The three roommates enter the food court. The colorful signs of all different types hang over built-in serving areas and kitchens. Tables and booths flood the center of the room, arranged in a somewhat sporadic manner. The center of the room has a long ramp leading to the second floor. Although it’s a long trail up, it helped it to prevent a sudden incline.

  The three peek around before Yan Liang points. “There’s Yuan Shao.”

  Both Qu Yi and Wen Chou look over to see Yuan Shao sitting on one of the chairs parallel to a booth on the opposing side of the table. The table is covered in a white embroidered tablecloth. Being that it is the only table that had something like that on it, Qu Yi gathered that Yuan Shao brought it with her.

  Yuan Shao notices the three approaching her, letting out her always pompous and ever haughty signature laugh. “Ohohoho! There you three are. Not to worry. Shen Pei is grabbing our food as we speak.” She notices the bags both Wen Chou and Qu Yi carry. “I see your personal time was fruitful! I hope it was full of grace that is worthy of our class!”

  Wen Chou rolls her eyes. “It wasn’t exactly all smooth sailing.”

  Yuan Shao raises one of her pale blonde arched eyebrows. “Oh?

  Wen Chou sets the bags she carries under the table. “We ran into Cao Cao’s annoying cousin.”

  Yuan Shao’s eyebrow returns to normal, having full understanding. “Ah, well, I’m sure you dazzled her with the elegance of you three! After all, you represent the blessed and royal name of the Yuan family!”

  Wen Chou chuckles as she rolls her eyes. “Well, I didn’t punch her, if that’s what you mean, although I wish I would have.”

  “Always so barbaric, Wen Chou.” Yuan Shao sighs in disappointment.

  Yan Liang thinks about Xiahou Yuan’s words and frowns. “To be fair, I probably wouldn’t have minded seeing that. She was bullying Yi.”

  Qu Yi blushes as she sets her bag down. “It wasn’t really bullying.” She lets out a sigh herself. “I-It was more just her trying to, um, ‘trash talk’ I’m gathering. They made some statements about my archery skills. They weren’t positive statements either.”

  Yuan Shao looks to Qu Yi, causing Qu Yi’s eyes to quickly avert away. The pressure of Yuan Shao’s stare is still a bit much for her to bear. “Ah, I see. Do not worry.” Yuan Shao speaks up pleasingly, “Young Cao Cao’s class is known for being very jealous of our class’s regal nature. It doesn’t help that they haven’t beaten us in our class sport yet.”

  Qu Yi speaks up. “Yeah, about that. I think I heard that once or twice, but, what does it mean?”

  Yuan Shao perks up, enjoying gossiping. “Oh, I suppose it’s only natural! After all, you’ve only been here for this week. Cao Cao has set a goal to beat all classrooms at their own class sport.”

  “Does every class have their own sport?”

  “Well, most do! At least larger classes tend to unite under a team sport.”

  Yan Liang scoots into the booth across from Yuan Shao, signaling Qu Yi to join the booth with her. Qu Yi follows suit and then speaks up, “And so ours is baseball?”

  “Yes!” Yuan Shao smiles proudly. “We are the best at baseball in the entire school!” Qu Yi raises an eyebrow, which Yuan Shao notices. “Ah, a question? Please, speak your mind.”

  Qu Yi nods slowly, as Wen Chou squishes in the other side of the booth. “W-Well, I understand why Chou would be into baseball, and Liang, I can also get, but, you don’t look like the type to be into baseball. I would think Baseball would be a less, ‘noble’ sport. With how dirty people can get during it and such.”

  “Ohohoho! Why, Qu Yi, while baseball may have its more, ‘barbaric’ fans and attitudes. It is true unity and natural nobility that are able to unionize many to a common goal! Even people like you and me, with very noble inherent natures, must subject ourselves to the fight of helping our comrades who unite under our nobility.” Yuan Shao stands up, continuing her speech. “While there are indeed personal sports of horsemanship, or sports of artistry like ballet, why, you have your own personal sport of archery. True nobility must go beyond personal sports in a true test.” Yuan Shao clenches her fist, as she appears serious. “True nobility must be able to keep a group united! Being able to know of other strengths and weaknesses and use them where their most glorious traits will shine!”

  “I-I see,” Qu Yi stutters out, not expecting such passion.

