Getting Treated to Yakitori

“For now, just sit there.”

Following Kamasse's instruction, I sat down on a stone bench by the main street of Yoshanka.

There are a lot of benches in Yoshanka.

There are benches everywhere.

Well, if you ask me, they're more like leftover building materials somebody just left lying around, but after being sat on by people for ages, these stones have lost their corners and become benches in name and in fact.

So, setting aside the technicalities, these are benches.

They are definitely benches.

Now then, anyway, back to the topic.

“What? You want something?”

I tilt my head a little, staring at Kamasse.

The contest ended yesterday, so there shouldn't be any reason for Kamasse to come pestering me anymore, right?

Kamasse sighs at the way I'm acting.

“Look...... you, quit causing the stalls trouble, would ya. That stall guy was crying, you know? What the hell did you do to him......”

“Side-step drills......”

“Why!?”

“Yakitori, wanted him to sell me some......”

“Why the hell would someone who wants to buy yakitori do side-step drills and make the owner cry!?”

All I can say is, it just sort of happened in the moment!

Gugyurururururururu......!

Oops.

My stomach growls, loud and proud.

Seeing that, Kamasse knit his brows and looked a bit troubled.

“......I guess he wouldn't sell you any yakitori.”

I give a small nod.

Byuoo......

It was drowned out by the strong sea breeze, but I could tell Kamasse let out another huge sigh.

And then.

“......Here.”

“!!?”

And then, Kamasse held out “one of” the giant yakitori skewers in his hands toward me!

Eh!? Does this mean......!?

He's giving it to me......!!?

My gaze darted back and forth between the yakitori and Kamasse's face over and over.

“Stop it. Stop comparing me and the yakitori at super-high speed. It's so fast it's scary. ......Ahem, you're hungry, right? Take it.”

U...... uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!

Kamasse! Kamasseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

You......!

You're really a good guyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!

I forgive you!!

I forgive everything now, from your super-arrogant attitude when we first met, to the way you pointed your sword at me, all of it!!!

“Th...... thank, you.”

Sobbing.

I'm sobbing again.

Still expressionless, tears gushing down my face, I take the yakitori skewers “from both of” Kamasse's hands.

“Ah, wait, you......!!”

Kamasse is saying something, but none of it reaches me.

Delicious...... yakitori is deliciousssssssssssssssssss!!!

“Hey! Don't screw around! One of those is mine! Don't eat both! I mean, hey, stop it, don't eat the stick! Spit out the stick! Spit it out, spit!!”

The crispy grilled skin, the juicy meat......!

A mysterious flavor, like bacon, or like chicken thigh yakitori......!

It's delicious...... it's deliciousssssssssssssssssssssss!!!

Thank you! Thank you so much, Kamasse......!

He's shaking my shoulder and screaming in my ear, but sorry, I don't have the mental capacity to listen right now.

But I really am grateful!

Thank you, Kamasse!!!

◇ ◇ ◇

“......It was delicious.”

“Then at least eat with a face that looks like you're enjoying it, you dumbass. Dammit, I can't believe you ate both......”

After the meal.

I'm satisfied with the taste and basking in the meaty afterglow, and Kamasse, hanging his head for some reason, grumbles at me.

But it can't be helped that I'm expressionless.

My facial muscles are dead, after all.

“......Well, whatever. I can just buy more Togodo skewers. Hey, cursed child.”

“What?”

“What's your name?”

“Emi.”

“I see. Emi.”

Kamasse stared at my face for a moment, then suddenly bowed his head.

“......I'm sorry. Emi, I caused you trouble.”

......Eh?

A sudden apology from Kamasse.

I'm just gaping at him, and Kamasse goes on.

“See, I'm a ‘genius’.”

And then, smooth as anything, a round of bragging about his own great self.

What is this guy talking about?

“Ever since I was little, I never lost to anyone at swords or magic. I was a genius, I was strong, so I thought I could do whatever I wanted. I got carried away, being called a ‘future special-grade adventurer’ and all that. But after losing to you...... losing even at gathering herbs...... I managed to cool off, a little.”

Kamasse, raising his head as he said it, had gone bright red, from embarrassment maybe.

“So...... I'm sorry. And, thank you. If things had stayed the way they were, I think I would've become even more arrogant and an even worse person. So, uh, well...... gah!”

Maybe he couldn't get his thoughts in order; he was stammering all over the place, but still, Kamasse.

“Anyway, I'm going to become even more amazing and get stronger than you! Just watch! I won't stay weaker than you forever! See ya!!”

After making that declaration, he dashed away in an instant.

<......He just said what he wanted to say and left, didn't he?>

Yep.

At this point, it's, you know.

It's a Kamasse habit.

The herb-gathering contest yesterday went like this too.

He cuts the conversation off before the other person can even react. Honestly, what a handful.

......But.

<He's not, a bad sort of person, is he?>

Yep.

Kamasse's a good guy.

He treated me to yakitori, after all.

<............>

............

<By the way, Emi.>

What is it, Omake-sama?

<You were looking for someone to accompany you in gathering herbs, right?>

Yep.

<......Wouldn't it have been better to ask Kamasse?>

........................

Ah.

By the time I realized it, the opportunity had passed.

Kamasse had already dashed out of town, off on some request maybe, and couldn't be caught, or so the story goes.

<Geez, what are you going to do now, Emi? Will you wait for Kamasse to come back?>

Hmm, well, that would be fine, but......

<......? Do you have another idea?>

Yep...... well, there is one other thing I thought of.

I don't know when Kamasse will be back...... so maybe I'll try that first.

<I think you should try anything and everything you can.>

Yep.

Alright, then, I guess I'll head to Kaise Forest again today.

Yakitori alone isn't enough to fill my stomach.

I'll eat some snakes while I'm at it.

I started running toward the forest.

Since going through the main gate is still a pain, I climbed over the outer wall using 【Silverfish】.