「Ano… Are you sure it’s okay for me to join in?」
「Of course! In fact, I’ve been thinking about offering this as a perks for our future private accommodations business.」
Inspired by the mayor’s recent discussions, I started brainstorming activities that could complement the farm-stay concept. That’s when I came up with the idea of offering farming experiences.
These days, most people rarely get the chance to harvest vegetables themselves or till the soil. Providing an opportunity to try these activities in a dungeon-town setting could help promote the value of farming and give visitors a unique experience.
Imagine dining on vegetables you picked with your own hands—that alone would set this town apart from others. If the concept succeeded, it could expand to include Kojima Poultry Farm and even evolve into a larger-scale town revitalization event.
When I invited Sena, who wasn’t planning on venturing into the dungeon today, she mentioned wanting to watch the farm work. So, I figured I’d let her help while she was here.
「Neenee!」
Dori eagerly led Sena to the tomato patch. Her determined gestures, though clumsy and childlike, made me smile as she tried her best to explain the process.
「Naoki, got a moment?」
「What is it, Grandpa?」
「That girl—is she your wife?」
「Huh…!?」
I was stunned by Grandpa’s sudden question. Sena had been staying at our house for a few days now, but had he really been thinking of her as my wife all this time?
「No, she’s not.」
「I see… Well, how about making her your wife?」
Grandpa’s generation loved playing matchmaker, arranging introductions or meddling in relationships, sometimes to a meddlesome extent.
In the countryside, where opportunities to meet people were scarce, it seemed even more natural.
「Honestly, as long as I have Dori, I’m fine.」
「Fair enough. Dori is adorable, after all.」
Grandpa nodded in agreement, in his typical understanding way. He’d never pressured me or forced decisions on me, which was one reason I had felt comfortable leaving for the city to work.
「Papa!」
Dori came running up, her small arms full of tomatoes. She’d been teaching Sena how to harvest them, it seemed.
Taking the tomatoes from her, we all joined in the harvest, working together under the warm sun.
♢
Carrying the freshly harvested vegetables home, I noticed a pair of unfamiliar men’s and women’s shoes at the entrance.
「Grandma, do we have guests—」
「Oh, Naoki, welcome back!」
There, inexplicably wielding a frying pan, stood Haruki. I thought I’d sent him back to the poultry farm earlier, but it seems he stayed at our house instead.
He might as well become chicken feed.
「Why are you still here?」
「Your grandma invited me over. It’s fine, right? We’re childhood friends, after all.」
Our bickering picked up right where it always left off.
I’m usually the one getting annoyed…
「Childhood friends who argue like a couple… this is the best!」
Turning around, I saw Lady sipping barley tea at the table. Somehow, her mere presence elevated the tea, making it seem like a high-class beverage.
「Ah, Lady-san.」
「Oh, don’t mind me. Please, continue your conversation. For now, think of me as nothing more than a statue.」
Are all explorers eccentric?
Even if she said not to mind her, I didn’t particularly have anything to say to Haruki.
But why was he holding a frying pan in the kitchen?
「I thought I’d make something for you to eat. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?」
He brought over a dish, its aroma cutting through the exhaustion weighing on my body.
「Don’t you remember? When you were little, you promised Haruki-kun you’d let him cook with the vegetables you grew.」
I have almost no memory of my childhood.
What I do remember are the overlapping school projects, having my crush stolen, and Haruki taking my spot as a regular on the team.
The list of unpleasant memories involving him is endless.
「Papa! No!」
Apparently, my irritation had shown through again.
Dori smacked my back, scolding me.
Perhaps noticing this, Haruki casually slung an arm around my shoulders.
「We’re best friends, right, Naoki?」
「Hah?」
「Papa?」
Dori’s crimson eyes bore into mine.
For some reason, when she looks at me like that, I feel like I can’t escape.
「Best friends… right?」
Haruki was staring at me too.
If I didn’t answer, Dori would probably keep being upset with me.
「Y-yeah. Papa and Haruki are best friends!」
I glared at Haruki.
But my glare only seemed to amuse someone else.
「I can’t take it anymore! Even a spot in the bathroom is fine—please, let me live here!」
Lady began pulling wads of cash out of her bag, piling them onto the table.
How much money does this person always carry around?
Judging by the paper bands still on the bills, it was easily over five million yen.
「Things are about to get lively around here. Since Haruki-kun went to the trouble of cooking, why don’t you all sit down and enjoy it?」
At Grandma’s urging, we ended up eating the meal Haruki had prepared.
As much as it annoyed me to admit, the food he made was ridiculously delicious.
Even Dori warmed up to him instantly.
It felt like I’d never be able to beat him, no matter what I did.
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