453 End of rainy season ② - Dessert after meals

"Okay, then it's time to bring some sweets! Tara, can you help me?

Tara said to Rimi-Lou's call, "Yeah!" When he stood up, Tour-Din and Yun-Sudra also left their seats silently. As for desserts after meals, four of them focused on making them.

"... were you even thorough in helping today?

And, i-fa sneaks up on me whispering.

This is how I often behave when surrounding the table in large numbers.

"Yeah. There's a limited number of items I can get out, so I was wondering if I didn't really need to be nagging.... but you get it very well, even though it's all the dishes I make that aren't weird?

"I talk about your food every day, so I know about it."

While stating so, Ai-Fa hit the menchkatsu. Of course I should have liked the dish, because it resembles Hamburg, a favorite of Ai-Fa, and yet it is fried Gibba lard, which is well received by the forest folks.

"Don't worry, I'm not dissatisfied with Asta's lack of food"

And even more so whispers because I've always turned to Ai-Fa.

I just thought it would be fresh and fun to sit in a chair side-by-side with Ey-Fa on crackles, but I just got kicked in the leg anyway, so I left my remarks open.

In the meantime, the girls with the big basin come back from the cook.

On top of that were "Tripe's Pudding Cake" and "Chatch Cake's Tripe Syrup Hanging" for the number of people.

A pudding cake housed in a ceramic vessel and, first, a chatch cake served on a large plate are arranged on the table, and the empty plates in the way are lowered. Yun-Sudra and Limi-Lu, who often work in the Blue Sky Dining Room, were also perfectly on the board for these tasks of supply.

"Hmm. That's a sweet treat. I've had this since the Luau banquet."

"Do you also use the Tripe for this? Beautiful shades."

"It looks delicious. I've been looking forward to this."

Not only men and women, but people of the Dora family are speaking out loud.

Grandma Missile and the elderly, who were not attending the Luu family feast and were not immune to sweet confectionery, were peeking into a bowl of pudding cake on the urchin.

"Look, the fruit liquor is caught. Tara, why don't you put him back in the kitchen and make him some chatch tea?"

"Yes."

"Oh, my God, I was still about to drink.... hey but this guy looks really delicious"

When four of the waiters took their seats, everyone took a wooden spoon at best.

So now, the voices of amazement and joy abound.

"Ha, this guy is also...... even better than what I've had before! There are other ways to eat a stripe like this."

"The big plate over here is delicious, too. Hey, I was totally full, but I think I can eat as much as I want"

"Look, Ziva lady. This is Tour-Din's prick. 'Cause it's better than the one we made."

"Oh, it's true... the sweets that Raina and Rimi made were so delicious, but isn't this guy extraordinary again..."

About half of Thur-din's confectionery was to be spoken of for the first time on the side of the woods. The three oligarchy men, Darum-Lou, Lyada-Lou and Chim-Sudra, also had their eyes open to surprise.

"What do you say? It's delicious, isn't it, Brother Dulm?

When Limi-Lew called from a seat far away, Darm-Lew nodded "Oh".

"This guy surprised me. I just wanted to see what my father would look like if I fed him."

"Really! Because with this pungency, Tool-din took the best compared to the flavor!

Proudly as if it were about me, Rimi-Lou added.

My father, who was listening to that, said, "Compare flavors?" and tilt his thick neck.

"Yeah! Of the nobility of Castle Town...... er, what is it?

"It's a pleasure. It's an aristocratic game where you score which was better than eating food or confectionery."

When I took on the explanation, your father rounded his eyes pompously.

"Well, is this the exact same confection that the nobleman ate?

"Yeah, well, that's what happens. Chatch cakes are served several times in the castle town on different flavors."

"Yeah, well, it's not a surprise story. The aristocrats have been eating dishes made by the people of Asta and the woods for a long time.... but it still makes me feel strange."

To your father's words, your wife also hammers, "You don't".

"I've never seen a nobleman close, but it's strange to say he's talking about it."

"We're really talking about this now. That's all the people around the woods are gonna be."

My older brother responded with a gentle laugh.

"Plus, sometimes our vegetables are used for that treat and dish. Isn't that right, Asta?

"Yeah, sure. In this case, we all brought in the stripes. If the taste is extremely different, like tarapa, I'll have trouble."

"On the contrary, sometimes nobles from Castle Town come all the way to the Astas' stalls to buy food, don't they? So I figured it wasn't even a surprise."

Dad and his wife smiled and nodded, carrying pudding cakes and chatch cakes to their mouths.

(If you ask me, it's kind of a rare story to put aside just for about five days and the people of Castle Town and Dalaim are saying the exact same thing)

And both of them have happy smiles. Even people who find themselves in so many different lives probably don't make a huge difference in the sense of happiness they get from good food.

I wonder what the hell Tul-din looks like and looks at this sight, and I look her in the eye, and she was snubbing tears in front of her freshly eaten pudding cake.

