落とし穴外伝：落ち葉を見て思うこと
### Dungeon Pit Side Story: Thoughts on Fallen Leaves
**Side: Yuki**
Between the hot pot we had the other day and the way the wind bites at my skin, it’s gotten noticeably colder. Before I knew it, I’d transitioned from short sleeves to long, and now I’m reaching for a jacket.
"It really happened in the blink of an eye, didn't it?"
"Tell me about it. I feel that way every time winter rolls around. It feels like just yesterday we were basking in the harsh summer sun."
"Exactly. I realized I’d turned off the air conditioning without even thinking about it."
"Same here."
The seasons are strange things; they have a way of sneaking up on you. I suppose that’s just a testament to how gradually they shift. Or perhaps it’s just that as I instinctively adjust to the cold, I simply wake up one day to find winter has arrived.
By the way, today is my day off, and I’ve been spending it with Taiki-kun, playing games to get back into the swing of things before the new *Poké-mon* title drops. We can’t just spend our entire lives glued to the screen, after all.
"I’m really looking forward to the new one."
"Me too. Actually, Comet and the others have been losing their minds watching the trailers."
"Well, can you blame them? It’s open-world this time, right?"
"Yeah. It feels like an evolution of the spin-off from the last generation."
"That one was so much fun, wasn't it?"
"Comet certainly enjoyed it to the fullest."
It’s not just us—Comet had never known the joy of gaming, nor the strategic thrill of competitive play, so she’s become completely obsessed with *Poké-mon*. To give you an idea of the scale, she’s gone so far as to obsessively hunt for shiny variants.
"Anyway, let’s take a break from the veranda. Ready for another round?"
"Sounds good."
As we started to step away from the veranda, I caught sight of leaves drifting down into the garden. Taiki-kun seemed to notice them at the same time.
"Seeing leaves fall like this... it really is winter, isn't it?"
"No kidding. The leaves wither, fall to the ground, and the trees stand bare. It’s winter, alright."
The trees planted along the veranda are the type that shed their leaves, so the garden already looks a bit lonely. But there’s a certain *wabi-sabi* to that—a sense of aesthetic beauty in the transience. I was just thinking about that when Taiki-kun muttered to himself.
"Fallen leaves... fallen leaves..."
"Something on your mind?"
"Yuki-san, the games are great and all, but aren't you getting hungry?"
"Hungry? Should I whip something up?"
Playing games for hours on end actually burns a surprising amount of mental and physical energy. Snacks are essential. I hadn't prepared anything since I figured we’d just call it quits when we got hungry, but if we’re feeling it now, a resupply is definitely in order.
Taiki-kun shook his head and pointed toward the pile of leaves.
"Why don't we use these? You know, the kind of thing you crave once it gets cold?"
"Ah, roasted sweet potatoes?"
"Exactly."
When you talk about food made with fallen leaves, that’s the only answer. And as Taiki-kun noted, it’s not exactly a dish that requires constant supervision. In fact, roasted sweet potatoes are deceptively difficult to cook. Well, the process is simple, but the timing is the real hurdle.
Most meals, provided you have the ingredients, take about thirty minutes to chop, sauté, and simmer. I’m not counting the time it takes for flavors to meld, of course. But a proper roasted sweet potato needs at least forty-five minutes. They’re surprisingly dense, and without enough time, you won't get that perfect, fluffy texture.
Essentially, you toss them into the fire and leave them for a few hours. That’s why you usually wait until the leaves have burned down to embers before pulling them out. Of course, the heat from burning leaves is far more unstable than a kitchen appliance, which adds to the challenge. If you use hot stones, it takes over an hour, though that’s easy enough since you just bury them and wait.
It’s the perfect "while you game" dish.
"You’re right. By the time they’re done, we’ll be ready for a snack."
"Exactly. Plus, I’ve been wanting to have a bonfire for a while. I’ll go gather some more."
Before I could stop him, Taiki-kun was already raking up the garden. I moved to help, but he waved me off.
