Lunch.

Pedro and I went to the cafeteria to eat some brunch. We weren’t talking much as Pedro is a very reticent person. I make jokes sometimes making him laugh but that’s it.

We won’t be improving our relationship much, but I am confident we’ll be buddy-buddy after lunch. And after the whole class? We’ll be more than just buddies.

I smirked at the thought.

After lining up, we sat in our seats. I have some beef with a thick broth, some rice, and side dishes. Pedro had a burger, miso soup, and lots of veggies on the sides.

“How’s the academy life going for you?” I asked while digging into the rice with my spoon.

“It's fine,” Pedro calmly replied, it looks like he’s getting used to my presence now. “At first, it was difficult. But I made friends with Heather, Trom, and Nika so everything is doing well.”

It was then that Pedro’s tray of food was flipped over. The soup was spilled on Pedro’s clothes. The veggies were scattered. Someone grabbed the burger patty and smeared it on Pedro’s face.

The humiliation is intense, Even though I who was a very patient person, was about to blow my lid off. Still in the end, I suppressed my emotions. I have to remain low-key.

I watched Pedro grit his teeth on the verge of breaking down. The bully responsible for this is Rodney and his party of three. If I remember correctly the two lackeys by his side were called Lee and Hitch.

“Ow’right, how’s the burger?” It was Hitch, he slapped Pedro on the back of his head. Rodney watched in amusement as it was he who started it.

Lee who is contesting for his leader’s attention grabbed my bowl of boiled beef and splashed it on Pedro’s face. “Sorry bud, Pedro here looked hungry, you don’t mind me helping him, do you?” He told me as if he were doing me a favor.

I would love to punch his face. A mediocre guy won’t punch him, right? Or am I?

I looked at Pedro who I want to raise his affection points to me. This opportunity ain’t so bad. I have to thank Lee for it.

SLAP!

Punching him is too much so I just slapped him in the face. It was crunchy.

“How dare you!?” Lee grabbed me by the collar of my uniform. I left him be. His intimidation at best is about an elementary schooler’s level. Picking a fight with Lee isn’t a big deal as he was about my level I think?

I don’t mean level by strength, but by status. He seems like the kind of guy that would vanish if you don’t pay much attention to him.

“Stop it,” Coming to the rescue is my hero, Deron. Yeah, tell them to stop. “You don’t know what you lot are getting to,” Deron spoke up for me.

Rodney warily glanced at me made aware of my placing in the tournament setup. Though he might not look like it, he is quick to catch up.

However, that’s not the same for Lee and Hitch.

“Mind your own business, tomato head.”

“Yeah, eat your damn food.”

Rodney annoyingly picked at his ear. “Hey, you two. Stop and let’s go, I haven’t eaten anything yet.” He called to his two lackeys.

I nodded in Deron’s direction in gratitude. He nodded back at me. I reached for a cloth from my [Inventory Storage] and gave it to Pedro to wipe with.

“Thanks.” He said, but I am of a different opinion though.

“No thanks,” I snarkily said back. “Don’t you get tired of those bullies? Why don’t you fight back?”

“It’s useless.”

“Why?”

“…”

I gave him some time to think. It looks like he’s having a difficult time. Bullies are only strong in front of the weak. I’ve been there, and I survived. Though not in a glorious manner, I did fight back.

Kids like Pedro are the kind of people that tries to survive by enduring silence. In my opinion, that’s a very suicidal move. It’s either you break down, or your bullies will find another toy.

“I am weak,” Pedro weakly said. “When your Special Ability is like mine, you’d be helpless too. Though I have a relatively high potential grade, my ability is shit.” He added in a remorseful tone.

“Heh… There’s no way. Even if it’s not that lethal. You can still fight back right?”

To my derision, “My Special Ability is to glow…” Pedro revealed his Special Ability.

“…”

I grew quiet. Just how in the world did this guy survive the enrollment? Admittedly, there’s a high percentage that an applicant will pass almost 99% of the time.

However, if you were deemed totally incapable of surviving the enrollment assessment, especially the second assessment, you are automatically deemed as a failure. Pedro might actually be a hidden gem. To think that he was able to overcome the enrollment assessment with such a shitty mutation.

“So what if the only thing you can do is glow? You survived the enrollment assessment, you are deserving to be here. Rodney, Lee, and Hitch? They meant nothing. You can shove them, trick them, and trample them just like the way they do to you… They won’t see it coming, because they aren’t aware just how weak they truly are.”

With a malevolent smile, I whispered to Pedro. “But you? You know you are weak, and that’s what makes you strong. Tell me, Pedro, you desire power, do you? You desire it because you are weak!! Tell me, what is it that you are willing to forsake to become strong?”

“Everything…” In a small voice, Pedro answered.

“That’s right. Nurture your desire for power.” I shortly said back.

Because you are weak, you have to get stronger. And this awareness is what will let you keep on moving on. Weakness is a hunger that no power can ever satiate.

Turns out, the normal school day I was expecting wasn’t that normal after all.

From a distance, I saw Zia glancing my way. I asked for something since she last visited me. Information of all kinds. I hope she got it for me.

“Pedro, midnight… The rooftop of this building. We’ll meet there, be covert.” I said to Pedro in one breath and immediately left off.