Roasted Pork > Dirt

The loud screeching of a mechanical bell signaled that it was time for lunch. Since I was still reeling from the fact that I was our group's leader, Subject 597-010V stepped up and had us line up beside the door in a neat little row. However, this attempt at being proper didn't matter much once we were swallowed up by the sea of other kids looking for their mid-afternoon meal.

Even with its silver doors shut, the room whose walls mirrored that of the four seasons still echoed with the sounds of chattering children and clinking silver and dishware. As we headed in and maneuvered our way around many long wooden tables that were painted black, I noticed that everyone was more relaxed, specifically, it was the kids who were either four or five like Subjects 379-411S, 537-377K, 668-518H, and I or younger that looked peaceful.

Was it because they were happy to be placed in a group? Or did it stem from having a friend or two alongside them instead of complete and utter strangers?

"No, if that were the case, the older kids near them wouldn't be as tense," I muttered as I caught sight of a boy with red hair and matching pricked dog ears seemingly watching the guard stationed near the exit with narrowed eyes as he hugged a little girl with white hair and similar dog ears closer to his side.

Had that man done something to her? Looking closer, she did have a small scar running along her right eye—which was milky white. I quickly turned my attention to the back of 597-010V's head instead.

Things like that didn't concern me. I wasn't a part of their pack or its leader.

Silently, we walked along the silver counter with polite smiles for the teenage servers plastered firmly on our faces. They returned our gesture with practiced ease as they plopped multiple bowls of roasted pork, rice, soup salad, and a glass of milk onto our plastic trays.

As hybrids, we need a daily intake of at least sixty-seven thousand calories in order to have enough energy to function. After getting our fill, we sat at a table in the middle.

"I don't think I'll ever get over the fact that the food looks edible." muttered Subject 597-010V as she smiled sullenly at a piece of her pork, which had blood acting as a sort of sauce. At my bewildered look, Subject 597-010V explained that her quirk, which involved transforming after she ingested the crimson liquid, caused her to crave it as a drawback. So in order to avoid her seeking it out on her own, the staff gave her small doses donated from local farm animals with her meals.

I wanted to ask more about her quirk but decided not to as one, she seemed a bit shy when admitting what she could do and two, I was far more curious about inedible food being a thing on a farmstead.

"I thought the food was always this good?" I asked around a mouthful of rice. "Was it different before? Was there another menu?"

Subject 597-010V shook her head, "Not even close! Before you gen two and three-ers came along, we older hybrids always ate something called nutraloaf." She grimaced. "It was like a brick, to be honest and sure, it did keep us healthy and gave us all the energy we needed for the day, but it tasted like dirt without being actual dirt."

"And how exactly do you know what dirt tastes like, V?" Subject 537-377K asked with a playful grin. The only reply he got from her was a glare as she ate some rice.

"She's probably thinking about the time a swallow hybrid tricked her into eating a piece of a real mud pie when she was three." Subject 379-411S whispered with a giggle.

"Don't think I didn't hear that, S!" Subject 597-010V growled. "That was between me and you remember?!"

Subject 537-377K snickered, "You shouldn't keep secrets if all you're gonna do is chase that kid with a handful of sand to 'get your revenge' at playtime."

Subject 597-010V narrowed her eyes as she quietly ordered him to shut up. Subject 537-377K merely smirked in response before turning back to his soup.

|—|—|

Unlike the mess hall, the main corridor leading to the west wing was as white as snow and quiet like a church mouse. It smelt faintly of paint which meant it was recently redone to cover someone's brave attempt at adding some form of color.

The others had parted from me five minutes ago to get to class on time since they were in the first grade already and didn't need to follow me to the Nursery room known as K12A.

And Subject 597-010V doesn't need to join them either since she's in the second grade I thought as I walked passed my math teacher, Mrs. Fujimi Ishitaki—an elderly woman who looked as young as the majority of the guards. Whenever someone asked why she looked so young despite already being a great-great-great grandmother, she'd just laugh and simply chalk it up to her koi fish mutation making her youthful.

As always she greeted each of us one by one with a quick hug and smile before having us sit down.

"Alright my dears," she began. "Are we ready for another day of learning?"

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The teachers' name means Immortality (Fujimi), Determination (ishi), and Waterfall (taki). She has a Koi Fish mutation, which grants her the abilities of said fish, which included the following:

- Aquatic Adaptation/Breathing
- Enhanced Lung Capacity/Senses/Swimming/Endurance
- Cold Resistance
- Decelerating Ageing (She's 97, but looks 24, which is the average age of guards stationed around the farmhouse)

I can't wait to see you in the next chapter