chapter 105

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Strange

At 11:25 p.m., David returned home carrying a plastic box filled with braised pork, fried rice, and two sticks of corn. To his surprise, his mother, Gloria, was also home.

"David?"

Gloria looked at her son in surprise, fatigue evident on her face. "Why are you home so late?"

Gloria's demanding work schedule meant she rarely saw David at night or in the morning. On most days, he was asleep when she returned, or she was still sleeping when he left. Tonight was an unusual exception—David was both awake and arriving home late.

A wave of concern washed over Gloria. Almost instinctively, the thought crossed her mind: David… Are you getting into trouble?

Just as she began to worry if her son was mixing with street gangs, David handed her the plastic box. Following Karl's earlier instructions, he calmly explained his tardiness.

"Today, a classmate from school invited me over for dinner. I stayed a little late playing there, so I just got home. My classmate asked me to bring back some food. I'm already full. Mom, have you eaten? Come and try some."

"A classmate invited you over for dinner?"

Gloria looked at David with disbelief. Did her son actually have friends at Arasaka Academy who would invite him home?

After the initial shock, joy filled Gloria's heart.

David… David Martinez… My son isn't a withdrawn child anymore. He's made friends—real friends.

"You didn't cause trouble for them, did you?" she asked, her concern laced with hope.

David, feeling slightly awkward under her joyful gaze, shook his head. This kind of interaction, where his mother cared about his friendships, was rare—so rare it felt unfamiliar. Still, he answered honestly.

"No, actually, I even helped with the cooking."

"You? Help with cooking?" Gloria asked, chuckling. "Are you sure you weren't just causing trouble for them?"

"No, really! I helped," David insisted, pushing the box toward her. "But let's not focus on that—try the food, Mom. It's delicious."

"Alright," Gloria said with a smile, "I'm hungry anyway. Let's see what you've brought."

She opened the plastic box, expecting reheated semi-processed street food. That would have matched her impression of David's cooking skills. But as the lid came off, she froze.

Brightly colored braised pork sat neatly in the box, its glaze gleaming even though it had cooled. In a side compartment were two boiled corns—golden, full, and undeniably real.

For a moment, Gloria thought she was imagining things. But the rich aroma of the food quickly reminded her it was real.

"David?" she asked, her tone cautious. "This food… where did it come from?"

"As I said, my friend made it. He had extras, so he asked me to bring some back," David replied, gesturing toward the corn. "That's real corn, Mom. And the pork—I helped gather the spices for it. It tastes amazing."

"David…" Gloria's voice wavered. "Are you sure it's okay to bring back something this valuable?"

For a student at Arasaka Academy, eating real corn wasn't unheard of. But it was still an expensive luxury. Gloria worried that accepting such a gift might strain her son's budding friendships.

"Valuable?" David echoed, suddenly realizing what she meant.

Real corn was indeed a rare commodity. Between its transport costs and meticulous management, a single ear of corn could cost anywhere from 100 to 200 euros. That amount was more than enough to cover David's monthly meals if spent wisely.

Gloria worked tirelessly to support David's tuition and their modest lifestyle. Their monthly budget left little room for luxuries. Real corn and pork like this were far beyond their usual means.

But David reassured her. "Don't worry, Mom. Everyone took some home—it wasn't just me."

Hearing this, Gloria relaxed. "Then your classmate is very generous," she said, finally picking up a piece of food.

"Mom, why don't you warm it up first?"

"No need. It's fine as it is," Gloria said, savoring her first bite. The flavors were rich and satisfying, and for a moment, the weariness of her day faded. "David, be sure to thank your classmate for this."

"I will," David promised.

Watching his mother's fatigue lift and her face brighten as she enjoyed the meal, David couldn't help but smile.

Just like Karl said, food can soothe a tired soul.

But as Gloria ate, David's mind wandered.

The family's finances had always been tight. His tuition at Arasaka Academy alone cost 20,000 euros a month. With the academy's three-semester system, they had already paid tuition for five months—100,000 euros in total. Even with Gloria's monthly salary of 5,000 euros, and occasional overtime, it didn't add up.

David remembered his mother's explanation: the compensation from his father's workplace accident helped cover his education. But was that really enough?

His gaze fell on a black bag Gloria had brought home. A faint, metallic smell seemed to emanate from it—something unsettlingly similar to blood.

It wasn't the first time David had noticed his mother bringing home such bags.