This is not the date I wanted.

"Just a reminder, don't put some strange drugs in the dishes."

Meng Yue reminded with some concern.

"——Don't worry, I know."

Origami assured without changing his expression.

(Is this an illusion? Did this guy just pause for a moment?)

——————————————This is the dividing line for me to start grilling————————————

"Mmm! It's delicious! Shidou, give me another portion!"

"Wow... green fruit, huh? In order to eat the juicy fat, this green and spicy taste is really challenging."

"Sigh. This skewers combination is obviously Meng Yue's work, she is worthy of being called the master—"

"--Um?"

"Old, old Taoist. It's obviously the work of a master."

Seeing the folding fan in Mengyue's hand ready to go, Xixian hurriedly spoke.

"Huh... It's almost time." After wiping the sweat off his forehead, Shidao glanced at the time and called out to Mengyue, "Mengyue, it's time for the shift change."

"Oh, here we come."

Mengyue nodded, tied her hair and walked to the grill.

"Gulp--ha!"

After handing over the cooking duties to Mengyue, Shidao took a sip of water, sat down and took a long breath.

"Okay, I'm hungry. I'll eat something too."

"Shidou, please use it."

Origami handed a skewer of grilled meat to Shidou at a very timely moment.

"Ah, thanks Origami--"

"and many more!"

Just as Shidou was about to take the skewers, Kotori suddenly rushed in and shouted to stop.

"Is there a problem?"

"Well, I'm a little worried so I'll check... What's that seasoning on your skewers?"

Kotori looked at Origami suspiciously.

“Black pepper.”

Origami answered calmly. However, Kotori obviously didn't believe her.

"Really? Suspicious..."

"You can taste it yourself if you're worried."

Origami said as she passed the skewer to Kotori.

"Woo..."

Seeing Origami acting so confident, Kotori felt a little uneasy.

After cautiously picking up the skewer and taking a bite, Kotori spoke slowly.

"Hmm... the regular ones are delicious."

"In case you're still in doubt, this is the pepper shaker."

"..."

Just in case, Kotori checked the seasoning bottle, but it contained only ordinary black pepper.

"I'm sorry, I misunderstood you, Origami."

Kotori said awkwardly. Origami shook her head tolerantly and picked up another skewer of barbecue.

"It's okay, it's no big deal. Here, Shidou, this string is just the right temperature."

"Oh...thank you."

"Wait!"

This time, it was Mengyue's turn to call a halt.

"…What's going on? Liang Yi Meng Yue?"

"Don't look at me with such disapproval. I'm not being used as a light bulb for others."

With a silent sigh, Meng Yue temporarily stopped the homework in her hands and turned to look at Qin Li.

"Kotori-chan, check the seasoning bottle that Origami just used again. This time, don't open the lid directly. Press the bottom of the lid and turn the cap half a turn clockwise."

"I-I know."

Following Mengyue's instructions, Kotori soon found another powder outlet on the lid of the seasoning bottle.

"Is this... a dark trough?"

Kotori sniffed it and, unlike before, smelled a faint scent of medicine.

"Hidden in the lid? I see. You're going to use ordinary skewers to dispel Kotori's suspicion first, and then sprinkle the drug on the food I've baked so that everyone can let down their guard?"

He really wasted his time on something boring. Meng Yue sighed helplessly and asked Origami, "So Origami, can you tell me what seasoning you put on the barbecue you prepared for Shidao?"

"..."

Feeling everyone's gaze focused on her, Origami seemed to be imagining something. A blush appeared on her face. She lowered her head and said this with a hint of regret and unwillingness.

“Just black pepper.”

……

Afterwards, Tobiichi Origami was forced to hang up plaques that read "Waste of Food" and "Beeping Female Baboon" and knelt on the grass for two hours.

Yoshino Picnic (VI)

==============================

At noon, after lunch, everyone began to do free activities according to their own preferences.

Those who want to go boating can rent a boat by the lake; those who want to rest can take a nap or read a book near the tent; those who want to see the scenery can take a walk and play nearby - time passes quickly, and after everyone has spent a leisurely afternoon, the sunset sinks to the west with dusk, and the curtain of night is unknowingly drawn down.

