Kaga sat alone in the corner of the bustling cafeteria, his presence starkly contrasting with the chatter around him. He raised his hands, gesturing for Kenji to join him at the vacant seat nearby. As Kenji approached, he couldn't help but overhear the whispering among the students.
"They said he killed more goblins, more than Kato and the stars. Some of the group with him said it was around fourteen kills," a girl murmured, her eyes wide with excitement.
"That's a lie! It's just a rumour. I bet he was scared shitless when he saw a goblin and pissed his pants," a male student scoffed, his voice dripping with scepticism.
"I was there, man. I saw it with my own eyes," insisted another, his tone defensive.
"Then you must be delusional. You probably started seeing things," the first boy shot back, rolling his eyes.
"No, man, it's real," the second student insisted, his voice firm.
The murmurings swirled like a storm, but Kenji seemed unfazed; Kenji slid into the seat beside Kaga. He sensed the weight of the whispers but chose to ignore them, comfortable in his skin, as if the opinions of others were mere background noise.
As Kenji began to eat his meal, he noticed Kaga's expression shift from satisfaction to dissatisfaction. Kaga glanced around, then zeroed in on Kenji's plate, his eyes gleaming with longing.
"Wow, now that you are washed up and clean, you look alive," Kaga said, his voice a mix of admiration and envy.
Kenji, focused on his meal, ignored the comment. After a while, feeling about 80% complete, he couldn't help but notice Kaga's unwavering gaze, practically drilling holes into his food. With a sigh, Kenji dropped his spoon onto his tray and nudged the remaining portion toward Kaga.
"Thanks, man," Kaga exclaimed, his excitement palpable as he didn't hesitate to dig in.
Despite the lingering stares from nearby students, Kenji had anticipated something like this would happen. He is not a student here. Some would want to get rid of him, others would like to get close to him to use him as a tool. However, for Kenji, sharing a meal was more important than the chatter surrounding them.
Kenji didn't just give Kaga food for no reason; it was a calculated move to gain more info. Leaning back in his chair with arms crossed, he began to ask questions about the stars, his voice steady and inquisitive. The room buzzed with conversation, but his focus was laser-sharp.
Kaga used his gaze to point out a tall, bright-skinned student with a yellow headband nestled between two girls who leaned into him, practically offering him their attention. Remi was his name, an 11th grader, standing at an impressive 6 feet. With a blend of ambition and charm, he excelled academically and athletically, navigating the ups and downs of high school with a playful smile. It was easy to see how he attracted the girls.
"That there, the boy with the yellow headband, is Remi. He killed a goblin protecting those girls," Kaga said, his mouth full, pride tinged with awe.
Kenji observed several students around him, mentally marking their faces, those affiliated with the Kato Circle and those who weren't. He studied their behaviour, especially the girls, noting the dynamics at play. The stars were seated together in the dining hall, having a camaraderie evident; while Remi was in another seat, his attention remained fixed on the girls, who hung on his every word. Amaya was notably absent, and Kenji couldn't help but wonder.
"Where is Amaya?" he asked Kaga, who seemed to have no information about her whereabouts.
"Don't know," Kaga said.
As Kenji surveyed the room, his gaze collided with Ryu's. They held eye contact for a moment, tension hanging in the air before they both broke away, the weight of unspoken words lingering. Kato, seated beside Ryu, observed the exchange, his interest piqued.
"It seems you were right; he didn't die despite getting poisoned by something unknown to them. I'm sure he has more information," Kato remarked to Ryu, recalling the earlier chaos when Kaga brought in unconscious Kenji. Kato had thought it best to leave Kenji outside, seeing the green veins surrounding the area. He had a cut, but Ryu had insisted on bringing him in, a choice that stirred unspoken tension between them. "Ryu had never gone against his decision ever since they were friends from a young age, but he did that for a nobody,"
"What does he know that I don't know about? "Kato thought as he fixed on Ryu.
