Entering the cafeteria, he noticed that it was mostly empty, partly because it was the first day of school and probably a couple of freshmen students were lost. But mostly, it was because of how fast Steven ran to the cafeteria, thinking of the prospect of food.

He didn't even know he could run that fast.

'Hey, an unoccupied table!" He sat down.

And right beside him was Zero.

"Dang," Steven muttered under his breath, "And I thought I had lost him."

"Hmm?" Zero leaned in.

"Nothing."

The chatter of the lunchroom increased as everyone settled in.

A few minutes later, the late bell rang, and a few stragglers walked in.

One sat down across from him, someone from his class. As he plopped down, he folded one arm on his head, and the other arm dropped down on the table. His hair was messy and tousled, and his demeanor looked fresh out of bed. Each stand flew aside as he looked directly ahead, which happened to be at Steven.

While Steven didn't want to start a conversation, he didn't want it to be awkward either, so he greeted him. "Hey, you're Jackal, right?"

"Huh?" Jackal, whose head had been slowing descending, looked up. "Uh... yeah. You're... Steven."

"Yep." Steven laughed.

"Just call me Jack." He scratched his head. "and you're... Zero?"

Through his eyelashes, he watched Zero, who was looking out the window.

"Hey..." Steven nudged him.

"Hmm?" the white-haired boy murmured.

"Hey, he's Jack."

"Oh yeah..." Zero answered half-heartedly, as he looked to the side. "Well, there's that-"

"Is he..." Jack awkwardly smiled. "Always like this?"

"I dunno, I don't know him that well either," Steven whispered.

A microphone screech echoed through the entire cafeteria. A brown-haired lady, kindly aged, was holding the microphone.

"Hello, I am Mrs. Watson." She bellowed once everyone settled down. "I am the Head Cafeteria Chef at this school. Since it is the first day for some of you, I will be laying down the ground rules at this cafeteria.

Number 1: Line up quickly and quietly. Those who cut the line or cause a commotion, especially repeat offenders, will not only be the last to get lunch but also will be assigned cleaning duty.

Number 2: Do not cause a commotion in the cafeteria or recess. There will be disciplinary measures, especially for bullying and other petty acts."

Number 3: Clean up after yourselves. Wash your hands before touching any food! Remember, this is where you eat. If you want to eat in a dirty place, fine. We have pig pens for that. However, this is where you and your fellow classmates eat. Do note some common courtesy to uphold your own dignity.

Number 4: Pay for your food with your School ID. You can either use your card, contacts, or any electronic device. Student lunch is free, the vendors on campus are not. Remember that minor and major infractions will be accounted to your grade and credit balance.

Oh, and Rule Number 5 is... to not ask stupid questions, you have your parents for that. Any questions? No? Okay, good."

"Now," Mrs. Watson clamored, "I will call your tables up to lunch. I will be calling the tables in order from top left to bottom right. I will usually switch up the order I call up the tables. Table #1 and #2, you guys are first for today. Line up quickly and quietly please."

'Hungry...' Steven thought, clutching his stomach at the thought of the pleasant smell permeating from the cafeteria kitchen.

. . .

"Table #7 and #8, Line up quickly and quietly please." The lunch lady called out.

Finally, his table was called... By then, Steven's stomach had rumbled ten times, each with increasing amplitude. Eventually, someone would hear it over the loud chatter of the cafeteria. With a sparkle in his eyes, he cheerfully danced towards the shining counters and gracefully received his lunch, all while thanking everyone and anyone for everything and anything they ever did for him… not.

He hoisted himself up and quickly walked to the front of the cafeteria. For a moment, Steven simply looked at every sight. The cafeteria buffet tables held contraptions hoisted overhead, plates on golden appliances, and towering castles of foods. For starters, the tables in the egg section were filled with creamy scrambled eggs, soft and warm poached eggs, fried eggs- sunny side up, rare to well-done boiled eggs, a sprinkle of century eggs, some poached duck eggs, salted brined eggs, and a few other delicacies he couldn't quite name. So he took one of each, as to not be biased, and paid for the steep, cheap price of free. He noted after taking so many eggs, his plate was already full. With impatient urgency, he ran back to his table. He slammed his food on the table and rushed back to get more food.

