"Ah, everyone's here!"
After walking into the living room, Miyauchi Kazuho saw the bustling crowd sitting together on the tatami.
"Kazuho-oneesan!"
Sato raised a hand in greeting.
Miyauchi Kazuho still looked completely unmotivated. She had naturally narrow, half-closed eyes that made her seem as though she could never fully wake up.
In reality, that was pretty much true. Sleeping was probably her greatest joy in life.
Asahigaoka Branch School had so few students that organizing proper classes was difficult, so everyone mostly studied on their own. Meanwhile, Miyauchi Kazuho would sit at the teacher's desk fast asleep.
"So Sato and Konomi are here too. It's been a long time. I heard you got into Chiba University, Konomi?"
"Mm."
Fujimiya Konomi smiled and nodded.
"That's really impressive."
Miyauchi Kazuho sighed in admiration. Although Chiba University could not compare with the likes of the University of Tokyo or Kyoto University, it was still one of Japan's top universities.
"Alright then, where are the bamboo shoots?"
After greeting everyone, Miyauchi Kazuho put her hands on her hips and looked around the room, clearly very interested.
Spring bamboo shoots!
Freshly sprouted bamboo shoots could be summed up in one word.
Fresh!
Just imagining those tender bamboo shoots made her mouth water.
As she pictured them, Miyauchi Kazuho suddenly let out a couple of silly chuckles. She looked so delighted that it would not have been an exaggeration to say she was practically drooling.
Well...
Sato looked at Miyauchi Kazuho with a complicated expression.
Kazuho-oneesan, could you at least pay a little attention to your image? You're a teacher, after all. You should set an example. The way you look right now is honestly a bit of a disaster.
At that moment, Konomi, who was sitting beside him, suddenly stood up.
"The bamboo shoots are still outside. I'll help you cook, Kazuho-oneesan."
Fujimiya Konomi had always been exceptionally capable around the house.
"Then I'll help too!"
Seeing that, Koshigaya Komari eagerly got up as well, rolling up her sleeves.
Huh?!
The expressions of Koshigaya Natsumi and Ichijou Hotaru, who were sitting beside her, changed instantly. One grabbed each of Komari's arms and pulled her back down.
"Onee-chan, just stay here with us. Leave that stuff to Kazuho-oneesan and Konomi-oneesan!"
Koshigaya Natsumi said while swallowing hard.
"Y-Yeah! Senpai!"
Ichijou Hotaru hurriedly added.
Her face had gone slightly pale, as though she had recalled something terrifying.
Sato turned in confusion toward Fujimiya Konomi, who had not left yet.
Wearing a helpless smile, she glanced at Koshigaya Komari before lowering her head slightly toward Sato. Her lips silently formed two words.
A culinary black hole.
Sato immediately understood.
Still... wasn't this a little too much?
He silently mouthed the question back to Konomi.
Maintaining her gentle smile, she mouthed another reply.
You can try it.
After glancing back at Koshigaya Natsumi and Ichijou Hotaru, who looked as though they were facing a great enemy, Sato decided against testing that theory.
"Huh? What are you two doing? As the older sister, of course I should help!"
Koshigaya Komari looked rather dissatisfied and tried to stand up again, only to be pushed back down by Natsumi.
Koshigaya Natsumi looked at her seriously.
"Hikage-oneesan and Big Brother Sato aren't helping either. Onee-chan, just stay here and play with us."
After saying that, she discreetly signaled to Ichijou Hotaru with her eyes.
Understanding immediately, Ichijou Hotaru put on a pitiful expression.
"Senpai, stay here and play with us. It's been such a long time since we've played together!"
Seeing Ichijou Hotaru's pleading face, Koshigaya Komari hesitated before finally sitting down obediently.
"Alright, I won't go then. But... don't we play together all the time?"
She could not help pointing that out.
"H-Haha..."
Ichijou Hotaru laughed awkwardly, but inside she breathed a huge sigh of relief.
As long as Senpai stayed out of the kitchen.
Just then, Miyauchi Renge stood up and asked the Miyauchi Kazuho, who was about to head outside,
"Onee-chan, can I go call the lady from the candy store?"
"Kaede? Sure. But are you going by yourself?"
"Kanna and I will go together!"
"Will you two be alright?"
Miyauchi Kazuho asked with some concern.
"We'll be fine!"
Miyauchi Renge nodded firmly.
Miyauchi Kazuho still looked hesitant, so Sato stood up.
"I'll go with them."
"Then I'll leave them to you, Sato."
"No problem."
...
The country road.
Lunch would still take a while. After all, they had only dug up the bamboo shoots. They still needed to peel them first, which was a fairly time-consuming task.
Along the way, Kanna and Miyauchi Renge skipped happily down the road.
It was obvious they were enjoying themselves.
Sato simply followed behind them with a faint smile, quietly appreciating the peaceful moment.
Kagayama Kaede's shop was the only store in the village, selling daily necessities and various snacks.
As for its nickname, "the Candy store," that had spread thanks to Koshigaya Natsumi.
The grass beside the path was fresh and green, dotted with all kinds of wildflowers whose names no one knew. The air was filled with the fragrance of grass and trees.
To reach the store, they had to pass through an underpass.
The underpass was not very long, so it had no lighting installed, but it still looked deep and gloomy.
Miyauchi Renge suddenly stopped walking.
Turning toward Kanna with a solemn expression, she said,
"Natsumi said this is the lair of an evil dragon. Sometimes when people pass through here, they can hear the dragon roaring. Only a true hero dares to walk through here alone!"
After saying that, she stepped inside with a look of righteous determination on her little face, just like a real hero.
Kanna turned to look at Sato, her eyes full of confusion.
There's a dragon inside?
She then looked back toward the underpass.
Seeing this, Sato could not help smiling. He gently patted Kanna's head.
"There isn't any evil dragon in there. Natsumi was just fooling her."
Kanna nodded and followed behind Miyauchi Renge into the tunnel.
A short while later, they emerged from the other side.
As soon as they walked out, the view suddenly opened up.
Miyauchi Renge let out a long sigh of relief and muttered to herself with unwavering determination,
"I'm not afraid of evil dragons. I'm a true hero."
Sato: "..."
Kanna: "..."