manga artist Kirito

...That voice is still so beautiful.

Yukino Yukinoshita acted as if it were nothing out of the ordinary, saying, "It's nothing special, just a simple meal."

Yukino Yukinoshita could be considered a perfectionist. As mentioned before, she is almost a perfect beautiful girl, excelling in academics and other areas, including home economics... although apart from Haruno, the stalker and peeping tom, no one present knew this.

However, Yukino Yukinoshita is far superior to ten Haruno Yukinoshitas in terms of housekeeping. As for cooking skills, given enough ingredients, Yukino can easily make dishes at the level of a professional chef.

But considering Yukinoshita's standards, this doesn't seem surprising at all; it's simply doing things to the best of their ability.

Unfortunately, Haruno has never tasted a meal cooked by Yukino herself, which makes her very sad.

"That's a bit too easy for you to say, even though the task we're in charge of right now is very easy." Kato Megumi put down the knife she was using to peel the potato and then handed the potato to Yukino.

"More than that, I care about the purpose of this trip," Yukino said softly as she cut the potatoes into neat chunks.

...My sister has never been an easy person to get along with, because no one can see through her disguise, and it is even more difficult to see what she is thinking.

Now, they'd rather promise me one thing than not drag me onto this... seemingly pointless trip.

It's strange, my sister has never been enthusiastic about this kind of thing, but everyone present had a rather special relationship with her...

Of course, this doesn't mean we need to subtly probe them, because... it's pointless.

"Now...surprisingly...it matches the scene of a picnic in elementary school." Yukino Yukinoshita gave this evaluation, but it was also very different. Back then...there was no one by her side to help her, and there were no classmates who could talk to her like this.

Although the topic shifted somewhat abruptly, Kato Megumi, who already knew the personalities of these classmates, wasn't too surprised. "How strange, what Yukinoshita-san said..."

Everyone gathered here is an oddball, including myself...

"This is youth!" Looking at the enthusiastic crowd, Akane Kousaka and Haruno, who were squatting by the fire, each had an ice pop in their mouths, their pretty faces slightly flushed by the light.

There must be something wrong with him; he's sucking on an ice pop and then sitting next to a fire.

“Indeed, we’re all getting old.” Yang Nai hooked her arm around Kosaka Akane’s shoulder and echoed the same sentiment.

"If we do more activities like this with young people, won't we become younger too?"

"Shut up, watermelon! Don't think that just because you're making comments like Xiaojing, we don't know that neither of you knows how to handle any food!"

"Hey, Kirigaya, what do you mean by that? Why are you making such a comment? Do you mean I'm old?"

"No, you've misunderstood. I didn't mean it that way."

"Questions and answers are useless, just die!"

"...The same moves won't work on the black-clad swordsman!"

P.S.: Speaking of which, I think everyone would like to see a prequel or spin-off, right?

Will no one read this by the time I finish writing it?

... said.

217

【NO.214 Authentic?】

"It looks... like everything's done really well."

Kiritani-kun naturally moved closer to Asuna and reached out to grab a skewer, but before Asuna could make a move, Haruno slapped his hand away with a smile and made a sarcastic remark.

"Kazuto, have you finished preparing those two eggs? Even though they're just eggs, I'm still a little concerned about them. It would be such a waste if you burned them!"

"Don't be like that, Miss!" Kiritani waved his hand. "Your expression right now is like someone who ate Häagen-Dazs but didn't expect it to have jellyfish in it... Can you please use a normal tone? Even if you speak in pig language, I'll try to understand!"

"What kind of ridiculous analogy is this? Häagen-Dazs with jellyfish... Have you ever eaten it?" Yang Nai maintained her fake smile and endured being treated like a pig. "But there's one thing I'm really sorry about. I don't want to be so amazing as to understand pig language, let alone say it out loud."

"Huh!?" Kiritani-kun was stunned. "It's...it's not a pig?"

"Wait a minute, what's with that serious look of surprise on your face?" Yukinoshita Haruno said with a forced smile. "I... cough, is what my sister said wrong? Isn't it amazing that a person can understand pig language?"

"I don't think it's that impressive, right?" Kiritani scratched his head subtly. "After spending so much time with you, even if I'm stupid, I should be able to understand your language and way of speaking by now."

In short, you're a pig!

Yukino seemed to be getting impatient. "Sister, please hand me that, thank you."

"Huh? Oh... okay."

Just like that, Yang Nai's attention was diverted.

Actually, it's very common for Kiritani-san and Haruno to argue. They've been arguing since they left Chiba this morning, and I don't know how many times it's happened. Each time, Haruno is left speechless, almost exposing the perfect image she's cultivated in front of her sister.

People are now used to this kind of situation.