"Well... first put in the accelerant, then keep proper ventilation..."

Under everyone's curious gaze, Shidao started a fire on the fire table while following the instructional video on the Internet.

Holding a piece of cardboard, he fanned it carefully, and when the flames gradually grew stronger, Shidou added firewood on top.

The flames flickered among the stacked wood, the blue fire boundary expanded little by little, and finally turned into an orange bonfire.

With a slight smell of charcoal smoke, the warm light illuminates everyone's cheeks.

"Oh……"

Surrounding the campfire, the elves exclaimed in unison as if they had seen some incredible sight.

"Amazing! It's really lit up! Shidou! That's amazing!"

Tohka said in a somewhat fussy tone.

"Hahaha... I'm just learning and applying it now."

Shidou scratched his head a little embarrassedly. But having said that, he still felt a sense of accomplishment.

Sitting not far from the campfire, Qinli stared at the campfire and murmured involuntarily.

"It's incredible. Why do I feel so safe after seeing the bonfire?"

"Being down to earth. Maybe this is human instinct."

"Kuku - being in the boundless darkness will cause chaos and confusion. At this time, even a glimmer of light is a salvation for the soul. I seem to understand why Prometheus stole fire for mankind. Fire is the origin of civilization and the light that guides human evolution!"

Yui and Yakuya echoed in agreement.

"I understand your excitement. But be careful not to get too close to the bonfire."

Shaking the spoon in her hand, Mengyue came over and reminded.

"Let's eat. Dinner is curry."

"Wow! Honey's wife's cooking!"

Miku couldn't help but cheer.

"Curry?... Well, the kingly way is the kingly way. But it lacks a bit of surprise, my compatriot."

"Disappointed. Xixian thought they would use local materials in the wild and grill them over a fire."

"We're not trying to survive in the wild. If you want, we can roast some marshmallows for dessert."

Meng Yue made a wry remark and walked over to Shion.

"Here, Yoshino. This is your portion. Be careful not to burn yourself."

"Um...thank you."

Gently placing Shionai next to him, Shionai picked up the plate and spoon and took a sip.

"—!"

In an instant, Shion's eyes lit up.

"Is it tasty?"

I saw Shion puffing up his cheeks, shaking his body with a little excitement, and then giving Mengyue a thumbs up.

"Yeah, that's good."

Meng Yue said with a smile.

Not only Yoshino, but even the Yamai sisters who had complained about the curry at the beginning, now enjoyed it with relish.

"Speaking of which, have you ever heard of this? A legend about this place?"

Suddenly, Yakushi spoke in a mysterious tone.

"What's wrong? Want to tell a weird story?"

"No choice. Anyway, it must be another story that Yakushi made up on a whim."

“No, no! This is real—ahem!”

Being interrupted by Mengyue and Xixian, Yakushi first glared at them angrily, then coughed dryly and continued.

"A long time ago, there lived a couple near this lake..."

As she spoke, Yakushi quietly observed everyone's reactions. Unexpectedly, many people listened to her story with great interest.

Feeling the satisfaction of being the center of attention, Yakuya spoke more attentively.

What Yakuya told was a horror story that often appeared in urban legends. A couple who had been living a happy life had their life ruined by an unexpected visitor, a seductive beauty.

The husband seemed to be drugged and became extremely obsessed with the woman, and gradually became cold towards his wife.

The dissatisfied wife quarreled with her husband, but it only created a deeper rift between them. The wife, who was often alone in the empty house, was finally entangled in heart disease and jumped into the lake to commit suicide.

"Afterwards... the wife, who could not get rid of her resentment, turned into a ground-bound spirit. When the husband and the woman returned home to sort out their property, she dragged them into the water and drowned them alive."

Having said that, Yejushi paused, looked at everyone, and said grimly.

"Today, the ghost of that wife still lurks in this lake, appearing by the lake and in the forest in the middle of the night..."

At this point, Yakuya suddenly widened his eyes in surprise and pointed behind Tohka.

"Right behind you!"

"Hmm?"

Tohka tilted her head in confusion.

"------ah!!"

Suddenly, a monster wrapped in white cloth jumped out from behind Tohka.