The next day, Elian executed his "Peaceful Lunch Plan" perfectly.
Or so he thought.
He had woken up early to prepare a masterpiece: Karaage Chicken
(Japanese fried chicken), Tamagoyaki (rolled omelet), and rabbit-shaped apple slices.
He packed it all into a cute wooden bento box...
...and headed straight for the giant oak tree behind the Science Building.
"Finally," Elian sighed happily, sitting on the soft grass. "No noise. No people. Just me and my chicken."
He opened the lid. The golden, crispy chicken glistened in the sunlight. The aroma was enough to make anyone drool.
"Itadakimasu," Elian whispered, picking up his chopsticks.
"Tax."
A flat, robotic voice spoke from above.
Elian froze.
He looked up.
Dangling upside down from a thick branch, like a sloth with headphones, was a boy.
He had messy black hair, dark circles under his eyes, and a portable game console in his hands.
Ren. The mysterious hacker of the university.
"Tax?" Elian squeaked, hugging his lunchbox.
Ren flipped down, landing silently on the grass like a ninja.
He didn't look at Elian; he stared intensely at the fried chicken.
"You entered my territory," Ren stated, his voice devoid of emotion. "Zone tax. One piece of chicken."
Elian blinked. "And if I say no?"
Ren pointed at his phone. "I hack the cafeteria menu to serve only boiled broccoli for a month."
Elian gasped. That was evil.
"Fine," Elian sighed,
picking up a piece of chicken with his chopsticks and holding it out. "Here."
Ren leaned forward and bit the chicken directly off the chopsticks. Chomp.
Elian turned bright red. "I... I have extra chopsticks!"
Ren chewed slowly. His dead-fish eyes suddenly widened. A sparkle appeared in them.
"S-Tier," Ren declared. He sat down next to Elian and held out his hand again.
"More."
"No! Get your own!"
"Elian!"
Before Elian could defend his food, a golden blur crashed into him.
Milo hugged him from the side, nearly knocking the bento over.
"I smelled it!" Milo shouted, sniffing Elian's shoulder. "I smelled the holy chicken from the parking lot! Feed me, Mom!"
"I am not your mom!" Elian protested, trying to push the heavy rugby player off.
"Move, you oaf," a sharp voice cut through the chaos.
Chloe arrived, looking immaculate in a white blazer. She kicked Milo gently with her heel and looked at Elian. "We don't have time for a picnic, Elian. We have a mission."
Elian looked up, a bad feeling settling in his stomach. "Mission?"
"The Gala is in two days," Chloe said, crossing her arms. "And knowing you, you probably plan to wear a potato sack."
"It's a very comfortable potato sack," Elian muttered.
"Get up," Chloe commanded. "We are going shopping. If you're going to face the Blackwood Twins, you need armor. And by armor, I mean a suit so sharp it could cut glass."
The High-End District: 'Velvet & Steel' Boutique
An hour later, Elian found himself standing on a pedestal in the city's most expensive men's boutique.
Chloe was sitting on a velvet sofa like a queen, sipping tea. Milo and Ren were playing games on their phones, waiting.
"Next!" Chloe yelled.
Elian stepped out from the changing room wearing a navy blue suit.
"Too corporate," Chloe frowned. "You look like you're going to sell me insurance. Next."
Elian went back in. He came out wearing a black tuxedo.
"Too boring. You look like a waiter. Next."
Elian groaned. "Chloe, please. Can I just wear my pajamas?"
"Do you want the Twins to eat you alive?" Chloe asked sharply. "Appearance is power, Elian. Now try the white one."
Elian sighed and went back inside.
He saw the white suit hanging in the back. It was pearl-white silk, with subtle silver embroidery on the cuffs that looked like vines. It was elegant, ethereal, and terrifyingly expensive.
He put it on.
The fabric felt like water against his skin. It fit him perfectly, hugging his slender waist and accentuating his long legs.
He stepped out.
"How about th—"
Elian stopped.
The boutique had gone silent.
Milo dropped his phone. Clatter.
Ren looked up from his game, his eyes wide.
Chloe slowly lowered her tea cup.
Elian stood there, bathed in the soft light of the store. The white suit made him look otherworldly, like a prince from a fairy tale.
His black hair contrasted beautifully with the white fabric, and his Violet Eyes seemed to glow even brighter.
He didn't look like a villain. He didn't look like a side character.
He looked like the main event.
"Oh," Chloe whispered, a rare look of awe on her face. "That's the one."
Milo swallowed hard. "Dude. If I wasn't straight... wait, am I straight? You're confusing me, Elian!"
Ren nodded solemnly. "SS-Rank Equipment. +100 Charisma. +100 Defense."
Elian fidgeted with his sleeves, his cheeks turning pink. "Is it... is it okay? It feels a bit too much."
"It's perfect," Chloe stood up, her eyes gleaming with determination. "The Blackwood Twins won't know what hit them."
She walked over and fixed his collar.
"Listen to me, Elian," she said softly. "They are monsters, yes. But you? In this suit? You are the light that blinds monsters. Keep your head up."
Elian looked in the mirror. For the first time, he didn't see a scared boy. He saw someone strong. Someone beautiful.
He took a deep breath.
"Okay," Elian whispered. "I'll do it."
He was ready for the Gala.
He was ready to face the villains.