Twelve noon.
The First Cafeteria at Linhai University.
The place buzzed with voices.
The air carried the mingled aromas of food and the smell of cheap dish soap.
Kannazuki carried a stainless steel tray through the crowded aisle.
His pace remained steady.
His tray held the standard meal of two meat dishes and one vegetable dish, the edges of the rice packed down by the cafeteria lady's spoon.
He headed toward a corner at the very back of the cafeteria, near a vent.
Usually, no one wanted to sit there. It was drafty and close to the tray return.
Kannazuki sat down.
He pulled out a tissue and carefully wiped the already-clean tabletop.
He picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of green pepper.
Bang.
An enormous tray landed heavily on the table opposite Kannazuki.
There was no meal on it, only ten slices of strawberry cake piled into a small mountain.
Bright red strawberry sauce slid down the edges of the cream, its cloying sweetness instantly overwhelming the aromas of the surrounding food.
L pulled out a chair.
Rather than sit, he lifted both feet off the floor and crouched directly on the plastic seat.
His baggy white T-shirt hung down over his knees.
"Hey, look at that guy in the corner. Why's he squatting on his chair to eat?"
A boy at the next table lowered his voice and nudged his friend with an elbow, unable to stop glancing their way.
"Ten slices of strawberry cake... Is he nuts?
"Or is he doing some eating-challenge livestream?"
His friend turned around, his tone openly curious and astonished.
"Shh, keep it down.
"I've seen him in the library before, too. He's always barefoot, squatting on a chair. It's kind of creepy..." The girl sitting across from them hurriedly took