As the morning progressed, Shindai Hakuka noticed that he was only 7 experience points away from leveling up his "student" career to LV4.
**[Occupation: Student]**
**[Level: 3]**
**[EXP: 393/400]**
With three more classes in the afternoon, Hakuka felt confident that he would reach the next level by the end of the day.
But for now, it was lunchtime, and it was time to eat.
Hakuka glanced around the classroom. Most students had brought their own homemade bento boxes and were eating with their new friends. In front of him, Mizuno Maki retrieved her bento from the locker and quietly ate by herself. Sitting behind her, Hakuka couldn't see what kind of food she had packed.
Meanwhile, Chitanda Mirai and Ubahara Junko took things to a whole new level.
They somehow managed to pull out two enormous bento boxes, each the size of a basketball. When they fully opened the boxes, it took up two whole desks.
The contents were even more extravagant:
- A5 grade wagyu beef, black truffle-baked lobster, French truffle mashed potatoes.
- Sliced salmon rose, fatty tuna sashimi, French truffle foie gras.
- Black truffle braised beef oxtail, gold-leaf sushi, lobster crab hand rolls.
Even desserts and fruit were included:
- Chocolate mousse, French vanilla crème brûlée, tropical fruit platters.
Just the sight of the extravagant spread made Mizuno Maki tighten her grip on her plain bento. The other students stared, speechless, unable to believe that such an impressive meal could be a simple lunch.
*They must be from some rich family,* everyone thought. *There's no other way two high school girls could have such a feast for lunch.*
But Shindai Hakuka wasn't concerned about their luxurious bento. Since he hadn't brought any lunch, he was headed to the school cafeteria.
At that moment, he received a message from Shindai Erina.
**[Shindai Erina: Hurry to the cafeteria! There's a half-price lunch today, and it's almost sold out!]**
**[Shindai Hakuka: Oh? Half-price? On my way!]**
Hakuka was trying to save as much money as possible, especially since he needed to unlock his next career slot. Sticking to his principle of thrift, he immediately stood up, ready to head to the cafeteria.
"Shindai-kun, didn't you bring a lunch?" Chitanda Mirai blinked her large eyes, genuinely inviting, "I have plenty. Would you like to share with me?"
Before Hakuka could respond, he was already out the door, leaving a bewildered Chitanda Mirai and a smug Ubahara Junko still showing off her food.
---
Japanese schools often offer student meal services, which include lunch options. Some schools provide half-price bento, an affordable lunch choice aimed at reducing financial burdens on students and their families. These bentos are balanced, usually containing a mix of rice, vegetables, and protein to ensure students get the nutrition they need throughout the day.
The half-price bento is especially popular with students looking for a more economical meal.
---
The cafeteria was bustling with students lining up to order.
As Hakuka entered, he spotted Shindai Erina sitting with some girls, enjoying a meal. But rather than the half-price lunch she had mentioned, she was eating a 600-yen curry rice dish.
Hakuka frowned and messaged her immediately:
**[Shindai Hakuka: Weren't there half-price meals? Why didn't you get one?]**
**[Shindai Erina: They sold out.]**
**[Shindai Hakuka: Then why did you tell me to hurry down?]**
**[Shindai Erina: You were coming to the cafeteria anyway, weren't you?]**
**[Shindai Hakuka: Hmph, I guess I should thank you for that?]**
**[Shindai Erina: You should! Come on, thank Erina-sama for giving you this vital information. You'll save a lot of money in the future because of me! Oh, and by the way, Auntie gave you 50,000 yen this morning, right? I'm worried you'll waste it, so why not give me 40,000 to hold onto for you?]**
**[Shindai Hakuka: Yeah, that's not happening.]**
Erina had quite the knack for trying to get her hands on his money. Shaking his head, Hakuka put his phone away and continued waiting in line.
Finally, it was his turn.
In the cafeteria, students would first purchase tickets from a machine and then exchange the ticket with the kitchen staff for food.
Hakuka studied the options:
- **Japanese meals:** sushi, donburi, fried chicken, teriyaki chicken, and other traditional rice or bowl dishes.
- **Noodles:** ramen, udon, tempura soba.
- **Fried food:** tempura shrimp, fried chicken, fried burdock.
- **Curry rice:** the ever-popular Japanese curry with rice, meat, and vegetables.
- **Western food:** hamburgers, sandwiches, pasta.
- **Grilled and pan-fried dishes:** gyoza, grilled fish, roast chicken.
The variety was impressive at Shujin Academy. There was even a nearby bakery for those who just wanted bread, but Hakuka knew bread alone wouldn't satisfy his appetite.
After much deliberation, he reluctantly chose a large bowl of tonkotsu udon, costing him 650 yen.