Chapter 2: The cafeteria

            "Oh man, the fish got away. We coulda eaten it for dinner, ya know?" Raijin complained as the trio headed back for Garden. Sounds of Raijin's soaked, squeaky, shoes filled the background.

            "If you weren't such a self-absorbed bastard, you'd still have that fish." Seifer coldly said.

            "RAIJIN. WATER. HAHA." Fujin said, still amused at the fact of Raijin falling into the sea and dripping wet beside her.

            They reached Garden but not before a few gnats attacked them. The three weren't at all bothered.

            "Good. Exercise." Seifer said as he struck down a gnat with his gun blade.

            Finally, they arrived, definitely unscathed.

            "Welcome back, Mr. Almasy." Cid said; the welcoming committee behind him. "Raijin, Fujin." Cid nodded to the two, acknowledging them.

            "I don't think I'm in need of any formalities, Headmaster." Seifer said, bowing to the headmaster nonetheless.

            "You retain your old dormitory and class schedule but the disciplinary committee has been reappointed. You will understand why." Cid continued, unperturbed.

            "Yes, Headmaster." Nodded Seifer.

            "Well then, now that that's out of the way, I'd like to invite all of you to our celebration party tonight. At the usual place. See you there." The headmaster said, turning towards the elevator.

            "Thank you, Headmaster."

            "Let's hit the cafeteria." Raijin suggested, promptly walking towards that direction.

            "FOOD, AGAIN?" Fujin said, throwing her hands up in exasperation.

            On their way to the cafeteria, a girl wearing bright yellow bumped into the three of them. She was burdened with the highest stack of ribbons ever and it was a miracle that they didn't come crashing down on them. Following her, trying to prevent the ribbons from falling down was a tall lad in a cowboy get-up.

            "Aw, come on Selphie. Can you please slow down? It's four hours away!" Irvine complained, clearly tired of being Selphie's slave.

            "Exactly why we have to hurry! This place needs a real pepping up so we have to make everything extra perfect." Selphie reasoned, her voice filled with the usual excitement and perkiness.

            "Oh! We're so sorry! Seifer, Raijin, Fujin. We were in a bit of a hurry." Selphie apologized, finally noticing the people they crashed into.

            "We heard." Seifer answered in his usual icy tone, proceeding towards the cafeteria. Raijin and Fujin followed close behind.

            "Come on!" Selphie shouted to Irvine, running towards the auditorium.

            "Oh man." Irvine sighed, following her.

            The usual smell of hotdogs and home-cooked meals greeted the trio as they entered the cafeteria. The cafeteria ladies, who had always sort of admired Seifer, brightened as they saw him.       

            "One hotdog." Seifer ordered. They sat down at the nearest table as soon as their orders were completed.

            "I see you've returned, Seifer." Zell called out to him from the next table.

            "Chicken-wuss, stuffing your face with hotdogs again, as usual?" Seifer bit back.

            "Why you-" Zell started but was cut off by Squall.

            "Hi Seifer." Rinoa greeted him.

            "So now you're a student here, I suppose?" Seifer asked.

            "Yep. I'm very excited." Rinoa answered.

            Seifer just nodded and went back to his meal. He finished it in a hurry and went off alone.

            "I'll see you around." He said to Raijin and Fujin, heading out of the cafeteria.