"Kato's gaze shifted from Ryu to Kenji."
"If you think about recruiting him, don't even consider it," Ryu warned as he rose from the table, his tone leaving no room for argument. He headed toward the exit of the big dining hall, leaving Kato to mull over the implications.
"We still have much to discuss," Kato said, but Ryu waved his hand dismissively, exiting the dining room without a backward glance.
Kato stared at Kenji, intensely focused on the new player in their midst, showing no intention of heeding Ryu's warning.
"You're still going, right?" Akio chimed in with a smile, trying to lighten the mood.
Kato remained silent, his gaze unwavering as he observed Kenji. The tension in the dining hall was palpable, thick with unspoken possibilities and hidden agendas.
Kenji and Kaga were engrossed when a new presence interrupted the moment. Hana, a student sitting several chairs away from Kenji sit got up and walked over to Kenji's seat.
Hana was a striking young woman, and her undeniable beauty was accentuated by her long, shiny black hair cascading down her back, framing her bright, radiant face. She was dressed in a rose-high skirt and an oversized blue T-shirt, showcasing a unique style that balanced playfulness. Her confidence and poise gave off an air of privilege, indicating that she came from a good family.
Hana moved through the social circles of the elite, her life a blend of privilege and expectation. After a few steps, she reached Kenji's seat. Kenji and Kaga, who had been deep in conversation, paused as they turned toward the figure standing before them; her posture alone demanded that they rise and acknowledge her. Her entitlement was almost audacious.
Kaga immediately stood, greeting her with a warm, eager smile. But Hana brushed past him as if he didn't exist, her tone sharp and commanding as she directed all her attention to Kenji.
"Scram, Kaga," she said, not even glancing his way.
The dismissive comment stung, and Kaga felt ashamed as he slowly turned, defeated. But before he could, Kenji shot a cold glare at him.
"Where are you going, Kaga? I think you're the one who should scram, don't you think?" Kenji shot back, his eyes narrowing at Hana. There was an edge to his voice that hinted at his irritation.
Kaga hesitated, feeling torn, but eventually slumped back into his seat.
"Fine, do whatever you want," Hana said, her tone now dismissive as she turned her focus back to Kenji.
She sat, then she started,
"I'll get straight to the point," Hana said, her voice smooth yet commanding. "They said you killed a lot of those things to get down here while protecting Kaga. Be my guide, and after this predicament, and we get rescued, I'll reward you abundantly."
Her expression radiated confidence, almost as if she were making an offer no sane man could refuse.
"So direct," Kenji thought.
"I heard all the students from Rose High are wealthy. Kaga's here, I'm sure he can reward me."
"Sure, he can," Hana replied lightly, "we're all wealthy here to some degree. But money without connections or power is useless. One should build all three. I'm sure you already know, Kaga's reputation here is… low. That makes your stay uncertain. You don't belong down here. This bunker was built for us, for protection. How can someone like you benefit from it? Do you really think Rose High will just let you stay?"
She leaned closer, her fingers brushing against Kenji's hand, a calculated, intimate gesture.
"If you look around," she whispered, "you can feel it, the stares. They want you gone. And I doubt Kaga will be able to save you."
Confidence poured off her in waves. She was beautiful, undeniably so, but not quite on the same divine level as the school's idols, Amaya and Sara. Yet Hana wielded something else: a charm sharpened into a weapon. She wasn't used to hearing no.
Kenji's eyes narrowed." It's not a bad deal," he thought. "Staying here is safer, and I even get rewarded if I accept. Accepting this offer is going to be a good choice to make right now."
But then, another thought crossed his mind, the faint memory of Kaga's small kindnesses. If she were in Kaga's place when I was poisoned… what would she have done?
He already knew the answer. She would've left me to die.
Kenji glanced at Kaga, who sat quietly across the table. A moment ago, he'd eaten with joy, but now even the food seemed tasteless.