At that moment, there was someone who had been quietly watching the scene from a distance, and decided enough was enough. His mere presence commanded attention as he stepped forward. 

“You guys need to stop.”

Raizel’s voice was soft but carried the weight of authority, instantly silencing the room. All eyes turned to Raizel as he gave Carsel a quick glance before shifting his gaze to Mila.

“The teacher on duty will be patrolling the halls any moment. Do you guys want to get a demerit?”

Mila hesitated, her anger momentarily deflated. She shot one last venomous look at Carsel before storming off, muttering curses under her breath. Carsel let out a shaky breath, clearly relieved. Raizel, having said his piece, turned and walked away without another word.

Alex, still standing by Carsel, looked at him with concern. 

“Are you okay, Carsel? You’re not hurt, are you?”

“Uh, I’m fine, just a bit dirty. Thank you, Alex. Sorry, I’ve really inconvenienced you. I’ll buy you dinner some other time.”

Carsel left the cafeteria first, leaving Alex to deal with the trays. Alex quickly surveyed the room, spotting a few students willing to help him clean up the mess. Once everything was tidied up, Alex hurried out as well, not wanting to be the last one there.

Meanwhile, at another table, Arzen, still in a daze after witnessing the earlier scene, sat with a fork in hand, staring blankly at his untouched food. Elden and Hanjun, having already finished their meals, were now watching him with growing curiosity.

Elden, ever the one to pick up on the slightest change in atmosphere, noticed how distant Arzen seemed. Leaning back in his chair, he drummed his fingers on the table, his grin widening as he tried to lighten the mood. The usual spark in Arzen’s eyes was missing, and Elden’s playful nature took over, seeking to coax it back out.

"Not hungry?"

Elden asked, his tone light and playful.

Arzen quickly grabbed his fork, stabbing at his food as if it had personally wronged him. 

"W-Well… I guess." 

Arzen muttered, hoping he sounded casual enough. He quickly forced a bite into his mouth, though it tasted like cardboard.

Elden’s grin widened, his energy as infectious as ever. It was impossible to resist getting caught up in his orbit.

"Come on, Zenzen, what’s going on in that head of yours? You look like you’re plotting world domination."

'Other than the fact I’m stuck in a world that’s not mine and pretending to be someone I’m not? Nope, just the usual shit.'

Arzen swallowed, offering a weak smile. 

"N-Nothing, just… not really hungry anymore, I guess."

Hanjun, who was more observant, noticed something off about Arzen. Hanjun liked to figure people out, and right now, Arzen was acting strange enough to catch his attention.

"Really? Even though a monster was roaring in your stomach just a few minutes ago?" 

Hanjun smirked, glancing at Arzen’s stomach while resting his chin in his hand.

Arzen shot a glare down at his stomach, which had betrayed him and landed him in this situation, then looked back up. 

"I-I never eat much anyway… h-haha..."

He could feel Hanjun’s gaze drilling into him, and for a split second, panic hit him like a ton of bricks.

'Come on, can’t you stop staring dagger at me?!'

Then he forced himself to take another bite again, hoping that acting nonchalant would be enough to avoid further questions.

Hanjun leaned back, smirking as he adjusted his tie—always perfectly in place, just like his carefully controlled demeanor.

"Looks like you’re performing surgery on that steak, Arzen. Need a microscope?"

His tone was a mix of teasing and care, something only Hanjun could pull off. 

Arzen forced a chuckle, barely lifting his fork. 

“...”

Elden couldn’t resist jumping in, his teasing a constant that balanced Hanjun’s more calculated jabs. 

"Cut him some slack, Hanjun. He’s probably busy unraveling the mysteries of the universe—one bite at a time. Remember freshman year when Arzen tackled that burger like it was his life's mission? We half-expected him to discover some new species there."

Hanjun snickered but kept watching Arzen, still trying to figure out what was up. 

"And don’t get me started on the sushi. Arzen, you eat like you’re defusing a bomb."

“...”

'Yeah, and I’m about to explode if you guys keep this up.'