  “And besides,” Yuan Shao’s eyebrows furrow. “Baseball is also very important, for being fun!” Yuan Shao sits back down gracefully, as if she had ended on something much more refined.

  Qu Yi thinks to herself. “Okay, now it makes more sense how Wen Chou ended up in this class.” She smiles with a better understanding. A question lays in Qu Yi’s mind, however. “So,” she speaks up, “why does Cao Cao want to beat everyone sports?”

  Yuan Shao directs her gaze onto Qu Yi. She quickly looks both ways to make sure no one other than the roommates can hear her. “Well, Cao Cao has a very low self-esteem. With that, she has focused her attention on how to prove herself and her class best in the school.” She lets out a sigh. “Young Cao didn’t use to be like this. We were friends growing up, but about a year or two ago she became obsessed with wanting her class to seem perfect by her standards.”

  “I don’t understand why she would want someone like me to join her class then.”

  “Oh?” Yuan Shao raises an eyebrow. “I suppose she has tried to recruit you?”

  Qu Yi nods. “I don’t understand it, but when I was in her class on my first day, things were… quiet, much different than what I’ve seen from your class. When we work, people talk and mostly stay focused on the same packet. People help each other out, ask questions…”

  Yuan Shao sighs in pity. “That’s just Cao Cao’s view of perfection.”

  A question comes to Qu Yi’s mind. She asks it suddenly before thinking, “Do, you view our class as perfect?” After the words leave her lips, she feels like she shouldn’t have said them. She worries quickly about Yuan Shao’s reaction.

  Yuan Shao looks taken aback before letting out her usual laugh. “Ohohohoho! Dearest Yi, you are very innocent and youthful.”

  Qu Yi feels a hint of frustration at the comment, and she quickly thinks to herself. “Hey! I’m already fourteen!”

  Yuan Shao continues without pause. “Perfection is something one should strive for, especially one of my noble name.” She brushes one of her ringlets with the back of her hand for emphasis. “However, perfection is never achievable. That is why it is something noble to strive for.” She lets out a wide smile. “I’m sure even one like myself has my own flaws I am unaware of!”

  Yan Liang smiles but doesn’t want to say anything. Wen Chou has an annoyed face, as she wants to say something but being used to Yuan Shao well enough she knows it would do no good.

  Qu Yi stares. “So, you’d be fine with someone on your baseball team… even if they’ve never really played before?”

  Wen Chou and Yan Liang perk up. Wen Chou speaks first, “Newbie! You think you’re wanting to try it with us?”

  Qu Yi blushes and nods. “I-If Yuan Shao is fine with someone like me who doesn’t know much of the… techniques or anything.”

  “Ohohoho!” The back of Yuan Shao’s right hand goes to her left cheek. “Why of course, Qu Yi! I am always open to classmates wishing to be more like their illustrious president!”

  Qu Yi smiles. “I-I guess I can also help beat Cao Cao’s class.” She then whispers, “That might also show Xiahou Yuan…”

  Wen Chou smirks. “That’s it, Yi! Turn your frustration into determination!”

  Yan Liang smiles. “I’m sure we can find a spot for you Yi!”

  Yuan Shao nods. “You’re in luck! We’re going to do group practice this upcoming week.”

  Just then, Shen Pei approaches the tabl,e holding a fine dining tray with various different silverware on each side of a napkin arranged in a specific fashion. Qu Yi could see multiple different forks and spoons confused as most food located at the food court would have people use their hands while eating. Shen Pei leaves for a brief moment. Yuan Shao quickly grabs her napkin and places it on her lap.

  Qu Yi turns so her eyes can follow Shen Pei but notices she is now carrying a plate carefully with one hand and placing it on the tray where the napkin used to be. On the plate appears to be food that may have been gathered from different food services at the location. A fancy looking steak, mashed potatoes with darkened bits scattered throughout, a browned roll and a salad.

  Yuan Shao smiles to Shen Pei. “Looks delectable as always, Shen Pei.”

  Shen Pei smiles proudly. “It is nothing, Madame Yuan.” Her happy face seeing Yuan Shao beginning to finely cut into the steak turns to a look of somewhat annoyance as she turns the three roommates. She quickly throws five bags with logos of Wc Don’s in their direction, a large local fast food place.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Yuan Shao pauses her eating. “I figured you would all like something at Wc Don’s, so I had Shen Pei order one of everything.”

