Day 58: Lunch

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Although it had been good to see his mom again, Claude entered the cafeteria with a dark expression on his face. He was glad she felt comfortable enough with him to share her experiences from last night, but that didn't make him any less angry at the military for using her to do their dirty work. Why couldn't those bastards clean up their own messes? Surely they had the resources for it.

Were they really going to have to fight someone else's war now?

His head buzzed with those sorts of questions as he moved through the room. Even so, with the help of his escort, Claude assembled a tray with a rather large hamburger, the appropriate condiments, and a cup of water. The cafeteria was still relatively empty, save for the soldiers on duty, so he took very little time in the line. It was probably just as well. He'd been so engrossed in his conversation with Rita during breakfast that he hadn't eaten much.

After finding an empty seat, Claude gingerly placed his tray and journal onto the table and sat down. As he lifted up his burger with his good hand, Claude couldn't help but think of Ashton for a moment. Where was he? He'd disappeared so long ago, and yet part of him worried the military had used him for something too.

Eyebrows furrowed, he took a bite and tried to focus on getting a decent meal in his stomach.

[For Guy!]

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[ofthemotions]

The exclamation was enough for Mikado to accept, and the boy moved to the chair across from Makunouchi and sat down gratefully. So there was a few people here, from Makunouchi's words and the people on the bulletin board. Was it just because of the strange things there, or was there another reason for it? Someone had mentioned Dollars, and even that was.... "Ah, not really. I live there now, but I'm from a smaller town. I just transferred there this school year."

To a school that Ippo mentioned. Mikado's face lit up. This person really was from there. A part of him relaxed. The constant culture shock was ruining--there was still something anxiety-producing in being in unsure situations but here, at least, there was something familiar. "Yes, I do. It's a good school. Did you go there, Makunouchi-san?"

A pleasant enough conversion, if one was inclined. But Mikado was more curious about something else the other had said. "I actually just got here. Do a lot of strange things happen at night?" That was the going explanation, however, Mikado was curious what Makunouchi would say.

[ippo]

"N-No, I didn't. I went to a public school, actually. But I met someone--Orihara Izaya?--he said he knew a few people here who went to that school, s-so I just... assumed." Ippo was glad to hear that Mikado thought highly of it. His school stories were full of heavy sighs and that high school photo album of his... practically empty. Oh, he had plenty of photos in it, just none of him. The few he did appear in were of him slinking off in the background while the rest of his classmates had fun. There had been a silver lining in his last year, but, well, Ippo wondered what it'd be like to have had a friend or two throughout his entire school life. Must have been nice.

The boxer wanted to keep talking about his time at Raira, possibly live vicariously through the boy, but as Mikado said he was new, Ippo humored him. If Claude hadn't helped him on his first day, he would have been in a lot of trouble. The least he could do was help another newbie.

"Ah, well. I may not be the best person to ask. I'm sort of new too, but... the nights are strange. It's, uhhhhh, well hard to... describe, exactly..." Which wasn't true at all, Ippo just didn't want to talk about all of his stories of failure as he ran screaming for his life across most of the institute. "Just--If you ever go out, don't do it alone. You really need someone with your or else... well, th-that is... it could get dangerous..."

[ofthemotions]

...So Makunouchi had actually met. Izaya-san. The side of Mikado's face twitched. Before Makunouchi had come into contact with Kanra-chan. Was it that Makunouchi had been targeted for some reason, or was it all just fun and games? He was from Ikebukuro as well--it was possible there was a point to it all. Mikado's expression had froze for a moment; after a beat he gave an awkward sound that could have been a laugh and looked off to the side. "Yeah... I knew Orihara-san." As much as could be known at least. "He's. Hm. Someone interesting. And possibly dangerous."

Not that Mikado had seen so far, other than some brief interactions with Heiwajima-san and some girls, but nothing towards him that he knew of. Still, Mikado wouldn't brush aside Masaomi's words so easily. It was possible there was something he wasn't privy to.

What Makunouchi said was exactly what Snow had said this morning. At least, this, Mikado would believe whole-heartedly. There was no point to doubting it and having something happen. It'd be a problem, though, to find something to allow him to tag along. The boy nodded. "Are there a lot of animals out at night?"

[ippo]

"D-Dangerous...?" Ippo was struck with disbelief. Nothing about Orihara had seemed potentially harmful. He was simplybtoo handsome to be mean. Perhaps Mikado took his cool demeanour to mean dangerous. He knew firsthand what it felt like to be misunderstood. Izaya may just needed someone he could relate to, then he would surely open up! Yes, this was a gireat plan, and rather noble of Ippo. He would do his best to be a shoulder for the man to lean on.

For now though, he had to keep Mikado safe. Friendship making could wait for later. But how could he warn the boy without embarrasing himself in the process? Telling him Ippo got assaultedhis first night by a pack of kittens wouldn't get the point across.

"Ah, well, sort of. There are things that come out at night. Things that get into the institute--I don't know how, though..." Perhaps they didn't secure the doors properly at night. Who knew. "Escaping them can be pretty tough sometimes, so watch out. Please bring someone if you ever think about going out..."

[ofthemotions]

"Hmm." Mikado seemed a bit nonchalant at the concept, though more from the thought of it, than the actual fact itself. He mused for a moment more, then blinked, looking up with a start as he realized as that might sound. "Ah, I'm not saying Orihara-san is a bad person." Bad being perception anyway. "Just that I was told to, um. Be careful around him back home."

A lie, actually. He had been told to stay away from him, but that obviously wasn't being followed through with. Hm. Uh. Mikado would just. Focus on what Ippo was saying instead. Which, again, lined up with what had already been said. All right, he might as well just accept it. Everyone was at least agreeing on it. Even the point that the things came in from outside. Mikado gave a weak smile. "I've been told to not go by myself...." He trailed off, wondering. "Are there a lot of people that are familiar with fighting here?"

Enough to defend the people that wouldn't even think of doing so. It was a bit backwards, but with the setting, it fit, he supposed.