General 21

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Chapter 21. Mina's Feeding Frenzy

"Okay. I've pretty much got all the necessary apps installed now."

"Thanks, Hinoura-san."

Installing apps while nibbling on food took quite some time.

"Is this the banking app?"

"That's right. You should do it yourself since it involves personal information like your account number."

"...I don't know how."

"Oh, for heaven's sake..."

I struggled to operate my smartphone while listening to Hinoura-san explain the registration process.

"I did it! I finally managed to log in!"

Now, I can check my balance and salary deposits on my phone.

This is handy.

"Huh? Wait, why am I back at the login screen? Do I have to log in again?"

"You probably kept pressing the back button. Let me see it for a moment."

Panicked, I handed my smartphone over to Hinoura-san and peeked at it from across the table.

"At first glance, it seems like it's back to the login screen, but if the session hasn't timed out, you can do it like this..."

As Hinoura-san operated the smartphone, it returned to the deposit history screen.

"I don't understand what you mean by 'session', but thanks, Hinoura-san."

"Uh, yeah..."

Taking the phone back from Hinoura-san, I started tapping on it again.

For some reason, Hinoura-san seemed flustered.

"Oh, by the way, Kamiya."

"Hm? What is it, Hinoura-san?"

Since I managed to use the banking app successfully, I decided to launch the game app I was curious about.

According to Hinoura-san, it's a highly popular smartphone game app right now.

"How much was Kamiya's first salary?"

"Huh?"

Immediately, the game screen showed the protagonist dying and 'Game Over' appearing.

But that wasn't my concern at the moment.

"Well... it's obviously the same amount as Hinoura-san's, right?"

"That's why I'm asking for the specific amount."

Sweat trickled down my back.

"Why are you asking such a personal question?"

"It's practice for using the app. Look, you can see your deposit records on the app we just used."

"Um... it's around tens of thousands of yen after deductions... I guess."

I desperately tried to remember the amount of my first salary listed in the enrollment pamphlet.

"Not 'I guess'. Give me the exact amount down to the last yen."

Uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh.

Because my salary amount, as a private, naturally differs from Hinoura-san's and mine.

The amount transferred is based on the salary table for second lieutenants, so there's a multiple difference compared to classmates.

What should I do?

Well, subtract taxes from the salary amount listed in the pamphlet, and then, no, it's impossible! I can't calculate it!

"Oh, what a coincidence. Yuu-kun and Hinoura-san."

I thought Hinoura-san had figured out my true identity, but an unexpected comment came from a different direction.

Looking at the unexpected speaker, I saw Mina with a smiling face but no joy in her eyes, and Suo-senpai with a thoroughly annoyed expression.

I thought I was saved, but a new crisis was approaching.

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"Here, eat up. You must be hungry, right?"

With a table full of dishes in front of us, Mina, who had joined our table unnoticed, smiled cheerfully as she sat opposite me and Hinoura-san on the sofa.

"Uh... we've already eaten our fill..."

"Eat. It's payday today, so the bill is on me, the upperclassman."

"This is what you call a feeding frenzy..."

"Hinoura-san, what's a feeding frenzy?"

I whispered to Hinoura-san, who muttered quietly.

"It's when a senior treats you to a meal, but the portion is excessive. However, leaving food is not allowed. Absolutely not allowed."

Hinoura-san turned pale, and the fact that he said it twice meant that leaving food was definitely not allowed.

"Let's dig in..."

Resigned, I reached for the pasta and hamburger before me as if fulfilling an obligation.

"Feeding frenzy? That sounds like bullying underclassmen. You were the one lecturing me about not bullying underclassmen just now."

Suo-senpai looked at Mina with an exasperated expression as he tilted his coffee cup.

"Suo-senpai, help me out."

"You only act like a junior when it's convenient."

I tried to seek cute help from Suo-senpai, but he left me hanging.

Damn it, he's still mad about using him as a prize for the duel the other day.

"Yuu-kun, your friend sent a message saying he had something to do, but I didn't expect it to be with a girl."

Mina smiled throughout, but there was a constant pressure behind her smile, like the image of a fierce tiger lurking in the background.

Why is she so upset?

Under the pressure from Mina, the pizza I put in my mouth felt like swallowing a dry sponge, getting stuck in my throat.

"Since you and Hinoura-san are partners for the practical training, let's deepen our friendship."

"Oh, I see. By the way, my partner is Vice President Nase, but except when necessary, we don't really interact. Just because we're partners doesn't mean we have to get along."

"You shouldn't tell a new student about such complicated things."

"Whose fault do you think it is... Anyway, while the tiger's away, let's clean up the food on the table."

"Suou-senpai, you're amazing! So manly!"

"I'm only eating what's meant for Hinoura's lady, so make sure you finish your own portion."

"Why only Hinoura-san's portion..."

"I've given her orders from above. But I made her uncomfortable by getting involved. Consider it my way of atoning."

Although I think if it were Hayami-san's power, Suo-senpai and the others would have been swept aside. I decided to keep quiet.

I can't afford to lose valuable forces here.

I have to finish the food in front of me before Mina and the others come back.

I started slurping the pasta on my plate.