Mint and the others returned about two hours later.
They must’ve passed through some thickets along the way judging by the leaves and cobwebs stuck to them and the dirt smudged on their feet—but they came back beaming, shouting.
「Went to left, back to right!」
「That’s right, awesome, isn’t it? It’s proof you made it all the way around the lake.」
Mother, catching the rushing Mint in her arms, brushed the dirt from her hair.
「Welcome back. How was it?」
「Hmm, it was pretty fun.」
「Bark!」
Karen smiled, and Chocola barked happily.
「Looks like you’ve picked up a few things too. Just where did you all wander off to?」
「There were a few dense spots on the way. Mint and Chocola dove right into them, so it took a bit of effort.」
「I see. No monsters showed up?」
「Nope, all good… It seems like only mutants ever try to mess with us.」
「Maybe it’s because of the magic aura you’ve been giving off?」
「That could be it, but mostly, I think it’s thanks to this.」
Karen touched her earring.
Ah, right… Even the Ejetia twins were terrified of it… ‘Fairy’s Drop’ really is a powerful charm. Better make sure I use them carefully.
「Well then, welcome back safe and sound, everyone. It’s just about time, so how about we have some lunch?」
I made my way toward the carriage.
Time for the main event—lunch by the lake.
※※※
I put my best effort into the bentos.
After all, what’s an outing without a good packed lunch? If the lunch is delicious, the day’s a success. You could even say outings exist for the purpose of enjoying tasty lunches.
Starting with the sandwiches:
There’s smoked chicken, vegetables, egg, and tuna mayo. Using everything this season has to offer, I filled a woven basket to the brim. And of course, a quarter of it is fruit sandwiches.
In another basket, onigiri:
These are mostly Japanese flavors—kelp, dried bonito, green onion miso. Karen helped make them, and she’s gotten quite good at it; each one’s a perfect triangle.
The side dishes are packed into yet another box:
Karaage, tamagoyaki, kinpira, grilled salmon. Tsukune meatballs, curry croquettes, simmered koya tofu, mini hamburg steaks—you name it.
And lastly, the dessert basket:
A selection of fresh fruits and apple pie—
「Uwaa, amazing, amaziinngggg!」
「It’s quite the feast. I wonder if we can finish it all?」
「Hmm, I’ll try.」
「I made extra, so don’t push yourselves. If we don’t finish, we’ll just pack it up for dinner later.」
Mint, Mother, and Karen all looked at me with shining faces.
And of course, I haven’t forgotten Pochi and Chocola.
「Pochi, I made a salted salad for you.」
「Kyu-rrurrru!」
「And Chocola, here’s some boiled meat, simmered in soy milk, just for you.」
「Bark bark bark!」
I set out the lunch baskets in the center of the woven mat.
Then we all sat around them in a circle.
I poured tea from the thermos into cups and handed them out.
Mint, Pochi, and Chocola were all wriggling with anticipation.
Sorry, just a moment longer—especially you, Mint.
There’s one last thing I need to give.
「Mint, here.」
「What’s this?」
I held out a small package wrapped in cloth and tied at the corners, forming a neat, rectangular bundle.
Anyone from Japan would probably find this more familiar than the baskets.
「Go ahead, open it.」
「Uuuuut! …hardbox, inside?」
「There’s a lid. You lift it up like this, with a little click.」
Mint undid the container’s latch and opened the lid.
Her eyes sparkled.
「…..fuwaaaa! Tiny, bento!!」
Inside was a rice ball shaped like a small loaf, along with karaage, tamagoyaki, and kinpira.
The contents weren’t much different from the basket, but the rectangular plastic container itself was…
「It’s a bento box. One I used back there.」
For three years in high school, I’d pack my lunch in it every day, wrap it in a lunch cloth, and take it to school.
「Sui-kun, is that from your old world?」
「Yeah. It’s the one I brought with me the day I transmigrated here…」
I remember, back then, right after Father had passed away, I didn’t have the energy to make side dishes and just filled it with frozen food. As I ate, worried after the wyvern attack, no electricity, feeling so uneasy, I thought it might be my last meal from the civilized world…
After that day, I’d kept it stored in the cupboard.
「I’m giving it to you, Mint. In Japan, they had cute, character-themed ones for kids your age… Sorry mine’s just a plain, high school boy’s version.」
I figured it might be useful for Mint, not only on outings but for meals at home, or even for snacks. She could even use it as a toy if she wanted. With the airtight seal, it could hold liquids without spilling—maybe it’d come in handy.
That’s what I had in mind when I handed it over.
A little box like this tends to spark excitement in kids, I thought.
But Mint…
Slowly, gently, as if handling something precious, she set the bento box down beside her.
Then, all at once, she threw her arms around my neck.
「Whoa…」
「Tiny bento, cutee! Love it! Thank you! Sui, love!」
Her arms held tight with a joyous energy, her voice so full of delight it sounded a bit misty with emotion, and the warmth of her embrace expressed her excitement—
「…Now I feel guilty. It’s only a hand-down.」
「It’s not. Sui used it, Mint happy!」
「Yes, she understands. She knows it’s one of your mementos.」
A memento… maybe that’s what it was.
It might actually be true.
Father had bought this bento box for me. Well, technically, I picked it out when I started high school, and he paid for it, either through a catalog or from a hardware store.
You never know when it might break, and eventually you won’t be able to get rid of the dirt. Maybe you don’t like the design anymore.
—So when that day comes, tell me, okay?
You’re weirdly reserved about these things—
In the end, I never replaced it.
Not out of politeness; it just never broke. I took care of it, so there were no stubborn stains, and the simple design meant I never got bored of it.
Right.
It wasn’t that I held back.
I just took good care of it.
And so, a mass-produced, ordinary bento box like this had somehow, without me noticing, become a treasured item of mine.
Ah… I see.
Maybe that’s why I wanted to give it to Mint—to have her use it.
「Well then, let’s eat. Chocola and Pochi look like they can’t wait any longer.」
「Kyururuu…」
「Kuuun…」
「Uuh… Mint wants eat too!」
Mint hugged the bento box with a big smile.
As our voices rose with ‘Itadakimasu!’ and drifted into the wintry sky, I took a rice ball in one hand and a piece of fried chicken to my mouth.
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