The cafeteria was a sea of clattering trays and student chatter, but the corner where Tachibana Rei sat was vibrating with a very specific, low-frequency rage.
She was currently stabbing a piece of karaage with her fork as if she were trying to assassinate it.
"I hate her," Rei muttered, her cheeks puffed out. "I hope her cane broke into. I hope she accidentally drinks orange juice right after brushing her teeth for the rest of her life."
Fujiwara Touka, who was sitting across from her, paused her delicate eating to stare at Rei and blinked, her large eyes filled with genuine concern. "Um, Rei-chan? Are you alright? You've been whispering hexes into your food for the last ten minutes."
Rei waved a dismissive, frantic hand. "It's nothing, Touka. It's just... the Gremlin is back. The purple-haired Harbinger of Annoyance has been discharged from the hospital, and she's already drained my mental health bar to zero."
