The vice principal's scream tore through the courtyard, a shrill "KYEEEE!" that could've shattered glass, his face paling as if I'd brandished a cursed artifact instead of the Flying Dragon Leather. I pressed forward, undeterred, holding the leathery prize aloft. "Mr. Vice Principal, I found this on the flagpole, disguised as a school flag!" His eyes bulged, and he flailed, practically stomping the grass flat to shoo me away like some monstrous pest.
"How do you have that?!" he sputtered, then caught himself, his voice rising in panic. "I didn't say it was Flying Dragon Leather! I… I misread it!" The students, mid-bite in their lunches, froze, their whispers erupting into a frenzy. "Did he say Flying Dragon Leather?" one gasped. "That trash—Leopin—could be student body president!" another hissed, as the vice principal's face drained to a sickly gray.
"No, no, it's just dirty black hide!" he shouted, backpedaling desperately. "Keep that filthy thing away from me, Leopin! Do whatever you want with it—garbage suits you!" I shrugged, slinging the leather back over my shoulder. "If you're sure," I said, walking off as he scurried away, muttering excuses to the bewildered crowd.
A familiar voice cut through the chaos like a spring breeze. "Good morning, Leo-kun!" Monaka called, her smile bright despite the noon sun overhead. "It's a bit late for morning," I teased, and she giggled, holding up a vibrant, double-layered bento box. "Have you eaten? Want to share half of mine?" Her offer was tempting, but I noticed the identical lunches around us—gifts from supporters, likely excluding me again.
"No, thanks," I said, pulling a Mashibai seed from my pocket, its nutty flavor a reminder of yesterday's mushroom hunt. "I've got these. Want to trade?" Monaka's eyes lit up, and she speared a piece of chicken from her bento, holding it out. "Say ahhh~," she said, her voice playful. I obliged, savoring the tender meat. "That's good chicken," I mumbled, earning another of her warm laughs.
A sweet scent wafted over, and Akemi appeared, her wavy hair catching the sunlight. "Can I have some of those berries for alchemy?" she asked, her tone casual but her eyes sparkling with intent. I handed her a few Mashibai seeds, and she plucked a broccoli floret from a nearby student's lunch, offering it to me with a mischievous "Ahhh~." I bit into it, nodding. "Not bad."
From the shadows, Shinobuko materialized, silent as ever, thrusting an octopus-shaped sausage at me without a word. Before I could react, Onesako, trailing her, exploded. "Shinobuko, what are you doing? We're here to fetch Monaka-sama, not feed him!" Shinobuko's head shook, her "Nin nin" sharp. "This is his final meal, degozaru. Next time, he's dead." I ate the sausage, grinning. "Then I'll take another, just for fun."
The three girls took turns feeding me—Monaka with chicken, Akemi with broccoli, Shinobuko with another sausage—their "ahhh" attacks drawing stunned silence from the courtyard. "Monaka-sama and Akemi-sama, the school's top beauties, feeding that trash?" one student choked. "And Shinobuko-san, too? I'm dying here!" another wailed, their jealousy thick enough to choke on.
My stomach full from the unexpected feast, a familiar glow enveloped me, shimmering like stardust. "Seriously?" I muttered, incredulous. "Leveling up just from eating lunch?" The students' jaws dropped further, their envy now a roaring storm, while Monaka, Akemi, and Shinobuko exchanged glances, their smiles hinting at secrets I couldn't yet unravel.