[ Cafeteria ]

They were sitting at a table. A few menus were neatly standing in the middle of it, they each grabbed one.

The prices varied a lot, from a few dollars to a few thousands. Some dishes were truly exotic, while others were simply mundane.

Almost all, however, were locked behind a higher grade. 

"Interesting," said Geoffrey.

"Interesting? Have you been listening to me? I'm telling you, this girl, Nora, she should mind her own business."

"She saved you," absently answered Geoffrey.

Jet sighed deeply, closing the menu before him while loudly laying his head on the table.

"You're right, she did save me from breaking their stupid rules. Although, I would've totally rocked that guy. You believe me, right?" 

"Yeah."

"You're not listening. What did I just say?"

"You said you would've rocked that guy."

Jet's head raised, studying Geoffrey's expression.

"You're just not very expressive, huh?"

Finally deciding on his meal, Geoffrey raised his hand, grabbing one of the waiter's attention.

He pointed toward the meal. The waiter extended his hand, as if expecting something. Geoffrey got his black card out, holding it toward the waiter.

The waiter touched the card with his index finger, a faint green line went through the card, which signified the transaction going through.

"What would happen, if I changed my mind, or was wrongly charged?" asked Geoffrey.

The waiter immediately answered, as if expecting the question.

"Every transaction is tracked. Would I make a mistake, rectifying it would be easy. I can do most operations here, like a refund or a price change. If you realized at a later date that a mistake was made, you could head to the offices and find someone to fix the problem for you."

"Thanks a lot," replied Geoffrey.

The waiter slightly bowed and walked away.

"-Maybe I'll join the disciplinary committee, then I can mess that guy up with no repercussion," said Jet who kept talking the whole time.

Geoffrey gazed at Jet who was staring at the menu.

It seemed as if he couldn't stand still, his legs moving under the table while he looked at the items and prices, his face overly expressive.

"Why are you following me?" suddenly asked Geoffrey.

Jet's gaze went toward the ceiling while he rubbed his chin.

"Hmmm. I'm not sure. Maybe it's fate? Destiny? You seem interesting, at least."

"I'm not."

"Well, it's true that compared to others, you're quite boring. Your face is so emotionless that I feel like talking to a wall at times, but beyond that surface I feel like there's more underneath. Honestly, it's not much different from what it was like at home, when I was still alive."

Geoffrey sighed.

It's all Death's fault.

He looked at Jet once more, he was reading through the menu while talking.

What could he possibly do with him? If anything, he was an annoying pawn to move. 

Jet quickly ordered with a waiter walking by.

"Alright, I'll take hot-dogs as well. Hope it comes well garnished, because it cost everything I had, and I'm quite hungry. Probably from using my ability... What's yours, by the way?"

Jet's gaze intensely pierced through Geoffrey's tired expression. 

While he acted like an idiot on the surface, he could tell there was more underneath. 

The way he talked wasn't random. The question he asked wasn't trivial. 

Beyond the smiles, the chuckles, the playfulness.

He was trying to figure out if Geoffrey was prey.

He was testing him.

"I don't know."

Jet's gaze doubled in intensity.

"Really? Really-really? You sure? You know mine. You can trust me with yours." 

As he kept asking further, Geoffrey noticed Jet was standing eerily still. 

His eyes were studying every expression he made.

Jet wasn't the first one to try, and wouldn't be the last. His expression didn't change for anyone, even Death herself. 

"Is he bothering you again?" 

The voice, coming from behind, was Emilia's. 

As if sprung back to life, Jet started moving normally again, forcing a laugh out as Emilia stood next to Geoffrey.

"We're talking, nothing more."

"You're sure? I saw how you were 'talking' with the upperclassman."

"Ahhh.... that guy deserved it, believe me."

"I also heard what this 'Nora' said afterward. You were this close to being sent to hell. Your first day here, and already aiming for eternal suffering?"

"Oh well, we all learn from our mistakes. Am I right, Geoffrey? He agrees, trust me."

A waiter suddenly put down two plates on the table, both with a metallic dome covering it. 

Without waiting, Jet lifted them, looking under.

"Shit, now THAT'S food."

Perfectly golden and crunchy breads with grilled sausages. Once both plates were down, the waiter proceeded to put down several bowls containing a wild variety of toppings, ranging from vegetables to spicy sauces.

After a small bow, the waiter dismissed themselves.

"Huh, so we have waiters at school?" said Emilia. "Maybe I'll try to eat something... it doesn't look too bad."

"You can sit with us, if you want," said Geoffrey.

"Ah, it's fine, I'll find somewhere else," she said.

"We totally understand. Farewell, miss," said Jet smiling.

"And just like that, I changed my mind," replied Emilia, sitting down.

She looked through the menu, her facial expression reflecting the prices as she saw them.

"So, what's your power?" Jet asked Emilia, while smiling at her.

Geoffrey internally sighed.

"You don't have to-" started Geoffrey, before Jet cut him.

"-You don't have to, just wondered if you had anything useful like us," he said.

"Well, useful... I don't know, really," she replied.

"It's just that I'm considering forming a group with people that have useful gifts, this way, winning the trials shouldn't be too hard,"

Jet's face and tone looked innocent. As if every word spoken was just a mere suggestion.

Emilia looked like she was considering his words carefully.

Geoffrey remained silent, taking a bite of his hot-dog.

Jet's manipulation was extremely basic.

Nobody knew anyone, and as groups started forming, remaining on the outside wouldn't work for most. 

The way he phrased it, it sounded as if she needed to prove her worth to deserve an invitation to their group. Jet's confidence and attitude were enough to convince anyone that he indeed planned to create one.

He was a wild horse that couldn't be tamed, and any group he would be a part of would end up dysfunctional.

That's why I need to create an enclosure large enough for him, so he believes he's still free.

"I can trade things, I think," finally said Emilia.

"Trade things?" asked Jet, confused.

"It's called 'The trader'. I haven't used it yet, I don't know what it does at all."

I might've chosen that myself.

"Here, look," she said.

She grabbed her black card. After concentrating, a dark green line split the card and her profile hovered above it.

Her name, her year, her class. Her grade was clearly displayed, with the amount of points she had, which remained at 0. 

[Gift: The trader.]

A very brief paragraph barely explained the gift she had, the rest of her profile showing things such as current assignments and other similar things.

Jet's eyes sparkled, as if he had struck gold. His smile, however, faded.

"Hmm. It doesn't look too great, but I think it could have its uses. How about we meet up after school? I'll help you out, I've already figured my own power," he said while snapping his fingers, letting out sparks.

Geoffrey put down his knife and fork and stood up.

"Leaving already?" asked Jet.

"See you later," replied Geoffrey.

"Oh.. Alright, see you around Geoffrey," said Emilia.

He did his best attempt at a smile, which looked faint, and walked away.