Thomas 'meeting' with Jean-Stephan ended on a positive note. He turned down his proposition and the professor didn't seem to take it badly. Given his situation maybe he understood he didn't want to throw himself into unknown ground. However, he did give him some recommendations in order to catch up to his peers such as books, exercises and online programs to follow. He felt a strange sense of pride for creating such a caring character.
After parting with the professor, Thomas was making his way down the hallway toward the cafeteria. It seemed that during the first half of the day, groups were already formed and friendships were getting built. A strange sense of shame and discomfort went through him.
Am I that out of place ? He thought.
When Thomas was about to think over each of his interactions with his classmates a hand slapped his back. Pulling him back to reality.
"Argh!"
He quickly spun around and glared at who slapped his back. To his surprise, it was none other than Luke Evans.
"Did I hit you that hard ?" asked Luke. "You should be more aware of your environment. You never know when danger can come out."
"Well, huh…" hesitated Thomas. "You surprised me… What are you doing here anyway ?" he tried to change the subject.
He wasn't ready to argue on why a student should be aware of danger in a school when he created a story where terrorists attack this school every two weeks.
"I was about to head out for lunch and I saw you. Wanna grab lunch ?"
Thomas stared into Luke's eyes, trying to find any clue on why he was doing this. Just as he was about to answer another voice barged in.
"There you are, mister rank 1. You are a hard man to find as if you are avoiding me." Said a haughty tone.
Thomas didn't need to turn around to guess who it was. The tone of the voice was already a give away for him. Only one character actively looked for Luke on the first day and it was Anne Heartheve, technically the second female lead of his story. She was the stereotypical rich 'noble' girl. Trained by the best teacher her parents could pay for her, she was recognized as someone talented and since she came from relatively old money, she received a very old fashioned education alongside old fashion ideology about social classes. He really didn't want to turn around but ignoring her might be the worst thing to do. He didn't write her as a kind character to those she doesn't value. Reluctantly, he turned around and turned his gaze toward her.
She was just what he imagined. A cute red haired girl with blue eyes.Physically, she wasn't like the Elven Queen who was an embodiment of fertility, she looked like an average young adult but had a very cold stare. As if she was watching you from above and judging you for not reaching her standards. Now that he paid attention to it, just like Luke, she was wearing a tracksuit. She also was surrendered by her little band of groupies. A mix of men and women. There were about 10 of them.
She huffed and crossed her arms. "When your superiors are talking to you, you have to respond to them. Did nobody teach you basic etiquette ?"
Wow, thought Thomas, is she serious ?
Luke frowned at her words and crossed his arms in front of him.
"And you are ?"
Anne doubled take at his question. She put a hand on her chest as if she was physically struck by his question.
"Excuse me ?! Don't act like you don't know who I am ?!" She shouted incredulously .
She quickly composed herself and cleared her throat.
"I am Anne Heartheve, daughter of Johnatan Heartheve. Heir to the Heartheve family. You must have heard of us." She explained with a slight smirk and slight flip of hair.
But Luke's face remained impassive as if he didn't acknowledge her words but Thomas knew better. Luke was not aware who this family was. Given his stereotypical hero backstory. A boy who came from a destroyed village and dedicated himself to his goal. Luke just didn't learn or was taught who was important in society. It's not like his teacher cared too. Thomas sighted and leaned toward Luke's ears.
"Johnatan Heartheve is a congressman who is running for the next election. He got a lot of power in the Union and is filthy rich." He whispered and then cringe internally.
I can't believe it, he thought, I just became the 'exposing background' side character.
Luke nodded his head at Thomas' words. "I see…"
"So what do you want ?" He asked without tact.
Anne blinked in surprise. "Well since you defeated me in the exam. I hoped you and I could become 'friends'," she said while twirling a strand of hair between her fingers, "I believe you and I could work well together.Let's have lunch together to official this new 'friendship'"
At the end of her sentence, she had a slight blush on her cheeks. This disgusted Thomas, he was fully aware what this scene meant. It was her way of getting closer to her 'crush'. The mysterious number 1 who defeated her. Thomas didn't really give importance to this scene since it was just a way for him to introduce one of the female leads and start to build the 'romance'. Anne tried to cozy him up to learn his weakness and crush him but obviously, it didn't work.
Now that he thinks about it. Most of the female leads were like that, they all had a form of grudge toward Luke and believed themselves better than the others,with the exception of one girl. What does it say about him ? The one who created them and those situations.
Thomas' thinking was interrupted by Luke, who put his hand on his shoulder.
"No. I already have plans with my friend here"
"Huh ?" exclaimed a confused Thomas.
I didn't agree to anything !
Anne blinked in surprise and stuttered."Ex-excusme me ? Who is that anyway ?!"
"It's the last ranker !" A man from the Anne group shouted.
"Yeah ! Thomas Poire !" yelled another before yelping in pain.
"Poirro ! You idiot !" answered the culprit.
Anne glared at Thomas. Her eyes stabbing into him.
Luke stared at her.
"You are welcome to join us if you want."
No she is not ! mentally shouted Thomas.
Thomas was about to interrupt the conversation but Anne was quicker than him. She accepted and now, the three of them were walking toward the cafeteria. Luke was in the middle, Anne on his right and Thomas on his left. Anne groupies were staring dagger into Thomas back. He couldn't refuse or make an excuse to leave. His social status was already at the bottom. He didn't need to add grudges from one of the most influential families into the pill.
Whereas Thomas was drowning in his own self misery. Luke was happy. He was making some 'progress' with his friendship with Thomas. His teacher stopped shouting in his mind and let him do what he wanted. Anne's interruption did throw his plans into a disarray but maybe getting to know the second ranker would allow him to build some connections with the higher society. His teacher was very strict about building connections. He had to keep them at an arm's length, never truly trusting them but showing enough good will to make them reciprocate it.
"You are in the general course." He stated.
"Yes." Answered Thomas quickly.
Luke nodded his head.
"We did some physical training this morning."
"I see."
"Physical training is important." Added Luke
"Very."
Anne couldn't believe her ears. She was assisting in the worst conversation in her life. Even her 'groupies' had better conversation. At least, they were trading information or barbs at each other. She could clearly see that Thomas didn't want to participate in the conversation. She was even sure that he didn't want to be there with them.
Unwilling to be seen in this kind of situation, she asked Thomas a question.
"What did the general course do this morning ?"
Thomas frowned internally. He really didn't want to interact with her.
"...Some basic self introduction and an explanation of the curriculum."
Receiving her answer, they continued to walk in silence but Luke broke it again.
"Why did you stay behind ?" asked Luke.
Thomas frowned in confusion. "What do you mean ?"
"All your classmates left at the bell but you stayed behind. Why ?" clarified Luke.
This got Anne curious. Finally they were getting somewhere.
"Oh that..",started Thomas,"well, the professor asked me to stay to get my magic purity tested."
This made Anne frowned. "Aren't you supposed to already know that ?"
Luke perked up. "Is it because you are part of that reintegration program ?"
Thomas sighted. Was it going to come up at each of his conversations ?
"Yeah."
"How much ?" followed up Luke.
Thomas didn't answer and just handed him the paper he got from the professor. Luke took it and read it. After a second, he handed it back and nodded his head.
"Not bad."
Unlike Luke's reaction. Anne was gaping. Her eyes wide in surprise. She was about to shout but she quickly composed herself but mentally complained.
Not bad !? That guy is crushing us all with this score ! Even the tree huger got a lower score !