| “Who is McDonald?” | |
| Rae shrugs, “Who knows, probably someone made up? Doesn’t matter, it's cheap.” | |
| “Is it? I’m still getting used to the yen but the prices for most of the meals seem more or less the same as other places we have been to, the cafeteria at the university is cheaper I think.” | |
| Rae shrugs again and sighs, “The world we live in is cruel.” She unwraps her burger and takes a bite. | |
| Misha just nods and takes a bite from her… it was called a wrap? | |
| “These fries are good, if a bit salty. The burger is… interesting?” It’s also too salty, a bit bland and greasy in an unappealing way. | |
| “It’s okay, you can say it’s not good.” Misha remarks in between bites. | |
| “It’s not for everyone,” Rae takes another eager bite from her burger, “The food is kinda cheap but it’s got its appeal.” | |
| It is edible, but most other food I have had here so far just seems better. I can’t imagine making this a feature of my regular diet. At least it’s easy to water down the drinks here, those are always much too sweet. | |
| “Can I ask you two questions about… well you being here?” | |
| Rae looks to Misha for guidance on the topic, and she considers for a moment. “I suppose, but be careful with what you ask and how .” | |
| I can be tactful. | |
| “I will, I… my story of you two, well… everything is different, how did you two meet here?” | |
| “Oh well I met Misha in highschool, we were both in the same classes.” Rae explains. | |
| “This little gremlin caught me reading Dungeon Meshi and couldn’t contain herself-” | |
| “Dungeon Meshi is sooooo good” Rae blursts, oh I love her enthusiasm. | |
| “Right…” Misha however does not feed into that enthusiasm, but she could , it's adorable. | |
| “What’s Dungeon Meshi?” | |
| Rae’s eyes go wide, I have to temper my smirk, it’s rather easy to get her to talk about stuff she likes. “It’s a manga, those are like graphic novels, it’s about a group of adventurers trying to rescue one of their party members in a dungeon and they try eating the monster inside to avoid paying for food and it’s really fun and well written- | |
| “Woah otaku, tell your girlfriend about it on your own time.” | |
| “I, she, we, i’m?” Rae is sputtering, I know Misha didn’t do this for my benefit but I am enjoying it nonetheless. | |
| “You can’t really be trying to say otherwise after the state I found you in?” Misha hammers in. | |
| Rae blushes fiercely, “MISHA!” | |
| I shouldn’t chuckle. | |
| “Anyways she wouldn’t leave me alone after that, and well…” Misha seems hesitant to finish the next thought. | |
| Rae sobers up instantly, “It’s okay, you can say it, Misaki took his life in second year, we weren't in the same schools anymore but we were still keeping in touch…” | |
| I reach out and twine my hand in hers, I hope she understands how much I want to help her. She might, as a little as a small smile grows. “Misha was there for me, it… was hard. She’s my best friend.” | |
| “It’s been hard to get rid of her since.” | |
| The light taunt helps Rae bounce back, “You like me.” | |
| “Maybe.” Misha remains nonchalant, “After that, we both applied and made it into here, being dorm mates just made sense.” | |
| “That’s lovely, I’m glad you two are friends again, I would have missed you Misha.” | |
| Misha looks genuinely taken aback, “I… Well, thank you? I appreciate that but I don’t have the same… familiarity with you Francois-san.” | |
| “I understand, and you don't need to refer to me so formally, Claire is fine.” | |
| “I will keep that in mind then Claire-san, was there anything else you wanted to ask.” | |
| “Can I ask how you know Yu, or even what it’s like for them and their brothers over here?” | |
| Misha’s eye narrows just a hint, and Rae gets a devious gleam in her eyes. “Oh Yu huh? I wonder why she would be asking you about Yu and why you would be the best person to- aaAAHH!” Rae cries out as Misha pinches her arm and twists. Rae draws back once she releases, nursing the sore spot, “CRUEL!” she accuses and points at her. | |
| Misha does not rise to whatever energy Rae is trying to invoke and turns back to me. “I knew Yu as when we were children, my father was a manager for the Bauer’s company and a friend to the family I think. At least until he was laid off. I wasn’t expecting to run into him again but he ended up transferring to our highschool in third year. He also is attending the same university.” | |
