a lot! Six!!!" She yelled raising her arm in the air which turned the attention of half of the room towards her. The boy next to her let out a huge breath and mumbled, "Oh boy…"

Handling her would be a huge pain for him.

"Come on dude, why did you thought that bringing these will be good idea?" The guy who was sitting in front of Moriko asked with a disappointed tone, as Sekiguchi joined him, "You idiot, what's wrong with you??"

"I thought we should try it. One of my friends said it was a hit." The guy who brought the brownies replied with an alarmed tone, as the other dude replied, "Yeah, hit you in the head, you crack!"

Most of us weren't delighted at the fact that something like this happening. I glanced over towards my girlfriend and noticed her talking with Moriko.

"Ayo, someone play the music!" The gal who was busy making out with her boyfriend yelled. She being quite obnoxious and Shiraishi didn't like it as she seemed to pass some comments about her to Moriko which they laughed at.

"Can I get a refill?" The boyfriend asked as he was probably thirsty after making out like that. He leaned over the table and passed his glass towards Sekiguchi.

This sudden commotion disturbed the girl who was high. She was resting her head on the seat with her eyes closed as she shouted at us, "Can you turn the light down, it's hurting my eyes!!"

"Hash kicking in?" Sekiguchi said, as he turned off a few lamps and the room become quite dark, since it already dark outside. The slow music felt rather soothing but the noise their chatter was annoying.

"I think."

"How are you so well?" I asked Shiraishi as I recalled that she also ate 3 of those brownies. She gave a shrug, "I don't know… I didn't eat much, that's why?"

"You ate 3 of them!"

"Really?"

It was quite noisy around me. The dude taking refill was leaning in such a way that it was obstructing my field of vision. The high girl was talking nonsense to herself as the boy was trying to calm her down.

In that instance, I noticed something unusual happening. Even though the guy's forearm was blocking my vision, I noticed Moriko talking with the girl who was making out and she seemed to asking for something from her.

That wasn't the unsual part.

I noticed the guy sitting in front of Moriko staring towards us blankly. His eyes were leaping from person to person, but his body was unusually still. Almost as if, he was trying to cover for something.

Maybe I was imagining things because of the brownies.

"I can't wh… huh?"

"What? What were you saying?" Shiraishi asked as I nodded and replied, "Nevermind. Let me think for a while… everything around me is spinning in slow motion."

"This is your first time coming here and you had to face this… really sorry." Shiraishi apologised as she could probably tell that I was feeling uncomfortable in that surrounding.

"Don't worry… I'm fine."

Shiraishi and I talked for a while, as our food arrived too and we started eating. Those who ate those brownies were also trying their best to get out it's influence as no one would want to go home being high.

I was halfway done with my food when I noticed Moriko leave the room. When Shiraishi asked her, she said that she wanted to use the washroom. 

The food was quite good but it wasn't as good as that cafe where I took Naoto for our date.

After a few moments, the guy who was sitting in front of Moriko stood up from his seat and said, "Guys, I think I should inform the staff about this."

"Ishihara, wouldn't it be a problem?" Sekiguchi asked in a concerned tone, as he replied with a nod, "Not informing them will be a bigger one."

He was actually correct.

"Yeah, it's prohibited to take alcohol and drugs here." I commented,as Ishihara nodded and chuckled, "Drugs are illegal everywhere. On top of that, we are underaged."

Listening to that, most of us stopped eating and stared at him nervously. No one bothered to think about it this way, but what happened a few moments ago was completely illegal.

"Don't worry, leave it to me." Ishihara said looking our panicked faces. Sekiguchi was about to stand up, as he asked, "Should I come along?"

"Nah it's fine. Too many people won't be necessary for the negotiation." Ishihara stopped near the door and replied.

It appeared like Ishihara was guy who had an adequate amount of common sense.

"Ishihara man don't snitch me out!" The guy who brought the brownies cried out loud. His voice was shaking and looking at his frightened face, he showed him his palm and assured him, "I won't snitch you out. I'll just tell them about this."

"What the fuck does that mean?"

"I won't reveal the names, don't worry."

"Ishihara… I'm trusting you man."

"You idiot! Don't do stuff like these next time." He said before slamming the door behind him, as Sekiguchi chuckled and commented, "I don't think there will be a next time."

Ishihara had an excellent presence of mind, even though his appearance said otherwise.

Shouldn't have judged him like that before