Did an emotion similar to mine, many times its size, also visit the chest of Tour-Din? My brothers by the woods, my friends in town, and my nobles in Castle Town were all able to get this kind of happiness by the pudding cake she made. It was supposed to be a joy above all to the person who cooked it.

So when I beautifully filled the large plate of chatch cakes, the fun dinner party finally came to an end.

After enjoying the chatter with his stomach often, Raina-Lou gives him a "well" voice.

"Then I think it is time for us to return to the settlement. Thank you for having a wonderful dinner."

"No, no, this way. But are you sure you're okay? Looks like it's stopped raining, but it's already dark out there, huh?

"Yes, as long as the moonlight is enough, and I'm ready for the pine light even if the clouds are on"

More than half of the people by the woods begin to return home at short notice.

Only six people will be staying with us today: me and Ai-Fa, Limi-Luu and Grandma Ziba, Rud-Luu and Darm-Luu.

"Take care, Dalm-Lou"

Sheila-Lou, who took the rain gear that was hanging on the wall, called it that way in a whisper.

Darum-Lou is frowning in pain.

"Dareim is not such a dangerous land, and even if a burglar or something sneaks in, he's not the enemy of a hunter by the woods"

"Yeah, of course I know.... but please be careful"

Dalm-Lou nodded, "Okay," as he returned the frown he was pulling over.

"Be careful over there. If Lyada-Lu and Barsha were here, there wouldn't be any danger, but don't be distracted until we get back to the settlement."

"Yes, thank you"

Sheila-Lou smiled happily.

Tara's mother, who was watching the sight, sneaks up on me.

"What, isn't that a nice vibe? Looks like we didn't have to say it anyway."

Even without any preconceived notions, such feelings seem to arise.

"Right," I said, taking care not to let the two of you notice.

That's how the members of the Luu family were Jidula's luggage, driven by Lyada-Lu, and Tour-din and Yun-Sudra went back to the woods with Fafa's luggage, driven by Chim-Sudra.

The rest of us will be taken upstairs to the bedroom.

"Nothing tomorrow, we don't have to wake you up, do we?

"Yes, I think maybe this one will wake up when the sun comes up too"

"Then take a rest. Tara, don't bother me, okay?

"Yes!"

I held hands with Rimi-Lou. Tara responds well.

As Mother went downstairs after she saw it through, she looked back at Tara Hagurin and Rudd-Lou.

"Hey hey! Is Rud-Lew still a separate room today?

"Hmm? That's right. There's an eye-fa in your bedroom. I can't sleep in a room with the women in the other house."

"Well, I'm sorry to hear that. I wanted to have a lot of chat with Rud-Lew, too."

"Heh, if it's Limi, you're satisfied, aren't you?

"That's not true! Of course, I'm really glad Rimi-Lou's here, but I don't usually see Rud-Lou."

Speaking of which, Tara said she was cool about Rud-Lu in the shadows.

Well, it's a sinless statement because she's a girl who just turned nine. Rud-Lew shrugged his shoulders with a much sleepy face.

"Bye. I asked you to say hello to the Ziva lady and Limi, Ai-Fa? We're right next door, too."

"Um. Nice to meet you, Asta."

"If me and my brother Dulm get stuck, I'm relieved what happened. Now go to sleep."

Rud-Lew laid his hands on the bedroom door, yawning greatly.

Then he looks back at me like he remembers something.

"Oh, doesn't Asta sleep yet?

"Huh? No, I sleep, though"

"Is that it? Isn't exchanging words with your family alone before you go to sleep a Fa's house lesson?

Speaking of which, this is not the first time I have ever had a situation like this with Rudd-Lou. But the last time and others should have left the bedroom without telling them why, but it seemed completely obvious.

"Nothing, that's not how I learned it. Speaking of which, I forgot to talk to Ai-Fa."

"Hmm," he said, hanging one eyebrow, and Rudd-Lou looked like he said something more.

But you noticed the look on your brother's back, pulling him into the bedroom silently.

"Bye, good night!

"Good night, Asta. Stay!

"See you tomorrow, Asta, Dalm..."

Limi-Luu, Tara and Grandma Ziva also disappeared into the bedroom next door.

Left in the dark hallway, Ai-Fa quietly looks back at me.

"What are you talking to me about?

"Yeah, well, it wasn't exactly an errand. Just like last time, before you go to sleep, it's just that you have to chat with Ey-Fa to calm down."

"Right," Ai-Fa says, bringing shoulders to the wall.

Although the moonlight is plugged in through the window, is it still cloudy, its light is weak? At this distance, I couldn't tell much about Ai-Fa's expression either.

"Um, can I stop by a little bit closer?

"... why are you asking me that?

"No, 'cause, look, we just talked about touching you solemnly."

In the dark, Ai-Fa seemed to sigh.