Arzen managed a half-hearted smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. The veins bulging on his forehead and his trembling hands were clear signs of his discomfort, though Elden and Hanjun mistook it for irritation. In truth, Arzen’s hands trembled from the sheer cringe of the situation.

Elden and Hanjun exchanged a quick glance. There we go, the usual prickly Arzen is back. They both thought it was only a matter of time before he’d explode.

With that, Elden burst out laughing.

"Don’t cry, Zenzen. We’re just messing with you!"

Elden’s laughter echoed through the cafeteria, loud and infectious, drawing curious glances from nearby tables. His broad hand landed on Arzen’s shoulder with a playful thump, the impact causing Arzen to nearly drop his fork. The cafeteria was filled with the usual noise of clattering dishes and low conversation, but their table seemed to be a focal point of energy, thanks to Elden’s exuberance. As the laughter faded, a tall, slender figure approached, moving with the kind of effortless grace that made heads turn. Yuriel Harz, his long silverish hair catching the light, drew the attention of nearly everyone in the room.

"I’ve been looking for you guys."

Yuriel said, his voice smooth and calm, carrying a warmth that immediately put people at ease.

Hanjun gestured for Yuriel to sit down, a smirk tugging at his lips as he glanced at Arzen’s barely touched food. 

"Perfect timing, Yuriel. You almost missed Arzen showing off his surgical skills."

Yuriel chuckled softly, his eyes crinkling slightly at the corners as he took the seat offered to him. As he settled in, he reached up to tuck a strand of his silver hair behind his ear, the motion smooth and practiced. It was one of those little gestures that made him seem like the lead in a magical story—effortlessly graceful, almost too perfect to be real. The lights above cast a soft glow on his features, making him appear even more otherworldly.

Arzen almost choked on his food, feeling a wave of discomfort wash over him. 

‘Great. Just what I needed—another one to join in!' 

His mind flashed with memories from this world’s Arzen, recalling how Yuriel always seemed to command attention. Tall, slender, with shoulder-length silver hair and a face that could make a statue jealous, Yuriel was effortlessly captivating. His serene demeanor only added to the sense that he was somehow above the everyday chaos of school life.

As Arzen observed Yuriel, the surreal nature of his situation struck him again. How could someone as plain as him find himself surrounded by three individuals who seemed to have stepped out of a storybook? Everything about them—Hanjun’s sharpness, Elden’s energy, Yuriel’s calm—felt too perfect, too carefully designed. The realization settled in that this world, with its idealized characters and dramatic interactions, felt undeniably like the setting of a novel.

In his own world, Arzen had always been just another face in the crowd, blending in without much notice. But here, he was thrust into the midst of a story where everyone around him seemed to play a significant, almost larger-than-life role. 

The cafeteria, with its buzzing energy and familiar setting, felt more like a stage, with each of them playing their parts to perfection.

Yuriel, now settled, took a measured bite of his steak, chewing slowly as if savoring each flavor before letting his gaze drift lazily toward Hanjun. The deliberate, unhurried motion added to his almost otherworldly presence, as if he was in no rush to engage with the mundane details of the world around him.

"Your family is going into AI research now?"

Elden perked up, his eyes lighting up with genuine interest.

"Wow, really?"

"Yeah." 

Hanjun’s response was nonchalant, his attention more on his utensils than the conversation. He twirled a fork absentmindedly, almost as if the topic was of little consequence to him.

“Something about predicting market trends."

The topic didn’t particularly interest him, but he entertained Elden’s curiosity all the same. Elden suddenly brightened, his eyes gleaming as he patted Hanjun’s shoulder with an almost exaggerated amount of force, causing the plates on the table to clatter slightly. 

"Well, looks like someone’s going to be busy soon! Guess the 'Best Friend' ranking might change, huh?"

"As if that’s even possible."

Hanjun smirked, glancing at Arzen with a knowing look. 

"As if that’s even possible."

Arzen nearly choked again, this time on the ridiculousness of the ongoing joke. 

‘That damn joke again… How old are you guys?!’

Elden leaned in closer, clearly enjoying the playful banter. 

“Well, you’ll most likely have to take care of Lan Corp’s new AI projects from now on, right? Don’t worry, as Arzen’s number one best friend, I will make sure he is well-fed and happy.”

