Cote: Retelling

(2) Chapter 3.1: The Imposter

...Excuse me?

Just this morning, me, Kushida-san and Karuizawa-san received the same email from this person.

I did not do that.

Here's a screenshot of the email.

                 Screen Shot 20//-06-03 at 7:25 AM

To sum up the message, they wanted us to assemble a group with some of the best students class D can offer, and organize together at the cafeteria. Afterwards, they're supposed to contact us, apparently with information that might help with Sudo's case. I know you all have questions, but please text them in the chat while eating. Also, make some small talk if you can.

Things are moving very fast—I need to rein this in so I have time to process this properly. Acting fast, I type in the chat before anyone has a chance to respond.

[Ayanokouji Kiyotaka]: In that case, how about we take turns asking questions?

It's kinda hard to text while eating, and if we all chat we might smother each other.

Let's go one at a time, and everyone else can just make small talk in the meantime.

Everyone who's fine with waiting, start making small talk.

"So Yukimura, Horikita— I see you two brought your own lunches? Do you cook?" I start, grasping at the most obvious topic on my mind right now. Horikita glares at me with the strength of a thousand suns, and Yukimura looks similarly annoyed. Actually, a thousand suns does describe Horikita's intensity, but her gaze is more cold than fuming... Maybe a thousand icebergs would be better? But no, icebergs don't radiate, so the intensity is lost...

Yukimura signs before adding. "I don't cook as a hobby or anything, I just wanted to save money. The organic market has much cheaper alternatives than the cafeteria, and cooking isn't too hard if you follow the instructions. I'm more surprised that you, the famous cheapskate of class D, the vegetable-set-meal first-year, bought that overpriced curry."

I hear the small talk spread around the table as Mii-chan, Kushida and Karuizawa start talking about some clothes shop with Hirata occasionally responding to his girlfriend. Horikita stays silent while eats slowly and fiddling with her phone—so she's the first questioner. Well, that's unsurprising.

Keeping up the talk, I turn to Yukimura. "Oh, my reputation precedes me." I say with as much smugness as I can muster with a spoonful of curry in my mouth. "Where did you even hear than nickname? I thought it was just the seniors who called me that."

"Word gets around between years through clubs. You're apparently somewhat famous among the seniors since you get everyone who orders with you to also buy a vegetable set, then package all the food. They call you an addict, you know?"

"Well if it's free, why shouldn't I get extra food by making all my friends buy the set? They don't have to eat it, either." It just seems logical to me. I mean, it's free food, and I can use them as ingredients.

"Yeah, yeah. This is why we know you as a cheapskate... why haven't you gotten us to do it?"

"I figured this was more important."