| “What about h-their brothers, Rod and Thane?” | |
| “Half brothers, I think they grew up with each other to at least some degree but from what I gathered their lives have been hectic and I think this is the first time all of them are attending the same school. Rod-san is in his third year, I think he is doing GPH, and Thane-san is in his second year, political sciences? I’m not sure if he has settled on a direction yet.” | |
| “How are their parents?” | |
| Misha is quiet, I am probably probing to close for her comfort, “Their dad, L’Ausseil Bauer-sama, runs a big trading company, he seems to be always busy and absent. Richie Bauer-sama, has a problem of being too present, at least in Yu’s life. She is Bauer-sama's second wife and Yu’s mother.” She, despite trying to sound neutral, is not able to hide her disdain of Richie-sama.” | |
| “What is Yu studying?” | |
| “Yu is doing general studies right now, but his Mom wants him to also take GPH.” | |
| “You said Rod was also taking that, what is it?” | |
| Rae smirks, “Rich kid classes.” | |
| Misha sighs, “It is short for Global Public Health, I’ll be honest, I don’t know why they are taking it, but it does seem to be rather common for… children of privilege to take. It's a mix of health and biology sciences I guess, Yu doesn’t want to really do it but… well, his mother has been dead set on him following and besting Rod.” | |
| “Is she trying to… have him succeed?” | |
| Misha considers the question, and lets out a small annoyed huff, “I suppose, she has always been overbearing .” | |
| “Is that how it works? I only mean they were princes in my old life, only one of them would succeed, but that’s very much not the case here right?” | |
| “I guess not.” Misha pauses in thought, “I don’t know, I guess it wouldn’t surprise me if Bauer-sama intends for Rod-san to take over at some point, but that’s speculation on my part. I guess Richie Buaer-sama would have been a queen right? Here she is on the board of directors for the university or something.” | |
| That must be similar to when I ran the academy I would guess. “In my last life, neither Rod nor Yu took the throne, Thane was the one to inherit… when the time came. Honestly he was always the better choice I would say. They all would have fine rulers I think, but I don’t think Rod or Yu really wanted to.” | |
| That makes Misha quirk her brow, “I’ll have to take your word, my interaction with those two was limited. Yu did love to tease Thane-san when you started hounding him.” | |
| “Hounding?” I can’t help the chuckle at the escape, it’s been hard to piece together what I was like before here. “Well Thane is safe now I suppose.” I give Rae’s hand a gentle squeeze and it seems she just realizes we are still holding hands and blushes again. | |
| “Christ you are embarrassing,” Misha teases. | |
| That causes Rae to puff up, “Oh wow, I bet you were with Yu all day weren't you? Huh? You were really keen on getting out this morning, barely gave me the time of the day.” | |
| “See if I ever help you with your outfit again, simp.” | |
| “At least I can admit I’m attracted to a person.” | |
| There is a very restrained smirk on Misha’s face. | |
| “Oh?” I say, “What’s this about being attracted to a person.” I tease out, smirk on my lips. | |
| Rae turns her face away, “This not fair. I’m being ganged up on.” She pouts while blushing. | |
| Misha rolls her eyes. “So Claire-san… how has it been? Getting used to… well all this?” | |
| “Not as…. Intimidating as I thought it could be? There have been so many little wonders, phones are magic even if everyone says they aren’t. And everything is so accessible, just being able to use my phone to access an encyclopedia or even a video of otters is… well that would have been inconceivable from where I was before.” | |
| Rae chuckles, “ Inconceivable ” She says in an exaggerated tone. | |
| “Hush” Misha chides her, did I say something funny? | |
| “Anyways, it’s been a bit of a learning curve, but I think I’m starting to get it?” | |
| Misha nods, “That’s good, hopefully the classes have been treating you well enough.” | |
| “I think so.” |