「Thanks for setting everything up, Uncle.」
「This is my job every time.」
Uncle of Kojima Poultry Farm had already lit the barbecue grill’s charcoal, which had turned a perfect gray. Now all that was left was to grill the meat and vegetables.
Haruki and I grabbed the tongs and immediately got to work cooking.
「Those two are such a good match, don’t you think?」
「It’d be weirder if they weren’t together. Honestly, I feel like asking to join them myself.」
「There’s no way that’d work for you, Kama-chan.」
「You’d crush them physically, for sure.」
The explorers were chatting among themselves, occasionally glancing our way with amused expressions. Though, I wasn’t sure if Samurai was okay—his face had turned completely pale while being held in a headlock by the doctor.
Meanwhile, Dori and Yuri were sitting in their chairs, happily sipping on juice. When I waved to them, they returned the gesture with big smiles. Sakura and Sena stood beside them, fanning the girls with paper fans.
The heat was still intense, even as the evening approached, so there was always the risk of heatstroke.
「Papa-san just gave me a special fan-service!」
「That was for Dori and Yuri, though—」
「It was fan-service!」
Their paper fans had pictures of me and Dori on them, so it looked like they were cheering us on while pretending to fan the girls.
「And not only that, he’s grilling meat for us—what kind of ultimate fan-service is this?」
「What fan-service?」
「You know, for the fans of farm diary!」
「I’d rather be grilling the meat myself, though.」
「Want me to ask Haruki to switch with you later?」
「Oh, I don’t need Haruki-san to switch with me.」
「Wait, don’t you want to grill meat with Papa-san?」
「If I’m grilling with someone, I’d rather do it with Dori-chan or Yuri-chan.」
I couldn’t hear the finer details of their conversation, but everyone seemed to be having a great time. Even my grandparents were doing stretches and back pain prevention exercises with Potato. Seriously, is that dog really a dog?
「I never thought it’d get this lively.」
「It’s just us and the Kojima family, after all. Honestly, this area feels like it has the most residents it’s ever had.」
「Hard to believe this used to be such a deserted countryside. Those days feel so nostalgic.」
Other families lived farther away, but during middle school, all the kids from the surrounding hamlets would gather together.
Our elementary school had closed after our class graduated. I wonder how everyone else is doing now.
Back then, I never had the time to think about things like that—at least not until I met Haruki. Changes in one’s environment can really reshape the heart.
「Oh, looks like the meat’s done!」
The luxurious cuts of meat were perfectly grilled to a golden brown. It almost felt wasteful to eat such high-quality beef at a barbecue, but that’s where Haruki truly shined.
With a professional chef like him around, my own contributions were relatively minimal.
「Hey, the meat’s ready!」
As soon as I called out, Dori and Yuri sprang from their chairs and came running, clutching paper plates tightly in their hands.
「Papa!」
「Haruki!」
They called our names, holding out their plates with eager smiles. Somehow, Yuri had started seeing Haruki as a father figure, too.
「Eat as much as you want.」
I loaded Dori’s plate with a generous portion of meat, and her face lit up with delight. She must’ve been waiting so patiently for it to be ready.
「It’s dangerous here, so go eat over there, okay?」
As Haruki and I resumed grilling, Dori and Yuri stood off to the side, looking at each other with warm expressions. They used to bicker so much, but now they seemed as close as real sisters.
「Papa!」
「Haruki!」
Suddenly, Dori tugged at my shirt while Yuri grabbed onto Haruki’s pants.
「What’s up?」
「Something wrong?」
We both turned to face them at the same time.
「Ahhh!」
The two of them held up freshly grilled pieces of meat to our mouths. We had intended for them to enjoy the food first, but now here they were, offering us this unexpected treat.
「Thanks for moving here!」
「Tenks!」
Haruki and I froze, unsure how to react.
「Hurry up and eat already!」
Yuri started to fidget, clearly embarrassed, while Dori was practically drooling as she tried to hold back her own urge to eat. The pieces of meat, precariously perched on chopsticks, looked like they might fall any second.
「Thanks to both of you, too.」
I took the meat into my mouth, and a warm feeling spread through my chest. It wasn’t just the flavor—it was the kindness behind the gesture.
Unable to resist, I wrapped Dori in a hug. She pressed against me, and I noticed a damp sensation on my shoulder.
「Papa…」
「Hmm?」
Realizing she was waiting patiently, I quickly let go. But when I looked at her face, she seemed oddly dejected. Her hands were empty—no plate in sight.
「Wait… Don’t tell me…」
「…banikyu.」
Apparently, what I’d felt on my shoulder wasn’t Dori’s drool—it was barbecue sauce and meat grease.
「I’ll commit seppuku de gozaru.」
「Yeah, this is a certified ‘death by cuteness’ moment.」
「Maybe we can convince the papa duo to just hug us all at once?」
Though I pretended not to hear the murmured comments from the explorers nearby, they were clearly entertained by the scene.
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