落とし穴第９６堀：海で泳ぐ以外の遊び方 (Part1)
**Pitfall 96: Ways to Enjoy the Sea Other Than Swimming**
*Cicada-cicada-min-min...*
Before I knew it, summer was in full swing. The cicadas were buzzing incessantly during the day, creating a grating, noisy atmosphere that signaled the arrival of the sweltering season. They say that once the pain is over, you forget the heat, but no matter how many times I experience it, I don't think I’ll ever get used to the discomfort of a summer heatwave. It feels like I complain about the heat every single year.
Well, how should I spend this summer? I pondered this while finishing up some paperwork in my air-conditioned office.
***
**Side: Yuki**
"Hey there, Yuki-san."
"Yo, Yuki-kun. It’s hot today, isn't it?"
"Ah, um, I’ll be in your care today."
The ones who arrived at the meeting spot were Taiki-kun, Taizou-san, and Eoid, who was joining us for the first time. Since Eoid began his investigation of the New Continent, he had been officially invited to Weed and was currently undergoing training at Popuri’s request. Naturally, the condition was that he had to help out with tasks, but that was fine by me.
Today, however, wasn't that kind of gathering. After all, all three of them were carrying fishing rods. Today was a day off. Weed isn't a "black company" that operates 365 days a year; when it’s time to rest, we rest properly.
"Alright. Everyone’s here. Let’s go. Hop in."
"Is it alright to put the luggage in the back?"
"Yeah."
"Got it, let's load it up quickly."
"It's this way, right?"
With the gear loaded, we drove not to the swimming beach, but toward the breakwater where the fishing spots were located. Since we have a beach for swimming, we naturally have a designated area for fishing. There are more ways to enjoy the sea than just swimming. In fact, since you can catch your dinner, it might even be better than just splashing around.
We drove past the usual swimming beach and continued toward the breakwater.
"Whoa... this is amazing!! Is this the sea?! It’s my first time seeing it!"
"Ah, come to think of it, Eoid, you’d never seen the ocean before, right?"
"Lancer is located in a mountain basin, after all."
"I see. Well, enjoy yourself today."
"Yes. Though, I feel like Amanda might hold a grudge against me."
"It’s fine. She’s probably having a great time back in Weed with my wives."
"Ah, come to think of it, she did mention that."
Of course, it wouldn't be fair to leave Eoid alone, so Amanda was being escorted by the other wives. I had invited her, but it seemed she preferred eating delicious food in Weed over playing at the beach, so she was out cake-hopping with the ladies.
"But Eoid, why did you decide to come fishing? At a glance, it doesn't seem like something you'd find particularly interesting, right?"
"Well... it’s tough to keep up with Amanda’s shopping."
" " "Ah..." " "
The three of us nodded in unison. Keeping up with a woman’s dining and shopping is a test of patience.
"Hey, it’s a bit insulting to be met with an 'ah' like that. It’s not *that* long."
"Hmm. Insulting. I don't take long shopping either."
Our guards for today were Ria and Cleena, who were also equipped with fishing rods. Ria was a village girl who fished often, and Cleena had joined us for sea fishing last time, so they were experienced choices. Jessica wasn't interested in fishing and had gone to see Narjia-san to adjust her sword, and Samantha couldn't come due to her duties as a diplomat. Besides, Samantha wasn't fond of raw fish, so she wouldn't have forced herself to come anyway. She likes swimming, but since fishing was the main event today...
"Well, the two of you might not take long, but the others usually do, right?"
"Ugh, I can't deny that."
"Hmm. Samantha takes way too long. I don't know how she can move for so long carrying all that extra fat."
"Cleena. That fat is soft and feels nice, doesn't it? We’re always squishing it, too."
"Muu. Now that you mention it, that’s true. That fat isn't useless. It’s healing."
"Exactly. There’s no such thing as a 'good' or 'bad' size when it comes to breasts."
"As Ria says, there is no high or low status for breasts."
