Vol. 2 Chapter 87 – The Sea, Popular Types, and a Luxury Resort (11)

After that, we enjoyed the summer sea in various other ways.

We just swam in the sea together, rode a banana boat and floated around leisurely, filmed Hikaru’s heroic attempt at wakeboarding, and even returned to our childhoods and played in the sand.

Even so, Hikaru still seemed like she hadn’t played nearly enough, but the gathering time of 5:00 PM arrived, so our time together came to a temporary end.

And so, everyone gathered again in the same place as before, and this time, it was time for dinner together.

Although there were hotel restaurants and various food tenants within the facility, it had been decided beforehand that we would all have a barbecue.

“Heeey! Where should I put this!?” (Komiya)

“Line up the grills over there, and bring the cooler boxes over here!” (Female Student)

“You heard her. Alright, Kageyama and I will take the cooler boxes over there.” (Komiya)

“R-roger that…” (Reiya)

Carrying the heavy cooler boxes on both shoulders, the two of us took them towards the outdoor cooking area.

“Good work!” (Hikaru)

As I somehow managed to follow Komiya-kun, who was carrying his effortlessly, Hikaru ran up from the cooking area.

“I’ll carry one!” (Hikaru)

“N-no, it’s fine… I can manage on my own…” (Reiya)

I put on a brave front, my legs trembling.

Somehow, I managed to carry it all the way to the cooking area and placed the two cooler boxes on the concrete.

“Everyone! The ingredients are here!” (Hikaru)

At Hikaru’s call, the girls gathered around.

All the equipment, like the grills, was rented from the facility, but the ingredients were things everyone had brought.

Until the moment they were opened, no one knew everything that was inside.

“Ugh… The boys’ one, as expected, is all meat…” (Female Student)

“Meat… meat… meat… this is also meat… just how much meat are they planning to eat…” (Another Female Student)

The girl who opened the first cooler box said in a bitter tone.

Inside, a large amount of red meat packed in trays was crammed in.

Other than that, there were only processed meats like sausages and bacon, and noodles for yakisoba.

There was no sign of seafood or vegetables.

“Ehh…? Meat is delicious, so isn’t it better to have a lot?” (Hikaru)

Among the girls complaining about the boys’ ingredients, only Hikaru offered words of defense.

“Even so, there’s a limit to everything…” (Female Student)

“Just asking, but… Hikaru, what did you bring?” (Another Female Student)

“Meat!!” (Hikaru)

Without any shame or hesitation, Hikaru puffed out her chest and answered.

Next, the cooler box containing the ingredients brought by the girls was opened.

Unlike the boys’ one, this one contained a wide variety of ingredients.

Even for meat, there was chicken and pork, and seafood and vegetables were properly included too.

“Who brought these marshmallows?” (Female Student)

“Ah, that’s me!” (Takasaki)

“It figures it’s Chisato…” (Sakuramiya)

“Well, I heard they’re delicious when you roast them.” (Takasaki)

Besides Takasaki-san’s marshmallows, there were also a few unusual items like bananas and baguettes.

Incidentally, Hikaru had brought a block of meat that looked like it came straight out of an American BBQ video.

And so, after the ingredient check was over, just as the girls were about to start preparing—

“Hey, boys, help out too!” (Matsunaga)

Matsunaga-san, who was taking charge of the cooking, called out towards the boys.

Over there, they had already finished setting up the barbecue grills and were playing with a soccer ball they had brought from somewhere.

“Huh? What’d you say?” (Male Student)

“I said help out! You guys are going to eat too!” (Matsunaga)

“We can’t use knives and stuff! Besides, that’s girls’ work, isn’t it!” (Another Male Student)

“Ugh… so terribly anachronistic… That’s why you’re not popular…” (Matsunaga)

Matsunaga-san muttered venomously in response to the boys’ reply.

“We’ll help, but what should we do?” (Komiya)

Komiya-kun said to her as if it were a matter of course.

“Komiya, you keep an eye on Haruna so she doesn’t touch any knives.” (Matsunaga)

“Got it. Come on, Haruna. Let’s go wash some vegetables over there.” (Komiya)

“Why can’t I touch the knives…?” (Fujimoto)

“Just come on.” (Komiya)

“Hey, why…?” (Fujimoto)

Komiya-kun took Fujimoto-san, who looked unconvinced, towards the washing area.

Following that, everyone else also went to their respective stations, and preparations for the barbecue began.

It was only then that my turn to speak finally came, and I asked Matsunaga-san.

