His eyes widened. Wait, wasn't I here before all of them?
He looked around, confused. I've been here all night! Shouldn't I be first?
He stood up quickly, still disoriented from all the quiet thinking. His legs ached a little. The cold had settled into his joints while he sat. But now, now there was a small army of early birds blocking his way.
He blinked again as more people casually walked right past him and joined the line.
Some of them were even carrying stools!
Confused Abuchi "..."
They brought stools? Are you kidding me?
They must've been prepared from home.
Panic set in.
He hurried over, trying to edge into the line, but the front was already packed. Every time he tried to slide in, someone gave him a sharp look like he was trying to cut.
Which, to be fair, he was.
Abuchi stopped mid step and slapped his forehead lightly. "I was here the whole time," he muttered under his breath. "How did I mess this up…"
He felt like a total amateur.
