In the Red
In the principal’s office of the knights’ academy, Miriela sighed deeply as she pored over a ledger. “Ahh... In the red again this week. Ever since this year’s class was admitted...”
The reason was obvious: Inglis and Rafinha. They were entitled to use the cafeteria free of charge, but the cost of the extraordinary amount of food they ate had knocked the academy’s already-precarious finances into the red.
The accountant who had brought the ledger gazed at Miriela reproachfully. “Principal, it’s because you were so quick to waive their food expenses...”
“Ugh... I don’t understand how such cute girls could eat so much? They don’t look like they eat a lot.”
“Aren’t they Sir Rafael’s sister and cousin? There was always the danger that their family would have large appetites. The same happened when Sir Rafael was here.”
“Eh?! I wasn’t even principal then...”
“Well, yes... Anyway, we need to do something about it.”
“True, I suppose. What shall we do?”
“You could ask Prince Wayne for a budget increase.”
“Well... He already granted significant funds to the academy. I don’t want to push it too far. And to make matters worse, the prince is already being told that he’s favoring the knights’ academy too much.”
After a hesitant pause, the accountant said, “To some, they say it’s not favoritism of the knights’ academy itself, but its principal.”
“Why, that’s not true at all! The prince just values the importance of developing the next generation to use new technologies for our safety!”
“I...see. Perhaps we could secretly ask Sir Rafael for a donation?”
“That’s a good idea...but Rafael is out of the capital on a mission currently.”
“Then, what shall we do? We can’t go on like this.”
“Well...”
“Ah, how about this? We could reduce the amount of food bought for the cafeteria each day. Then at some point, it’ll run out of food, keeping the deficit from ballooning endlessly,” the accountant suggested.
“I’d kind of feel sorry for them, and I couldn’t have them weak during training because of their empty stomachs. Anyway, I’ll try to think of something.” With that, Principal Miriela ended the conversation and was left alone.
Maybe she could brainstorm over a cup of coffee—no, she had just run out. She had no choice but to head for the cafeteria.
“What should I do? This was a seed I’ve sown. Perhaps I can make money by getting rid of some of my belongings...” She talked to herself, deep in thought while walking—only to hear lively voices coming from the cafeteria.
“Wow! Amazing as always!”
“I wonder who’s gonna win!”
“They eat so much.”
“Wh-What’s going on?” Principal Miriela asked.
“Ah, Principal!” Leone said. “They’re having an eating contest!”
In the center of the cafeteria, Inglis and Rafinha were devouring food at an incredible pace.
“Ha ha ha... Ready to give up, Chris?”
“Not yet! Maybe you should, Rani!”
The two emptied plate after plate as they faced off.
“Wh-What are they having a contest over?” Principal Miriela asked.
“Looks like who’s responsible for cleaning their room,” Leone replied.
Miriela had nothing to say to that.
They had no idea what she was going through. The food they were wasting was pushing the academy deeper and deeper into the red, and they had no idea.
“C’mon! Stop that! If you need to compete, find some other way to do it!” she shouted over them.
Inglis and Rafinha flinched in surprise, taken aback by Principal Miriela’s angry glare. “Huh?! W-We apologize!” they both exclaimed.
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