  As her two roommates begin to talk about what they want and sort through the bags, Qu Yi still stares in confusion at Yuan Shao’s meal, trying to figure out where they got it from.

  Wen Chou takes note of this and nudges her, letting out a whisper. “Newbie, everything on that plate is something that can be extracted from regular fast food.”

  Qu Yi raises an eyebrow before realizing herself. The steak? Simply an oversized beef from a hamburger. The mashed potatoes? Fries that have been squashed. The roll? Just a bun from a burger. The salad? Just lettuce and tomatoes found on burgers.

  Qu Yi turns to Wen Chou who nods with a thumbs up. Qu Yi notices Wen Chou seems well aware of how it works. Shen Pei spends the time sorting everything out to look like fine dining before presenting it to Yuan Shao.

  Yan Liang smiles, finally sorting through things. “Okay, so we have buffalo chicken nuggets.”

  “I’ll take those!” Wen Chou perks up.

  Yan Liang continues after handing it to Wen Chou. “Quite a few large fries from multiple combos.”

  “I’ll take some fries!” Wen Chou adds.

  Yan Liang hands two of those to Wen Chou. “Double loaded burger.”

  “I’ll take that also!”

  Yan Liang hands that to Wen Chou, not looking up from her search. “A healthy salad!”

  “…”

  “Then a pretzel bun burger.”

  “I call dibs!” Wen Chou lets out again.

  Yan Liang looks up at Wen Chou, slowly moving the salad to her side. “Wen Chou, leave some for Yi and I!”

  Wen Chou clears her throat. “Ahem, Liang, I believe the proper grammar is ‘Yi and me.’”

  Yan Liang stares at Wen Chou for a few seconds. “No, no it isn’t.”

  Qu Yi smiles, between her two friends. Their constant banter back and forth helps her feel safe. Even though she’s anxious about trying baseball, she’s excited to play with both of them.

  The group returns to the school after their meal, with the limo parked at the sidewalk near the front gate to the school grounds. Shen Pei and the limo driver vigorously pull the bags from the trunk from their excursion at “Prim and Proper.” Qu Yi, Wen Chou and Yan Liang hold the bags Qu Yi has personally bought, being a much more reasonable size.

  Yuan Shao turns to the three who stare at the two. “All right, so it seems you will have to make a few trips.” She smiles. “But such is the price of elegance! Ohohoho!”

  Qu Yi stares at the pile of bags that are piling up, wondering how they are supposed to fit in her wardrobe. Wen Chou stares with an annoyed face, not exactly planning on wearing anything that was bought for her. Yan Liang on the other hand stares happily, excited to try on some of the outfits chosen as soon as possible.

  “Don’t worry! We’ll drop these off and then be right back, right you two?” She turns to both Qu Yi and Wen Chou.

  Wen Chou sighs. “I guess it can be muscle training, but really, we shouldn’t buy more than what can be carried in one trip.”

  Qu Yi smiles shyly. “Uh, well, how bad can carrying fabric be?”

  Yuan Shao nods. “Don’t worry! You won’t have to do this alone!” Yuan Shao stretches her hand out, a determined look on her face. After a moment she turns to Shen Pei. “Shen Pei, be a dear and help them with their bags after you are done unloading.”

  Shen Pei nods loyally. “Of course, Madame Yuan.”

  Qu Yi smiles awkwardly. She doesn’t know why she expected Yuan Shao to offer to help for a moment.

  The three turn and begin heading back. It is nearly five PM. The sun is still in the sky, but beginning to close in on the west.

  “So, did you have fun?” Yan Liang smiles, turning to Qu Yi.

  Qu Yi smiles and slowly nods. “Y-Yeah! I was kind of scared clothes shopping would be boring or scary, but it was fun with you guys.”

  “Newbie!” Wen Chou laughs. “Everything is fun with friends. Well, I guess not something like war?” She thinks for a brief moment before correcting herself. “Most things are fun with friends!”

  Yan Liang ignores Wen Chou and happily grins at Qu Yi. “So you’d be fine with going out again next week?”

  Qu Yi blushes. “W-Well, I don’t think I need clothes for a while…”

  Yan Liang chuckles. “We talked about this already, Yi! Friends don’t JUST shop for clothes! We can go out and look around town! The weekend is the perfect time to do it, as we have a lot more time to stay out!”

