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In a bright school cafeteria at midday, Minjun stands at the lunch table grinning, carefully balancing a soup thermos and bibimbap bowl. Ami places her neat bento beside him while Bataa approaches, smiling with a bulging lunch bag.
Four friends meet at one lunch table. 'Ready to eat?' Minjun grins, balancing soup and bibimbap. Ami sets down her neat bento. Bataa and Rafi arrive, smiling with full lunchboxes.
In the same cafeteria, afternoon sun slants through windows onto Ami sitting very straight at the table. She quietly opens tiny bento boxes of rice, fish, and bright vegetables, chopsticks poised with a serene smile.
Ami opens tiny boxes of rice, fish, and colorful veggies. 'Itadakimasu,' she whispers, sitting very straight. Chopsticks click softly. She smiles at her tidy lunch and eats carefully, calm as a pond.
Under fluorescent cafeteria lights, Minjun mixes his colorful bibimbap in a metal bowl, steam rising. He leans forward with a playful grin, holding a loaded spoon toward unseen friends beside an open thermos of soup.
Minjun opens warm bibimbap, lined by panchan, and a small soup thermos. 'Let’s eat together!' he chatters. He mixes colors, crunches kimchi, and giggles. 'Try a bite?' he offers cheerfully.
At the cafeteria table beneath warm ceiling lights, Bataa sets out steaming buuz and hearty meat onto neat plates. He extends a paw offering dumplings, eyes gentle, a stack of napkins ready beside the fragrant spread.
Bataa unpacks steaming buuz and hearty meat, arranged carefully. 'I brought plenty,' he says, paws open. 'Please share.' He passes napkins, smiling. The dumplings smell cozy, like warm tents after snow.
Sunlight pours through cafeteria windows as Rafi pops open a bright lunchbox of golden biryani studded with carrots, raisins, and chicken. Feathers fluff with pride while spicy steam curls around his cheerful beak.
Rafi clicks his lunchbox open to bright biryani, jeweled with carrots, raisins, and tender chicken. 'From Bangladesh!' he chirps proudly. Spices float like music. 'My family loves this.' His feathers fluff happily.
In the bustling cafeteria, Ami covers her ears beside the lunch table, eyes squeezed. Nearby, Rafi leans back uncertainly, clutching his biryani box, while Bataa freezes mid-gesture, plate of steaming buuz paused between them.
Ami covers her ears as chatter grows. 'Too noisy,' she murmurs. Rafi sees his friends scoot back from the strong aroma. 'Is my food wrong?' he asks. Bataa pauses, plate outstretched, unsure.
Under softer overhead lights, Minjun sits at the now-quiet cafeteria table, chopsticks suspended above his bibimbap. His brow furrows in concern as he sets the bowl down, glancing toward unseen friends for conversation.
Minjun blinks, chopsticks hovering. 'Something feels off,' he says softly. 'Can we talk?' He sets down his bowl and looks at everyone. 'What matters most about your lunches at home?'
Afternoon light glows across the cafeteria table where Ami folds her paws before her empty bento, eyes gentle. She speaks softly, smiling shyly, while a nearby teapot and ceramic cup emphasize the quiet respect she describes.
Ami folds her paws. 'At home, quiet eating shows respect,' she explains. 'I listen and pay attention.' She smiles shyly. 'I like gentle sounds, like tea pouring, or chopsticks tapping.'
Muted cafeteria lamps shine on Rafi sitting alone at the table, biryani box open, fragrant steam curling. His bright beak tilts downward, eyes reflective, as distant chairs sit empty around him.
Rafi nods, beak bright. 'At my house, biryani’s smell means celebration,' he says. 'Spices are love.' He takes a breath. 'When you move away, I feel sad, like rain inside.'
Beneath the cafeteria’s warm lighting, Bataa lowers a plate of dumplings onto the table, shoulders slightly slumped. His gentle eyes plead while steam rises from the untouched buuz beside neatly folded napkins.
Bataa clears his throat. 'Sharing is kindness in my family,' he says. 'If you refuse, I worry I did wrong.' He gently lowers the plate. 'I only wanted everyone full and happy.'
In the cafeteria evening light, Minjun smiles encouragingly, hand outstretched between Ami and Rafi at the table. Ami takes a calm bite, Rafi sits closer with biryani, as Minjun gestures for soft conversation.
Minjun smiles. 'In Korea, we talk and eat together,' he says. 'Let’s try.' 'First quiet bites for Ami,' he suggests, 'then soft chatting.' Sit near Rafi. Take Bataa’s offers if comfortable.
Under warm cafeteria lights, Ami and Rafi sit shoulder-to-shoulder enjoying their meals while Minjun raises a spoon in cheerful salute. Steaming buuz and bright biryani share the table, symbolizing their new harmony.
They follow the plan. 'Thank you,' Ami breathes, smiling. Rafi beams as friends sit close. 'Your biryani smells like sunshine,' Minjun says. Bataa shares buuz kindly. 'Different homes, one table,' they cheer.