Chapter 78
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The idea that barbecue is just about cutting and grilling meat is a common misconception among amateurs. But let’s not get into the details here.
This time, due to time constraints and the need for quick preparation, I keep it simple. I cut the meat into bite-sized pieces and poke numerous small holes in it with a skewer to help the sauce penetrate better. It’s a basic time-saving method.
「Here, it’s cooked.」
I toss the nicely grilled meat onto Sena’s plate one after another.
She munches away contentedly.
「Eat some vegetables too.」
I plop a generous portion of vegetables onto her plate. Sena munches on the vegetables too.
「I like vegetables too.」
「That’s great that you don’t have any picky eating habits!」
She may be a carnivore, but she can eat vegetables properly too.
Sena lets out a proud 「Mmph」 at my praise.
As I notice Sena’s pace slowing down as her stomach fills up, I start serving myself some meat as well.
「Delicious!」
Forgive me for praising my own cooking, but it really is good.
The meat is fresh and has just the right amount of marbling, but more importantly, the seasoning is superb.
「Come on, eat up, eat up.」
As I bring food to my own mouth, I make sure to add more meat to Sena’s plate before it empties.
「So, you know, Anon suddenly grabbed my shoulder from behind. The atmosphere at that moment was kind of scary.」
I share various stories with her.
Sena doesn’t laugh out loud, but I can feel her mood lightening up depending on the content of the stories.
There’s no hint of sentimentality as we talk while eating meat, but that’s fine for us.
With her here and me here, that’s all it takes for our world to be filled with color.
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「Then, you see, Ash also grabbed my shoulder from behind. With that kind of strength, you know?」
「Ichiro, using a vise grip on girls is a no-go.」
「But, well…」
I talk a lot with Sena.
About the Holy Knight who had what she was supposed to protect usurped.
About the information broker who wanted to become a hero.
About the brother who was willing to throw everything away for his younger brother’s recovery.
About the younger brother who showed the way to his older brother despite being cursed and barely able to breathe.
About the leader of the barbaric, sweaty mercenary group and his super beautiful son.
I get so caught up in talking that before I know it, dusk has long passed, and I can see a magnificent moon beyond the particles of light Sena is emitting.
「By the way, Ichiro.」
「What is it?」
「You really are a strange person, aren’t you?」
Suddenly, Sena covers her face with her sleeve.
「Because, you know…」
I prompt her, 「Because what?」
「I really enjoyed your stories. The Holy Knight lady, the information broker, everyone… they all seemed so alive.」
「Yeah.」
「It’s as if all their serious worries from before just melted away.」
She puts down her plate and moves closer to me, sauce still around her mouth.
「What are you doing?」
「Mm.」
Though it’s not exactly a refined action, I wipe around her mouth with my own sleeve.
Sena’s face, illuminated by the merciful light, seems somewhat flushed.
Come on, we’ve even taken medicine mouth-to-mouth and slept next to each other, but she gets this embarrassed just from having her mouth wiped? Wait, am I wrong here? Is wiping someone’s mouth actually an embarrassing thing?
「Ichiro, stop treating me like a child.」
「Okay.」
There’s probably no good in arguing here.
「I’m not angry. Don’t be so formal.
Look at me.」
Sena says, gesturing to herself.
「I’m having fun being with you right now, Ichiro.
I never felt this way before I met you.
I used to just spend my days aimlessly, in the same scenery, doing the same things every day.」
A particularly strong gust of wind blows by.
「You’re the one who changed that, Ichiro.」
The rustling of tree leaves makes a sound like pushing back waves.
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「The Holy Knight lady found comrades capable of solving her problems.
And the information broker found his ideal in you, Ichiro.
The brothers leading the clan have been freed from their curse, and they’ll surely walk towards a bright future now.」
I want to hear everything she’s trying to say.
The itchiness, the embarrassment, the restlessness.
I need to sincerely accept all of Sena’s words, including all of those feelings.
「Ichiro, you’re about to say ‘I didn’t do anything,’ don’t you?」
She waves her sleeve again.
The particles illuminating us suddenly disappear.
「Look.」
Sena spreads her arms wide in the wind.
「I’ve turned off the lights, what do you think, Ichiro?」
「Ah, this is…」
Where she’s pointing – the night sky is filled with countless stars.
「It’s amazing.」
My words are few simply because I’m at a loss for them.
When people see something beautiful, they lose their words.
Sensation leaves behind all thought and reason.
「Isn’t it?」
Saying that, she takes my hand and starts running.
「Wait a minute! Where are we going?」
「There’s no destination.」
「What’s that supposed to mean?」
She spins around, still holding my hand.
「Under this starry sky, I want to enjoy all of it to my heart’s content with you.」
Not to be outdone, I take her other hand and we spin around and around.
Like waves that surge and recede.
Like cherry blossoms fluttering and scattering.
The two of us, throwing all logic and everything else to the wind, run around and dance like fools for what feels like forever.
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「I only started looking at starry skies after I met you.」
We’re both lying down in the grassland.
I turn my face towards Sena next to me and answer.
「It’s the same for me.」
When I was in the Hero’s party, I was plagued by loneliness.
Seeing the relationship between Ryūgūin and the others made that loneliness even more intense. So the fact that I can live so healthily now is…
「Ichiro, just like how I was able to turn my eyes to the starry sky, I’m sure they too, thanks to you, will be able to notice the brilliance that’s right there now.」
「I hope so.」
I manage to reply, pushing down the emotions threatening to overflow.
Instead of words, I tightly grip Sena’s small, delicate hand. In response, Sena’s small hand strongly grips mine back.
We gaze at each other in front of the starry sky, and gradually…
「Heeeey! I’m baaack!」
With an incredibly loud shout, a mysterious person suddenly bursts onto the scene before us (for the second time).
Wait, what is this?!
Give me a break already (half-angry).
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