The only people paying close attention to the argument between the two were Shiina Mashiro and Yukino Yukinoshita. The former was observing it, while the latter simply couldn't stand it... Yes, although Yukino has personality issues, she still sides with her older sister at least—of course, this is not because Haruno promised to go to the cat and dog market with her on the weekend.

After all, it's an apartment building; pets aren't allowed...

—Shiina Mashiro doesn't count, you all shut up, that's clearly her daughter!

By the way, I'm not a doting father!

"Asuna, I'm hungry!"

"If you're hungry, just scoop out the egg. The other food will be ready to eat soon too." Asuna rolled her eyes, not quite understanding why he hadn't taken an extra piece when he got the Baumkuchen for Mashiro.

Kiritani gathered her ponytail in front of her and rubbed against Asuna's arm in a coquettish manner, "I want to eat meat."

“Theoretically speaking, eggs can also be considered meat, so, Kazuto, eat two eggs and then go to sleep!” Akane Kosaka, who had just been disliked by Shizuka for a very minor reason, chimed in with a smile.

"If an egg can hatch into a chick after being cooked, then I'll believe your theory." Kiritani picked up a twig and threw it over, sticking it directly into Akane Kousaka's hair—perfect.

"But right now, all I want to offer you is an eggshell. I've heard it's very nutritious, especially for chicks!"

"Even at my worst, I'm still an old...young hen!"

"If I'm not mistaken, what you meant to say just now was 'old hen'!" Kiritani-kun smiled as he pulled his phone out of his pocket, looking at Yui, who was playing hide-and-seek with Maid-chan in her hands, and asked, "Yui, did you record that conversation just now?"

"Did you record Dad's voice and save it to your embarrassing history folder?"

Kiritani-kun looked at the bulging veins on Akane Kousaka's forehead and nodded very seriously, "Yes, that's right!"

"Alright... stop playing around." Asuna smiled helplessly. "The food is almost ready. We just need to tidy up the surroundings a bit before we can eat."

"Hey, the tablecloth is all laid out~!" With that same soft and cute voice, Kato Megumi, who was completely ignored by everyone, had almost finished preparing the meal.

"Uh, thanks for your hard work!"

"Mmmmm~"

…………

It was getting a little dark, but by then all the food that was edible had been laid out on the tablecloth.

Although it was a picnic and most of the tools were purchased on the spot without any prior preparation, the food made with simple home-cooked ingredients and rudimentary utensils still looked quite good.

But if you think about it carefully, it seems only natural to cook the ingredients the way they are now.

Perhaps most of those present were indeed from wealthy families, such as Asuna, Shiina Mashiro, Yukinoshita Haruno, Yukinoshita Yukino, Hiratsuka Shizuka, and Kousaka Akane... They all came from wealthy families, and the dishes were prepared by a few of them—yes, Shiina Mashiro and Kousaka Akane were not among those who prepared the dishes.

Thinking about it a little more, I really feel ashamed. I, Kirigaya Kazuto, actually lost to these young ladies in housekeeping...

Sigh, but thankfully, Haruno and Sushi still love me, even though they're still terrible cooks!

You should feel proud, right? I'm someone who can make all sorts of egg dishes!

Oh right, the quiet Kato Megumi is actually a great cook too!

"I feel like... you two could easily open a restaurant together."

"I'm sorry, cooking is just a life skill, I have no intention of developing it into a professional skill." This is Yukino Yukinoshita, who is tasting the food in small bites and often refuses food that Haruno puts on her plate—incidentally, Haruno seems quite heartbroken when she is refused.

But I think if Yang Nai had made these dishes, it would have been more natural to serve her food.

—In addition, please don't bring up the fact that it's actually quite embarrassing to casually serve food to others.

"Ah, I have to be a teacher, and I also have a part-time job as an editor. I don't have any extra time."

Hey, Teacher Xiaojing actually thought about it!

"No way! Although Mother doesn't intend for me to inherit the company, Father seems to have some plans for me, um, career plans~!" Asuna, who was feeding Shiina Mashiro, smiled radiantly.

“Mom and Dad will never allow us to abandon the dojo to open a restaurant. Brother, you’ll get your legs broken if you do that.” This is Suguha, the caring younger sister who loves her brother.

Kiritani forced a smile. "I... I was just saying. You guys don't have to take it so seriously."

"Eh... I've recently started learning C++, so I'm sorry, Hito-kun." Kato Megumi, who was almost ignored again, put down the bamboo skewer in her hand, held the soup in the disposable bowl, and took a small sip.

"Oh? You're learning C++?"

"Yeah, although I hadn't played it before, the game that Hito-kun recommended to me was pretty good, but... it felt a bit strange." Kato Megumi said casually, "Then, I thought that maybe otaku stuff would be interesting too, but I don't know much about novels and comics, and... I happened to have some C++ books at home, so I started reading... um, it was a very casual decision."