"Even if it doesn't mean anything at all to touch it when you approach it? Don't be too crazy."

Having successfully obtained my understanding, I have only allowed myself a little closer to Ai-Fa.

After all, what it means to be alone with Ai-Fa in the darkness of the extra house is somewhat unsettling. Even such treacherous things, like stealing people's eyes and seeing each other, come to life.

But I-Fa stared at me with a calm look as usual.

Slowly exchanging words has been around since morning. Conscious as that, this time something warm fills my chest.

"You had a great dinner party today."

"Uhm."

"It's fun and exciting to get to work in Castle Town, but it's totally separate from the fun of interrupting Dora's dad's house."

"Uhm."

"It's been ten days and the rainy season is over, but it's been two months since everything happened."

"The rainy season is not decided to end exactly in the lid month, and it is not acceptable to distract from the never-ending within in the first place"

"I'm not distracted. But tomorrow is a holiday, and I need to flaunt my feathers for a bit... so I'm not even going to be off work tomorrow. I'm sorry I keep saying that."

"You don't have to apologize for sticking around. Even I'm resting about before I go to sleep. Not to mention we can sleep with the Ziva lady and Rimi-Lou tonight."

Ai-Fa seemed faintly laughing.

That's all that fills my chest with what's so warm.

"Sleeping in a spare house is unsettling, but I'm happy to exchange words slowly with the Limi-Lu's. Thanks to you, Limi-Lu and I were able to deepen our bonds."

"You've invited me on my birthday? If that's how you say it, it's better than that."

"Asta, you..."

And, Ai-Fa held his mouth there.

I waited for the rest of the words to be spoken, but I can hardly visit then.

Don't hesitate to say anything.

"No, let's not. I wasn't talking about it when the rainy season wasn't over yet."

"Something to do with the period? I don't care what you said earlier."

"When the time comes, let's talk about it then. It's not like we're in a hurry."

I wasn't sure, but Ai-Fa's voice remained calm, so nothing seems like a nasty story. Then I didn't feel like persevering in pursuit.

"Speaking of which, it's Grandma Ziva's birthday next month. I wonder if we can be called?

"Such a thing is Donda-Lou's decision. As long as I can deliver the festive flowers, that's fine."

"Yeah, even if you could just call me for the harvest festival, that's a thankful story.... Speaking of which, the Lew family harvest festival isn't that far ahead either"

"Uhm. At the latest, it will come within the moon of Zhu"

Harvest festivals and rest periods come roughly three times a year. So, it was a calculation that a whole four months had passed since the last rest period had already dawned if we were to enter Zhu's moon.

"I'm surprised. Does that mean it's been four months since the Sun God's Easter? I've been feeling the speed of the flow of time lately."

"I guess that means we're having a good time."

Ai-Fa took his shoulder off the wall and came just one step closer to me.

But it was originally closer to me, so it's no longer less than 30 centimeters close.

"With me, compared to the two years before I met you, I feel the flow of time twice as fast.... No, it could be double."

"Yeah, well. If you're feeling full, I'd love to."

"... there's no way I'm not satisfied"

Ey-fa smiled all the time as she peered into my eyes.

"It's full, and it's such a noisy day. My father and mother must never have thought that I would come to Castle Town or be invited to dinner at Dareim."

"Haha. That's natural."

"And sometimes I feel comfortable with it. They would also all be changes visited because I met Asta"

The air coming from I-Fa felt very gentle.

No matter how Rud-Lew chills me, I still need this kind of time once a day.

"The two years between the loss of my father Gil and meeting Asta felt very long. As a hunter by the woods, I wasn't going to be ashamed of anyone raw... but still, every day, it was also as comfortable as crawling through transparent mud. I was never happy back then... and now I know so well that it hurts"

"Yeah."

"I got a family named you and could reconnect with Rimi-Lou or the Ziva woman or Saris Lang-Fou. Besides that, I was able to get new friends like Rud-Lu and Sin-Lu. So now I'm happy."

"I guess humans have every right to be as happy as that."

"Right. If that's the case, then you're a human being."

Ai-Fa laughed with a face like a kitten stroked her throat.

He laughs and then points to the door.

"So it's time to rest. While you're at it, you might fall asleep, too, Lady Ziva and Rimi-Lou."

"Yeah. I hope we can have a little chat before we go to sleep"

Though it was a lot like getting my hair pulled back, I let it answer that way.

I spend every night alone with Ai-Fa, so I should refrain from being alone on nights like this. Even Grandma Ziva and Rimi-Lou should have felt as happy as I am now if I had spoken to Ai-Fa.

"Good night, then. See you tomorrow, Ai-Fa."

"Uhm."

One last time he smiled again, then Ai-Fa disappeared across the door.

I decided to put my hands on the waiting bedroom door between Rud-Ruh and Darm-Ruh with the sense of happiness brought from that loving smile on my chest.