Chapter 24: Rescue Mission
Comedic relief Chapter
Akira gobbled down his food like a hungry wolf.
He was squatting next to the vending machine and giving the ’poor soul’ who was ’cooking like no tomorrow’ within it constant encouragement and reassurances that he would be rescued very, very soon.
Between mouthfuls, he kept glancing up at the glowing screen of the vending machine, his eyes filled with something between suspicion and sympathy.
"Don’t worry, I hear you in there." he said seriously, voice muffled with rice. "Just hang in there a little longer. I’m almost done. Then I’ll break you out."
A soft mechanical whirring came from the vents. The machine cheerfully announced: "Your meal is ready. Please collect within 30 seconds."
Akira nodded with grim approval and pointed a chopstick at the center panel. "You’re scared, I can tell. You’ve been forced to cook nonstop without rest. Don’t be afraid. I’ll get you out."
A group of students had begun to gather around him, some holding their trays, others holding back laughter. One girl nudged her friend and whispered, "Is he... talking to the machine?"
Another boy pulled out his phone to record.
"Bro, what are you doing squatting there, we have tables and chairs aplenty in there." A kind young man approached Akira and pointed to the massive cafeteria just behind them.
There were at least fifty of the huge vending machines spread all over the cafeteria as well, each one with a line of students queuing up to buy their food.