"Yuki-san, could you handle wrapping the potatoes in aluminum foil? We’re going to need a lot, after all."
"Got it."
He was right. This wasn't just for the two of us. We weren't at some remote campsite; this was my home. My wives and children were here. We needed at least one for everyone, which meant a fair bit of work. Still, if we didn't make them, the family would be disappointed. I had no choice but to commit.
Besides, there’s a certain joy in the preparation. We got to work immediately. We aimed for a hundred potatoes.
...Wait, I said that out loud, but if each one takes a minute to wrap, that’s a hundred minutes, isn't it? That’s brutal. I should call in some backup.
"We’re here, Yuki-kun, Taiki-kun."
"Looks like you two are up to something fun."
"My, that sounds like a lot of work."
Taizo-san, Sota-san, and Zargis had arrived to help. I didn't want to call the wives; that would ruin the surprise. Gathering the guys was the right move. I’d told them about the gaming plan, too. Thanks to the extra hands, we finished prep in thirty minutes and started our game while watching the bonfire crackle.
"I thought it would take longer, but that wasn't bad at all," Zargis said, eyes fixed on the fire while holding his controller.
"We had the numbers. And Taiki-kun helped out once he was done with his prep."
"Still, when you’re cooking this many, you definitely need more than just leaves for fuel."
To roast 120 potatoes, the fallen leaves in the yard weren't nearly enough, so it had turned into a full-blown campfire. Fortunately, we had the outdoor gear, so charcoal and dry wood were on hand. We kept a close watch on the fire, of course.
"Leaves burn out too fast, don't they? Still, I can't wait for these to be ready."
"I hear you, Sota-san. It takes me back to my childhood."
Taizo-san and Sota-san were watching the fire with genuine excitement. It seems roasted sweet potatoes are packed with memories for everyone.
"When I was a kid, I was always told not to mess with fire, so we could only do bonfires like this on special occasions."
"Exactly. Like Taiki-kun said. Even if we gathered leaves at the shrine, we couldn't just light a fire whenever we wanted."
"Well, that’s probably because you started a small fire when you were little, Sota."
"Oh? Is that so?"
The water spirit who’d tagged along dropped that little bombshell. A fire, huh? Sota-san gave a wry smile.
"Don't exaggerate, Mizu. A few sparks flew and a couple of *omikuji* fortune papers caught fire, that’s all."
I don't think "that’s all" covers it, but if I press him, I’m sure more skeletons will come tumbling out of the closet. Better to change the subject.
"Haha, Taizo-san, do you have any bonfire memories?"
"Let’s see. Roasting potatoes, I suppose? No, it was river fish back then. They weren't as delicious as these potatoes, though."
"Is the flavor really that different?"
"Indeed. The sweetness is on another level. I wonder how this year’s batch will turn out."
Just as he said that, a voice called out from behind us.
"This year’s potatoes are delicious, too. Everyone worked hard to grow them."
I turned to see Kaya standing there, her clothes slightly dusted with soil from the fields.
"I see. I’m looking forward to it. They’ll be ready soon, so go get cleaned up."
"Mm. I will."
Kaya’s arrival seemed to be the signal; the others began to gather on the veranda, having heard the news.
"Hey, Papa! The fire is huge!"
"Don't touch it, you’ll get burned. Be careful."
"Okay!"
The roaring flames seemed to be a source of endless fascination for the children; they watched the fire with wide, delighted eyes. As the flames died down, I pulled the potatoes from the embers.
"Alright, they’re hot, so be careful."
Everyone reached out, eager to claim their share. I grabbed one for myself...
"Ouch, hot, hot!"
I juggled it for a moment before peeling back the foil to reveal the golden, steaming treasure inside. All that was left was to eat.
"So good!"
And just like that, we spent a warm, cozy time together despite the chill in the air.
Fallen leaves and roasted sweet potatoes—that’s the quintessential winter experience. It’s hard to do these days, though, since you have to be so careful with fire. You really need a wide-open space in the countryside to pull it off properly.