Entropy's Zeroth

Consequence of Hope

Api shoved something soft in his mouth. "Just eat. Take a few bites."

Air chews. It was warm, soft, and easy to chew. Tasty, too, with a certain sweetness to it. "Cake?"

"Pancake with chocolate syrup", Api gestures to the table, and--oh. They're already here?

Air looks around. They all seem to be in the cafeteria, and a table--or more like about two regular long tables put together to form a big one--was set already in the middle of the area.

The plates and utensils are already placed, one for the eight of them, and even including Yaya, Gopal, Ying, and Fang. 

Also, the food was already set up at the center; rice, creamy mushroom soup, fried fish, and sliced pancakes with chocolate syrup that's probably what Api shoved into his mouth.

Three of the plates have fried eggs, too. One was slightly burnt at the edges, another was cooked except for the yolk, and the other was scrambled.

"I'm the one who set the table!", Boboiboy called out, claiming the seat nearest to the creamy soup. "I get dibs for the soup!"

"Wh--hey, no fair!", Daun protests, running after Boboiboy. "I want some, too!"

Meanwhile, Angin immediately plopped himself down in front of the plate with the slightly burnt egg, shoveling rice on top of it with a wide and excited grin.

Air then sees a plate held out to him. Looking up, he sees hazel brown eyes look at him with a small gentle smile, expectant and a little hopeful.

"Please, Air? Even if it's just a cup of rice", Tanah prompts. "I think you'd like the soup."

Air's lips spread into a thin line.

They're...really insistent on this, huh? But if it's just a cup of rice, then...

He reached out, taking the plate from Tanah.

Tanah's smile brightened, and he'd reached out to pat Air's head. It feels soothing. "Thank you, Air."

And then Api was pulling the water elemental user by the arm. "Here, here! Get more pancakes, or else Daun will gobble them all up!!"

Air didn't get more pancakes. But he did make sure to fill his plate with creamy soup, mixing half a cup of rice with it. Not too salty, flavorful, a calming taste; at least he doesn't regret eating this.

"Hey, has anyone seen Fang?", Gopal brought up. "He suddenly disappeared."

"Ying, too. They both haven't had breakfast yet, right?", Tanah turns to Yaya. "Can you call Ying over?"

"Well...I'll try with Fang, but I don't think I should call Ying", Yaya rubbed her arm, apologetically. "She has something she needs to do."

"An assignment?", Petir raised an eyebrow. "All of a sudden?"

"Yeah..."

Air knows that is definitely much more strange. What, did Admiral Tarung text her details to a secret mission or something?

But then again, Ying's been strange in general, this past three days...

So, he takes another spoonful of food, resolving not to think too much about it. Whatever, right? Ying knows what she's doing, and she can be trusted.

She'd tell them eventually if it's important...right?

The food was delicious, though. As expected of Tanah's cooking.

Api chatters Air's ear off in the meantime, like usual, while shoveling pancakes down his own throat. Air doesn't mind the noise if it's Api, but he thinks Api should really slow down if the fire elemental user doesn't want to choke on the food.