The high school building was technically only two stories tall, unless one counted the rooftop as a third story. A spiral staircase led off of the roof and then opened at a locked door on the second floor. Mikale and Samantha snuck through that door and locked it behind them, then hurried down the wider staircase that would take them to the ground level.

Unless they had clubs, students normally did not arrive at school before six AM. The only exceptions were those whose families left for work absurdly early. For those students, the cafeteria was opened at six o'clock sharp and began serving free hot breakfast. 

Samantha and Mikale joined the short cafeteria line, acquired their free meals, and then settled down at a lunch table. The cafeteria was wide and spacious, with rows of long rectangular tables lining the space. The duo claimed a space far from the cafeteria's double doors and ate quickly.

"Morning." It had only been fifteen minutes before Shugo arrived. He dropped his heavy blue backpack on an empty seat next to Samantha, while his twin sister dropped her own bag into the seat across from him. Shugo and Usagi were peculiar kids, with unnaturally blond hair and hazel eyes so bright that they looked like gold. Combined with their unusual hobbies and upbringing, the pair had few friends at school. Outside of Mikale and Samantha, that is.

Samantha smiled up at them and returned Shugo's greeting. "Goo~d morning, Shoes! Usa! You're here early."

"It's waffle day at the cafeteria." Usagi said with a soft giggle, "You know how my brother feels about waffles."

"Oh. That's too bad, Shugo." Samantha said sadly, cupping her cheek with a hand and putting on a pitiful face, "Mikky and I got the last waffles."

"You what?!" Shugo yelled. His outburst echoed through the cafeteria and earned them some odd stares.

Feeling awkward, he sat down and tried to lower his head. "You can't be serious!"

"I am."

"She isn't." Mikale sighed, "Even if she was… You know she would have saved you some."

"I-I wouldn't."

"You would." Usagi corrected Samantha gently. She had a serene sort of aura to her and a skill for ending arguments. Something she likely gained from having to calm her argumentative brother. "You three are such good friends. It's obvious to me that you guys really love each other."

"We don't!" Both boys sputtered.

Samantha, on the other hand, seemed to glow with delight at the phrasing. She nodded eagerly. "We do, don't we? We've got the power of love!"

"You have the power of stupid, more like it." Shugo groaned and stood up from his seat. "I'm grabbing waffles. Want some, Usagi?"

"Yes, please." Usagi settled down in her seat, synchronized with her brother's leaving his. Then she smiled deviously at the pair across from her. "So, are you two ready?"

"Ready for…?" Mikale started to prompt her.

"Me me! I am SO ready!" Samantha leaned across the table, raising her arm enthusiastically.

People in school were used to Samantha being weird, so no one in the cafeteria batted an eye at her antics.

"Uh… Am I ready?" Mikale asked Usagi.

"I don't know. Are you?"

"I don't know. Am I?" He countered nervously, "What am I ready for…?"

"Dungeons! And DRAGONS!" Samantha cheered, both arms now thrown in the air triumphantly, "Don't you remember?! Usa said she would DM for us!"

"Direct message…? On what platform?" Mikale mumbled. His confidence to ask questions was quickly being enveloped by a feeling of stupidity. As if they sensed his discomfort, the two girls calmed down.

Well. Samantha was the one who had to calm down.

"Dungeons and Dragons is a tabletop roleplaying game." Usagi explained in a calm, level voice. Seeing the boy's vacant expression, she elaborated, "It's like playing pretend together."

"It's a game." Samantha repeated what was probably her favorite part, "We get to pretend to go on adventures together! Like playing make-believe when we were kids!"

"Oh…" He still didn't quite understand, but Mikale nodded anyway. "Sounds fun… But when did I agree to this?"

"Since when to we get to 'agree' to anything?" Sounded Shugo's voice from over his shoulder, "When Samantha's involved, isn't the answer always 'yes?'"

"Well…" Mikale started.

"If you said 'yes' to all of her ideas, I think you would both be dead by now." Usagi finished for him. When she saw Samantha frown with insult, Usagi softened her tone. "Sorry, Sammy. But it's true."