-Grandpa’s POV-
Alright, the sweet potato digging contest has begun.
As I watched, everyone tilted their heads in confusion and came back.
「Grandpa, is there a trick to this?」
I couldn’t believe they were asking for help right after announcing the contest.
They probably had no idea which ones to dig up.
My adorable grandchildren, truly.
So, I decided to give them some advice on how to dig.
「First, check if the leaves and stems have withered.」
The sweet potato field Naoki planted was lush with green leaves that had lost their moisture and turned red or yellow.
This is a sign that the nutrients have fully reached the sweet potatoes.
That kid’s become quite the farmer now.
「Grandpa, yellow!」
「Grandpa, it’s not yellow, it’s skin-colored!」
「Hey, who’s calling me bald!?」
My adorable grandchildren immediately started teasing me about being bald.
Well, it’s true my hair’s thinner than before.
Lately, I’ve been trading stories and photos of Naoki and Haruki’s school days with Lady for hair growth tonic.
It’s like the good old barter system.
But I never thought stories about Naoki and Haruki’s past would be valuable.
You never know what’s worth something these days.
「Soon, I’ll have a full head of long hair like a hippie!」
「Hiki?」
「He pee?」
Dori and Yuri tilted their heads in confusion.
Come to think of it, I’d kept the hair tonic a secret.
I quickly covered my mouth, and Potato patted me encouragingly.
『You’ll get there!』
Ah, Potato’s been struggling with shedding season too.
「Hippie means someone with really long hair.」
「Ohhh.」
「Let’s dig sweet potatoes already!」
But Dori and Yuri seemed completely uninterested in my long hair.
Grandpa’s feelings are hurt!
Back in my day, I even dreamed of being a musician with long hair.
「Grandpa, apparently people don’t really use the word “hippie” much anymore.」
Naoki chimed in while looking at his smartphone.
「Oh… is that so?」
I really don’t understand the trendy words these days.
Lady has been teaching me a lot, but she often asks whether “Naoharu” or “Harunao” is better.
It’s a tough world for us old folks.
Well, I have dementia, so even if I learn something, I’ll just forget it anyway.
「Now, about digging sweet potatoes—」
『Hurry up!』
Potato tugged at my clothes.
「Ah, don’t rush me. I’ll give it to you tonight.」
『Okay!』
I know he’s been struggling with shedding season this fall.
Starting tonight, I’ll apply the hair tonic for him.
「Potato seems eager to start digging, so let’s get going.」
Huh?
Wait, Naoki’s got the wrong idea.
Potato doesn’t actually want to dig sweet potatoes right now.
『Grrrrr!』
See? Potato’s getting mad and targeting Naoki’s butt again.
「Whoa, Potato, stop!」
Potato kept biting Naoki’s butt as usual.
Apparently, biting Naoki’s butt gives him energy.
I really can’t keep up with the world these days.
「If you can’t understand a dog’s feelings, you won’t understand a woman’s feelings either.」
「Papa, Dori understands your feelings!」
「Yuri understands your feelings too!」
While I can understand the feelings of little girls, adult women are a whole different story.
Potato, now satisfied, came back to me.
His posture straightened, and he seemed full of energy.
Is this what those trendy energy drinks are like?
Maybe I should ask Naoki to let me bite his butt sometime.
「Alright, let me teach you how to dig sweet potatoes.」
I stepped into the sweet potato field.
This soil is truly excellent.
It’s rich in nutrients and well-maintained.
We planted the sweet potatoes around summer, and I’ve been curious about how they’ve turned out.
「First, move the vines aside—」
「Hiyah!」
Dori raised her hand, and the vines flew away.
Dori’s a mysterious child, after all.
Even the vines seem to like her and move on their own.
It’s like they’ve grown legs or something.
「If you use a shovel, you might damage the sweet potatoes. So, start by gently loosening the soil before digging.」
If you stick a shovel near the roots where the vines are, you might damage the sweet potatoes that have grown so well.
That’s why the usual method is to gently loosen the soil around the area and search for the sweet potatoes.
『Digidig digidig!』
Next to me, Potato was diligently removing soil.
Well, actually, he was aiming at Naoki, but Naoki didn’t notice and kept digging for sweet potatoes.
He’s got dirt all over his back…
『Sigh…』
Potato let out a sigh as he watched Naoki.
For all his antics, he really does like Naoki.
I know he sometimes sneaks into Naoki’s room to sleep with him.
Potato, having found another mischief to get into, started creeping closer to Naoki.
「Once you find one, more should follow. Make sure to harvest them all!」
「Okay!」
The kids responded and started digging for sweet potatoes.
Wait a minute, didn’t they just say they were going to have a sweet potato digging contest earlier?
They’re taking their time and having fun, but is that really okay?
――Beep beep beep!
A sound echoed through the air.
「Huh!?」
「Dori, what’s wrong?」
「Papa, the potato contest!」
「Ah…」
It seemed Naoki only realized it when Dori pointed it out.
That sound was coming from where Naoki usually films.
「Ahhh, everyone! We definitely didn’t forget about it, okay!」
「Y-yeah, Haruki always says practice is important!」
Even the responsible Yuri must’ve been so caught up in the fun of digging that she forgot.
But sweet potato digging isn’t really about competing, after all.
Well, except for that one troublemaker.
As proof, the sweet potatoes Naoki dug up were gone.
Potato had quietly mixed Naoki’s sweet potatoes with his own.
「Potato!」
『Shhh!』
He flinched when he realized I’d caught him.
Well, I’m not the kind of grandpa who gets mad over something like that.
「Alright, let’s start the sweet potato digging now!」
「Okay!」
When they announced they were starting the contest now, Potato looked disappointed.
He’d gone through the trouble of stealing Naoki’s share, after all.
Well, once I apply the hair tonic, he’ll perk up again.
It seems my grandkids are having fun as usual today.
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