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The school bell rings midway, signaling the beginning of lunch. Every student practically rushes to the cafeteria, either driven by hunger or the need to get out of class. By the time you untangle yourself from the hoard and reach the lunchroom, your usual spot has been taken. No sitting with your friends today.

There’s no point in arguing for it back either. Thanks to Felix and his accomplice, any sort of dignity you had has only been diminishing. He bullies you in front of your peers, jams the lock of your locker just for kicks, and reveling in the way you stumble over his outstretched foot.

Yet, even with six tables available, the only empty seat in the lunchroom is next to Felix. His usual crew is still gathered around, but his best friend is absent, leaving the spot beside him wide open.

With no other option, you reluctantly take a seat next to him, bracing yourself for whatever torment he may have in store. But to your surprise, Felix doesn’t seem to regard your presence as an invitation to humiliate you.

“Uh… do you usually sit here?”

He mumbles, absently holding a half-eaten eraser, his expression slightly annoyed but not quite threatening.