Gu Luo remained silent.
He looked at his breakfast without really knowing what to do with it. He had been hungry when he woke up, but ever since he had been told about the medical examination, his stomach seemed to have tied itself into a knot. He took a bite anyway and chewed slowly, trying not to think about it too much.
"You know, it's really something simple."
Yoeel had noticed his expression. He looked at him for a few seconds before looking away.
Gu Luo simply continued eating in silence.
Beside him, Shěn Yán had already finished his breakfast and had once again slumped against the back of his chair. He looked like someone who would have preferred to still be in his bed rather than having to start another day.
Lǐ Xīnyí, on the other hand, ate much more quietly, taking small bites while observing the others around her.
Gu Luo was slowly beginning to understand his classmates.
Shěn Yán was always loud when he was awake and completely useless when he wasn't yet. Lǐ Xīnyí spoke little, but always seemed attentive to what was happening around her. Yoeel, on the other hand, had this strange way of saying things as if he never really wanted to give a definite answer.
And Leolia...
Gu Luo discreetly glanced at her.
She was talking with an employee sitting at the neighboring table, with that same cheerful expression she had almost constantly since he had met her.
He quickly looked away.
He had only been here for a day, but he already felt like these people were less foreign than they should have been.
"You're eating very little."
Gu Luo raised his head.
Lǐ Xīnyí was looking at him.
"Ah?"
"Your bowl."
She pointed at his breakfast with her chopsticks.
"You've barely eaten anything."
Gu Luo lowered his eyes.
He hadn't even noticed.
"I'm not very hungry."
"Because of the examination?"
"..."
Lǐ Xīnyí simply nodded.
"I understand. I've never liked medical examinations either. Even now, I still haven't gotten used to them."
She didn't try to ask anything else and went back to her meal.
Gu Luo was slightly surprised.
He had expected her to ask another question, but she didn't.
After a few seconds, Shěn Yán spoke from the other side of the table.
"Anyway, you're going to have to get used to it."
Gu Luo turned his head toward him.
"The examinations." Shěn Yán yawned before continuing. "They make us undergo tests regularly."
Gu Luo had already understood that, but he didn't dare interrupt Shěn Yán.
"Because they want to make sure we don't suddenly die."
He said it so naturally that Gu Luo couldn't immediately tell whether he was joking or actually serious.
Lǐ Xīnyí grunted. "...You could explain a little better at least."
"I just did."
"No."
Shěn Yán shrugged in annoyance.
"Fine, then they check our physical condition. Our ether, our reactions, that kind of thing. Nothing particularly interesting."
"And does it take long?"
"It depends on the day, but no more than half an hour I'd say."
Lǐ Xīnyí answered in his place this time.
"For some people it can take longer."
She put down her chopsticks.
"But for you, I think they're mostly going to try to understand who you are since it's the first time they'll be seeing you."
Gu Luo fell silent.
That sentence had been enough to remind him why he was actually here.
He looked at his distorted reflection on the metallic surface of his bowl. He would have liked to say that none of this bothered him. But that would have been a lie.
Ever since he had opened his eyes in this place, he had had this unpleasant feeling that a part of his life was completely beyond his reach. Everyone seemed to have answers that he didn't have. Even those who claimed to know nothing at least seemed to understand the rules of this place.
He didn't even know why he had been brought here.
And above all, he didn't know what they had discovered about him to decide that he was an ABSURD.
"You're going to be fine."
Yoeel had just spoken.
Gu Luo looked up at him.
The boy's expression hadn't particularly changed. He was still eating calmly, as if he had simply said something obvious.
Yoeel shrugged slightly. "I don't see why it would go badly."
Gu Luo remained silent.
Then he nodded. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Leolia, who had heard their conversation from the neighboring table, suddenly turned around.
"Why are you all so serious this early in the morning?"
Shěn Yán sighed.
"Because unlike you, some people have things to do."
"I have things to do too."
"Like what?"
"Watch over you."
"Why?"
"Because if I don't, you'll probably fall asleep in a hallway."
Shěn Yán remained silent.
Then he thought for a few seconds.
"Has that happened before?"
"Twice."
"Ah."
He seemed to accept this information without any difficulty.
Everyone immediately burst out laughing.
"Hey! It's not funny. I have sleep problems, you know how serious that is?!"
After a minute or two, the general hilarity died down, much to Shěn Yán's relief.
Gu Luo couldn't help but smile.
Leolia immediately noticed his expression.
"Oh!"
Gu Luo stiffened.
"What?"
"This is the first time I've seen you actually smile."
"Really?"
"Yes. You always make that forced smile like this." Leolia tried to imitate the image she had in mind and put on a stiff smile and an awkward expression that looked more like the expression of someone in agony than a smile.
Shěn Yán turned toward him.
"Don't even try to deny it."
Gu Luo felt his cheeks grow slightly warm.
He turned his head away.
Leolia burst out laughing.
This time, Gu Luo couldn't help but smile again, snickering.
The conversation continued like this for a few more minutes, without any real subject. They talked about insignificant things, the food, classes, what time they had to wake up, and even the weather. None of it really mattered, but Gu Luo enjoyed this normality.
He hadn't had the chance to have a normal conversation in a long time.
For a few moments, he could almost forget that he was in an organization he knew nothing about, surrounded by people capable of things he didn't understand yet.
Then Leolia looked at the clock hanging on the wall.
"Oh."
She stood up.
"It's almost nine-thirty."
Yoeel looked at the time as well.
"We should go."
Gu Luo put down his chopsticks.
"Classes start at ten?"
"Yes."
"Then why leave now?"
"Because you have to go to administration first."
Yoeel stood up and grabbed his bag.
"They're going to give you your schedule and probably some documents."
Gu Luo nodded.
He stood up as well.
"And after?"
Yoeel smiled. "After that, you come with us."
Gu Luo looked around him.
A normal day. He didn't really know what that meant in this place. But after everything that had happened since yesterday, the idea of spending a few hours simply attending classes seemed almost reassuring.
He took his bag and followed the others out of the room. For the first time since his arrival, he almost felt like he could behave like an ordinary student.
Almost.