Lunch Rush

The silence in the dorm was perfect. For the first time since arriving in this world, Ethan had a bed that wasn't falling apart, roommates who weren't actively threatening to murder him, and—for the moment—no fireballs trying to end his life.

He was sprawled out on his mattress, arms tucked behind his head, legs dangling over the edge. For once, just existing felt good.

That peace, naturally, lasted about twelve seconds.

SCREEEEECH.

He bolted upright so fast he smacked his shin on the underside of the bedframe. "What the hell—?!"

Across the room, Kai grunted from his bed and rolled over, while Aiden calmly stood and started buttoning his shirt like this was normal.

"That's the bell," Aiden said, his tone annoyingly casual.

"That's not a bell. That's... that's torture," Ethan hissed, rubbing his ears.

Kai sat up, squinting. "Wait—you don't know what the bell is?"

Ethan blinked. "I mean, I thought it was some kind of mana alarm—"

"It's lunch," Kai deadpanned. "Lunch."

Aiden's eyes narrowed. "You've been here for a week and you didn't know what the lunch bell sounds like?"

Ethan froze. "Right. Totally. I knew that. Just... testing you."

Kai rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like "rich idiot."

Ethan stood quickly, trying to play it off. "Where are you two heading?"

"The Grand Arcanum," Aiden replied, slinging his coat over one shoulder. "The food hall."

Ethan rubbed the back of his neck. "Cool. Uh... mind if I tag along?"

That made both of them pause.

Kai glanced at Aiden. Aiden glanced at Ethan.

"You... want to come with us?" Kai asked, eyebrow raised. "Since when?"

Ethan shrugged. "Just... figured it'd be nice. You know. Company."

More silence.

Aiden's expression didn't change, but his eyes studied Ethan's face a little more closely. "You sure you're not being threatened? Enchanted? Blackmailed?"

"No," Ethan said, chuckling awkwardly. "Just hungry."

Kai muttered, "This day just keeps getting weirder."

Still, they didn't argue. With a few more suspicious glances, they stepped into the corridor together.

The walk through the Academy was both breathtaking and exhausting.

The halls glowed with soft glyph-light, casting dancing patterns on the marble floors. Floating lamps drifted above their heads, shifting colors as students passed beneath them.

And the noise—students talking, spells being whispered, laughter bouncing off stone walls—all of it made the place feel alive.

But the moment they entered the corridor leading toward the Grand Arcanum, things got... strange.

Ethan joined the flow of students moving toward the food hall, slotting himself into the long line that snaked through the archway.

And then someone noticed him.

A younger boy, maybe fifteen, turned to see Ethan standing behind him—and immediately stepped aside.

"Oh—uh—you can go ahead," he said, voice a little too high. "I wasn't—um—I mean, I didn't mean to hold you up."

Ethan blinked. "It's fine. I'm not in a rush."

The boy went pale. "Right. Of course. Sorry."

And then he stepped out of the line entirely, pressing himself to the wall and waiting for Ethan to pass.

It didn't stop there. One by one, the students around him started moving aside. Some pretended to tie their shoes. Others suddenly remembered they'd forgotten something and exited the queue.

Before long, Ethan was somehow... at the front of the line.

He stared at the stunned server, who looked like he was trying to decide whether to bow or run.

Kai caught up behind him, scowling. "Seriously? You just skipped the whole damn line?"

"I didn't mean to!" Ethan whispered, genuinely panicked. "They just... moved!"

Aiden stepped beside him, watching the uneasy students around them. "They're scared of you."

"I noticed!"

"It's your face," Kai said flatly. "You've spent a whole week being a smug, condescending nightmare to anyone who looked at you sideways. You're practically the Academy's personal horror story."

Ethan winced. "Right. That's... great. Just great."

The food counters were glowing with runes, each section manned by floating trays and enchanted ladles. The air itself shimmered with latent mana, and when Ethan stepped forward, a soft pulse passed through him.

A floating sigil appeared, hovering above his tray:

[Energy Signature Verified. Customize Meal?]

A set of options appeared beneath it, cycling rapidly:

"Comfort Food"

"Performance Boost"

"Flavor Priority"

"Healer's Blend"

"Surprise Me"

Kai leaned in. "Go with 'Flavor Priority.' It's all enchantment-based—transforms into whatever your body craves the most."

Ethan selected it. Instantly, the tray shimmered—and a full plate of rosemary-glazed chicken, garlic butter rice, and a tall glass of iced mango tea materialized before him.

He stared. "Holy hell. It's like magic magic."

Kai scoffed. "What did you think it was gonna be? An enchanted Happy Meal?"

Aiden's tray shimmered beside him—he got a selection of mana fruits, sleek-cut vegetable wraps, and a glowing herbal drink.

Ethan was still admiring the food when he followed them to a low-floating table near a cluster of hanging lanterns.

He slid into the seat beside them without a word.

Both Kai and Aiden froze.

Ethan blinked. "What?"

Kai looked at him, then at Aiden. "He's sitting with us."

"I see that."

"Voluntarily."

"Yes."

Ethan picked up his fork. "You guys... always narrate the obvious?"

Kai narrowed his eyes. "You never sit with us."

Aiden leaned back, watching him carefully. "And you've never said please. Or thank you. Or sorry. Or anything resembling normal human behavior."

Ethan paused mid-bite, his throat dry. "Right. Well. I'm working on that."

That didn't seem to comfort them.

Kai leaned in slightly. "Okay, but seriously. Are you being threatened? Because if someone's got a mana blade to your ribs, blink twice."

Ethan snorted. "No one's threatening me."

Aiden didn't look away. "Then what's going on?"

Ethan met their gazes for a beat too long. Then he offered a small smile. "Let's just say I'm trying to fix a few things."

There was silence again. But this time it wasn't tense—just... uncertain.

Eventually, Kai shoved a spoonful of mana pudding into his mouth and grunted. "Whatever. Just don't make us regret it."

"Not planning to," Ethan murmured, finally taking a bite.

The flavors were unreal. Every bite tasted like warmth and home. He didn't even like chicken that much, but this—this was heavenly.

For a few minutes, they ate in silence, the sounds of laughter and chattering students filling the hall around them.

And for the first time since arriving in this world, Ethan felt like he wasn't completely alone.

Maybe just misunderstood.

But even that was a step up from being hated.