  “O-Oh, right!” Qu Yi smiles, remembering some of the places Wen Chou said earlier.

  The group enters the elevator in their dorms, and Wen Chou presses the button for their floor. “I’m just glad the day was a success in more than just ‘frills and chills’ or whatever that snooty place was called. Newbie managed to get some casual clothes.” She smiles, looking through the bags she’s holding. “Lots of great shirts that match her personality.”

  The elevator dings as it passes the first four floors, finally opening at their floor. Qu Yi raises an eyebrow as she turns to her roommate. “I’m like a knight or an archer?” she asks in confusion.

  “Nah,” Wen Chou laughs as they get to their door. “You’re just cute!”

  Qu Yi blushes jumping back defensively. “H-Hey! Don’t forget, you had to wear a lot of those dresses as well! You looked pretty in them!”

  Wen Chou blushes. “No way did I look anything like that!”

  Hearing the banter outside of the room, the neighboring door opens. “Rival!” A girl with sandy brown hair tied into a fluffy side ponytail jumps out of the room. She wears an orange T-Shirt with black gym shorts. This is Yan Gang, Qu Yi’s self-declared rival, although what they are rivals in has yet to be decided. “I wondered where you would be on your first weekend! I guess out with your roommates.” She folds her arms. “Well our rivalry isn’t over yet, foul… rival!” She makes a pose standing on one foot. Yan Gang constantly imagines herself as some sort of hero from a TV show, so such poses are not uncommon coming from her.

  Wen Chou perks up. “Oh, I guess you have to tell her about your new rivalry now, huh?”

  Yan Gang hears this from Wen Chou, before staring at Qu Yi with large widened eyes. “N-New rivalry?!” She lets out, utterly flabbergasted, “What do you mean new rival?!”

  Qu Yi looks to the side awkwardly. “W-Well, it’s not like, friendly rivalry. They tried to insult my skills with a bow compared to their own, and now I want to prove her wrong. I don’t think it’s a real rivalry like ours is.” The two share an odd friendship. Although Yan Gang continues to call them rivals and pretends to hate Qu Yi, Yan Gang has shown to really care and worry when things get serious.

  Yan Gang can’t bother holding a hero pose anymore, and she lets out a long sigh. “I-I can’t beat that!” She looks to Qu Yi with a defeated expression. “That’s, like, your favorite thing! The only reason I’m a good rival is because I have no one to compete with!” At this point the three roommates are in the room and place the bags on Qu Yi’s bed, with Yan Gang watching from the doorway.

  Wen Chou turns her head to Yan Gang, confused. “Can’t you just compete with Newbie’s other rival? Xiahou Yuan?” she asks, a confused look painting her face.

  Yan Gang sighs, looking down ashamed. “But… I’m terrible at competing…”

  Wen Chou eyebrows furrow in confusion. “What do you think a rival does?!”

  Yan Gang jumps to her knees, looking up to Qu Yi. “Rival! Don’t accept Xiahou Yuan’s rivalry! I beseech you on my knees!”

  Qu Yi smiles awkwardly, seeing how much this affects Yan Gang. “H-Hey, it’s not like it’s the same rivalry we have. Aren’t we more friends than rivals?”

  Yan Gang jumps back onto her feet. “W-Wha?! Friends with a Yuan Shao student?!”

  Yan Liang now looks at Yan Gang in confusion. “I could have sworn you called Yi your friend earlier, in the nurse’s office this last week?” She’s happy to say it, as she can remember that as clear as day.

  Yan Gang sputters out defensively, “T-That was in the heat of the moment! W-We are rivals who are destined to be rivals!”

  Qu Yi frowns, fidgeting her fingers. “Well, I mean, you say that, but I don’t think we share the same kind of feeling that I feel with Xiahou Yuan. I really want to prove her wrong. With us, you haven’t even decided what we’re supposed to be rivals in.”

  “Multiple things!” Yan Gang retorts. “Like height and…” She stops for a moment trying to come up with more. “… and that’s a very good thing to be rivals in!”

  Qu Yi sighs. “But you’re the only one who wants to be rivals in that. I don’t get to choose how tall I am at the moment. Our rivalry is… it’s just very one sided…”

  Yan Gang’s soul cracks in horror as a shocked expression freezes on her face.

