I reached the front of the automated canteen counter, ready to tap my terminal, when the flashing red text on the interface reminded me of my stark reality.
My SP—School Points—were on hold due to Professor Medley's emergency disciplinary freeze.
I literally couldn't spend a single point to buy an actual item on the campus network.
I stared longingly at the hot, steaming rows of premium meat platters and thrum-infused sides, but my current balance forced me to hit the fallback option: the zero-SP basic institutional lunch.
A neatly tray featuring a piece of plain grilled chicken breast, a side of unseasoned white rice, a small serving of steamed green vegetables, and a bowl of unseasoned chicken broth, which was completely clear, save for three lonely yellow discs of grease floating on the surface.
It looked completely unfilling and tasted like nothing.
Since I was the last one to line up, I carried my depressing tray over to our designated table as the final addition.
