We had to line up in a queue to order food. There was a T.V that displayed the menu, similar to a fast-food restaurant.
However, before joining the line you picked your order by selecting the name of your meal on a screen, after getting a meal ticket you'd join a queue and pay.
I picked an omurice that was said to be stuffed with ham and vegetables and then got my meal ticket. I was about to join the queue when—
"Just accept my cash!"
A student in the other queue forgot his phone in class and wanted to just pay in cash but the cashier denied his money–of course the school had already explained this.
"Sorry, but we don't accept that."
"Come on, please! I can't go back—the line is too long."
"Sorry sir but—"
"Could I pay for the two of us?" I butted in.
"Yes, that's possible but…" The cashier replied.
"You just said that it's possible, so can't I?"
"Well, if you're sure then it's fine."
"Thanks man, I-I promise to pay it back soon," the student said.
"Don't worry about it."
I used my phone to pay by snapping a code and inputting the amount.
Our meals cost 8,000 points each. The problem was, I had no idea if that was expensive or not, but I guessed it was.
After paying I left to go table-hunting.
You would think that in such a big cafeteria, there would be more than enough tables.
Well, there weren't, so I had to look for a table.
I went over to the table closest to me. They appeared to be just first years, though they were not from my class.
You could tell the difference between first, second, and third years from their shirts; first years wore white, second years wore maroon and third years wore black.
Their blazers and trousers changed accordingly, though both second and third years wore brown blazers with a touch of white, with brown trousers.
No matter how hard I looked I couldn't see any upperclassmen.
Maybe there is a cafeteria for each grade level?
"Can I sit here?" I asked the people at the table.
"Umm, no," a girl answered. "Try another table."
I sighed then went to another table that was close by. This one had 4 open chairs.
"Can I sit here?"
"Uhh... someone's coming?" a boy replied, mistakenly phrasing it as a question.
From their faces, I could tell they were lying. Just when I was about to lose hope, I heard a familiar voice.
"Yo Eiya."
It was undeniably Hiro, my best friend. He was one of the reasons I came here.
"What's up Hiro?" I grinned.
"Oh, nothing much. Let's catch up at my table."
He led me to his table; it had a lot of girls. In fact, the only boys on the table were Hiro and me.
"So Eiya, what do you think of this school?"
The moment Hiro said my name, the girls' conversation came to an abrupt halt.
One of them shot me with a glance sharp enough to cut steel, her fingers tightening around her drink.
Another whispered something to her friend, who gave a barely concealed smirk in my direction.
It didn't take a genius to figure out what they were thinking—"stay away from our blue-haired king".
Not that I had any interest, of course, but naturally they didn't know that.
"It's... immaculate," I said nervously, it had been some time since I last saw Hiro.
"Dude, why'd you say it like that? Don't tell me you're nervous."
"I-I'm not."
Guess even after all these years, Hiro is still Hiro.
"How's Auntie?"
"Oh, my mom, she's ok."
To be honest, I don't know.
"So why did you pick my school? Don't tell me you missed me."
Spot on deduction Hiro, but I'll vehemently deny it.
"Don't flatter yourself. I chose it because it's the best school in the world."
"I think that the second part is a stretch, I'd say it's just the best in East Asia and also you forgot the part where you say I miss you."
"Miss you, my ass. I'd prefer to drink bleach."
"Why don't you? It would be so much better if you killed yourself," a white-haired girl mumbled.
Hey, that's a bit too much isn't it? Come on, it was just a joke.
Hiro didn't hear it, but I think if I told him she might actually make me drink it.
I focused on my meal, finally allowing the girls to converse with Hiro.
Their conversations were mostly about 'girl drama' so I paid no mind to it.
Though I constantly heard the name 'Takamine Hoshiko.' I wondered who that was.
Occasionally, Hiro added me to the conversation, but I barely added input.
I was sure he was trying to make me not feel left out, Hiro was a good person after all, so that was a possibility.
However, whenever I talked, the girls would glare at me with extreme murderous intent.
After a while I finished and stood up to leave.
"Y-Y-You're done?" Hiro said, appearing shocked as I took barely 3 minutes.
"Yeah."
"Wow, which one are you? A food fighter or a mukbanger?" Hiro said, still staring at me in awe.
To be honest, I rushed through my food as fast as possible. Between the death glares and someone telling me to off myself, I figured it was best to leave.
"Are you sure? L-Let's talk for a while, I mean I hope no one made you leave," he urged.
"No one made me leave."
I knew for a fact that if I didn't lie, my peaceful school life would turn into a living hell.
"It's really a shame I can't give you a tour. Give me a text if you ever get lost, kay?"
That's unlikely considering the death glares from the girls beside you.
I mean what if they steal your phone and drop me in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle?
"Sure, see you later man."
"Yeah, later dude."
With that done, my reunion with my childhood friend/best friend ended. Now, it was time to look for friends.
***
Author's Note:
Hey, what's up? So, this chapter was kinda boring right? I can imagine. Anyway, just wait till you see the next chapter.
It's guaranteed peak, take it from me, your favourite Cote ripoff writer.
Anyway, on a more serious note, I would like to request one thing from you.
Please share this book. Share as much as possible whether you hate or like the book.
Like come on it wouldn't kill ya to just help support a ripoff writer now and then.
Also, if y'all have someone who can do illustrations for credit and not for money send them my way.
Please don't just send anyone my way, I want someone who can align to a certain artstyle.
Here's a picture of the kind of artstyle I want (well, a link to the picture):
https://share.google/images/sQHG7YTtiSxeDOUrd
Thank you for your help and support, see you in the next one.