02: In Which Minato and friends eat out

"Boss, are you getting hungry?" asked Momunofu, suddenly, about halfway through the walk. The demon's nose had stopped bleeding, though, he showed a different discomfort: hunger.

Pixie and Orpheus nodded, both needing to sate their appetite.

Minato had to admit that he was hungry as well. He could just head home, though; every day, the members of the dorm cycle to provide a meal for everybody. At this time, food may be almost ready, everybody gathering after nightly activities or missions. "We can just eat at the dorm."

"...Minato…" whispered Orpheus. He sounds displeased.

"Yes?"

His Pixie flew in front of his face, looking very, very concerned. "...Isn't the Fuuka woman cooking today?"

"..." Minato processes it.

"..." Pixie stared intently.

"..." Orpheus sighed.

"..." Momunofu frowned. "Fuck."

"...We're eating out tonight." announced Minato. There was a unanimous cheer.

They head into a busier part of the city. Humans, humanoid demons, and a few Beasts were out at that time of night, going about their business. There were only a few glances toward the group, and it was only because Minato had stained his jacket in the fight.

They go to a Wild Duck Burger; not the one they usually go to, but it would have to do. A few people were inside, talking with each other or eating. At the counter is an Apsaras, who had permission to wear usual Apsaras clothing, though she's still stuck with an employee hat. She greeted them politely, though she sounded a bit tired. "Welcome to Wild Duck Burger, may I take your order?"

"I'll have a number five." said Minato.

"Same thing." said Orpheus; they have a bunch in common.

"Two number sevens." grunted Momunofu.

"Medium fries and a salad!" chirped Pixie.

Minato paid out the money. After giving back the change, the Apsaras noted the blood on his clothes. "Ah, you're a Hunter? Strange, you're so young…"

Minato nodded. "School doesn't let us get normal jobs."

"Right. The Japanese school system is still a wonder to me." the demon sighed. "My mistress is still trying her hand at being a Hunter."

"Is that working out?" Orpheus interjected.

"I am working as a cashier." she said.

"...Ah."

"It'll get better." assured Minato.

"I hope so… why don't you take a seat while your food gets ready?"

The foursome found a booth in a corner. Minato and Orpheus slouched together, while Momunofu and Pixie took the opposite seats.

"I feel kinda bad for Fuuka." said Orpheus. "Nobody ever shows up when she's the one cooking."

"Didn't Ken try eating her food two weeks ago?" said Minato.

"He did it to be polite." said Pixie. She paused. "Also, he got food poisoning afterwards."

"Heh. That'll teach him to be polite." laughed Momunofu.

Pixie shivered. "Not even Amrita could cure him out of his funk."

"Hm. Maybe she'll feed it to Koromaru's team. Again." said Minato.

"I don't know, Hairy Jack looked kinda, you know, out of it that one time."

"Hm." He looked back to the front of the restaurant. "I think our food is ready."

"I'll get it." volunteered Momunofu. He got up and returned with trays of food. Everybody stared at the food as if it was a marvelous feast; well, in comparison to Fuuka's cooking, at least.

"...You didn't get us drinks." The Famed said to the Brute.

"Oh I'm sorry, your fucking highness."

"Don't fight, I'll get it!" said Pixie. Even if demons are accepted in society, fighting in public still isn't. She gathered everybody's cups (she knew their favorite drinks from past experience) and quickly returned (albeit struggling to bring the now full cups).

"Alright. So, is anybody going to say grace?" Minato looked at his comrades with a dead serious look on his face.

Then they all laughed, because the Law alignment is dumb, and dug in.

While Minato chewed on a burger, he hears (he's still wearing his headphones) his cellphone giving a text notification. He casually checked it:

"What about us?"

His other demons were texting him through the Demon Summoning Program. He wishes that Junpei and his demons never taught them that.

"only people that helped today gets food"

They'd probably be miffed the next time that he brings them out, but it's a rule that they all have to get used to.

However, Minato's eating is interrupted by another text. At first, he thought that they didn't get the message, but was surprised to see that it was from someone else:

Shinjiro.

"helped fuuka prepare the food today. not amazing but bearable"

Minato clutched his burger tightly, ignoring the ketchup running onto his hands. If he had known that, he wouldn't have blown most of that day's earnings on dinner.

Momunofu looked toward him. "Hey boss, can I order some mor-"

The cold glare told the demon a firm no.