That Summer ③
First, I chop the cucumber.
Not too thick, not too thin—just the right size.
Dice the tomatoes. Finely chop the garlic and chili pepper.
“…”
I put the frying pan on the heat, add water and salt.
A moderate amount of water. Once it boils, I add the pasta.
The noodles I’m using are the medium-thick Guine.
Their name and shape resemble linguine.
“…”
I let it boil. Midway through, I toss in the prepared tomatoes and cucumber.
“…”
Once the cucumber starts to brown slightly, I remove the pan from the heat.
It’s okay if the tomatoes get mushy. After that, I check the firmness of the noodles and drain the water.
Boiling and sautéing together is to minimize the washing up.
“…”
I sprinkle pepper, add a little lemon juice, and toss it all with the pasta.
“…”
After draining the water, I carefully arrange it on a wooden plate. Done.
Tomato and cucumber pasta tossed with lemon.
“Alright. Finished. Ms. Pachira?”
“Fwah? Ah, ahh, yes. Y-Yes. I-I see.”
She hesitantly accepts the pasta and fork.
Ms. Pachira is sitting on my bed.
There are chairs, but she sat on my bed.
She watched me cook the entire time without saying anything.
She just watched, not uttering a single word.
Ever since I invited her, she hasn’t spoken at all.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Eh, what is it?”
“Um, about inviting you so forcefully… Was it bothersome?”
“…………”
Why did I invite her?
Why did I bring her home? Honestly, I don’t know myself.
It was sudden, spontaneous, natural—before I knew it, I had invited Ms. Pachira.
It was so unbelievable even to me that I was severely flustered inside.
Ms. Pachira must have been surprised too.
So, it can’t be helped if she dislikes me now.
“Really, I—”
“Delicious.”
“Eh?”
Ms. Pachira twirls pasta and cucumber onto her fork and puts it in her mouth.
Crunch, crunch… A sound comes from her mouth. It’s pleasant.
“A fun texture, is it not? The lemon’s tartness is just right as well. It is a flavor I quite like.”
“Is it not too spicy?”
Truthfully, I was nervous and chopped a little too much chili pepper.
“It is just right. The balance with the tomatoes is splendid too. Here, Woff, you should eat too before it gets cold.”
“O-Okay.”
I take my pasta and go to sit on a chair.
Ah, there wasn’t a chair.
“What are you doing?”
“Um, going to sit on a chair.”
“This is your bed, so you may sit here.”
Pat, pat, she taps the bed.
She gave me a look like, What are you saying?
I sit down next to Ms. Pachira.
Saying itadakimasu, I eat the pasta.
Crunch, crunch, crunch… The cucumber has a nice bite.
“Tomatoes and lemon go well together, do they not? I have learned something good.”
“I’m glad. That you like it.”
Using the Crescent Vessel, I pour chilled water into a cup and hand it to her.
“It is chilled?”
“I thought it would be better that way.”
“Ice?”
“Yes.”
I’ll leave it at that.
Ice isn’t uncommon.
It’s a bit expensive, but not unaffordable.
That’s because Freezing Relics exist.
They aren’t particularly rare themselves.
I’ve heard anyone with a Water-attribute Relic can make ice.
Still, iced water isn’t commonplace, so perhaps she’s surprised.
“Phew. Thank you for the meal. It was truly delicious.”
Ms. Pachira finished all the pasta.
I finish mine too. I stack the plates.
I’m happy she ate it all so neatly.
And it must have really been delicious.
Her two tails were wagging pata pata.
She’s in a good mood.
“Thank you. This dish… I actually remembered it after a long time and decided to make it. It didn’t turn out well back then. But this time… it came out delicious.”
I had grown a little since that summer day.
But the taste of the pasta I ate with her on that summer day would probably last forever.
“I see. I do not cook.”
“Is that so?”
“Lupinus is skilled at it, you see. Liv and I just eat.”
She gives a wry smile.
Lupinus… is that the Elf woman?
She seemed quite noble, but that’s unexpected.
“Say. I have a favor to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Could you teach me the recipe for this pasta? I wish to teach it to Lupinus.”
“Sure. Huh?”
Instantly, my body stiffened.
Something soft, long, and alive brushed against my hand, my arm.
