"Where the heck is the vending machine around here?" Kris mumbled in frustration.
having roamed the school for about ten minutes without success.
Just then, he spotted a girl who looked like she was around his age.
Her black hair, flowing past her shoulders, swayed gently as she walked. She wasn't very tall, standing at around 5 feet, with a petite build that made her seem even smaller in the vast halls of the school. Deciding it was worth asking, Kris approached her.
"Hey, do you know where I can find a vending machine?" he asked, slightly embarrassed by his cluelessness.
The girl raised an eyebrow, seeming a bit amused. "A vending machine?"
"Yeah, a beverage one," Kris clarified, scratching his head. "I've been looking all over and can't find one."
"Oh! you're looking for a drink dispenser, it's just over there, to the left before the stairs."
Kris let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank you! I appreciate it."
"No worries," she said with a kind smile. "I'm headed that way myself."
"Really? That's great," Kris said, feeling a bit more relaxed. "Are you a freshman too? I feel like this place is designed to get people lost."
They walked together, chatting casually as Kris felt less stressed by the confusing layout of the school.
After a short while, the girl stopped. "We're here."
Kris blinked in confusion, looking around. "where? I don't see anything."
Without saying a word, the girl tapped on a seemingly random section of the wall, and suddenly, a large touchscreen lit up, displaying a variety of drinks.
"Whoa, seriously?" Kris's eyes widened in surprise. "This is the vending machine?"
"Yup," she replied with a soft chuckle. "They designed it to blend into the walls. You can choose your drinks by swiping through the options and hitting confirm."
Kris stared at the screen, swiping through the various options, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the selection. "Uhm, what brand is good for tea? And where's the water?" He scratched his head again, noticing that all the packaging simply said "HAVEN Liquid," with no recognizable brands.
"Oh, you want water and tea? Do you want hot tea or cold?"
"Cold, please," Kris replied.
"Alright, here you go," she said, tapping the screen with practiced ease. Two bottles—one water, one cold tea—popped out from the dispenser below.
"How do I pay?" Kris asked, handing her his phone.
As she was about to say that it was on her, her eyes widened when she noticed the balance displayed on his phone—$110,000. Shocked, she yelped inwardly, thinking, 'This guy must be from some wealthy family!'
"Ehm," she stammered, suddenly feeling flustered. "You don't need to pay me."
Kris raised an eyebrow. "How can that be? Let me pay you back."
The girl quickly regained her composure and smiled. "How about this—you treat me to lunch later instead? Deal?"
"Are you sure?" Kris asked, still feeling like he should insist on paying.
"Yeah," she smiled brightly. I'm about to eat well later, she thought mischievously.
"Alright, sounds good. I'll see you later then," Kris agreed.
They parted ways, and as Kris walked off, the girl suddenly realized something. "Ahh, I forgot to ask for his name!" She sighed, feeling a bit regretful. "Oh well, as long as he's a student here, there's a chance I'll bump into him again."
As she slid open a nearby door, she noticed the same boy she had just helped, sitting at the back of the room, smiling as he spoke with a girl who seemed to be hiding her face. And there, in front of the girl, was the tea that she bought for Kris.
The girl blinked in surprise, thinking, 'So that's what he needed the drink for... interesting.'
'How dare he flirt with me like that?' Belle's thoughts raced.
'What's he going to do next, marry me? Then hurry up!!' As she glanced at the two bottles in front of her, they transformed in her mind, shifting into images of Kris and herself.
She envisioned a future together, the scenarios swirling in her imagination, each more vivid than the last.
"the teacher is here!" someone exclaimed.
"Hello, everyone! I received a notice this morning that one of the students here has amnesia, so I'll introduce myself again. I'm Lea Lavigne, and I'll be teaching you the biology of Virals," she announced.
As she scanned the classroom, her gaze lingered on the boy in the back corner. she quickly crafted a plan to get to know his name.
"But before we begin, I want to take an attendance. Please say 'here' and raise your hand when I call your name."