As he walked in again, he couldn't help but be astonished at every caloric option.

The table, right over there, was filled with different types of arranged meats. Deli ham, crinkly bacon, sweet sausage, relishing poultry, appetizing pâté, chromatic terrines, tangy salumi, and all the stuff that might make a heart stop.

Next, were vibrant beans, nuts, and seeds. From cashews, almonds, and hazelnuts... to sunflower, chia, and flax, the intricate piles on the table were packed to the max.

Adjacent to the nuts, a giant array... of different crunchy vegetables, savory spices, wholesome salads, and mouthwatering fruits... was arranged in mesmerizing piles. Every look was tantalizing to all the onlookers, even the insects. (The insects, however, were served in the special protein section, so they had no chance to be near the produce.)

Every green turned into a different red radish to an orange orange to yellow corn and green spinach and blue blueberries and purple cabbage. Delectable squash to exotic pears and cherry berries to apples to apples. Citrusy fresh and lemony zest, all the blends tasted their best. And at the end of the table, were unique beans that tasted like ice cream to cotton candy, one bite made tongue to palate to mind obsessed.

The Entrée section included the specialties of the day. Each choice was a different part of the world. Each was a different aromatic adventure, a rich culinary history, and a barren, yet to explore, palate odyssey.

Steven paused. He wasn't sure which one to try so he had to take all of them.

The last table included dessert and drinks on an elaborate platter contraption. Over yonder, were stacked pastel macarons and caramelized, jiggly puddings, which sat beside chewy mochi, buttery snickerdoodles, and crispy rice desserts all plated around fluffy sponge cakes and tart pies. Flowing above in dispensers were shining lakes of fizzing, sparkling water and creamy, sweet shakes, with rivers of bitter, spicy cocoa, and earthy, bright tea, and basins of blueberry-scented ground coffee.

In the middle of it, all stood a marble fountain, spewing fresh mineral water in dazzling strings.

'Tasty...' Steven munched.

...

He sat down again.

"W-wow," Jack muttered. "That's a lot of food"

"Oh... I didn't get that much." Steven cheekily replied. "Besides, I always..."

"Table #9 and #10, please line up quickly and quietly please." The lunch lady shouted out over them. Then her face paled. "I'm going to use the bathroom for a second, no funny business while I'm gone."

"...dem darn burritos..." She muttered before quickly stepping out, her anxiousness seeping through her steps.

The students from that table quietly lined up... But just as quickly, a loud crash sounded and a tray of food flew across the air and skidded onto his table.

'How'd that get here?' Steven looked at the food, which had somehow managed to not fall out. Then, he looked at the commotion.

Amidst the mess was a boy sprawled on a broken lunch table.

Steven looked back at his food. 'He's laying on the floor, and I care a lot but my food will get cold.'

'Huh?'

"Hey, that's Zero!" Jinx pointed out.

"Yeah."

Over at the scene, the taller guy looked down on Zero. His eyes glared with a quiet fiery and disdain which Zero chose to ignore.

"Ow," Zero spoke, casually sprawled on the floor. This was his new bed. He laid there and thought it was quite comfortable. Then, he brushed his head, which was full of broken table dust, and fluffed off the metal particles.

"Get up." He heard the taller guy command.

Zero sleepily stood up and dusted off the rest of his body.

"Don't disrespect me, punk." The taller guy gruffly reprimanded. "Let's see..."

He glanced down at the ID that Zero carried in one hand.

"Hmm?" Zero voiced.

"Bull E. Nice to meet you, too, Mr. Nobody. Get it? Cause you're of "zero" importance!" Bull E. started laughing to himself, clearly pleased with the prospect of being able to make jokes.

"Bull E." Zero smiled and looked to the side.

"Yep," Bull E. blinked. "That's my awesome name. Bully E."

"That's cool. Anyways... can you get off the line?" Zero asked.

