"Tucked in the very back corner of the store, there is a small clearance bin. It has basic daily necessities. Plain toothbrushes. Cheap bandages. Basic soap."
"So?" Sumida frowns.
"The sign on the bin literally says 'Free'," Minami explains. "They don't cost a single point. You just scan them at the register and walk out."
"Free?" Sumida shakes his head. "Why would a campus store give away hygiene products for free when everyone here is incredibly rich?"
"I have no idea. Maybe it's for charity." Minami shrugs his shoulders. "Let's go grab some snacks."
The two boys walk away and disappeared into the crowded, noisy hallway.
Renjiro blinks.
Mako is currently talking with Ichinose at the front of the room. They discuss the new cafe menu.
"The Pallet Cafe just updated their dessert list," Mako says. "Look at this massive seasonal parfait. It literally has three whole layers of matcha cake stuffed inside the glass."
"That looks incredibly sweet," Ichinose replies.
Their voices blending into the chaotic background noise of the classroom.
Renjiro stays in his seat and places his right elbow firmly on the wood of his desk. He rests his chin and the right side of his face heavily into his right palm. He stares straight ahead at the dark green surface of the blackboard.
His eyes slowly scan the room.
Fifteen students remain inside. Some pack their bags. Others wipe down the chalk erasers near the podium. The air vibrates with loud, overlapping conversations and the rustle of paper.
He slowly folds his right pinky finger inward against his right palm. Then, he folds his ring finger.
Coincidentally, Mako turns her head around. She looks past the rows of desks and sees him sitting there. She notices the specific position of his hand.
The room is still noisy.
Renjiro focuses his mind.
Then, the loud chatter of the classroom starts to fade. The audio drops exactly like a television volume dial turning down to zero.
The sharp scrapes of the chairs vanish completely. The laughter of the girls near the window goes entirely mute. The thud of textbooks hitting the desks disappears into nothingness.
He can still see the students moving. He watches their mouths open and close but he cannot hear a single sound. Absolute, heavy silence fills his head.
He closes his eyes slowly. The darkness takes over.
Renjiro sits perfectly still in the quiet void. Darkness wraps around his mind. Fragmented data points float through the black space. The bizarre price tag collides with the silent teachers. Invisible threads pull the free shelf closer. The scattered pieces snap together. A sharp, perfect shape forms in the dark. Forty-five seconds later, he opens his eyes.
Mako is no longer standing at the front of the room.
She is sitting on a chair pulled directly in front of his desk, angled at forty-five degrees.
BAM.
A deafening smack rings out. Mako slams both of her palms flat against his desk.
The loud, violent smack tears right through the quiet air of the classroom. The sound echoes off the concrete walls like a gunshot, shattering his pocket of silence.
The fifteen remaining students freeze instantly and the casual chatter dies.
Kanzaki stops halfway out the door and turns around.
Ichinose drops her notebook on her desk, her eyes wide with sudden alarm. Every single person stares directly at the back corner.
Mako leans forward. Her face is mere inches from his. The cheerful, airheaded energy is completely gone. Her blue eyes burn with intense, demanding focus.
"Spill it out, Renji," Mako says, her voice ringing lively and sharp in the silent room. "What did you figure out?"