Logan's reprimand seemed to have an effect, as David wisely kept his distance for a few classes. However, before long, he was back to his old habits, leaning over to say, "Hey, Logan, if you're not interested in those movies, how about something you'd enjoy… like Naruto..."
'Enjoy? Yeah, right!' After that bus encounter with a fan eager to discuss the series, Logan found himself increasingly annoyed at the mention of anything related to Naruto. After all, nine times out of ten, it is the topic of discussion about him. It wasn't as if he wanted to be the center of attention, and whether fans praised or criticized, it all just rubbed him the wrong way.
The midday sun loomed brightly behind a layer of clouds, casting a pale light over the campus as leaves along the paths began showing tinges of red and yellow. With morning classes over, students began to trickle toward the cafeteria.
"Logan, don't you think those girls must be freezing, wearing summer uniforms in this weather?" David mused.
Logan, who was going to eat with David, gave a passing glance. High school uniforms are generally divided into spring (autumn), summer and winter. As the temperature drops, the material will definitely become thicker.
However, the coldness cannot stop girls of this age from wanting to dress up. Depending on the mood, most girls still wear summer school uniforms to show off their thin legs.
"Probably." Logan replied absentmindedly. He was walking on the edge, and with David's stalwart body blocking his view, he actually didn't care at all which girl he was talking about.
Two weeks had passed without him being transported back to the other world, confirming his suspicion that the usual crossing over mechanism had failed. While life continued to progress in the Ninja World without him, he had no time to relax in this world.
The prospect of a trip to Japan loomed larger as Logan calculated the costs in his head. While he had no firsthand experience with such expenses, he knew more money would mean fewer restrictions.
'Hmm... forty thousand should be enough.' Logan thought to himself, and calculated the numbers in the payment software, 'Just one more gig with some social connections, and I'll be set.'
He has to say that saving the local gang leader from a brush with death had proven unexpectedly lucrative. Helping streamline a bit of infighting within the underground scene wasn't something Logan had planned, but the pay was impressive.
In a short period of time from September to November, he already has enough money to go abroad without scrimping. The time he saved from selling bubble tea alone was reason enough to consider the gig a stroke of genius.
'Sigh, the sky is bright now but the temperature is not low. I tried wearing summer pants this morning, and wow, I nearly froze." David is grumbled, clearly perturbed by the girls' fashion choices, "And honestly, I used to think our school uniform looked terrible when worn this way, like when I used to wrap a high-neck sweater around my face back in middle school. Lately, though, I'm starting to think it's pretty stylish..."
This age corresponds to girls who love beauty. And boys are also experiencing their youthful hormones.
However, Logan gave David a quick once-over. Between his unkempt appearance and the oversized, comfy clothes he lived in, David looked every bit the stereotypical otaku... or at least, that's what Logan thought.
David slapped Logan on the shoulder, bringing him back to the moment, "Logan, why don't you say anything? You've been lackluster since the morning. Usually, after a few classes of 'rest,' you'd be full of energy."
Logan stifled a groan, restraining himself as best he could, "Nah, I'm fine, I was just thinking..."
David shook his head and sighed, "That can't be right. Normally, I look up to you when it comes to this kind of stuff. Who else could pull off the Chuunibyou Ninja look with the high-neck sweater? And when it comes to talking about girls, you're way more into it than I am..."
"..." Logan's expression darkened as David continued recounting their embarrassing past, only for Logan to grit his teeth in silence, drawing on his battle-honed composure to keep from reacting.
They reached the cafeteria, and David finally gave it a rest, only to resume scanning the room for 'cute seniors' while lining up for food.
By all rights, David should've been the quiet, introverted type, but instead, he'd somehow grown into a guy who could shamelessly stand tall and face the world. Logan had to admit, it was...impressive.
With his tray set at a secluded table, Logan started eating in peace. But halfway through, David suddenly nudged him and whispered, "Hey, Logan, check out that senior over there!"
"I don't want to look, and I don't want to listen." Logan cut him off instantly, raising a hand to stifle any further comments while keeping his eyes on his food. He didn't need to know what David would say next, as he could practically guess it with his eyes closed.
David suddenly froze. His finger secretly pointed in one direction was stuck in the air. Being not allowed to speak in the middle of a sentence was the most uncomfortable thing for him.
"Come on, man. You really don't want to know? That senior is seriously..."
Logan's chopsticks casually reached for the chicken drumstick on David's tray.
"Whoa." David was shocked and immediately reacted to stop him. However, with Logan's speed, how could he possibly win?
David looked devastated as Logan finally cracked a small grin, feeling the sweet satisfaction of his friend's frustration, "Hey, don't be upset, fatty." He smiled and returned a bean sprout to David.
'You sure are annoying… swapping a drumstick for a bean sprout, a single one, at that.' David practically growled, "You are so fast!"
"What do you mean fast?" Logan blinked, genuinely confused. Between hopping worlds and keeping his studies in line, he barely kept up with current internet slang.
Logan's sincere expression showed no fakeness. And when David saw that the drumstick had been bitten off, he could only sigh in defeat. "Forget it..."
As Logan's closest friend in high school, David could tell something was subtly different about him. It could be seen in the subtleties of chatting and actions, but David didn't dwell on it. After all, Logan was still the friend he'd grown up with, still there to spend every day with.
On their way back to class, the autumn colors had darkened the long stretches of shaded pathways and stark white walls, giving the scene a somewhat cinematic quality. David couldn't resist breaking the silence.
"Logan, let's do this." David said in a more serious tone, "Let's not talk about dreams today. Let's talk reality."
Logan gave him a sidelong glance, thrown by the dramatic shift in tone, though he quickly recognized the sarcasm.
"If I remember right, we've gone on plenty of reality-check rants in the past." Logan muttered, recalling all the outlandish nonsense they'd dubbed as 'dreams'!
"My dream world is the 2D World, no question." David declared, unexpectedly composed. A few seconds later, however, Logan's unimpressed gaze made him falter, "What? Got a problem with that!"
Logan smiled and shook his head, "Just tell me what's on your mind."
David cleared his throat and said, "So, here's the thing. The autumn field trip is coming up, and someone still hasn't paid the bus fee. Did you know that Diane pestered me about it this morning while you were asleep?"
Logan's face fell, 'Reality, indeed.'