落とし穴９０堀：GW特別編 さあ定番だ！！ (Part2)
"Grilled vegetables are surprisingly delicious, too."
Seraria, Rurua, Deryu, and Eris chatted away while enjoying their meal, their children cradled in their arms.
"Ah!? Riel, is that my meat!?"
"Huh? You left it sitting there for so long, I thought you didn't want it."
"We should just divide it into four equal parts and claim our territories."
"Agreed. That’s the path to peace."
Tori and Riel had broken into a skirmish over the meat, while Kaya and Ria had already staked out their zones and were enjoying their food in safety.
"Phew!! This beer is delicious!!"
"Isn't it just!?"
"Hmm, I wonder why I ended up sharing a table with this rowdy group..."
"Oh, come on, don't worry about it, just drink up!!"
Milly, Narjia, Ratz, and Luna were the ones livening up the party with alcohol. Luna had managed to blend in as if it were only natural, though no one knew where she’d even heard about the gathering. Well, if you let it bother you, you’ve already lost.
"Freshly grilled food is so good."
"It is delicious. Let’s grill plenty more!!"
"Now, now, only as much as you can eat, okay?"
"That’s right. It would be a waste otherwise. Let’s be mindful of that."
"Okayyy!"
"Then, here you go."
Aslin, Firia, Labyris, and Shera were getting along as well as ever, while Kirue, the model maid, worked busily to serve them all.
"Gulp, gulp, gulp."
"Cleena-san, wouldn't it be better to eat a bit more calmly?"
"You're right. It’s not going anywhere. Here, milady, more meat."
"You eat more than I expected. I'm surprised."
Samantha, Sasari, and Jessica, the New Continent group, looked on in astonishment as Cleena devoured her food. It was good to see them enjoying themselves in their own way.
"Nom, nom, nom..."
"Munch, gulp, chew..."
"Hey now!? Both of you, eat more politely!! Learn from Shuten-chan!"
"Hm? Should I imitate Lady Dressa?"
"Don't you dare learn from her!! She’s a bad example!"
Hiiro and Dressa were shoveling the grilled meat into their mouths, while Vilia scolded them and Shuten pondered what she ought to do. Shuten was a sensible child, so I wasn't particularly worried, but Vilia certainly seemed busy.
"So, how about you, Hifia-chan?"
"I'm fine, really. Taizo-san treats me well."
"And Taiki-sama is a wonderful husband to me as well."
"Geez, I can buy that for Airi, but Hifia is telling a bold-faced lie. I know all about your nightly... *activities*..."
"Eek!? Shut up, Comet!!"
Over there, Lilishe and Comet were teasing Hifia as usual. It was almost impressive how naturally Airi had integrated into that chaotic group. Well, as long as they were enjoying their meal, I saw no reason to stop them. It was just the usual routine.
"Well, it's good to see everyone having a good time."
"Indeed."
"Gathering around like this to enjoy something together... that doesn't seem to have changed, whether in the era I knew or your own. Though, I suppose the tools have become much more convenient."
With that, Taizo-san popped a piece of freshly grilled meat into his mouth and washed it down with a beer.
"Still, are you sure it was alright to invite me to a place like this?"
"Come on, Zargis, you deserve a break too, don't you?"
"Exactly. You've been working hard, Zargis. I mean, I’d feel bad if you weren't comfortable in a place like this, but..."
"No, a lively atmosphere like this isn't bad at all. Though, if that's the case, what about Mauve and the others...?"
"Those guys have been drinking since the first day of the long holiday and are currently passed out."
"I see. Then there is no need to worry. Oh, what is that meat? It looks delicious."
"Ah, as expected of Zargis. This is..."
"It's Red Dragon tail."
"My, a rare delicacy. Well, I suppose it’s easy enough to obtain if you're in Weed. Let’s dig in."
And so, the four of us men gathered around the hot plate, drinking and having a great time. Honestly, a long holiday like this isn't so bad. I think it’s a much better way to spend it than getting caught in the crowds.
***
My apologies. I was writing in a rush, so the post is a bit late.
Well, I started writing at 2:30 PM and finished in about two hours while helping with motorcycle maintenance, so that's not too bad, right?
Also, I went out for yakiniku myself the other day.
Now that I'm an adult, I can eat calmly, but back when I was a student, it always felt like a battlefield.