"What? When did she take attendance?" a student whispered.
"I don't know; everything has been weird today," another replied.
(Skipping the list...)
"Kris Blazewood?"
"Here," Kris raised his hand.
Oh, ho ho ho, you can't escape me now, Belle thought, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Never mind; let's proceed with the discussion," Lea continued.
"What was that? She didn't even try!" a student murmured.
"I don't know what just happened either," another replied with a chuckle.
"Hey, mate, do you think the teacher has been staring at me?" Thursday asked, feeling flattered.
He flexed his charisma towards Necho and Kris. "Do you think she digs me?"
Kris and Necho synchronized, shaking their heads.
"What? Look, she's looking at me again!" Thursday exclaimed, feeling betrayed and eager to prove his point.
Necho lightly smacked the back of Thursday's head. "She's looking at Kris, dumbass."
"Now that you mention it, whenever I cover Kris, she shifts her line of sight," Thursday admitted, embarrassed.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. You better teach me your ways in the future, or I won't let you copy my answers later," Thursday warned, grinning.
Necho rolled his eyes. "Why would he copy your answers when you're literally at the bottom of the class? You should've been in the special class to feel like that."
Kris chuckled at their banter while Teacher Lea continued discussing the types of Virals and which elements to use when encountering specific ones. He listened intently, focusing on her every word.
"Remember, not all Virals are the same," she explained, her voice steady and clear.
"Each one has unique weaknesses and strengths based on its elemental type. For instance, Lava Virals are particularly vulnerable to Water attacks, while Wave Virals can be countered with Earth-based Data Beast."
She paused, glancing around the room, before adding, "In addition to knowing the elements, understanding your Data Beasts is crucial. They can provide significant advantages in battle. For example, some Data Beasts possess abilities that can directly counter specific Virals."
Kris's interest piqued as she continued. "Using a Water-type Data Beast against a Lava Viral can turn the tide of battle in your favor. Similarly, a Wind-type can help evade attacks from Boulder Virals, making your strategy essential."
Kris nodded, absorbing the information. The knowledge seemed crucial, especially given the unpredictable nature of Virals in their world.
while Lea was discussing she saw Kris staring at her nodding and shaking his head.
'He must be listening well, so eager to learn.' seeing how passionate kris is, she couldn't help but be proud.
In Kris' mind, He couldn't shake the nagging thought as he stared at Teacher Lea. Did I offend her when I thought she looked like a freshman? He watched her as she effortlessly explained the complex biology of Virals, her enthusiasm infectious, and he felt a twinge of guilt for even questioning her age.
Maybe it was just his perception, or perhaps he needed to stop overthinking things.
As the class drew to a close, the clock ticked down to the final minute, and the students began gathering their belongings, the air buzzing with chatter and excitement for lunch.
"Alright, everyone, that concludes our class for today," Teacher Lea announced with a bright smile. "I hope you all learned something valuable. Enjoy your lunch!"
Kris stood up, relieved that the first day wasn't as bad as he had anticipated. Just as he was about to join his friends, Teacher Lea called out, "Kris, could you please stay behind for a moment?"
Kris curious, What could she want to discuss? He exchanged glances with Necho and Thursday as they exited, their expressions a mix of intrigue and amusement.
One by one, the students filed out of the room, leaving only Kris and Teacher Lea.
Just then, Belle lingered at the doorway, her brows furrowing as she tried to understand the situation. Why was this little teacher keeping Kris behind?
"What's wrong Ms. Carter? did you left something behind?"
Teacher Lea turned her attention to Belle, a friendly smile still on her face.
Kris shifted his weight, unsure of what to think as he watched Belle's expression change from curiosity to irritation.
"I wanted to thank kris for the free drinks." Belle replied, trying to mask her annoyance.
"Well, I'll see you later then."
As Belle stepped out of the classroom, her thoughts spiraled.
'That btch! Who does she think she is, trying to flirt with my Kris?' She frowned, recalling how Teacher Lea had been stealing glances at him throughout the class.