" " "..." " "
We couldn't possibly interject in that conversation. If I did, I’d be lighting the fuse on the "Breast War" between my wives. Taiki-kun, Taizou-san, and Eoid would also be facing a domestic tribunal if their wives heard them. It’s a trap to be asked such unanswerable questions, though I suppose the wives just want to know their husbands' ideals. But as the saying goes, the grass is always greener on the other side; we find value in what we don't have, but that doesn't mean we’re dissatisfied with our own wives.
Though, saying that would probably be pointless.
Anyway, while having that delicate conversation, we arrived at our destination.
"It’s the sea!"
"It really is the sea."
"Whoa, this is amazing. It’s just water as far as the eye can see!"
"Well, Eoid. That’s all saltwater, you know."
"Can't be helped. Eoid was raised in Lancer. Even if he knows the word 'saltwater,' his understanding hasn't caught up yet."
"Alright, let’s unload the gear. Everyone, feel free to fish wherever you like."
" " "Yeah!!" " "
"I’ll leave the car engine running, so if you get too hot or want to rest, feel free to use the car."
In Japan, I wouldn't want to waste fuel so extravagantly, but here, we have the luxury to do so. Then again, coming all the way to the sea just to hang out inside a car would be the act of an idiot. Fortunately, since the members who came knew we were going fishing, no one hid inside the vehicle.
"Come to think of it, what are the seasonal fish for summer?"
"Seasonal? What’s that? Do you know, Yuki-san?"
Ria tilted her head at Taiki-kun’s question. Having grown up in an inland village, she probably never had to worry about which fish were in season.
"It’s about which fish taste best during certain seasons."
"I see! The sea has such an abundance of fish, so that makes sense. In the village, we just ate whatever we caught."
"Hmm. I’ve read about that in books. If I recall correctly, summer seasonal fish include eel, sea bass, sand borer, flathead, horse mackerel, bonito, and conger eel."
"Whoa. As expected of Cleena-kun. You’re well-studied. Though, eel is actually for preventing summer fatigue, and its peak season is around December."
"Hmm. As expected of Taizou. That’s correct. I didn't get tricked."
Cleena looked impressed by Taizou-san’s praise and explanation.
"But eel is a river fish, and bonito and sea bass are big game. For the breakwater, maybe sand borer or horse mackerel are the targets?"
"Taiki-kun, you can actually catch sea bass here too. Bonito is impossible, of course. Well, the goal is to have fun, so catching gobies or whatever is fine too. Even if it’s not in season, it’s not like it tastes bad. Actually, it’s quite delicious."
"That’s true. Wait, Yuki-san, are there really bonito and sea bass in this sea?"
"No bonito. That requires a deep, open ocean environment. We have sandy bottoms, so there are flatfish, though."
"Flatfish... that sounds like a higher difficulty level. You’d have to catch live bait first, right?"
"I suppose. For beginners, it’s better to just drop your line straight down from the breakwater and target rockfish—or 'kasago' as they call them in Honshu—or the filefish you can see swimming around."
Fishing for flatfish is a bit much for amateurs. It’s much easier and more fun to just drop a line and catch the fish swimming right in front of you.
"Umm, then I’ll aim for those rockfish."
"Do you know how to use the tackle? The reel and all?"
"Reel? Isn't it just dropping the line?"
"Well, I guess that’s how it is here."
Taiki-kun explained how to attach the reel and helped Eoid prepare his gear. I did the same for Ria’s rod and gave her some pointers.
"Right, hold it here, and when you cast, let go."
"Ah, it flew off!"
"Hmm. It stays fixed as long as you hold it here. If you let go at the right moment when you cast, you can throw it far."
Since Cleena had joined us for fishing last time, she was now the one teaching.
"Exactly. But when you’re just dropping it straight down, the weight of the sinker will take it down on its own, so just let go when it’s where you want it. And when you want to reel the line back in, you do this..."
She turned the handle, and the line began to retract.
*Clack, clack...*
"Whoa. That’s really well-made."
"Hmm. A needlessly refined line-winding system."