Hope's stomach was full, but his mind wasn't.
Even as he walked away from the dining hall, his thoughts lingered on the food he had just eaten.
There was still more, wasn't there?
People had left half-eaten plates behind, and some of the richer kids barely touched their food before tossing it away.
A waste.
It took everything in him not to turn back.
Hope had trained himself to never waste a meal, and the idea of leaving food behind—even when he was already full—felt wrong.
But he couldn't just keep eating forever.
His body had its limits, and right now, even if his hunger was still there, his stomach was protesting.
He sighed, trailing after his roommates with reluctant steps.
The muscular guy, walking beside him, smirked as if sensing his frustration.
"You'll get more tomorrow," he said.
Hope grunted, rubbing his belly.
Tomorrow? That was too far away.
But he supposed it was better than nothing.
As they walked, other students were also heading back to their rooms, their chatter filling the halls.
Hope paid little attention to them—he was too preoccupied with his own thoughts.
But what he didn't notice was how some people were staring at him.
Not because of what he had done at the dining hall, but because of how he looked now.
From an outside perspective, Hope was… an odd sight.
He had a small, lean frame, shorter than most boys his age.
His disheveled black hair never fell in place, always looking like it had a mind of its own.
His pale skin made him look almost fragile, and combined with his sharp yet delicate features, there was something strangely doll-like about his face.
But now?
With his stomach slightly protruding from eating too much, he looked comically out of place.
Like some malnourished street kid who had just been given a feast for the first time.
The muscular guy and the skinny one exchanged amused glances, but neither said anything.
The silver-haired girl also seemed to take notice but simply rolled her eyes, acting like she had seen worse.
Hope, oblivious to their thoughts, yawned as they finally reached their room.
As soon as he stepped inside, he made sure to avoid the mirror.
He didn't even look in its direction.
He had learned his lesson.
Reflections… were dangerous.
And right now, he just wanted to rest.
Dragging his feet to his bed, he collapsed onto it lazily, letting out a tired exhale.
The mattress was softer than what he was used to.
Back in the outskirts, his bed was nothing more than a thin blanket over a cold floor, and even that was a luxury.
This? This was strange.
Too soft. Too clean. Too… comfortable.
It didn't feel real.
But he didn't have the energy to care.
His eyes fluttered shut, his body sinking into the unfamiliar bed.
Within moments, Hope had fallen asleep.