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The bell rang. First period ended. Students flooded the halls like ants from a kicked nest.
Arien was pissed.
Arien: AAAAA where the hell did this guy go? Maybe he went home. But—
She'd turned the whole damn academy upside down looking for Shiro. All because she needed to apologize for that stupid misunderstanding.
Meanwhile, in an empty classroom that definitely wasn't a nap zone, Shiro slept like a corpse.
RRRRIIINNNGGG!
The interval bell nearly gave him a heart attack.
Shiro: Five... more... minutes...
Then—
GRRRRRRRR
His stomach roared like he hadn't eaten in five days.
Shiro: Fine! I'm going!
He stumbled into the hallway and immediately went left instead of right.
Arien spotted familiar black hair through the crowd. She sprinted like her life depended on it.
Arien: Oh... There... you... are. I... was... looking... everywhere... for you!
She looked exhausted, face red from running.
Shiro: Me? Why?
Arien: Why?! You're asking why?! You clearly ditched me after class! And I wanted to say sorry!
Shiro: Mmm... I'm sorry too. But why are you sorry?
Arien angrily punched him softly.
Arien: You... don't need to know that!
Shiro (thinking): No, I need to know that.
Arien: So where are you going? And where were you all this time? You didn't go to any classes after 1st period!
Shiro: I'm hungry, so I'm going to eat something.
Arien: And...?
Shiro: And what?
Arien: Where. Were. You?
Shiro: Sleeping.
Arien: You were sleeping in the middle of the day?! That's why you didn't come to any other classes?! Where were you sleeping, huh?!
Shiro (annoyed): Why should I tell you? I'm leaving. Bye.
He started walking in a random direction.
Shiro: See ya tomorrow... if I get lucky.
Arien (confused): Uh... the canteen's this way Genius !
Shiro, clueless, bowed his head a little and went that way.
Arien: What's the rush? I'm hungry too. Let's go.
She acted like she'd known him forever. Shiro was usually the type to say exactly what he thought if he didn't like something. But even though he wasn't crazy about how she was acting, he didn't say anything.
Shiro (soft smile): Okay.
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At the Canteen
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The smell of fried food hit them like a wall. Two lines:
Noble Line - Plush chairs, silver trays, servants fanning them Peasant Line - A sad rope and the constant fear of food running out
Shiro shuffled into the peasant line. When Arien joined him, he gave her a look.
Shiro: You're... not noble?
Arien: Do I look like bath on gold to you?
Nearby whispers exploded:
Student 1: That's the guy who fought Lucien!
Student 2: No way. This twig?
Student 3: He looks like he'd faint if you sneezed on him.
Shiro ignored them. His eyes were locked on the last meat bun in the tray. It was perfect. Golden. Glazed. Steam rising like it was begging to be eaten.
His meat bun.
Then—
A shadow fell over him.
???: Shiro Asahina? If I'm right.
The voice was smooth. Dangerous. The kind that made guards snap to attention.
Shiro turned. A tall man stood there
Shiro : Mmm….. Yes who might you be?
???: I thought i'm popular around here. But if you don't know me don't think about it. Can I take to you with you in private?
Other students start mumble about what's happening
Student 1: Oi is.. Is that
Student 2: yes it him. But why he's here and what's he want with shiro asahina
And shiro answer
Shiro: ...…..
???: Oh don't worry it only take about 5 minutes
The reason why shiro hesitated was behind them, the lunch lady served the last meat bun to some random student.
Time stopped.
Shiro watched in horror as his beautiful meat bun his reason for living was handed to some nobody with bad posture.
The student took a bite.
CRUNCH
The sound echoed in Shiro's soul.
A single tear rolled down his cheek.
Shiro: Goodbye... my love...
Shiro's hands shook. That meat bun had been HIS. That glorious, perfect—
Arien(elbowing him) : Hey! Snap out of it!
Shiro blinked. With that shiro gave his real answer.
Shiro (voice dead): ...Take me away.
As he was led off, Arien who don't know what's happening just like that last time
Arein: why is shiro so imported. what the hell happened at the exam day I need to know toooo…
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