As was usual for events, his family had arrived half an hour too early, which somehow left his parents plenty of time to enthusiastically brag about him to just about nearly every other parent in broken English – sometimes they got an equally broken answer back. Hibiki just let himself be dragged about, smiling whenever he was propped up like a rabbit for an elementary school show and tell: taken out of his cage only to have his IQ told to anyone willing to listen. He couldn’t even share his misery with the bodyguards, as they were too busy staking out every single thing that moved as if it’d immediately pull a gun on him and turn him into a very gifted rabbit stew the moment they looked away.
The opening of the doors into the large auditorium relieved him from his good son duty, and he managed to get a seat next to the aisle in the middle of the second row, so at least one side of him would be safe from his parents. The other side still had his mother to deal with however, who defiantly continued to straighten out his attire in a stubborn bid for perfection he never wanted to achieve himself. At least he knew it didn’t come from a bad place, and that this was their one chance to brag before they would leave for Japan again – it wasn’t his right to deny them their pride, but he sure as hell would try to dodge it.

In the few minutes of silence as the hall filled before the presentation, he took out his phone and played a few levels of a rather mindless puzzle game. While he was distracted his mother fruitlessly tried to straighten a pluck of his hair.
When the hall was nearly full, his father leant in past his mother and gave his hand a disapproving tap with two fingers. Hibiki looked up from his game, and quickly caught on that his father wanted him to stop.
「I don’t mind you playing that game, but not during the presentation.」His father whispered sternly as a warning. Both well aware of how anal his father got during anything remotely official, and that he had gotten away with his disinterest for a while already, he begrudgingly nodded and pocketed his phone.
Since there was nothing happening on stage yet, and he was pretty sure that even if there was it would be boring anyway, he let his gaze drift around the hall. Curious he took note of the people he could see in the rows behind him, past the bodyguards, and wondered how many of them he would see again in his classes. His mother tugged at his sleeve and pulled his attention back.
「They’re going to start.」She pointed at the female announcer that had walked on stage. Hibiki sighed and nodded, accepting that he would have to sit through at least an hour of this.

The first speaker was announced as a representative of the debate union. Although he knew better, Hibiki's mind still imagined it as a bunch of nerds arguing amongst themselves – so he could only think of their representative as some sort of lord of the nerds. His imagination was proven wrong when a handsome student stepped on stage.
There was something about him that looked gentle, even if he walked on with confidence, but Hibiki couldn't quite place it. Maybe it was the way he smiled; soft and kind rather than forced or like a salesman he had seen many other people do. Perhaps it was that despite the enthusiasm he appeared genuinely patient and polite, thanking the presenter first. Or it could all be in his head in an attempt to find an excuse to look at this student even more – like he would figure out his secrets, instead of simply enjoying the view.
Why am I even fawning over him like a drooling idiot? Yes he's conventionally attractive, but it would probably be way different when he's not on stage. That is if I'd ever meet him again – I can't even speak, so that's unlikely, and I can't go anywhere without guards either. Still… I'd like to. He probably wouldn't like me that way though, even if it was socially accepted…
Why am I even thinking about a stranger like that?
He puffed his cheeks a little and tried to look anywhere else, distracting himself from his own irrational attraction that he knew would be rejected before ever even meeting him.

The very present gravitas of their voice was just as bad for his mind as the view had been, and he couldn't get himself to look away. The words flowed like water in a gentle creek; patient, soothing, sometimes stirring and quick when needed, but never becoming disjunct or rushed. But he was sure they had never intended for it to make his heart beat faster or his stomach to tingle ever so slightly.
Just ignore it, it will be over in a few minutes and then you'll be gone forever.
But if he'll be gone, I guess I can just enjoy and leave it at that… 
Still unsure whether he was wrong, even if it felt so right, he just let his attraction happen. Perhaps he even hoped it would pass if he didn't fight against it. It certainly wouldn't help to lay down taboos on his own feelings.

So he watched, only half taking in the contents of the presentation despite his best efforts. He was pretty sure he wouldn't join any clubs or fraternities or so anyhow, since he had plenty of things to do with his games and dirt races – and if that didn't work he had a dog and a PA. So instead he took in every detail, and he listened to every word without really hearing what was said.
A golden shimmer flying in his direction tore his gaze away. He caught it in a reaction. It didn't seem like anyone else had noticed, since it was so small and never made a sound. When he looked at it he saw it was a golden cufflink.
Should I hand it back now? 

He looked up, but it seemed the student hadn't noticed and was still presenting. Even if he had been able to call out, it would still be rather rude.
「Did you find something?」He heard his mother whisper beside him, as she noticed he held something in his hand. Quickly he nodded and showed her, before signing.

'I think it belongs to him, I'll give it back when he's done.’

His mother smiled and gave his hand an approving pat, as he pocketed the cufflink so he wouldn't accidentally drop it. Part of him knew it would have been possible to hand it back then and there, but the tingles in his stomach whispered that it was a great excuse; he'd get to talk to him, and he'd be able to use it as leverage to weasel his way out.

Once the student, Tristan, walked off of the stage to let someone else on, Hibiki took his chance to bail – except his mother tugged on his sleeve again.
「You’ll miss the Vice-chancellor's speech.」She whispered surprised that he was leaving in the middle, and not in the break. He quickly signed back to her.

'It will just be a few minutes.’

