Nier moved slowly through the food line, his empty container in hand. Five days had passed since the stabbing training, and they were finally discharged from the hospital that day. Everyone still had bandages wrapped around their stomachs under their uniforms. Moving carefully at six in the morning, they tried not to strain their injuries.
Nier held out his tray as the man serving food placed a piece of bread and some bean paste on it.
Mika came up behind him, stared at his own piece of bread and bean paste, then at the server.
Mika's pale face showed intense anger. He said, "What is this?"
The man, irritated, replied, "Your food… Move."
Mika flicked his tray onto the counter. "Is this how you feed an injured soldier?!"
The man, losing patience, said, "You're not soldiers yet, you Light descendants! You expect us to waste our scarce resources on a group of Black Wing trainees?"
A dark look crossed Mika's eyes, intensified by the circles under them. He stepped closer, voice low and menacing. "Really? Your resources are scarce? Then why do you look like a fat pig, you filthy bag of lard?!"
Mika's shouts drew everyone's attention in the cafeteria. "Give me something to eat, or I'll eat your face!"
Ayk grabbed him before he could advance. "Mika!"
Mika shouted, "What, Ayk?! What do you want from me?! What is this, anyway? Are they trying to kill us? Is this really an army, or did they gather us here to dispose of Bial's garbage?!"
Ayk raised his eyebrows. "Are you screaming and crying because Frata isn't what you expected, Mika? Because you can't eat and drink whatever you want? Did you think we came here for a picnic?"
Silence filled the cafeteria, all eyes on them. Mika pushed Ayk away and collapsed into a chair at a nearby table, burying his head in his hands, trying to calm his angry heart. Ayk sat beside him. He understood Mika's frustration. He felt that anger too, and the same exhaustion, but what could they do?
The line began moving again as people with trays found places to sit, and the commotion quieted. Nier approached Mika's table, bringing over the tray Mika had left behind. He set it down and left without a word. Mika kept his head down, not looking at him. Nier headed out of the cafeteria.
Only when Ayk asked, "What?" did Mika lift his head. They both noticed the tray now held two pieces of bread and two servings of bean paste. Mika quickly glanced toward the door, but Nier was already gone.
Mika started to stand, but Ayk said, "No! You can't give the food back; don't be rude. He won't take it anyway. Honor his gesture. Remember it. Make sure you repay him someday."
Mika said helplessly, "It wasn't about the food…"
Ayk, taking a bite of his own meal, asked, "Then why'd you act like a child when you saw your portion?"
Mika scowled and muttered, "Just shut up!" even as he kept eyeing the door.
Seeta had watched what happened and noticed Nier's action. She was distracted by a sob from one of the girls at her table. The girl sat before an empty tray, tears streaming down her cheeks. Fojta, at another table, kept eating.
Seeta asked worriedly, "What's wrong?" The girl just cried, eyes on her empty tray. Seeta gently grabbed her arm. "Does your stomach hurt?"
Between gasping sobs, the girl said, "I'm still… still hungry!"
Seeta's eyes filled with tears. She's crying because she's hungry? Seeta forced a smile and slid her own tray in front of the girl. The girl stared, tears on her cheeks. "No, I can't…"
Seeta looked at the girl's thin face. She could recognize Azar's children by how frail they were; that girl had been hungry for a long time. Seeta spoke softly, "I'm not really hungry, and I don't like beans."
The girl picked up the bread and offered it back to Seeta. "Then at least eat the bread!"
Seeta laughed. "I don't like bread either."
The girl, still crying, said, "Then I won't eat!"
Seeta took the bread, broke it in half, and handed one piece to the girl. "I'll eat half, then!" The girl smiled through her tears and ate. Seeta glanced at the cafeteria door and smiled as well.
Elir followed Nier outside, where he stood with his food tray. "Nier!"
Nier heard the anger building in Elir's voice. He turned slowly, forcing a smile. "What, Elir? Did you need something?"
Elir barked, "Why did you give him your food?!"
Nier shrugged. "I can't eat right now. My stomach still hurts."
Elir's tone grew sharper. "Why do you always interfere in things that don't concern you?!"
Nier laughed. "You always say that."
Elir shoved his own food tray at Nier in anger. Nier looked surprised. "No—I'm not eating your food!"
Elir shouted, "If you don't eat, I'll go back in there, gather everyone's trays, and throw them in the trash! No one eats if you don't eat!"
Nier shouted back, "No! This was my decision! I'm not taking your food!"
Elir, eyes aflame, turned to stomp back into the cafeteria, but Nier grabbed him. "Stop, you maniac!"
Elir shot him a furious look, waiting for his answer. Nier sighed, sat on the ground, and put the container in his lap. "What are you waiting for? Sit down."
Elir grumpily sat beside him, still furious. Nier offered him a piece of bread.
Elir refused. Nier said, "At least take this."
Elir snapped, "No!"
Nier asked, "Are you trying to punish me, Elir? I didn't do this to anger you!"
Elir yelled, "Then why did you do it?!"
Nier yelled back, "Because he looked hungry!"
Elir roared, "And you're hungry too!"
Nier, still yelling, "He looked hungrier than me!"
Elir's voice rose, "And you look hungrier than me!"
They fell silent for a moment before Nier spoke weakly, "I can't eat alone. Why don't we share?"
Elir studied him, then tore the bread into two uneven pieces, giving Nier the larger portion. Nier took it with a laugh. Sitting there in the courtyard, they ate together.
Nier said, "There really isn't much difference between Bial and Frata, huh?"
Elir replied, "I told you."
Nier chuckled and kept eating. Elir watched to make sure he was actually eating. He sensed a certain sadness in Nier's laughter. Is he still thinking about them?