I Love You... Right?

Chapter 1, Part 3: Controversy

Suki and Taiyo sat together at the same table after they got their lunch; she had decided on a table close to the entrance so the others could find them more easily. Emiko and (surprisingly) Shika must catch up with the others due to first-day complications. In other words, Shika accidentally ran into Emiko when darting back to class after realizing she had left her phone on her seat. But don't ask her what happened; she'd blame it on Republicans. Tinker sat alone at a nearby table, trying to figure out his tesla coil. He needed some alone Tinker Thinkin' Time (trademark'd). The vast cafeteria was full of voices of all kinds, and its size was comparable to the backyard of a rich person's house; you could barely make out the faces of those on the other side. Taiyo and Suki simultaneously open their foam boxes of food.

"YAY! Mac n' cheese!" Taiyo cheers.

"Ew, mac n' cheese..." Suki says at the same time.

"Wha-... excuse me? You don't like mac n' cheese?!" Taiyo scoffs, shocked.

"Uh, of course I don't? Why would I like this garbage?" Suki gives Taiyo an odd look. She wasn't very negative about things, but mac n' cheese made her passionate.

"You take that back. Mac n' cheese is the absolute greatest combination of cheese and noodles. Ever." Taiyo gives her an angry look.

"It's the only combination of cheese and noodles, dumbass." Remarks Suki. Emiko silently takes a seat next to Taiyo. Taiyo turns to him with tears welling up in his eyes.

"She thinks mac n' cheese is gross!" Taiyo complains childishly.

Suki pouts. "I said what I said, and I meant what I said."

"YOU SAID THAT WRONG!" Yells Taiyo as if he were deeply hurt. Well, he was. Tears nearly rolled down his cheeks.

Emiko observes the table silently, trying to grasp the situation. "I mean, she can have that opinion if she wants." He says softly.

"No! You didn't catch what I was trying to say-" Taiyo turns to the girls, his hand on Emiko's shoulder, "he makes the BEST mac n' cheese. It's insane."

"How different can mac n' cheese get? It's just milk, butter, noodles, and some cheese sauce, right?"

Shika sets her box on the table, sitting down, "Ew, mac n' cheese. Couldn't they have chosen something better for the first day? How cheap are these weirdos?"

"You too?!" Taiyo cries.

"Taiyo's right." Emiko joins in shyly. "I do have some confidence in my mac n' cheese. I mean, I think I've gotten some positive reviews out of it."

"Yeah!" Taiyo piggybacks off of Emiko. "You should make it for them on Wednesday!"

"No way am I trying that shit. You can make it all you want, but I don't wanna even SMELL it." Shika states clearly.

"Ugh. You people weird me out more and more every second I'm with you."

"Hey, you're being mean," Emiko tells Taiyo silently. "They're our new friends, and I like them."

"You're being mean." Taiyo mocks. Emiko recognizes that Taiyo's mockery is his way of apologizing to Emiko, not fighting back. Taiyo wears a fake frown, but a smile cracks up after he begins eating.

"That cheered you up fast, huh?" Shika snorts.

"Mmf- Fhut upmf," Taiyo mumbles through his food. Everyone else begins to chow down. Even if they didn't enjoy it, Suki and Shika absolutely destroyed their mac n' cheese, as they had no choice. After a couple of minutes, Suki decides to break the silence.

"So... who do we likeeee?" She jokes. Shika snorts.

Ooh, you got a good one, Emiko. I know you do. C'mon, speak up. Emiko's conscience tells him. He seizes the opportunity. "Tinker's kinda hot."