Chapter 155
HOPASTRY (2)
"Stop being so dramatic. Look at the options—there's so many. Just choose the cheapest one if that's what you want," Reuel said, already scrolling through the menu on the table like a man on a mission. He had his legs crossed confidently, and a slight grin formed on his lips, his eyes were scanning the menu like he'd been here before. Maybe he had.
IAM sat still, arms crossed loosely over his chest, eyes darting over the menu. His expression didn't shift much, but inside, his thoughts were racing.
He looked far and wide to find the cheapest options he could. Every flick of his eyes passed over prices like bullets, and every item felt just a little out of reach. He wasn't being a cheapskate just for the sake of it. No, it went deeper than that.
It wasn't just about saving points—it was survival instinct. A quiet, persistent awareness that, unlike the others, he didn't have a bottomless well of talent to fall back on. If anything, he was probably—no, definitely—the least talented person in the whole school.
Which meant he had to think differently. Act differently.
He couldn't afford to act like a big spender, because he wasn't confident he'd ever be able to earn points at the same rate as the rest of them. So until something changed, this was how he had to live.
He had a feeling that in the future he'd be visiting a lot of outside markets and shops if things got desperate.
He looked at some of the nicer options and let himself wonder, just for a moment.
Signature Pastries (Color-Themed)
Crimson Velvet Roll – A deep red sponge cake rolled with cream cheese filling and dusted with powdered sugar.
Black Cocoa Croissant – A flaky, jet-black croissant made with rich cocoa layers, slightly bitter with a sweet dark chocolate glaze.
White Moon Tart – Buttery tart base filled with chilled white chocolate mousse and topped with sugar shards.
Tri-Color Stack – A layered pastry with red raspberry compote, dark chocolate cream, and vanilla custard, served chilled in a glass cup.
Everything sounded tempting. Too tempting. It was the kind of stuff you'd eat if you weren't worried about what came after. If you had a point reserve big enough to laugh about later.
Then came another list:
Student Favorites
HP Puff Pastry – A puff stuffed with spiced beef and a creamy potato blend.
(It was playfully named as it was a play on words—instead of an HP buff, it was a HP debuff for buying this meal.)
Trial Tartlets – Miniature tarts with seasonal fruit, created in sets of three: one sweet, one sour, one spiced.
(Inspired by the trials that every student went through to get here.)
Then the Comfort section.
Comfort Bakes
Ash-glazed Donut – Soft dough donut dipped in a black sugar glaze, with a surprise filling (rotates weekly).
Dorm Room Danish – A student favorite, stuffed with cream cheese and cherry compote.
Butterburn Biscotti – Double-baked with a hint of smokiness, served with dipping chocolate.
Drinks
First-Year Fizz – A fizzy soda with raspberry, vanilla, and lemon foam.
Black Bean Brew – A rich, earthy espresso blend made with dark-roasted beans.
White Lotus Milk – Chilled sweet milk infused with petals and honey, served with a floating white blossom.
Hopastry Specials (For Sharing)
The Council Platter – A massive tray with miniature versions of all top pastries—meant for four people or more.
IAM could admit this all sounded extremely tempting, but one look at the prices gave him an elbow to the jaw, snapping his head back to the cheaper options, trying to act like he hadn't seen what he just saw.
He ended up choosing something called Plain Butter Square. It was a golden, flaky pastry square made with salted butter and a light brush of egg wash.
To go with it, he picked a Cold Brew Tea—Just chilled tea in a basic glass.
Reuel glanced at Henry, then back to IAM. "With the items you chose, it doesn't really feel like a celebration at all."
Henry shook his head, leaning back slightly in his seat. "I don't really mind at all. In fact, I ordered the same thing."
Reuel's face scrunched up like he'd bitten into a lemon. "What is actually wrong with you two?"
He turned to Yohan, who had been quiet until now. "Tell me at the very least you got something decent?"
"Uhh... I got the ash-glazed donut. And the First-Year Fizz."
Reuel gave a solemn nod. "At least you got some sense."
Yohan glanced at him sideways. "What did you get?" he asked, voice pointed.
Reuel grinned. "Me? Oh, you know, nothing much... just the Council Platter."
Before anyone could speak, he threw up both hands. "And before you start, I got it so we could all share!"
"…"
"..."
"…"
The silence was oppressive.
After a long beat of collective disbelief, Reuel found himself mumbling an apology to the passing waitress and awkwardly requesting for an order change.
Their meals finally arrived a few minutes later, each item plated neatly on sleek matte-black trays trimmed with red lines that reflected the signature colors of the academy. Everyone settled into their seats.
They began to dig in.
IAM quietly peeled the edge of his butter square, letting the warmth seep into his fingers. The pastry flaked gently under the pressure of his grip. The cold brew tea beside it gave off no scent, but the condensation ran slowly down the glass.
Somewhere behind them, the restaurant door opened. A soft chime rang out overhead, signaling the arrival of new customers.
None of them paid any attention.
Reuel raised his glass, clearing his throat with flair. "Cheers to Henry!"
IAM, Yohan, and Henry each raised their drinks. The glasses clinked softly. IAM brought his to his lips, ready to take the first sip—
"There you are."
A voice rang out, not too loud, but unmistakably aimed at them.
IAM froze.
No. It couldn't be—not again. This wasn't going to be another baby incident. He wasn't doing that again.
The voice hadn't said his name. Just "you."
But that didn't comfort him much.
He, alongside the rest, turned slowly in their seats to face the newcomers.
IAM didn't breathe. His hand hovered just below his chin, drink still raised.
And the butter square, warm and untouched, suddenly felt a world away.