“Indeed… very casual.” Kiritani nodded in deep agreement. Generally speaking, even if someone finds otaku culture interesting, they would want to write a novel or try drawing comics—why the hell would they learn C++?

"Um... what was it again?" Putting down her beer, Akane Kosaka looked at Megumi Kato, feeling a little troubled that she couldn't remember her name.

"Kato, Kato Megumi, you can just call me Kato, Kosaka-senpai." Kato Megumi didn't mind, after all, it's hard to leave a deep impression when you have a faint presence and meet someone for the first time.

"Ah, it's Kato. I thought it was Canaan..." Akane Kosaka blushed and scratched her head in confusion. "Um, if you want to learn programming, there's a genius here who can teach you."

"Does Kosaka-senpai mean... Kazuto-kun?" Kato Megumi asked, glancing casually at Kiritani-san, who was fighting with Haruno for food.

"Hmm, it's him. Don't let his seemingly clueless nature fool you. He knows a little bit about everything except drinking."

"Can someone who only knows a little be called a genius?" Yukino, who didn't particularly like this kind of occasion, or rather, didn't like talking while eating, also raised this question.

“Well, for others, knowing a little is knowing a little.” Akane Kosaka said, comparing Kiritani-san to others as she always did, without exaggeration or bias. “But for Kazuto, knowing a little is considered mastery—the AI ​​in his phone, apart from the outer shell, is entirely his creation.”

Kato Megumi quietly expressed her praise, "As expected of Kazuto-kun, he's truly amazing!"

"..." Yukino glanced at Kiritani a couple more times before looking away—it was a bit embarrassing, sister. Snatching food is not something you should do at the dinner table.

"Huh? What did you say?" After being forced back to her original position by Asuna, Kiritani-san reluctantly ate the food Asuna brought her and then looked at Kato Megumi with a strange expression.

"It's okay~"

"Oh...right, could you please help me take the beer? Just leave one or two bottles, that should be enough, otherwise these two old women will get drunk and act crazy." Kiritani gave Kato Megumi and Mikasa a look, then looked at Yukino Yukinoshita, "Your sister is the same, when she gets drunk she'll be sleeping on the streets."

...Sleep...sleep on the street?

Yukino Yukinoshita raised her eyebrows high. The difference between her sister's behavior today and that of the past few years was like heaven and earth. To put it simply, she was like a child who had never lost her childlike innocence... She had no trace of her former self.

……camouflage?

Or... the truth?

P.S.: It's almost here! The plot I've been thinking about for so long is finally coming out...

Please feed them, yes, gently pat them~

218

【NO.215 Sorrow Flows Like a River】

Strictly speaking, Kirito is a very capable guy, in every aspect.

Of course, even the most powerful person has things they're afraid of.

What I, Kirito, hate most is targeted behavior—so whenever such things happen, I just ignore them.

"Is this your reason for being afraid of ghosts?" Ms. Haruno hugged Yukino's arm, who was looking at her with a look of disgust, and looked at Kiritani-kun, who was clinging to Asuna, with a smile. "Speaking of which, we've known each other for so long, and I really didn't know you had anything you were afraid of."

"Don't even mention you, I didn't know either... Hmm, no wonder he always refused when I suggested taking him to an amusement park when I had free time..." Akane Kosaka scratched her cheek. "I thought it was because Kazuhito was more mature and didn't like such childish activities, but it turns out he just didn't want to go to a haunted house..."

Going to an amusement park and then visiting a haunted house is practically common sense.

"She seems fearless on the surface, but I never expected her to be afraid of something like this..." With a cigarette dangling from her lips, Teacher Xiaojing rubbed her chin. "How about I treat everyone to a trip to the amusement park another day?"

"Brother...actually, it's not that I'm afraid of ghosts, I just don't like that kind of atmosphere." Suguha tried to preserve the last vestige of Kiritani's dignity. "Yes, brother is amazing..."

Looking at Kiritani, who was practically snuggling into Asuna's arms, Mikasa raised an eyebrow slightly. "Still afraid, huh?"

Kato Megumi's expression shifted subtly. "Well, how should I put it... I never expected that Kazuhito would have a deficiency in this area."

…………

What's the situation now?

Ah, after dinner, it was almost dark, but even if it's dark, no one would go to bed so early, right?

Then, Haruno started talking about a test of courage competition, telling ghost stories—well, actually Kiritani-kun was the one chosen to tell the ghost story.

The atmosphere was perfect, and everyone quickly agreed. Hiratsuka Shizuka even wanted to put out the fire...

However, a secret that almost no one knew was exposed at this time. Originally, I planned to endure it and let it pass, but I didn't expect that sometimes having too much imagination is not a good thing. Although everything would be fine if I stopped fantasizing, under the atmosphere, it was no longer something that could be avoided by stopping fantasizing.

That's bullshit!!!