Isabelle stared at the three of them, her fingers still lightly resting on her now-closed bento box.
She didn't move.
She didn't smile.
But her brain was working.
'Cafeteria food. That means spending. At least fifteen credits for anything edible. Double that if Madeleine insists on the bakery line. And then the drinks—'
She blinked once, eyes narrowing slightly.
'Unnecessary expenditure. Unscheduled time loss. Shift in caloric intake.'
But she also knew—refusing now would land poorly. Madeleine was already too determined. Miri was watching her like she'd just done something heroic. And Chessa had that glint in her eye—the one that meant she'd drag her across campus if needed.
Still, the idea of them paying on her behalf—
'No.'
Not an option.
Her jaw set slightly at the thought. She could already imagine it. Madeleine waving off the cost with a dramatic hand. Miri whispering something sweet about "just this once." Chessa grinning like a cat with someone else's wallet.
