But, if they believe that I spent my entire month's allowance on the very first day to buy a video game console, their perception shifts entirely. They won't think I am weird for eating the free food. They will think I am just broke.
I look right at Ike and nod my head.
"Yes, I guess I blew my entire allowance," I admit, offering a sheepish, self-deprecating smile. "This has been my dream console since I was in middle school. Now that I finally have the money, I just couldn't hesitate. I went straight to the mall and bought it."
The surrounding students whisper among themselves. Some shake their heads in pity. Others laugh quietly at the foolishness of a boy who blew his fortune on day one.
The only downside to this strategy is that they will probably think I am highly irresponsible. They will label me as a heavy spender with zero self-control.
But I guess that is far better than being labeled as weird or suspicious. Besides, they will completely forget this minor incident once the brutal May 1st trap triggers. When the entire class realizes their point balances have dropped to zero due to their own bad behavior, nobody will care about the guy who bought a game console. We will all be equally broke in their eyes.
Ike reaches out and places his hand on the top of the box and pushes down slightly. He feels the heavy, solid resistance of the textbooks hidden inside the cardboard.
"Wow, it's heavy," Ike mutters, his eyes gleaming with envy.
"Please be careful," I warn him quickly, pulling the box an inch closer to my chest. "That is very expensive. That's my baby."
Yamauchi looks at me, shaking his head slowly. "That's crazy, man. But honestly? I have great respect for you. You really just went for it."
The loud commotion inevitably draws a few more eyes. Hondou Ryoutarou shuffles over from a nearby table, abandoning his half-eaten pork cutlet. He leans in close, his breath smelling heavily of fried oil, and stares at the sleek Valve Steam Deck logo printed on the thick cardboard.
"Wait, seriously?" Hondou asks, his eyes going completely round.
Miyamoto drops casually into the empty chair next to him. He whistles a low note under his breath. "Nearly a hundred thousand points gone on day one. You absolute madman."
More guys crowd around the edges of our table, treating the sealed box like some kind of holy relic. The sheer financial recklessness of the purchase seems to completely override their initial judgment of my garbage lunch. I am no longer the weird kid eating weeds. I am the legendary idiot who bought a premium gaming rig.
Ike licks his lips, a greedy smile forming on his face. "Hey Taru, would you mind letting me play this when you're done setting it up?"
"I'll think about it," I reply, keeping my tone non-committal.
"Come on, man," Ike urges, slapping my shoulder lightly. "We're buddies now, right in the same class!"
I stare at his hand on my shoulder and force a polite smile.
The moment you actually attempt to borrow it later this week, I will deploy my backup alibi. I will simply tell you that I gifted the expensive console to a pretty clerk working at Keyaki Mall to win her affection. It will make me look like a tragic loser, completely neutralizing any threat of you discovering my bag of books.
The entire point of this theatrical display is cemented. The class now firmly believes I spent my entire fortune on the very first day.
I pick my chopsticks back up and stare down at the cold, gray mountain vegetables on my plate. My reputation as a harmless, broke idiot is secure. Now, I just need to survive eating the rest of this trash without throwing up on my new uniform.