Chapter 11: Bread Delivery

After a few hours of turmoil and suffering under the brick-like tongue of the devil, the students were finally freed from those torturous lectures. For an hour or so, at least. Carrying a large basket of bread in hand, Takeo and another student walked down the hallway together.

The other student was a new acquaintance of his, a guy by the name of Yi Seo-Yeong. He was of average height, with a thin black bowl cut along with many freckles and dimples across his face. He had a large prominent nose and a row of well-maintained teeth. He was a pretty nice kid though he could be a little overly talkative.

The two of them were carrying a bunch of freshly baked baguettes made by the second-years to the cafeteria. J-Highschool's lunch selection always had at least fifty loaves of bread. Takeo had been begrudgingly volunteered to do it, so he and Seo-Yeong, the other volunteer, went on their way.

"So many people are talking about you. You're the hottest topic around, and I heard even the kids at S-Highschool are talking too! Zack Lee is one of the school's strongest fighters….." Seo-Yeong sniffed his nose, mock jabbing through the air as he kept on speaking in his loud voice. "Was smashed in the gut with a single hit. He didn't even stand a chance! The Baking Department has been on cloud nine ever since!"

"I'm sure that's the case. I was simply attempting to stop two people from beating each other to death." Acting humbly, Takeo smiled as he carried the crate with two hands. Suddenly, as they made their way past a few students, the two were stopped.

Seo-Yeong glared as he looked up at the figures. "Seriously? We're trying to deliver the bread. Get out of the way!" And suddenly, he froze in fear.

In front of them, was a tall line of…. Unsavory-looking characters. They were bulging with muscles and quirky haircuts. Wearing grey jumpsuits and glares on their faces, the teen in front of all of them stepped up to Takeo.

Immediately, the ponytailed teen knew who it was. This new entrant was tall, almost the same height as him, with toned muscles and fair pale skin. Large flowery tattoos were drawn about his chest and arms, like that of a gangster.

He had a slender face bolded in masculinity, along with jet-black hair combed back to show part of his forehead. He had some facial hair, with a stub of hair growing from his chin and a faint mustache of sorts, along with piercing straight eyebrows. His eyes were fearsome and defiant in a sense, which was dark, like almonds.

Takeo nodded his head in recognition. This was Euntae Lee of the Burn Knuckles, otherwise known as Vasco. A favorite of his in the Lookism series, he was a manly man. Righteous and tough, with a will of iron, while he was a little too naive and faint of heart, he was one of the most likable characters in this series. And now, he was here, before him.

Taking a hand off the crate, he reached out and pulled out a loaf, shrugging. "You want one? It's freshly baked by the second year. Nice and fluffy."

Vasco, who was obviously not here for the purpose of eating bread, froze on the spot, his eyebrows contorting into what most would see as a fearsome devilish glare. Seo-Yeong widened his eyes as he stepped back, the box in his hands almost falling to the ground.

Takeo turned to the wimpy kid and silently told him to leave. Turning back, he looked at Vasco, who seemed to be in great internal turmoil.

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Euntae Lee stared forwards in shock and fright. He'd come here to see if this new first-year everyone was talking about…. Was one of those bad types. He had definitely not expected to be offered a piece of bread. But what could he do now? This guy seemed nice enough and was offering him a piece of bread. Should he accept? What was he going to do?

His hands trembled and his eyebrows scrunched up, sweat building along the back of his neck. Where was Jace when he needed him!? His friend would know what to do. Tilting his head, the new transfer student scratched his head for a moment, further increasing the anxiety.

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Takeo sighed. This guy…. Was really too innocent. It was to the point where he himself was feeling a little awkward with a loaf of warm bread in hand. Maybe he should just give it to him?

"You don't have to sweat. Just take it." Slowly pushing the baguette piece into Vasco's hands, he smiled, before going on. "There is no need not to accept. It's on the house. For us at the Baking Department, making and giving bread to others is a joy. Just seeing the joy on our customers' faces as they eat away (and give us money), is more than enough!"

Patting Vasco on the shoulder, he steadied the crate of bread, walking through the crowd of Burn Knuckles. They seemed to part like flowing water as they stared at their boss in uncertainty. Takeo walked away down the hallway, catching up to the terrified Seo-Yeong, leaving the group of tough-looking individuals standing in the hallway silently.

Vasco slowly looked down at the bread, before remembering the kind transfer student's emotional speech. He studied the loaf, before nodding in the direction of the cafeteria. Opening his mouth, eyes a little watery, he spoke.

"I-Its….. Let's all have some bread. He was nice enough to give us some before everyone else! We mustn't let him down!"

And so, Euntae Lee, one of the strongest fighters in the history of J-High School, and a very emotional person, had gained a good impression of the new transfer student from another world, Ishii Takeo. Legends would be made following…..

Handing the basket of bread to one of the cafeteria staff, he walked back out. To the side, Seo-Yeong was eating with the rest of his friends a little nervously. Slowly strolling forwards, Takeo patted the nervous teen on the shoulder, causing him to jump.

"Takeo!? You're…. Alright! Thank god… The Burn Knuckles are so scary, did you see Vasco, he had those tattoos and stuff, what a gangster! How did you get away?" Seo-Yeong went on his rambling spree, with Takeo waiting patiently, tray in hand.

"I talked to him. While he looks quite fearsome, Euntae Lee is a man worth respecting. A good guy." Takeo smiled, his eyes staring nowhere in particular.

Seo-Yeong nodded awkwardly, scratching his head. He really couldn't understand popular people. They were all so incomprehensible.

Sitting down next to him, Takeo began to eat. The school lunch was quite basic but surprisingly good. It consisted of firstly and most importantly, god's given grain, white rice. The second was a consistency of soup that one could compare between egg drop soup and miso.

The third was a loaf of bread along with a dollop of butter. The fourth was some freshly fermented kimchi, which was quite strong on the tongue. And last of all, was possibly some of the greatest, most tender, and crispy fish that he'd ever eaten.

It was of a moderate portion, and he could pick up the whole fish with a hand. The fish was missing eyes and most of its large bones had been removed, leaving behind its crispy golden-brown skin with a few flaky bread crumbs across its surface. Soft transparent steam wafted and curled about before his nose.

"Itadakimasu!" Takeo's metal chopsticks pierced through the fish's outer skin. Picking up a piece, he ate it, savoring the juicy tender flesh. The outer skin was flaky and broke with ease, though there was quite a satisfying crunch to it. Shoveling some white rice into his mouth elegantly, he was quite satisfied with the meal.

In a few minutes, he'd finished the whole meal set. Getting to his feet, he said goodbye to the rest of his tablemates before exiting the area. Taking a turn out of the cafeteria, he walked out onto the front of the school, stepping onto the soft grass.