“You should look at your grades first before wanting to take care of someone else’s well-being. The midterm exam is coming soon, after all.”

Yuriel, who had been silently observing the exchange, sighed and shook his head slightly, a subtle gesture of amusement mixed with pity. He then looked at Hanjun with a soft, almost sympathetic gaze. 

“Poor Jun. I bet all that work at Lan Corp will be tough. Guess we won’t be able to hang out as much on the weekends, huh?”

"It’s no big deal. Just business as usual."

Hanjun shrugged, leaning back in his chair with a casual air, the wood creaking under the movement.

'As expected of the golden heir of the Lan Family…'

Arzen, quietly absorbing the conversation, felt a strange mix of emotions. He recalled from this world’s Arzen's memories how Hanjun used to be very doting and warm, always there to support and protect this world’s Arzen. But as they got older, that warmth had turned into relentless teasing. Hanjun had a way of never letting this world’s Arzen forget every awkward moment, from the legendary trip at the school assembly to the epic lunch tray disaster. His teasing was both annoying and oddly comforting, a reminder of how close they once were.

And then there was the other side of Hanjun—the disciplined, almost annoyingly perfect side. This world’s Arzen had seen it all—how Hanjun excelled at everything. As the golden heir of the Lan family, Hanjun made topping the class and handling high-stakes situations look as easy as breathing. It was something that always left Arzen feeling a mix of admiration and resentment, especially now that he had to maintain a relationship that wasn’t truly his.

Arzen glanced at Hanjun and unexpectedly met his playful eyes, the intensity of the gaze snapping him back to the present.

"I can see what you are thinking, Zenzen. Want to get an internship at Lan Corp?"

"No."

Hanjun smirked, resting his elbows on the table and cupping his face with both hands, leaning forward toward Arzen with a mischievous grin. 

"Don’t worry, as long as you’re under me, your life will be smooth sailing at the company."

“I’ll pass."

Arzen shook his head, trying to focus on his food. But Hanjun’s playful smile, so familiar yet foreign, tugged at something deep inside him—a mix of nostalgia and bitterness for a friendship that wasn’t really his.

"Well, if you ever change your mind, my office door is always open."

Arzen ignored him and kept eating, trying to keep his mind from spiraling into a maze of thoughts that led nowhere pleasant. The food tasted bland, but it was a distraction he desperately needed.

Elden, sensing a shift in the conversation, turned his attention to Yuriel. 

“What about your family? I heard Harz is opening a new hospital in Eve City?”

"Yeah, My brother’s been stressing over it. I’ve been giving him some... well, moral support, I guess?"

"Just moral support?! If it were my brother, he’d drag me into processing a mountain of paperwork when he’s stressed! You’ve got it easy."

Elden’s eyes flashed with envy, a playful pout forming on his lips as he toyed with the edge of his plate. 

"It has its moments. Your brother’s good too, though I wouldn’t say as good as mine."

Yuriel smiled gently, shaking his head. Elden’s face turned pale, his usual bravado slipping for a moment as he shivered at the thought.

"Bah! Don’t even say that! He’s no brother of mine! What kind of 'good' brother buys you ten dictionaries for your 10th birthday?"

"Well, dictionaries are good."

Yuriel forced a smile, his tone polite but tinged with genuine pity. Sensing the need for a change in topic, he quickly pivoted. 

"Oh, I heard 'Starz Entertainment' just signed a contract with that new artist, 'Parz,' the one who went viral recently."

Elden’s expression darkened, and he clenched his fist, the tension clear in his posture. 

“Yeah, Parz is our new rising artist. He’s been getting a lot of good attention before, and that’s why we signed him. But now... mostly bad. I just hope he doesn’t get caught up in the drama before he gets cast in one.”

"Drama's part of the package in the entertainment industry."

Hanjun, ever indifferent to the chaos of the entertainment world, shrugged, swirling the last of his drink in his cup. 

Elden suddenly straightened up, his eyes wide with realization as he smacked his forehead with an exaggerated thud—his usual over-the-top reaction.