Ashes in Reverse

In the Cafeteria.

It was a huge cafeteria with hundreds of wide tables neatly arranged. In the middle, hanging from the ceiling, was a big crystal chandelier that gave off a soft, warm light. The walls looked modern, just like the rest of the buildings in the area.

At the far end was a food counter where many HITs stood in three long lines. Behind the counter were three people serving food: an old man, a middle-aged woman, and a man. All of them wore neat green uniforms.

Leon and Hiroshi stood at the glass door before walking in. Leon looked around, surprised.

"I've never seen a cafeteria this big… it's amazing!" he said, eyes wide.

There were many people sitting down, eating and talking. A little farther away, Leon noticed Kami sitting with another girl. He couldn't see the girl clearly because of the crowd in front of her. He tried to wave his hand, but Kami didn't notice him.

I think she can't see me from this far. Maybe because of the crowd. Let me first get my food, he thought. When he turned to talk to Hiroshi, he saw Hiroshi was already in line.

Leon went and stood in one of the long lines, still looking around and admiring the cafeteria. After some time, his turn came. He picked up his tray and started walking toward the table where Kami, Hiroshi, and the others were sitting. But before he could sit beside them, a group of other boys and girls came and filled the empty spots.

Leon's smile didn't fade. Instead, he began looking around for another empty table. As he walked past one, a guy sitting there slid his leg out and made Leon trip. The tray in his hand fell to the floor, spilling all the food and drink. The entire cafeteria burst out laughing.

The guy who tripped him wore sunglasses, had dark blue hair, and a sharp-looking face. He said mockingly, "Sorry, my bad, bruh." The others laughed even louder.

Leon slowly sat up and looked at the food. Two slices of bread, vegetable soup, rice, and a cup of tea - all on the floor. Soup, rice, and tea were spilled, but the bread was still whole. He just kept staring at it.

The guy who tripped him looked confused. Why is he just staring at the food? Why isn't he crying or getting angry so I can beat him up?

Everyone else seemed to have the same question. They stared at Leon, waiting for him to react.

It's been years since I had a proper meal. Back in poverty, my sister and I would eat just half a slice of bread each. But now, we finally have the chance to eat properly… this bread must be costly. There are many people out there who don't even get to eat this once. I won't let it go to waste.

He picked up the bread, his eyes filled with hunger. Even if it's dirty… this is the food we poor people cry and work hard for but still don't get to enjoy.

A girl sitting nearby widened her eyes in shock and disgust. "Don't tell me he's actually going to eat that? That's disgusting."

Leon opened his mouth and bit into the bread. People turned away, unable to look.

These rich and middle-class people will never understand how it feels to starve, he thought, taking another bite.

The news spread like wildfire. A boy had eaten food dropped on the floor. Soon, a crowd of HITs gathered to witness what they called disgusting. The story reached Hiroshi and Kami.

"What? A guy eating bread off the floor?" Hiroshi stood up and headed toward the crowd. Kami and the others followed.

Who is this poor guy? Hiroshi wondered as he pushed through the crowd. When he finally saw the person in the center, he froze. Kami did too.

"L-Leon? Wh-What are you doing?!" Kami ran up, helped him stand, and snatched the bread from his hand. "You don't need to eat food from the floor! It's dirty, covered in the chemicals used to clean the floor!"

But Leon just stood there, looking at the bread, then back at Kami. Around them, HITs whispered, questioning why Kami would talk to someone so unhygienic. But she didn't seem to care.

Hiroshi walked forward, still confused, until Leon finally spoke.

"Even if it's dirty... it's still food," Leon said. "The kind we poor people crawl and cry for."

Hiroshi stopped in his tracks. Suddenly, everything made sense. His confused face slowly shifted into something close to respect. Kami stood in silence, clearly surprised. She hadn't known Leon came from poverty.

---

All the HITs looked at him with even more disgust. Their reactions clearly gave off the vibe that they didn't like poor people like Leon. Not a single one of them, not even Hiroshi and Kami's friends, stayed. They just walked away.

"Let's go, Leon. We'll eat outside today," said Kami as she took him by the hand and led him out.

Inside, Hiroshi pulled his sleeves up and grabbed the sunglasses guy by the collar. "Don't mess with my friend," he said, before slamming him onto the table, breaking it into two. Then he went to the counter, picked up another food tray for Leon, and walked outside.

Kami and Leon were sitting under a tree. Hiroshi came and placed the tray in front of Leon. Leon still looked guilty about the food.

"Leon, go on, eat," said Hiroshi.

Leon picked up the tray, but his guilt didn't go away.

Kami looked at both of them. "Leon, you don't have to feel guilty about any of this. It wasn't your mistake. It was that shithead's fault, and Hiroshi already taught him the lesson."

Leon looked at Hiroshi. "You didn't have to fight your own people," he said, taking a bite of bread.

Hiroshi leaned back against the tree and smiled. "I know, but sometimes it's necessary to teach people the lesson they need the most in life. Otherwise, they'll keep making the same mistake again and again."

Leon dipped a piece of bread into the soup. "You guys must be hungry. You came running just to see who that unhygienic guy was."

Hiroshi looked at him, but suddenly Leon held the soaked bread toward him. Hiroshi opened his mouth without hesitation, and Leon fed it to him. He swallowed it instantly, then coughed a little.

Then Leon pointed another piece at Kami. "Wait, don't do it like the way you did with Hiroshi," she said.

Leon smiled and nodded, then pointed the bread toward her. She opened her mouth and took the piece. Leon looked up at the sky while chewing his own bite, deep in thought.

I wonder if Nina is eating properly. If I were there, I'd feed her with my own hands. Just wait, Nina. Your brother will become someone capable of protecting you without the help of that monstrous power.

---

In a house.

In a clean and luxurious room, Nina was sitting on a soft sofa. She wore a gown of shimmering silk. The outer layer of the gown was a vibrant sky blue, trimmed with delicate lace and rows of gathered ribbon. Underneath, a full cream skirt spilled down in soft waves.

The room had a wide window where sunlight came in brightly. Nina was eating bread, lost in her own thoughts.

Did brother eat well there? He always left food for me, saying he already ate, even when he hadn't eaten a single bite. I wonder if he's eating properly now. If I were there, I'd feed him myself. Just wait, brother. When you return, your sister will have become strong enough to protect you and serve the king as a royal guard.