「Take Kazuya with.」She immediately gestured at one of the body guards, who stood up as well. With a slight, grumbly sigh Hibiki nodded, just glad he was allowed to at all. Before his mother would change her mind, and he'd impose any more he hurried up the stairs and out the hall.
Now to find him… 

That was the part of his plan he hadn't really thought about, but he figured the easiest way was to find the backstage area and ask there. How hard can it be?

Compared to the imposing foyer, the hallways that led deeper into the building were rather plain and small. But as he turned the corner, he noticed two girls, standing in the middle of the hallway and talking to one another. One had brown hair and freckles, the other he placed as Indian or somewhere similar, with black curls and walnut skin. They both seemed a little preoccupied, but he still went over, bodyguard in tow.
He caught their attention with a little wave, before walking closer and showing them his phone and the cufflink.

'I'm looking for Tristan Wright? He lost this.’

He smiled, hoping they would catch on. Instead one of the girls, the one with short brown hair, sighed deeply. His smile faltered slightly, a bit confused by the harsh reaction.
“So that's what that was…” the girl beside her nodded decisively, agreeing with her assessment. “I'm sorry, Tristan gets really nervous sometimes? He ran upstairs in a bit of a panic, we think. We can hand it back for you?”
A little cautious, Hibiki shook his head. He held up his free hand as if to tell them to hold on and let him type his response, since people usually had a tendency to talk over him.

‘It looks quite valuable, so I don't want to leave it with strangers. Do these panics happen often? I have a little bit of experience with them, and I'm a psychology student, so maybe I can help out?’

The brown haired girl sighed again in defeat, and the other patted her on the back.
“How about you come with?” The other girl said, pointing in the directions of the stairwell at the back of the building. Hibiki nodded, not entirely sure what he had to think about this sudden turn of events. If it was really that bad, he felt it was his duty to try and help: he knew he'd never be on the therapy side of psychology, but if he were to straight up walk away he wouldn't be able to take himself serious.

About three stairs up, the three of them were met by a tall Asian guy, from South-East Asia as far as Hibiki's educated guess could tell at a glance, who preemptively shook his head at the sight of them.
“I looked all over, but he seems to have vanished… who are you?” His demeanour quickly changed when he noticed Hibiki. The latter quickly raised his hands to say he meant no harm.
“Well, he couldn't have gone far?” The brown haired girl suggested hopefully.
“We can help you look.” The sterner girl added, but the guy just shook his head a little.
“I've looked all over this floor…”

'Did you check the bathroom?’

Hibiki suggested, holding his phone up to everyone. The guy raised an eyebrow at him.
“Why the bathroom?”

'It seems to be a thing, cooler, darker, isolated and people generally feel safe where they, you know…’

Hibiki lifted his other hand in a shrug, to get the point across.
“So, then what? We can't all barge in, he'd have a heart attack.” The girl with brown hair added, rather exasperated from the entire situation. Hibiki raised his hand, willing to volunteer.

'I know he's your friend, but I could check? Sometimes a stranger can make people less ashamed to open up about their problems.’

Although he'd been willing to make up excuses before, this wasn't one. He hadn't expected to be pulled into this thing, nor had he expected Tristan to suffer from anxiety, but he genuinely wanted to help.
“What about the big guy?” The Asian guy nodded at his bodyguard.

'That's my cousin. He'll stay back.’

Hibiki turned around, and gave a rather stern look at Kazuya, showing him the message as well. Understandably the bodyguard wasn't keen on it.
「Your parents have hired me as a bodyguard, Yukimura-sama, not a 'stay-back’ guard.」
Hibiki rapidly typed in Japanese on his phone, well aware that his mother had sent the most unlenient guard with him, but this was arguably different than one of his usual whims.

'It's a bathroom, please allow for some privacy.’

Begrudgingly Kazuya nodded, leaving it as such without another word.
“You guys all done? He may not even be in there, and he wasn't breathing right. Rather not leave him passed out somewhere.” The guy said, taking the lead towards the bathroom.
“Don't say that.” The brown haired girl immediately hissed back, brought to the verge of tears at the thought.
“He'll be fine.” The Indian girl tried to calm her down.
Hibiki just followed them all, more and more nervous as he realised he wasn't equipped to deal with a medical emergency. So he went over his mental checklist of actions to take.
Alright, if he doesn't want you there, then send his friends in, if he is passed out, get a doctor, and if he does want to talk, be nice and let him? Don't make this worse…

Now he opened the bathroom door, he wasn't sure why he'd offered to volunteer again – other than senseless hubris. A heavy knot tightened in his stomach, and for a moment he hoped to find nothing. Yet as he closed the door behind him and the noise echoed away, he heard the distinct sound of troubled breaths. A sound he was arguably familiar with, but not like this. It made his heart pound so hard it hurt.
I can do this. If worst comes to worst I can ask for help.
 
Unsure how to approach this situation without being able to talk, he devised a plan using his phone. With his carefully worded message ready, he gave a soft knock on the door and slid his phone through the gap. It was just barely wide enough to fit, and he involuntarily cringed a little when he heard the back get scratched by the dirty floor.

For a few long, worrisome moments there was no response whatsoever. He wondered if he'd even get his phone back. But then he heard some shifting inside, and with a soft click the door opened. Careful not to startle Tristan, Hibiki slowly entered.
The same student who had been so confident and composed on the stage, now seemed frighteningly small all huddled up in the corner. He had laid his head on his knees, as he took struggled, irregular breaths. Hibiki had to resist the urges both to immediately comfort him, and to leave this complicated mess and bail. Instead he closed the stall door and slowly sat down beside him.