A screen popped up that looked similar to a system interface.
Displayed on the screen were numbers that Clay assumed was the amount of credits he has.
'A hundred credits, hmm, wait. If this meal costs 30 credits, and I eat two to three times a day.... Wouldn't a hundred credits only be enough for a day or two?' Clay did some calculations in his head.
"Are you ready to pay now?" The cafeteria worker brought Clay back to his senses.
"Uh, yeah, sure."
"Alright! Just tap your badge here."
Clay tapped his badge on the scanner the cafeteria worker pointed at.
Beep.
"Thank you, please do enjoy your meal." The worker nodded.
"Will do." Clay smiled.
Inwardly, however, he was not smiling at all.
'Spending almost half my total credits just for a single meal was not a good idea' Clay mentally sighed.
'Well, what's done is done, from now on I guess I'll just eat food from the system shop, much more cheaper that way.'
Clay looked around for any available tables he and the others could use.
Eventually he did find an unoccupied table, it was quite near as well.
Clay sat down and waited for the others.
Before long, Josh and Khael also finished getting their food.
Clay stood up and waved at the two, trying to get their attention.
The three quickly sat together and gave thanks for the food.
They all began demolishing the food, as if they were competing on who could finish first.
Before even 5 minutes could pass, most of the food have already been inhaled by the three teenagers, leaving many onlookers stunned.
"Ah, that was delicious." Josh burped as he patted his belly.
"Totally worth the credits." Khael added, also letting out a satisfied burp.
"Ehhh, I don't really think it was worth it, but it definitely was tasty." Clay licked his lips, making sure no crumb was left behind.
After eating their fill, they shuffled back to the dorm, unanimously deciding that the rest of the academy could wait until tomorrow.
However once they were back at their dorm room, they were greeted by a brand new face.
Well, it was a brand new face for Khael, but for Josh and Clay? They had already seen this person once.
"It's you!" Steve exclaimed, pointing his index finger directly at Clay's face.
"Put the finger away, man, that's rude." Clay gently pushed Steve's arm away.
"Oh, right, sorry, I was just surprised." Steve apologized.
"All good, is this also your dorm room?" Clay asked.
"Yeah, uhh, the lights led me here." Steve scratched the back of his head.
"What are the chances...." Clay mulled.
"Indeed! I thought I would be grouped with strangers, I'm glad that wasn't the case."
"We are still strangers though?" Josh corrected.
"Well, I mean, true, but you guys are less strange-ry, maybe acquaintances?" Steve raised his shoulders.
"Hmm. Sure." Clay shrugged.
"Alright. Then, how about we introduce ourselves properly this time? My name is Steve. Steve Brine."
Steve was quite handsome— yellow hair, sharp jaw, he had the kind of look young maidens might swoon over. He was a little short in stature, an inch or two shorter than Clay. And the round black glasses he wore gave him a bookish, scholarly vibe that matched well with the Academy's uniform.
"I'm Clay Mapa."
"The name's Josh Daskt."
"Khael, Khael Sagli."
Everyone introduced themselves.
"Nice meeting you all." Steve smiled.
"Likewise." Clay nodded.
"Now that introductions are out of the way, mind if I ask what's your favorite food, Khael?" Steve turned to Khael.
"Huh? My favorite food?" Khael tilted his head, surprised at the sudden question.
"Uhh, well, I eat anything my mom cooks, so I guess.... Whatever my mom cooks?"
Steve furrowed his eyebrows.
"Are you sure you don't have any favorites? Anything coming in your mind?" Steve asked again.
"No, not really." Khael shook his head.
"I mean, everyone's gotta have a favorite food. how about you Josh? Same question" Steve turned to Josh.
"Well, my answers also the same as Khael." Josh shrugged.
'What's up with this guy and his obsession with food...' Clay rubbed his chin.
'No luck, huh?' Steve sighed mentally.
His system hadn't activated on Khael nor on Josh, he hadn't made them think enough.
'No rush, we'll live in the same dorm from now on, I'll be able to copy their abilities sooner or later.'
Seeing that no one was saying anything anymore, Clay went to his bed to lie down, exhausted from all that had happened today.
'Woah, this bed.... It's crazy soft....' His eyes widened.
"I'm off to bed guys, good night." Clay yawned, the others returning the same greeting.
There was evening, and there was morning, it is now officially Clay's second day at the academy.
Clay stretched, letting out a satisfied groan.
This time, he woke up in a different bed, on a different mattress, in a different room, and in a different place away from home.
He took out his map from his inventory to check up on his family back at home.
He found that his sister was still sleeping, with all four limbs sprawled out.
Clay smiled.
He then found his mother already awake, doing the chores around the house.
Suddenly Mrs. Mapa turned around, feeling that someone was looking at her.
However, after seeing that no one was around, she went back to doing the work in the house.
Clay shivered, wondering how his mother's intuition was so strong that it even noticed his gaze from afar, even with the concealment of the system.
He then got up from his bed, stretching one more time before washing up and preparing for the day.
Josh was the next to wake up, rubbing his eyes to clear out the eye crust. Greeting Clay a good morning as he also started preparing for the day ahead.
Steve and Khael woke up at the same time, one woke up to start the day, while the other woke up just to switch to a more comfortable position.
"Wake up Khael, they told us to be awake and ready by sunrise." Steve reminded Khael as he dried his face.
"Just five more minutes...." Khael muttered, barely audible.