[10.2] Headmaster Claps Back

"Poor?!"

She pointed at my dress, "Your dress is so old it is fading to gray."

I looked at my dress with a frown.

She pointed at my hair, "Your hair is so messy you look like you were raised in a jungle."

I felt my hair feeling my confidence take a hit, "T-The jungle?"

She pointed at my shoes, "Not to mention that you have holes in your shoes!"

I moved my toes, causing one to stick out. Ah… I guess they are old.

She nodded triumphantly, "You can't afford to eat here."

"Who said I can't afford to eat here?"

We all flinched from the frigid voice. I looked over and saw the Headmaster behind me, glaring at the waiter. She trembled under his glare, "A-Ah! Headmaster Marlow! P-Please forgive me! I was speaking to this dirty child and her-"

"Dirty child?"

His voice was so sharp, she closed her mouth abruptly.

He looked at me and I spoke, "She says we can't eat here. We will have to go elsewhere."

The waiter gulped, "N-No no! I meant this girl can't eat here because she can't afford it… But the Headmaster is another matter…"

"A different matter?" He responded cooly, "This girl is the one I just adopted. I am more than capable of paying for all of our meals. So what is the problem?"

Her face paled, "A-Adopted?!"

His tone grew harsher, "Is there something wrong with that?"

Whispers broke out among those who stopped to watch. I turned around and noticed the crowd growing inside and felt a bit uncomfortable.

The last time I saw this big of a crowd, I was marched off to the police headquarters. Is that going to happen again?

I reached out unconsciously and tugged on the Headmaster's sleeve. He stopped scolding the waiter and glanced down at me. He noticed I was staring at the crowd with a frown.

He turned back to the waiter biting down his anger, "Just show us to your best seat already."

She bowed rapidly, "A-Ah! Y-Yes! Right away! Follow me!"

She scrambled to show us inside nearly panicking. Zephyr snickered as he stood to the side enjoying every second. We all followed her inside quickly leaving behind the gathering crowd. As we walked to our seats, I noticed everyone staring at me like I was some oddity. I noticed they wore fancy jewelry and clothes so expensive it could have been made from gold.

We were sat at their best table and I tugged at my worn dress with mixed emotions. The Headmaster was staring at me silently. The waiter spoke trying to lighten the mood, "S-So, what would you like?"

Zephyr smacked the table, "Tons of steaks!"

I nodded quickly, "Tons!"

The Headmaster ignored us and elegantly gave his order, "I will just have a salad."

I clicked my tongue and shook my head, "No. You have to have some protein. Look at you!"

He blinked, "Look at me?"

I nodded, "You are so thin! Do you even eat meals regularly?!"

"I…"

"That's what I thought." I turned to the waiter, "He will also take a steak."

His eyebrows twitched, "I dislike red meat..."

I narrowed my eyes, "Ah. You're one of THOSE people. Alright, he will take a steak that is overcooked."

The Headmaster was speechless causing the waiter to chuckle nervously. "I-I will bring your meals to you…"

I looked at the Headmaster and started scolding him, "You need to eat protein. If you want to be a vegetarian, that's fine. But I don't think this world has tofu…"

He frowned, "I'm not vegetarian."

"Well, you still need protein. Don't forget, you should never eat too much or too little."

Zephyr nodded with a toothy grin, "A nice, hefty steak meal is good once in a while!"

I smiled, "I couldn't have said it better myself!"

The Headmaster stared at us in disbelief until our plates were brought to us. Luckily, I didn't have to wait long.

I guess they were panicking to make up for that embarrassing scene outside.

Zephyr and I began to devour our meals with gusto. The Headmaster's expression grew dark as he watched us, "...Where does it go?"

Everyone in the restaurant had long since stopped eating to watch the spectacle that was our dinner table. The Headmaster ignored their stares as he watched us ravenously eat our meals. Finally, both Zephyr and I finished our stacks of steaks and leaned back in our chairs.

We simultaneously rubbed our enlarged stomachs and let out a sigh, "Pah!"

The Headmaster suddenly spoke, "Little girls like dresses… Right?"

My eyes fluttered open from his sudden question. I looked at him and noticed he was staring at me with an intense look. I suddenly felt pressured to answer, "Uh… Yes?"

He nodded and motioned to the clerk, "Check please."

Zephyr and I shouted simultaneously, "We can't leave without dessert!"

Unfortunately, our shouts fell on deaf ears.

And thus, we were shuffled out of the restaurant without getting a slice of dessert. I mumbled to myself glumly as I followed behind the Headmaster. He stopped in front of a store before turning abruptly to me, "How's this?"

"Huh?" I looked at the store that was clearly for little girls, "Um… Good?"

He nodded and stepped inside. In confusion, I followed after him. The clerk inside recognized him at once and practically ran over. She huffed, "Can I help you?"

He motioned to me, "She needs new clothes."

I blinked in surprise, "I do?"

Zephyr looked at my worn-out dress, "You do."

The clerk looked at me with a fake smile, "Then let's find you some new clothes. If you follow me, I will show you to our new stock."

I looked at the variety of colors as I stifled down the urge to puke, "Uhuh."

The Headmaster looked down at me, "Which one do you like?"

I shrugged, "Uh… I dunno. I can't choose?"

The Headmaster nodded, "Then we will just buy all of it."

The clerk nearly fainted from the shock. My mouth dropped as I tried to think of something to say, "Uh… Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

My face deadpanned, "Just how much money do you have?"

He spoke without a trace of arrogance, "A lot."

The clerk spoke quickly before he could change his mind, "I will ring it up immediately!"

He nodded, "Have them send it over to my tower."

She grinned ear to ear, "Of course, Sir!"

I followed the Headmaster out still staring at him with my mouth agape. Zephyr followed behind us yawning. The Headmaster glanced at him, "If he is going to stay in that form then we should find him some clothes too. I don't want to keep shrinking my clothes."

Zephyr hissed at him, "Don't you dare buy me any clothes! Filthy human trash!"

The Headmaster's mouth dropped as he had never been insulted before. He looked at me, "Why does he have such a nasty tongue?!"

I shrugged, "His mother didn't teach him manners?"

He glared venomously at me, "My Master taught me the BEST manners!"

The Headmaster: "..."

I coughed awkwardly, "Zephyr… Shut up."

He stuck out his tongue before mumbling curses under his breath. As we walked down the street back to the Academy. I smelled something sweet and stopped in my tracks. A golden light suddenly danced around me. I followed the light and noticed it was coming from a bakery. I licked my lips as my eyes caught something tasty.

The Headmaster noticed I had stopped and turned around. He followed my gaze, "Would you like something?"

I flinched and looked away feeling slightly embarrassed, "I…"

"Let's order some to go… Which one would you like?"

I pointed to the lemon tart.

He seemed a bit surprised, "This one? You don't want cake?" He furrowed his brow, "I thought children liked cake and not tarts."

I tossed my hair back, "I'm not a child."

Zephyr jumped in, "Well I want cake!"

"..."