[Nightmare]

Chapter 160 [Cafeteria Celebration]

[A/N: Reminder: grammatical may increase if they haven't already.

I'm working full time, so I don't have much time.

I know I always leave a disclaimer, but there are expectations of quality.]

—

"Hey, Hellie! One word. Opposite." Charlotte grinned.

"Yeah. At least it's positive." Helix sighed.

"I think it's lovely." Riley said with a warm smile.

"I… don't know what to do." Marie laughed nervously.

"Let's just walk in and assess the strategic situation." Helix chuckled bitterly.

"You make it sound like a battle." Marie laughed.

"It~is." Charlotte chimed with a grin.

The two walked forward ten feet.

After they committed and showed their intent, all hell broke loose.

"Is it true you fought a dragon!?"

"Wyvern, but yes. I was very lucky." Helix chuckled.

"What flowers were you picking and for whom!?"

"Me~" Charlotte declared proudly.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but it's not a flower.

It's called Liskabrush, and it grows fruit called Liskaberry that can help Soul Beasts speed up spirit particle absorption.

We got it to give Charlotte's spirit beast Tinker training before leaving Kozen." Helix sighed.

"Really!? That's so much cooler!"

"Yeah! Is it in the middle of death valley or something?"

"Was it on the way to hell?"

Helix chuckled in bewilderment.

Three women and three men were on his right asking about the Liskaberry debacle.

The women were interested in the [flower picking], and the men asked about the [Warpshire].

Helix's eyes lit up mischievously.

"I'll answer your questions, but I'm hungry…. If you act as our bodyguards from the paparazzi, I'll tell you all the flower picking stories during breakfast." He suggested.

"Yes, sir!" Two men said in unison while saluting.

The women had sparkling eyes and quickly turned around to make speeches.

Those interested in other details joined in and started explaining the situation.

Many went off to organize group seating.

Helix and Marie's eyes clouded over when they saw the organization-fueled riot.

Riley was giggling her face-off, and Charlotte had a smug look on her face.

"Yep. Opp~osite. The last time we were in here, everyone wanted you dead." Charlotte grinned.

The group had entered the cafeteria for breakfast for the first time since returning.

They had shown up on Palla, the equivalent of a Monday.

There were five days in a [week] and eight weeks in a month.

They were Palla, Shall, May, Tine, and Yull, the day of rest.

Today was May or Wednesday by Earthian standards.

The day after they arrived, they skipped breakfast to give them time to build relationships.

Things went better than expected, so they didn't feel the need to skip more before showing they were part of the group.

"It's hard to believe we've only been here for a day and a half." Marie commented.

They laid down the law on the first day, got their room, and Helix spoke to Macron about the situation.

On the second day, they set up training, Helix fought the guards, and they held the auction.

"Yeah… at least things are living up to their best-case scenario."

Maze ran up.

"Hey, guys. Can I join your table?" He asked.

"Yeah, come sit to my left once everything's organized." Helix chuckled.

"Riley, do you see David?"

Riley turned around.

David was standing shyly in the corner with his food in his hands.

The power-weebs and super-otakus making their request were busy trying to find seating large enough for a minimum of ten people.

David meekly got up without question and moved far out of the way.

"Marie, I'm getting David. Can you please suggest something to the Knights regarding seating?

Perhaps they move two tables closer to the one we'll be sitting at? We need to quell this situation." Helix chuckled.

"On it!" Marie said with a nod and walked over to the students.

Helix walked over to David.

The oceans of frantic Knights moved aside like a parting sea as he moved.

David's face flushed with embarrassment and fear.

He didn't like being singled out for anything.

Moreover, he didn't know what would happen, given their past.

"Yo." Helix said with a low voice and a single wave.

"H-Hey, Helix…." David stuttered.

Helix stood before the handsome young man.

The scene felt very awkward.

In the real world, having someone with 10/10 facial features looking shy and embarrassed from an above-average male was unheard of.

"Would you like to join us for breakfast today?" Helix asked with a calm voice.

David's eyes widened, and he opened and closed his mouth multiple times.

The guilt on his face increased.

"Why…."

David's eyes filled with tears of confusion and happiness.

"I-I was around people that talked bad about you…." He whispered.

"I know Lina's peer pressure to be against me was strong, and I noted that you kept silent instead of bad talking me.

You weren't against me, and I know that. I never questioned it."

David's face became conflicted, and his guilt showed brightly.

"I miss you, David. I didn't reach out before because it was dangerous to be my friend, and I was too weak to protect you." Helix chuckled bitterly.

"I never forgot you just because beautiful women became my friends.

Now that I can protect you, I hope we can be best friends again. "

A hush fell over the crowd.

Helix's statement was absurd and endearing.

It was a legitimate excuse for why two friends pulled apart after one gained popularity.

The reunion was endearing.

Streams of tears washed down David's cheeks.

"I miss you too, Helix!"

Helix opened his arms wide, and David flew into his arms.

"Come sit across from me like you always did.

Riley and Charlotte will sit next to you to ensure you're as protected as I was.

You now have a fortress of people that will protect you.

We're fighting for a world where you and I can be friends without getting hurt anymore."

David started crying.

The otakus and weebs started crying as well.

They never realized how difficult it was to be with their original friends until that moment.

The cafeteria burst into applause.

Helix unclasped David and turned around.

Someone motioned to an empty table sandwiched between two other tables with only three feet of room between the benches.

Helix chuckled in bewilderment when he saw the arrangement but quickly sat down.

Riley grabbed David's hand and gently led David to the other side.

Charlotte shrugged and sat on David's right.

Helix sat on the other side, completing the same seating arrangement from the first cafeteria dinner with Emelia's dress.

Marie sat to Helix's right, and Maze to his left.

Riley took a seat to David's left, and the girls followed.

The men took seats to Helix's left.

Most men were at the table to Helix's back, and more women were on the table in front of him.

"Hey Alzerian Knights, is anyone reminded of how things looked the first night here?

The super-otakus burst into laughter and started commenting about how similar it was.

"Good. Things are how they used to be.

There's no need to save us a table, but we'll be eating with you again when we're not dragged away." Helix chuckled.

"We may be Broken Cheat Knights, but we're still the original otakus we were when we showed up. We're all the same."

Cheers rang out in the hall.

A servant walked up to Marie with the first plate of food.

"Welcome back, mistress." The man said as he put the food on the table.

Marie's eyes lit up with excitement, and she quickly got out of her chair.

The servant stumbled backward.

"Killian!" Marie cried.

She missed her nightly server, who begged the others to let him serve her exclusively.

They were close, so the servants didn't take that from him.

Kilian's face flushed, but he didn't flinch when Marie hugged him.

"I've missed you!"

The otaku and weeb women started oohing and awing.

They were all very happy.

The servants in the servants' corner were super happy.

They weren't standing anymore.

All of them were sitting with plates of food in front of them.

Marie advocated for them to eat with the Knights in remembrance of Emelia.

Helix was moved to see their situation had improved.

They were happy beyond words that Helix was alive and back.

It was a joyous celebration.

—

Power stones and grammatical errors = more content. :)