Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093094471724561/episodes/7667601420236637105
I got stuck as the (temporary) Prep Minister, but what am I even supposed to prepare? I heard there were veggies, so I chopped those up, but is there anything else I’m supposed to do?
You get it now, right? I (Moriguchi Hiroto) have never done a BBQ thing before. Sure, I know they exist? But I didn’t know they actually happened.
Because I’m basically the antithesis of BBQ, you know? I thought only one of us could exist in this world.
Do you really think someone like me could prepare for a BBQ? Of course I can’t! Fumi-senpai made me the Minister of Preparation (Provisional) based on my looks and past behavior, but I’m a shy guy (lol), so it’s impossible.
I can’t tell Fumi-senpai I couldn’t do it after she entrusted me with it. She’d just say, “If you couldn’t do it, you should’ve said so earlier!” – totally fair.
Why did I have to act cool and give off that I could handle it?!
I wrapped a pure white towel around my head, put on work gloves, rolled up my short sleeves to make it sleeveless, and totally gave off that “I can totally handle BBQ prep” vibe!
Dressed like that, everyone would think I could handle BBQ prep with ease! Why did I start with the appearance?!
“What are you doing? Let’s get started.”
“…Yes.”
“Why the formal speech? Whatever. Just set it up and put the charcoal in. We’ll be done in no time.”
“Huh?”
Huh, that’s it? Wait, does BBQ just require a spot and it’s easy? Doesn’t take any strength at all. Then why did Fumi-senpai compliment my muscles?
Wait, maybe this outfit isn’t for prep? Is this what you wear to actually grill? Huh, suddenly this outfit feels embarrassing.
I quickly pulled down the sleeves I’d rolled up, reverting to short sleeves.
“Don’t we need to light the fire?”
“I think the fire can wait. Also, why the formal speech?”
“Understood. Onee san.”
“Huh? onee san?”
“Please let me call you onee san.”
“Stop it.”
“Yes. I’ll stop.”
Right, this one went through elementary and middle school normally. That’s why she knows about BBQ.
Close call. If it had just been me and Hisada-chan alone, we both would’ve been clueless and screwed. We’d have ended up just cutting tons of vegetables.
“We’re back~”
Just as we were talking about them, the shopping group returned.
Wow, that’s a lot of stuff. Wasn’t that the real heavy lifting?
“Alright, let’s get the fire ready.”
“Yeah.”
“Put the fire starter down here, then stack the charcoal on top.”
“Okay.”
“Light the fire starter.”
“Got it.”
“Leave it alone for now. Once the charcoal turns white, I think it’ll be ready.”
“Whoa—”
Fire!
Fire really is great, isn’t it? It’s cool, it’s hot, and the sound of it burning is nice too. Just watching it is soothing.
Once the fire’s lit, it’s all ours. I rolled up my sleeves again, going sleeveless.
This is the outfit for BBQ, right? Like this, I can grill as many pieces of meat as I want.
“Got your paper cups? Cheers!”
“”“Cheers!!”””
After clinking our paper cups together, the BBQ kicked off amidst all the commotion.
“Whoa, this meat’s cooked just how I like it. Perfect!”
“Delicious! Haruka-chan! Bring me a piece of meat!”
“…Come get it yourself.”
“Huh? Haruka-chan, aren’t you drinking juice? Wow wow!”
I go over to tease Hisada-chan, who’s drinking water instead of juice.
“…Shut up.”
Hisada-chan glares at me fiercely, but I’m not the type to get discouraged by something like that.
“Eh, wait, you’re drinking water instead of juice? Here! Water, NO? Water, NO! Water, NO NO NO NO NO NO NO, I’m Mizuno♪ Here, juice juice♪”
Drink call… that’s probably right, huh? I’ve heard this somewhere before, where was it?
“…Shut up.”
“Juice juice♪”
“…Shut up.”
“Here! Juice juice♪”
“…Tch.”
Splash!
Hisada-chan dunked the paper cup she was holding right on my head.
“Whoa! Perfect timing, my head plate was just drying!”
“Are you a kappa, by any chance? Here, have some corn.”
Fumi-senpai gave me corn, since I’m a kappa.
“Isn’t that a cucumber over there?”
“Kappa~♪”
“Do kappa really go ‘Kappa~’?”
We had such a fun time at the BBQ.
Fun times always end too soon. The beginning brings the end, but if you mourn that end, you’ll never start the next thing.
That’s what my grandma used to say. Why is my grandma so cool?
Since the next thing won’t start, I quickly cleaned up the BBQ and started preparing the fireworks.
“3.2.1 Fire! Let’s light them all at once!”
“3!”
“2!”
“1!”
“Fire!”
We held our fireworks close to the candles to light them.
Crackle crackle crackle!
What color are fireworks? What do you call this color? Maybe fireworks are great because they’re indescribable colors.
“I’d like to see your magic, Senpai.”
“Heh heh… Just this once.”
Fumi-chan Senpai started waving the fireworks like a conductor.
“The Flame Conductor has appeared!!”
Waaah!! I saw it!! So happy!! This is it, this!! Well, it’s just waving fireworks around, so anyone could do it, but it’s okay because it’s Fumi-senpai.
Thank you. Just seeing this made coming to this training camp worth it.
“Burn it into your memory…”
“My eyes will catch fire!!”
The fireworks were just as lively as the BBQ.
“Having fun?”
I spoke to Hisada-chan, who was quietly enjoying sparklers. Just holding sparklers makes her look picture-perfect.
“…So-so.”
“Glad to hear it.”
Hisada-chan’s “so-so” actually means she’s having quite a good time.
“This is gonna be an unforgettable memory.”
“………Yeah.”
Ah, uh, ah, so that’s a “yeah,” huh.
That’s an unexpected response for Hisada-chan. I totally thought she’d say something like “…Gross” and realize how creepy I am.
“You look really beautiful lit up by the fireworks.”
“…Creepy.”
Ah, she did think it was creepy after all…
Huh? I was so caught up in the fireworks, but Niiro isn’t here.
Maybe she was scared of the fireworks? No, but that wasn’t part of the plan.
I’m a little worried, so I’ll go look for her.
Just as I thought that, I found her right away.
“What are you doing over there?”
I sat down next to Niiro.
“Hm?”
Huh? Niiro seems different than usual.
“I was worried about you.”
“Eh? Really?”
Her speech sounds slurred, more than usual. Could she be drunk?
But there’s no way they’d mistake juice for alcohol and drink it by accident. You’d know instantly if it was alcohol or juice after just one sip.
Besides, they’d definitely check her ID; she shouldn’t be able to buy alcohol anyway.
So why does Niiro look so… alluring?
“Are you really okay?”
“Huh? What?”
Could she be mistaking me for Saotome? Like she meant to lean on Saotome but ended up with Mizuno? Maybe the dim light made her mistake me?
If so, I’m sorry. Niiro was finally mustering the courage to act cute, only to find it was me, not Saotome.
We should clear up this misunderstanding as soon as possible. That way, Niiro won’t have to feel embarrassed. This is the kind of thing that’ll make you go crazy trying to sleep at night once you remember how embarrassing it is.
“Sorry, Sarasa-chan. I’m Mizuno Shota.”
“Huh? I know that?”
You know me!? You know me and you act like that?
“Hey? Mizuno?”
“Huh?”
I sat a bit away thinking you might not like being close, but you just leaned right in.
“Why do you always look at other girls, Mizuno?”
…………Huh?
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