[Vol.2] Chapter 55.2: No lines, no crowds, no bread...

[Mocha Tsukyo's POV]

Refusing my fate as an NPC, I left the classroom and made my way to the cafeteria.

I wanted to check if I could find Master Yukiya-kun there, the person I'm closest(?) to since I transferred to this school. Plus, I wanted to go around and check the place, to feel the atmosphere of the school during recess hours.

What do people do, and places they often with friends? I want to make it as reference once I get in a circle of my own, friends I can comfortably talk to and hang out with during free time.

If it's not too crowded, maybe I'll even purchase something.

'I wonder what's on the menu?'

Curious to see the selection of goods this school has to offer, I found myself standing in the cafeteria intimidated by the competitive spirits of hungered students buying bread, snatching merchandise left and right, shoulder to shoulder, pushing each other to the front like there's no tomorrow.

I told myself, 'I'm definitely not going there.' It was not worth it.

I can barely even see what they have to offer from people pushing each other and blocking the view, there's no way I'll survive if I compete with those people. 'It's just not worth it.'

Even the cafeteria stall where you can buy meals, warmed cooked meals from the cafeteria has lines stretched out to the point it's not even worth it to lining up anymore. By the time you get your order, recess might have probably ended already.

Feeling out of place, I surrendered on making a purchase in the cafeteria and made my retreat, hoping to pass the time somewhere else.

"Maybe there's something good in the vending machine..."

On the quest to find a vending machine, I was made aware there was one for I've seen one during my time here at this new school. I was hoping to check out its contents, also for future references when I buy a quick snack on campus.

However, by the time I found the vending machine, it was guarded by loitering students who seemed to be close to each other blocking access to the machine.

'Just buy something and waste your time somewhere else!'

I screamed internally in my head, annoyed by the loitering students.

I could just tell them to move, but my level isn't high enough to make such demands. I set aside my desires and walked off to somewhere else for it was the only thing I could do.

I still got ten minutes before recess ends and I had already run out of things I wanted to do.

'Where should I go to pass the time?' I wondered. But then I remembered the place where Master Yukiya-kun and I had that fateful revelation, where he revealed his true colors.

Before I knew it, I found myself standing at the front door of the very same abandoned classroom, located at the old school building.

I was drawn to this place for some reason, the calming silence and the comforting peace of being alone it provides, calms my soul as my anxiety of people settled.

A place that people rarely pass by and neglect, leaving to dust... just like me... Maybe that's the reason why I feel at ease in this place?

A slid the door open and proceeded to walk in, finding Master Yukiya sitting on the throne that he made, his hand on his chin seemingly in deep thought.

As soon as I saw him sitting there, I felt a sense of relief.

'Isn't this strange? I'm the one who found him, but why does it feel like he found me instead?' I thought to myself, 'I really need other friends.'

I only feel this way because he and Hitomi are my only official friends. Yup, that's definitely it. [The truth.]

As soon as he noticed my presence, he looked at me and grinned, smiling as though he was planning something behind his smile.

'I... don't like where this is going...'

At that moment, I felt something troublesome was about to come my way.