Volume 5 - CH 27

“… Speaking of which, it’s almost noon, isn’t it?”

“I guess so.”

At Arisa’s words, Yuzuru checked his waterproof watch.

The time was 11:30.

It was almost time for the lunch that Ayaka had specified.

“As I recall, we were talking about having a BBQ for lunch, weren’t we?”

“I think so… If memory serves me right, the people in charge are Ayaka, Chiharu, and Soichiro.”

For this beach trip, each person was to bring something for which he or she was in charge – like foodstuffs.

For example, Ayaka was to bring meat, Chiharu vegetables, and Soichiro seafood.

“… I hope it’s proper food.”

Considering the personalities of the three – especially Ayaka – the possibility of a ” joke” was high.

“N-naturally, it must be something edible, right…?”

It seemed that Arisa also thought that they brought “strange things” to the table.

However, if they brought something that was truly inedible or something that people would not choose to eat, and no one could eat it… it would certainly be a disappointing event.

Yuzuru and Arisa wanted to believe that all three of them would understand that much, so they would bring at least something edible…

“Anyway, we should get to the meeting place. If we’re late, they’ll whine about it.”

“I guess so.”

They got out of the water – Arisa put on the rash guard – and headed for the meeting place.

After walking for a while…

“…Speak of the devils.”

“Since we’re here, why don’t we all go together?”

They found two people, Ayaka and Chiharu.

Just as Yuzuru and Arisa were about to call out to them…

“… are they not acting strange?”

“…so it seems.”

Unintentionally, Arisa and Yuzuru ducked behind a rock.

Then, peeking out from the shadows, they quietly listened.

“Isn’t it fine, Ayaka-san?”

“N-no, but… doing it in a place like this is…”

“Don’t worry, no one’s watching.”

“But, F-for me, Soichiro-kun is…”

“That has nothing to do with me… right?”

“S-stop… Ah~…”

Yuzuru and Arisa gently backed away…

Then walked away from the place as if to escape.

“T-that’s a world which is too early for us…”

“…we are still just kids, aren’t we.?”

When they arrived at the meeting place, Hijiri, Tenka, and Soichiro were already waiting for them ahead of time.

Soichiro asked Yuzuru and Arisa.

“Have you seen Ayaka and Chiharu?”

“N-No, not really…”

“I haven’t seen anything.”

When they replied, Soichiro merely shrugged his shoulders.

“I see… Well, they’re probably flirting somewhere.”

People who say don’t be late are the ones who are late…

Soichiro sighed.

And five minutes later.

Two girls came toward them, running along the beach.

“Sorry!”

“Oh no, we are a little late.”

They said without a hint of remorse.

Then they turned their attention to the BBQ set already in place.

“You already started.”

“The three boys did.”

Tenka answered Ayaka.

Yuzuru, Soichiro, and Hijiri had already set up the BBQ set because they had nothing else to do while waiting.

The next step was to arrange the ingredients and ignite the coals.

“Now all that’s left is the ingredients… Now that you two are here, let’s show them.”

“For now… shrimp, scallops, squid, clams, turban shells, and horse mackerels. These are the standard stuff. And I recommend crabs and rock oysters.”

What Soichiro brought was more normal than they had imagined.

The four of them, including Yuzuru, patted their chests.

Such things are fine.

It was such a lineup.

“Surprisingly normal, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, I was actually going to bring surströmming… but I held myself back.”

“Good job. There there.”

Hijiri stroked Soichiro’s head.

Soichiro then shook it off, saying that he was not happy to be petted by a man.

“Well then, I guess I’m next.”

Chiharu said and opened the cooler box she had brought with her.

She then pulls out a plastic bag of vegetables, which appear to have been cut in advance.

“As for what’s in season, I had some sent to me from my hometown. Corn, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, cabbage, and garlic. These are the standard items. Mushrooms are shiitake mushrooms and eringi mushrooms… I recommend Kujo leeks, Kamo eggplants, and Fushimi peppers, these three.”

In addition, Yakisoba noodles were also prepared for the closing dish.

Chiharu said.

Surprisingly ordinary.

The fact that by bringing Kyoto vegetables in particular, she was appealing to the uniqueness of the dish was a remarkable thing.

“I was debating on bringing Durians for dessert until the day of the trip, but decided against it.”

“Good job. There, there.”

“More compliments, please!”

“Hey, don’t hug me!”

Chiharu pressed her face against Tenka’s chest, while Ayaka put the cooler box on the beach as if it was her turn.

“I’ve brought you something special.”

Yuzuru and Arisa looked at each other when Ayaka said that.

They had a bad premonition.

Ayaka, on the other hand, did not care and put the ingredients on the table.

“From beef, we have ribs, tongue, and entrails. As for pork, it’s the belly. And for chicken, it’s yakitori with salt and sauce. And lamb.”

Isn’t that surprisingly normal?

Yuzuru felt relieved and a little disappointed at the same time.

…But then Ayaka took out more ingredients.

“And then, here’s a deer.”

“…deer?”

“And a rabbit and a pheasant.”

Yuzuru felt the tide had turned.

“And here’s the crocodile!”

“Crocodile!”

Arisa shouted in surprise.

…her eyes glittered a little.

“And this one is awesome. Bear hands!”

“That’s amazing, dude.”

Hijiri shouted, half in amazement and half in astonishment.

“And finally, we have frogs.”

“F-frogs…”

Tenka looked disgusted.

She apparently did not want to eat it.

On the other hand, Arisa was looking at the frogs with great interest.

Since Arisa seemed to be eating these for the first time, there was no need to worry about untouched food.

(Well, I can eat it too… and so can Ayaka, since she brought it with her.)

Yuzuru had eaten frogs when he traveled to China in the past.

When traveling abroad, one has the opportunity to eat this kind of food at least once.

Even in Japanese restaurants, some places offer it.

Unless someone is a picky eater, he or she will eat it at least once in their lifetime.

“That’s Ayaka for you…!”

“I’m mesmerized, I admire you!”

“Hmph, give me more compliments!”

Ayaka smiled pleasantly as both Soichiro and Chiharu patted her on the head.

It seemed that the three of them shared similar sensibilities after all.

“But there’s so much food… Can we eat it all?”

Yuzuru voiced such concerns.　

The amount of food seemed quite large, even including the fact that there were seven growing men and women.

“Ah, don’t worry. I’ll put the leftovers in the curry and miso soup for dinner.”

“That sounds like quite a sumptuous dinner.”

Bear hands might be fine, but would frogs go with them?

Yuzuru tilted his head in his mind.

TN: – well…