The cafeteria was alive with the usual early morning hum. Trays were clattering, muffled conversations overlapping, and the occasional burst of laughter from every which direction. Erika sat perched on the edge of her seat, her expression lit up with genuine delight. She leaned slightly toward her new roommate, Esmarie. The other side of the table was looking a bit more grim. Dakota just sat there poking at his food.
Austin: "Why're you staring at your food like its about to give you bad news?"
"Dakota: "I was hoping for some pancakes, not chicken for breakfast. Besides, I don't trust cafeteria chicken."
Esmarie: "Unfortunately they ran out of pancakes right when we got to the front. They should have them back out right now, but we'd have to get back in line."
Erika: "Cheer up, Dakota. I'm sure it's tasty. Give it a try."
Dakota: "If I croak, it's on you."
Suspense thick in the air, Dakota picks up one of his pieces of chicken, and bites it…
He slowly chews, ready to spit it out of his mouth the moment he dislikes what he tastes. However, his eyes light up.
Dakota: "Well I'll be."
He tears up his chicken, devours his grits and eggs. And gets back in line for seconds.
Esmarie: "Looks like he liked it. As for you, Erika. You eat too neatly!"
Erika: "Eh?!" She blinked, startled with confusion.
Esmarie: "Like, seriously. Look at her! Every bite the same size, no crumb wasted, not even a single piece on her sleeve. It's terrifying."
Erika: "What do you mean terrifying?!"
Austin: "No she has a point. Are you even human?"
Erika: "That's mean!"
Esmarie and Austin try to keep their faces straight, but they can't stop themselves from breaking out in laughter watching Erika's reaction to their quips.
Esmarie: "My mom would love you. Me? Not so much. Makes me feel like a slob."
Austin: "I think it's admirable," he said while sipping from his cup of water. He gestured at Akebi with a tilt of his chin. "See? She respects the food. The cafeteria staff probably loves people like her."
Erika: "N-no, it's not like that. I just… don't like wasting anything." Her cheeks colored slightly at the compliment.
Austin: "I could get some seconds."
Esmarie: "I second that."
Austin: "Good one."
Erika: "I'm okay. I'll stay here so we don't lose our table."
Esmarie: "Thank you," she says waving her hand while walking away. "Let's go find Dakota so we can cut the line."
Austin: "Right behind you."
***
Dakota: "Guys, this food is amazing!"
The 3 who went for seconds have returned to their seats and are partaking in stacks of pancakes glazed in syrup.
Austin: "You've only been here for a day and you've already deemed the food amazing?"
Dakota: "You'd be crazy not to think the same."
Austin: "Oh, I agree with you."
Esmarie: "And this is just the tip of the iceberg. The food here is almost too good."
Erika: "You guys are making me regret not getting seconds."
A sort of warmth began to form around their table. A warmth Dakota didn't think he was going to find at the Hunter Academy.