"Martinez! Take a break now, it's time for lunch." Karaga yelled, his eyes locked onto Mikado who is in the middle of a hundred push ups.
Mikado halted, kneeling as he turned his head to look back. He was now older, more developed, and much stronger, around 15.
"Okay sensei." He pushed himself forward, standing up tall as he stretched his arms wide.
He took a glance out the windows, staring into the bright blue skies—scanning the vast landscape of clouds, mountain ranges and the desolate bodies of water that sprawled endlessly.
"I'll explore on my own one day…" He whispered to himself, zoning out into his own world, listening to the faint hum of the engines and the gentle fluttering of the wind until he felt a sharp pull on his cheek.
"Ow!" He turned to see Yoriko pinching his cheek. Now, she's older, more matured and she possessed an extravagant beauty that is unrivalled.
"Now, now Miki-chan, you're not gonna keep standing there, come eat with the others!" She spoke, her tone firm and deliberate, as if scolding a child.
Mikado sighed, scratching his head as he replied, "I told you not to call me that nickname. We aren't kids anymore—"
Before Mikado could finish, a voice interrupted and shot out across the room.
"She's right 'Miki-chan,' time to have lunch!"
"That's right!"
"Yeah, what he said!"
Mikado locked eyes with the familiar voices.
The trio.
Mikado gave a blank stare. "Kokuine, Monboro, Mikami, what do you guys doing here?"
Kokuine stepped forward, pushing his jet-black bangs up as he spoke. "We just came to see what you're doing!"
Monboro approached next, pulling his engineering goggles onto his eyes as he pushed his ash-grey hair away from his face. "He's right, it would be nice to see how far you've come." He said in a monotone voice.
Mikado stared at him blankly. "Dude… Why are you wearing them right now?"
Monboro scratched his head, unsure on how to answer the question. "What do you mean? Are you talking about the goggles?"
Mikado rubbed his eyes in annoyance before looking back at him. In a sarcastic tone, he replied: "Nah, I'm talking about your shoes."
Monboro grew even more confused. "What? What are you talking about? Is it not normal to wear shoes in the training hall?"
Mikado stared in bewilderment. How is this guy so genuinely stupid? He thought to himself.
Mikami put his hand on Monboro's shoulder, applying a firm grip that caused him to wince.
"Ow! Mikami! The hell's your problem?!"
"He wasn't talking about your shoes dumbass."
"What? But he mentioned shoes—"
"He was being SARCASTIC."
Mikami palmed his face in irritation. "Whatever, let's just leave now."
Kokuine replied, amused. "Okay emo-boy!"
Mikami pulled him by the hair as the three of them exited the halls in muffled chaos. Yoriko blinked a couple of times before facing Mikado—to which her casual face shifted to horror.
"Dude… you look like you got sucked dry by a vampire!" She gawked, trying her best to not laugh. "What happened?!"
Mikado replied in a croaky tone, looking bamboozled. "…I'm… just tired…"
It seems like all the intense training snuck up and tackled him when he least expected it—all at once. After all, he never relaxed his body and was always on alert 24/7.
Yoriko managed to swallow her laughter, taking deep breaths before offering to help him walk to the cafeteria.
Mikado sat down at the table, letting out a deep exhale as he regained his energy. Gan sat next to him, taking up more than half the space as he prepared to open the mystery box that the chef gave him.
Mikado turned his head to see what Gan had.
"Yo… whatchu got there?"
Gan slowly turned his head.
"It's a lunch box that Elizabeth gave me!" He joyfully replied.
"Elizabeth…? Oh, I remember… isn't she one of the main fighters on our zeppelin?"
"Yeah, she is, but she also became a chef. Her food is deluxe quality! And she even prepared this for only me!"
Mikado squinted his eyes. "Prepared you a special made lunch…? Don't wives do that? Are you guys a thing?"
Gan laughed hysterically. "Nope! But I wish we were! I mean, I already asked her out like six or seven times, and I've been rejected every time!"
The cafeteria burst out into laughter, some even coming up to Gan to pat him on the back.
Mikado slammed his head in the table, groaning. "That wasn't even funny… Yoriko… please come back with our lunches, I can't handle this guy anymore…" He sulked, digging his head deeper into the table.
Gan transformed his cannon arm into a metallic hand, slapping Mikado's back as he spoke. "Cheer up Mikado-boy! You wouldn't be popular if you were sad all the time!"
"I'm not sad, I'm exhausted. Give me a break…"
Gan scratched his helmet. "Well, you wanna see what's inside this lunch box?"
Mikado lifted his head up. "Sure."
Gan pulled off the ribbon, grinning ear to ear in excitement to see what's inside. Mikado, sitting next to him, looked with slight interest.
As the lid was opened, Gan stared expectantly before his face turned into confusion. Mikado took one glance before his face turned sour.
Gan slowly turned his head to Mikado, showing him what he was given.
"A Taco 'Bout it…?"
Gan was holding a beef taco in his hand which had a face planted on the tortilla, whispering a speech bubble. This was confusing. Both Gan and Mikado couldn't process what they were looking at… This is the first time they saw something this absurd.
Gan chuckled awkwardly. "W-well, theres more I guess, lets take a look—"
He pulled out a mini oven that contained a portion of dough being baked inside.
They both stared blankly.
"A Dough-Re-Mi…?"
The dough was singing as it was being baked. It was so absurd that they didn't even question it, placing the oven aside.
"Well… that's that, it can't be anymore worse, right…?"
Wrong.
He pulled out a plastic container, emitting a delicious fragrance of cheese and macaroni. The container gave a nostalgic warmth that soothed the soul. Was this finally something normal?
Gan and Mikado expectantly opened the lid.
Their faces immediately went blank.
Gan stuttered. "M-mac & Pleas…?"
The container contained delicious Mac & Cheese, but for some absurd reason, the food cried and begged not to be eaten, pleading for its life.
The two stared at the container for an awfully long moment, overwhelmed by nothing but confusion.
Maximillius would then interrupt, quickly taking the container before devouring it instantly.
That snapped them back.
Mikado groaned in exhaustion yet again. "Damn it… what's going on with my life…"
Max dryly replied. "Weird lunches." He shoved a spoonful of the weeping cheese into his mouth.
"I figured."
From that day, Gan knew he would never get an ordinary lunch again.