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soon enough, lunch arrived, and y/n couldn't help but marvel at the way time seemed to jump ahead in this place. the classes she'd sat through felt like blips—mere seconds compared to the hours she'd spent in lessons back in her own world. it made sense, she supposed; the game had to keep things moving along to keep players engaged. but it still felt unsettling, almost dizzying, to be thrust forward without warning, especially when she didn't have a clear goal yet. at least, if everything kept moving this fast, maybe she'd find some clue about how to get out sooner rather than later.
right now, y/n sat alone in the school's cafeteria. kiyomi had darted off, promising to grab food for both of them, leaving y/n with a moment to herself. she looked around, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings and other students eating and chatting in groups. she was doing her best to blend in, to not draw any more attention, but her attempt to stay inconspicuous didn't last long. a few tables away, a group of girls giggled, their heads close together as they glanced in her direction. their mocking laughter felt sharp, cutting through the hum of conversation around them. one of the girls— a blonde with a cruel smirk— leaned closer to her friends, raising her voice just enough for y/n to hear.
"did you hear about s/n this morning?" she snickered, tossing her hair over her shoulder as all of her friend's eyes lit up with anticipation.
"i heard she was mumbling to herself in class. what a weirdo," another chimed in, sneering.
"she looked totally lost, too," a third added, voice dripping with fake sympathy. "you'd think she'd at least know how to act with a reputation like hers. but no—she can't even keep it together."
the blonde scoffed, rolling her eyes. "guess she's not as high and mighty as everyone thinks. poor little rich girl can't even handle a basic school day without freaking out." her words were venomous, each one digging deeper as her friends snickered.
y/n felt heat rise to her face, a mix of anger and embarrassment churning inside her. she hated being the center of this kind of attention, especially over something as simple as slipping up in class. but she forced herself to keep her head down, gripping the edge of the table tightly to steady herself. snapping back would only make things worse, and she had no idea how these girls would react if she actually defended herself. for now, her best bet was to stay silent and pretend she couldn't hear them, even if it hurt to do so.
alas, it didn't stop y/n's anxiety from mounting with each passing second as she sat there, desperately waiting for kiyomi to return. her leg bobbed anxiously under the table, a futile attempt to let out some of the frustration simmering beneath her calm exterior. every cruel whisper, every mocking glance from the girls nearby only added fuel to the fire, making it harder to ignore. she couldn't shake the urge to do something reckless—like stand up and shout at the whole room, tell them exactly what she thought of their ridiculous, petty comments.
the idea grew more tempting by the second, a small but comforting fantasy of finally standing up for herself. she even straightened up in her seat, about to go for it, when—