A tail.
One of Ms. Pachira’s two pure white tails was touching my arm.
“I am grateful.”
“It’s easy to make, and you can customize it too.”
Wh-What!?
The tail didn’t just touch; it started wrapping around my arm.
“I-Is that so? Then perhaps even I could—”
“M-Ms. Pachira.”
“What is it?”
She looks puzzled.
Could she possibly be doing this unconsciously?
But the tail was now completely wrapped around my arm.
Furthermore, her other tail was extending towards my waist.
This is getting serious; I have to say something.
“Um… Ms. Pachira, your tail is…”
“My tail? Nyaa!?”
She let out a strange cry.
And in an instant, the tails retracted from me.
As the tails pulled back, not just Ms. Pachira’s cheeks, but her exposed arms and legs turned bright red.
Ms. Pachira looks down, trembling slightly.
Thinking this is bad, I call her name.
“Ms. Pachira.”
Suddenly, Ms. Pachira stood up.
Wh-What’s wrong?
“S-”
“S-?”
“SorryIrememberedsomethingIhavetogoI’mleaving!”
Saying that, she ran out.
I’m left dumbfounded.
“…Ff, ff, ff, hahahaha! Hahahahahahaha!”
And then I laughed.
It was hilarious. I laughed until my stomach hurt.
Really.
It didn’t have to be this similar to that summer day, did it?
Early morning, three days later.
In front of the Hydrangea Dungeon.
Despite the early hour, it was bustling with many people.
The formation for the current anomaly subjugation force:
Two Tier II Seekers.
Agaro of the ‘Ruinblade’.
Megadia the ‘Black Devourer’.
Three Tier III Seeker Parties.
The talented trio of beautiful girls, ‘Torquetum’.
The up-and-coming valiant party, ‘Zan Brave’.
Hydrangea’s largest and variously famous ‘Koon Hunt’ suddenly withdrew from participation.
I don’t know the reason. But apparently, everyone was happy when they heard about it.
‘Koon Hunt’ had the backing of the Hydrangea Council and the Guild.
Because of that, their participation had been mandatory, and they apparently clashed considerably with Mr. Agaro, the overall commander of the subjugation.
Messy adult circumstances. Cronyism, that sort of thing.
“…”
Honestly, I don’t like ‘Koon Hunt’ either.
Have they ever bothered me— Ah, wait, they have.
I almost forgot.
It happened once. His name was… Bo- Bob, I think.
“Woff!”
Woff? No. That was Bobi.
“Woff! You. Why are you here?”
“…Ah, Ms. Pachira.”
Looking surprised, she comes over to me.
“Why are you…”
“Good morning.”
“G-Good morning. That is not what I meant, why are you here?”
“There’s something I want to give you, Ms. Pachira.”
I take out a small bottle.
“What is this…?”
Inside is a shimmering liquid.
“If, by any chance, you suffer an injury you can’t handle or are about to die, please use this.”
“…………You…”
Ms. Pachira narrowed her eyes and accepted the small bottle.
The atmosphere changed. She looks suspicious, wondering what I’m talking about.
Even so, I absolutely had to give this to Ms. Pachira.
But I can’t explain it.
I can’t say anything about the contents of this small bottle.
So, even if it sounds cliché or crude, I can only say this:
“Please trust me.”
That’s all I can say.
Ms. Pachira looked at me. Then grinned. Eh?
“Fool. Do not underestimate ‘Torquetum’.”
“S-Sorry.”
Because of that incident, I just got worried.
“However, it is said ‘better safe than sorry’, is it not?”
Ms. Pachira put the small bottle into her pouch.
Did she believe me? I feel relieved.
“Ms. Pachira. Please be careful.”
“Mm. I shall return safely.”
Saying that, Ms. Pachira turned on her heel, then turned back again.
“Ms. Pachira?”
“…When I return, there is something I wish to ask you.”
Her expression was serious and complex.
I held my breath.
“I-I understand.”
“Woff. You be careful too.”
“Y-Yes.”
Ms. Pachira gave a small smile and turned her back to me.
Then, without looking back, she walked away.
I hope nothing happens.
I prayed.
Alright, I need to do my best too.
Starting tomorrow, I’ll be participating in Dungeon Exploration.