“Um… what should I do?” (Reiya)

“Eh? Ah… Kageyama-kun… what should we have you do…” (Matsunaga)

As usual, I was treated somewhat like a fragile object.

But if I didn’t take a step forward here, things would stay this way forever.

I had to make even a little effort to be recognized by the people around me as Hikaru’s boyfriend…

“Then, should I chop some vegetables?” (Reiya)

“Can you use a knife?” (Matsunaga)

“Well, about as well as an average person.” (Reiya)

“Hmm… Then, please do.” (Matsunaga)

Having somehow been assigned a role, I headed straight to the prep table.

I washed my hands and placed the vegetables Komiya-kun and the others had washed onto the cutting board.

I picked up the ceramic knife that was placed nearby and started cutting them into shapes suitable for barbecue.

I cut them a little larger so they would be satisfying to eat, and properly prepped the ones that needed it before cutting.

As I continued this work silently, I suddenly felt a strange gaze from next to me.

When I looked over, Matsunaga-san, who was also cutting vegetables, was looking at my hands with a dubious expression.

“Could it be… did I do something wrong?” (Reiya)

“N-no… it’s not that, I was just thinking you’re surprisingly skillful… Do you usually cook for yourself?” (Matsunaga)

“Not really cooking, but I work part-time at a restaurant my cousin runs… I’m mostly in the front, but I also help with prep work.” (Reiya)

“Huh… Is that so… What restaurant?” (Matsunaga)

“It’s a place called Mizumoritei in front of Futaba Station, I wonder if you know it…” (Reiya)

“Ah! I know it, I know it! I’ve never been, but it has a reputation for being delicious, right! Wow… so that place is run by Kageyama-kun’s relatives…” (Matsunaga)

“What, what? What’s wrong?” (Another Female Student)

As Matsunaga-san was marveling at this surprising fact, another girl, perhaps intrigued by the unusual combination, joined the conversation.

“Apparently, Kageyama-kun works part-time at a restaurant. So look, he’s cutting the vegetables really neatly and efficiently. A world of difference from those useless guys over there.” (Matsunaga)

“Ah, you’re right. He might be much better than me.” (Female Student)

“No, no… it’s nothing that great…” (Reiya)

I couldn’t help but be modest at the unaccustomed praise.

In my mind, my actual comparison was Ichiru-san, so I didn’t think my skills were anything to brag about.

“Hey, hey, does anyone know whose Tupperware this is from the boys’ cooler box?” (Another Female Student)

As I was feeling an indescribable itchiness, I saw another girl asking everyone while holding a familiar-looking food container.

“That’s probably mine.” (Reiya)

“Ah, it’s Kageyama-kun’s. What’s inside this?” (Female Student)

“Um… the one with the blue lid should be lightly prepped beef and chicken marinated in a homemade sauce. I had some time yesterday, so I thought it would be good for preservation as well as seasoning.” (Reiya)

The main purpose of an outdoor barbecue is for everyone to have fun together, with taste being secondary.

But I thought, if we’re going to do it, it might as well be a little delicious… so after my part-time job, I prepared it next to Ichiru-san, who was prepping for the next day, receiving various advice from her.

I worried that I might be seen as creepy for preparing such a thing for a student barbecue, but—

“Homemade sauce… Ah, you’re right. Wow, this looks delicious… So, is this red-lidded one Kageyama-kun’s too?” (Female Student)

She opened the container, checked the contents, and then took out another container and asked.

“That one’s probably shrimp. It’s what we usually use at the restaurant, but my cousin told me to take it.” (Reiya)

“You’re right. It’s shrimp. Should these be peeled?” (Female Student)

“No, I prepped them properly, so you can just grill them as they are and peel them when you eat. If you leave the shells on when grilling, the flavor doesn’t escape.” (Reiya)

“Kageyama-kun, Kageyama-kun. While you’re at it, could you tell me how to cut pumpkin?” (Another Female Student)

“Ah… pumpkin gets hard if you grill it raw, so it’s best to first cut it into about quarters and lightly boil it or microwave it a bit, then slice it about 5mm thick…” (Reiya)

“What about potatoes!? What should I do with potatoes?” (Yet Another Female Student)

“W-well, potatoes are—” (Reiya)

Eh? Wh-what…? Wh-why are they gathering around…?

As I was bewildered by the girls who had suddenly swarmed me asking for advice, someone’s muttered words reached my ears.

“Hey, hey… isn’t he actually quite a catch…?” (Female Student)