  Qu Yi senses the obvious mood of Yan Gang and instinctively tries to cheer her up. “H-Hey, I mean, I like you as a friend more than a rival. That’s fine, right? It’s just, we’re not good at the same stuff. I like archery and school work, and you like running and your hero pretending.”

  Yan Gang makes a gallant pose, as an idea pops into her head. “Then join me, rival Yi, On the side of heroism! Then we can compete in-”

  “No,” Qu Yi bluntly cuts her off.

  Yan Gang jumps back. “So you plan to serve the side of villainy?!”

  “No. I don’t want to play that game.” Qu Yi sighs and turns around. While it’s true, she used to pretend in the past, she has outgrown it. She sets her bags down on her bed and she sorts through some of the clothes.

  Yan Gang pouts for a moment. “Fine then!” She shouts. “I’ll just learn archery!”

  Qu Yi’s ears perk up, hearing the word. “Eh?!” She turns around excited. “Wait, when did you decide that? What kind of bow are you planning to use? When do you think you’re going to practice?” With each question, Qu Yi closes the gap between her and Yan Gang.

  Yan Gang is taken by surprise at Qu Yi’s sudden interest in what she is saying. “Um! I decided it, uh, earlier!” She nods. “Y-yeah!” she continues, “and I was going to go practice, uh, right now!”

  Both Yan Liang and Wen Chou stare at Yan Gang, knowing exactly why Yan Gang said she was going to try it, but either Qu Yi doesn’t catch on or she just doesn’t care.

  “Oh! Have you ever done it before?” Qu Yi continues. “You should really have someone help teach you the ropes. It would be a lot easier than trying it on your own, believe me.”

  “Uh! Of course!” Yan Gang nods. “I’ll believe you! But I don’t know who would be willing to help. I might go to that Xiahou Dun girl.”

  “It was Xiahou Yuan,” Wen Chou corrects briefly.

  “Yeah! That Xiahou Yuan girl!”

  “Wha?!” Qu Yi perks up, a little irritated. “You don’t need her! Um, here, let’s go to the locker rooms. I want to test out my new glove anyway.” She quickly runs over to the a bag and pulls it out. “See, I can show you the ropes and everything.”

  Yan Gang nods to Qu Yi. “Uh-huh. So uh, what bow do you use?”

  “Recurve bow.”

  “Yeah, I was thinking of trying out that one!”

  The two begin walking out of the room. Qu Yi turns around. “U-Uh sorry you two, um, do you mind if I go do this instead of helping with the bags?”

  Both Yan Liang and Wen Chou smile. Yan Liang speaks up first, “Of course you can. Where do you want to meet before dinner?”

  “Um, I should be back at the room before then, close to six.”

  Yan Gang grins, hearing she will get at least two hours of time with her rival and learning how to be her rival in archery.

  As both Qu Yi and Yan Gang head out of the room, Yan Liang and Wen Chou can hear Yan Gang speak up. “Hey, we should take the stairs down. I need more practice.”

  “You don’t use stairs in archery.” Qu Yi’s responds, her voice puzzled.

  “Yeah, but I need it for track. More steps a day is better!”

  Wen Chou folds her arms. “Well, I guess this is Yi’s first time without us around her. Do you think she’s going to be okay?”

  Yan Liang chuckles. “Didn’t you hear the way she was talking? I think she’s going to be better than okay. Besides, she shouldn’t depend on us all the time.”

  Wen Chou stretches her arms. “Anyway, time to haul up a load of fabric we’ll never wear.”

  “I-I’ll wear them!” Yan Liang retorts.

  “Yeah, I meant me and Newbie.”

  “You don’t know she won’t!”

  “Well, she seems pretty excited to own her own pair of jeans.”

  “Yeah, but there will be plenty of opportunities to wear something cute!”

  Wen Chou raspberries. “She’s cute enough as is! Look, let’s just haul these bags up. I wonder if we can do it in one trip.”

  “I don’t think that’s possible. You saw how many Yuan Shao picked for you two.”

  “With a mindset like that it won’t be. We each just need about twenty bags right? Let’s go.” She quickly bursts out of the room.

  Yan Liang jumps up to Wen Chou’s burst of speed. “Hey! Chou! Wait for me!” After closing and locking the door behind her, she runs after her roommate.