[Cafeteria—]
The midday bell rang smoothly, and with it came the flood of students pouring into the wide hallways. The first classes of the day were finally over, and everyone was heading toward the cafeteria like a wave to grab lunch. For the angels and devils of Monster Academy, break time was sacred. It wasn't just about food—it was more about gossip, laughter, and pretending you weren't already overwhelmed by magical theories and history.
Inside the cafeteria, the air was warm and buzzing with different voices. The scent of bread, roasted meats, fruits, and something oddly— glowing from the devil's side of the counter drifted through the air. Two lines snaked from the serving stations, one for angels, and the other for devils. Though they were under the same roof, their eating spots were clearly divided.
Valkyrie stood in line with a tray in hand, still trying to shake off the stiffness of class. Beside her was Soda, her new bestie practically bouncing with energy as usual.
"So," Soda began, balancing her tray on one hip, "what did you think of class today? I mean, aside from Mr. Waltz's dramatic reading of the Book of Hope laws. The man sounds like he's auditioning for a play."
Valkyrie chuckled, her voice was soft. "Honestly? I didn't understand half of it. He kept dragging out his sentences like we're all supposed to swoon over his wisdom."
"Oh, please," Soda rolled her eyes. "I thought I was going to fall asleep when he said 'binding eternal law' for the third time. Like, sir...we get it—you love the sound of your own voice."
The two girls laughed, as their trays moved along the metal counter as they picked up fruits and bowls of soup. For the first time, Valkyrie felt like she belonged—like she wasn't the awkward outsider anymore.
When they reached the end of the line, Soda leaned in with a smirk. "Also, can we talk about that angel who got caught sleeping? The way Mr. Waltz called him out—I almost died of cringe."
Valkyrie grinned. "Yeah. Poor guy didn't even defend himself. Just shuffled out like his soul had left his body."
Both burst into giggles as they carried their trays toward a small empty table near the middle. Soda slid into her seat gracefully, while Valkyrie sat down, her hair was still a little messy from the morning rush, but finally relaxing.
They had barely settled before a sudden shift in the room's atmosphere caught everyone's attention.
The cafeteria doors swung open.
And in walked Sky.
Every head turned to stare. Conversations hushed, replaced by gasps and whispers. The light seemed to follow him—or maybe it was just the way his golden hair caught the sunbeams from the high windows. His wings folded neatly, shimmered faintly as he strode in with the confidence of someone who knew every eye was on him.
"Oh. My. Gosh," Soda whispered, clutching her fork like it was a holy relic. "It's him."
"Huh?" Valkyrie replied looking confused.
"S—Sky" Soda whispered.
Suddenly a girl two tables over stood up and squealed, "It's Sky! Arghhh!" before promptly fainting onto her tray overwhelmed by the beauty sky portrayed as he passed along, her friends began scrambling to fan her back to reality.
The ripple of chaos only made Sky's entrance more dramatic. He walked with slow, deliberate steps, his sharp jawline practically carved to taunt every other male in the Academy.
Valkyrie, however, simply raised an eyebrow and went back to her food.
Soda nudged her with a wide-eyed look. "Are you even seeing this? That's Sky. Thee Sky. Most gorgeous angel alive, practically perfect. And you're just…eating?"
"Food's good," Valkyrie mumbled with a mouthful of bread, unimpressed.
Sky's gaze, however, wasn't roaming the cafeteria for long. It landed straight on Valkyrie and stayed there.
With quiet confidence, he approached their table. Soda's jaw nearly hit the floor. Valkyrie, caught mid-bite, froze with her spoon halfway to her lips.
"Mind if I sit here?" Sky asked, his voice was smooth, like a melody written just to melt hearts.
Soda practically jumped out of her chair. "O-oh! Yes! Of course! Please—sit! Sit anywhere!"
He chuckled lightly and slid into the seat beside Valkyrie, though his eyes didn't leave her.
"So," Sky said, his smile perfectly practiced, "you're the new one I saw in class today, aren't you? Valkyrie, right?"
Valkyrie blinked, nodding slowly. "Uh…yeah. That's me."
Soda, meanwhile, was vibrating in her seat, her words tripping over themselves. "Oh my gosh, I'm Soda, her roommate, we were just...um...talking about...uh...class! Yeah, class! It was so, so...uh, magical, wasn't it? Heh…"
Sky gave a polite nod, though his focus remained fixed on Valkyrie. "Well, welcome to the Academy. You're…different." His tone dipped, in it carried a charm that made several girls at nearby tables squeal softly.
Valkyrie shifted uncomfortably, stabbing her food with unnecessary force. "Uh, thanks, I guess."
He leaned closer to her. "Different in a good way." Valkyrie's response was to shovel a ridiculous amount of mashed potatoes into her mouth, her cheeks puffed like a squirrel, her eyes darting everywhere but his. Soda's eyes darted between them, torn between envy and secondhand embarrassment.
Then, like a scene in slow motion—Bulb entered with his friends from the devil's side. They carried trays stacked with darker, spicier-looking meals, their laughter was loud. Loud enough to catch your attention.
And in the middle of that noise, Valkyrie's eyes met Bulb's. Time seemed to stop slowly.
Her fork slipped from her fingers and clattered against the tray. Bulb, caught off guard, froze mid-step, his tray wobbling in his hands. Their gazes locked at each other's, and for a strange fleeting moment, something like butterflies fluttered in both of their stomachs.
"Valkyrie?" Soda waved her hand in front of her face, snapping her out of the trance.
Valkyrie blinked rapidly, her cheeks heating as she fumbled for her fork. "Uh...I, um...I need to...use the restroom!" she blurted, nearly knocking over her tray in the process. She grabbed her things and bolted.
Soda who was left with Sky, forced an awkward laugh. "Uh, she's still new, you know. First-week nerves, haha."
Before Sky could respond, Soda scraped her chair back and rushed after her roommate. "Valkyrie! Wait up!"
As soon as the two girls left, a swarm of other female angels descended upon Sky's table, their voices overlapping as they tried to grab his attention.
Sky leaned back to his chair, sighing in mock despair. "And here we go again…"
The cafeteria was already buzzing louder than usual. With Valkyrie gone and Soda chasing after her, Sky found himself the sole prize at the table, surrounded by a circle of hopeful faces. The girls who leaned in from every angle earlier on started tossing their hair, asking shallow questions, laughing a little too hard at jokes he hadn't even made yet. Hilarious.
Sky, with a patient but tired smile, finally stood. "Ladies, as much as I appreciate the attention, I should probably…" He gestured vaguely toward the exit. "You know...food, class, all that important stuff."
The group giggled, some were pouting in disappointment, others were whispering excitedly to each other as he slid gracefully out of his seat.
As he strode toward the doors, his wings catched the light like they had been painted in gold, every girl's gaze followed him, wide-eyed.
And then, right by the aisle, sat the poor angel who had fainted earlier. Thanks to her friends, she had finally been revived, sitting upright with a damp cloth pressed against her forehead.
"There, there," one of her friends whispered. "You're okay now. Just breathe." demonstrating with breathing gestures.
But then Sky's shadow passed over her again. He didn't even stop— he just walked by, his aura radiating that same effortless glow.
Her eyes locked on him again, widened to impossible size— and down she went again, collapsing in a dramatic swoon.
Her friends shrieked. "Argh, not again!"
Half the cafeteria erupted in laughter, some were clapping, others imitating her faint in exaggerated slow motion.
Sky paused mid-stride, raised an eyebrow, then shook his head with the faintest smile tugging at his lips. "Unbelievable," he muttered, before continuing on his way as if it were just another ordinary day of being Sky.