"Huh?" Bull E. asked, confused.

"You don't sit at those tables." Zero responded.

"But... But... I'm hungry..." Bull E. frowned. As if noticing his error, he quickly switched tunes, "WAIT, I mean- HEY! How d-darE you question what I do! Now you will face my wrath! Let's see how you survive my almighty attack 'Bulls-Hit-Stampede'!"

As Bull E. charged at Zero, the lunch lady walked in.

For a moment, she raised her eyebrows and seemed to be appalled.

Bull E. stopped in his tracks.

Mrs. Watson looked at the broken table, then looked at Bull E. and then looked at the broken table.

"What is all this commotion?" Her voice ran through the ears of those who listened, with a quiet, deep apprehensive nature. Suddenly, not a word was let out. "I was only gone for a few minutes." Mrs. Watson scolded, her glare crucifying the sacrificial bull.

"Uh..." Bull E. was at a loss for words.

"I. Do. Not. Have. All. Day." Mrs. Watson declared, enunciating every word in a fit of steaming red.

"I might... have pushed this kid into the table." Bull E. softly mumbled. "B-but only after he dared to question the fact that I... may have cut in line because I was hungry." Bull E. twiddled his fingers, trying to put on the most innocent face and tone he could muster.

Mrs. Watson's eyes grew into slits, and instinctively, Bull E. knew that today he was prey. Today was not a good day to be alive.

"Enough! Young man, you're already a sophomore. Can't you at least behave? It's only the FIRST day, too!" The lunch lady yelled, her words stomping into Bull E's ears.

"What." Bull E. meekly replied.

"What???" She clambered her feet down with every step, and Bull E. frozen in fear, could not move. Mrs. Watson proceeded to grab and pull Bull E. by the ear and dragged him out of the cafeteria. Bull E. with meek resistance, eventually gave up as Mrs. Watson tightened her clutch.

"You'll pay for this." Bull E. threatened, staggering behind the lunch lady. "A-a-ah, don't pull so hard."

"And you'll pay for that." The lunch lady pointed to the broken table. "You shouldn't have pushed someone so hard. Hey! Anna?"

"Yeah?" The other lunch lady answered.

"Cover for me while I'm gone. I'll be back." She said, pulling Bull E. out of the cafeteria.

. . .

Steven had long stopped paying attention to the conflict that was happening. Instead, he focused on intaking every morsel with increasing attentiveness.

Jack watched as the piles of food became nothing as Steven chewed on.

"Wow..." He commented.

'Munch, munch, munch.' Steven thought while eating his food. Before he knew it, he had started eating out of the other tray beside him.

"Hey..." A voice drawled out.

Steven looked up.

"That's mine..." the white-haired boy pointed out.

Steven dropped the food in his hand.

"Oh."

"You can have it." Zero watched the half-eaten piece of bread. It looked chewed like someone had taken bites and chewed it.

"Oh." Steven picked up the piece of bread and continues to chew.

"This school is great," Steven thought out loud. "Knew I was right to pick here."

"Hmm?" Zero asked.

"Why I picked this school?"

Zero nodded.

"I heard it had great food."

Zero... nodded.

"Oh, and that... there are some people I have to meet, here." Steven finished.

"What, you know people in this school?" Jack butted in. "I'm a first-generation..."

Steven paused. "...Yep."

"Steven," Jack continued. "How can you eat so much?"

"Hmm, the food is more filling than usual." Steven examined his food, which he scavenged from Zero's tray. "That's weird."

"It's genetically modified." Zero quietly confirmed.

"Huh?" Jack asked.

Zero stirred his soup.

"What do you mean?" Steven asked.

"Lab-grown," Zero answered. "Almost all of the meats... you can buy at a supermarket are, but the food in school is genetically modified to be more calorically and nutritionally dense."

"Oh," Steven responded as he took more food from Zero's tray.

"Yeah," Jinx agreed. "I usually eat a lot at home, but I was only able to finish one tray of food today."

Jack looked at Steven, who was still eating.

"Wow."