-Yuna’s POV-
The day after the barbecue party, Shuri and I were alone on the moving island of Targui.
While they were dismantling the Big Boars at the bear house, Shuri told me that it’s not fair. She said, <I want to go somewhere too>, so I decided to do her a small favor.
Shuri’s small request was <I want to go to that island where there are fruits>. So this time, Shuri and I went to Targui together.
Fina, on the other hand, is with Tirumina-san. And she’s currently being spoiled by her mother.
Well, Fina is only a ten-year-old girl. That’s why it’s just me and Shuri today.
When we arrived at the island of Targui, I summoned Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear and gave a warning to Shuri, who wanted to run towards them right now.
[Stay close to Swaying Bear, okay?] Yuna
[Un!] Shuri
[If Swaying Bear says you can’t go, then you can’t go.] Yuna
[Un!] Shuri
[Don’t pick or eat any food you don’t know. Ask Swaying Bear first!] Yuna
[Un!] Shuri
[And if anything happens, call me on my bear phone.] Yuna
[Un!] Shuri
[Also……] Yuna
Also… Was there anything else I should be aware of?
[U~u, Yuna-oneechan. You’re acting like my older sister. I’m with Swaying Bear-chan and I’ll listen to Swaying Bear-chan. Right, Swaying Bear-chan?] Shuri
Shuri hugs Swaying Bear. Then, Swaying Bear cried <ku~u ~ n>.
[Swaying Bear, take care of Shuri.] Yuna
<Ku~u ~ n>
I asked Swaying Bear to take care of Shuri.
[Come on, Swaying Bear-chan, let’s go!] Shuri
<Ku~u ~ n>
With a happy Shuri on board, Swaying Bear ran off.
I set off with Hugging Bear, chasing after Shuri from behind.
As we trudged along the path, we immediately saw Shuri picking orens with Swaying Bear.
She’s on the back of Swaying Bear and trying her best to stretch her arm. It made me smile at the fact that she even took off her shoes.
Shuri puts the Orens she took into a regular bag. Fruits are supposed to be put away in the item bag after a certain number has passed.
[Swaying Bear-chan. Move to the right.] Shuri
<Ku~u ~ n>
Swaying Bear followed Shuri’s instructions and moved to the right. Shuri was balancing well on top of Swaying Bear.
[Ah, that’s too much.] Shuri
<Ku~u ~ n>
Swaying Bear goes back a little.
Shuri reaches out her hand.
[I got it.] Shuri
<Ku~u ~ n>
It was a delightful sight.
I left oren-picking to Shuri and Swaying Bear, while Me and Hugging Bear move on.
We’re getting mangoes and bananas. There are not only fruits but vegetables as well. There are so many different kinds of plant-based food growing out here. There’s not enough to sell at a store, but there’s enough for us to enjoy.
But is it okay if the quantity is limited?
-Shuri’s POV-
Today I’m on an island full of fruits with Yuna-oneechan.
We came to this island by opening the bear-shaped door in Yuna-oneechan’s house.
It’s very mysterious.
I’m going to ride on Swaying Bear-chan and look for fruit.
I got on Swaying Bear-chan and looked around to find Orens. I stood on Swaying Bear-chan’s back and picked what looked good.
Then, as I was looking for other fruits, I saw Yuna-oneesan with Hugging Bear-chan picking fruits.
I won’t lose to you, Yuna-oneesan.
Is there anything that looks good?
Oh, there’s a black fruit over there.
[Swaying Bear-chan. Can I eat that?] Shuri
<Kuu ~ n>
Yuna-oneechan told me to ask Swaying Bear-chan about the things I haven’t seen before.
Swaying Bear-chan shook his head.
Apparently, I can’t eat that one.
[How about that one?] Shuri
This time I found some green and yellow fruits. It looks a little like Orens. But the fruits are smaller than Orens and the tree is different. I’ve never seen those before, but I wonder if I can eat that one.
Well, just in case, I’ll ask Swaying Bear-chan.
[Swaying Bear-chan. How about this?] Shuri
<Swaying Bear-chan made a <kuun> sound, then raised and lowered his head.
It seems to be okay.
The tree was not that tall, so I reached out and picked the yellow fruit.
Does this taste good?
I tried to cut the yellow fruit in half with a knife. The color was different, but it had a lot of juice, just like orens. I took a bite.
[U ~u~u~u~u~u~u~u~u~] Shuri
I threw away the fruit I was carrying on the ground.
It’s very sour.
[U~u, Swaying Bear-chan is a liar. You told me I could eat it.] Shuri
<Ku~u ~ n>
Swaying Bear-chan makes a sad face. But it was Swaying Bear-chan who lied to me.
My mouth is very sour. I was deceived by Swaying Bear-chan.
[What’s wrong?] Yuna
As I was getting angry with Swaying Bear-chan, Yuna-oneechan came to us riding on Hugging Bear-chan.
[Swaying Bear-chan lied to me!] Shuri
When I said this, Yuna-oneechan looked around and saw the tree in front of her.
[Did you, by any chance, eat a lemon?] Yuna
[It was very sour. And yet, Swaying Bear-chan said I can eat it.] Shuri
[Well, he doesn’t mean eat them as they are. It’s a fruit that’s usually used to season meat and vegetables. So it’s not like you can’t eat it.] Yuna
[Really?] Shuri
[I think that’s why Swaying Bear told you that you can eat it. So, come on, forgive Swaying Bear already.] Yuna
I looked at the yellow fruit and Swaying Bear-chan alternately.
Swaying Bear-chan didn’t lie to me.
[…Swaying Bear-chan. I’m sorry, I got mad at you.] Shuri
I gently stroked Swaying Bear-chan’s head.
Swaying Bear-chan cried <Kuu-n> and rubbed his head against me.
He seemed to have forgiven me.
But this time, I’ll ask what I can eat normally.
-Yuna’s POV-
I picked some of the lemons Shuri had found for cooking. We can also make lemon juice or lemon tea with these.
I’ve also heard that they are candied and eaten, but I’ve never tried one before. I wonder if it tastes good? I think I’ll try making it next time.
Then, I decided to go with Shuri to avoid mistakes like this one. Well, even if we were to go together, I wouldn’t be able to recognize any food that I don’t know.
While the four of us were exploring the island of Targui, we found corn growing on the ground.
Hmm? It looks like there are different kinds on the left and right.
One of them is fresh and looks good enough to eat raw. But the other one is withered. Do they die on Targui Island?
I hold a piece of withered corn in my hand. Could this be it?
I remember seeing on TV a long time ago that there are different varieties of corn that can be used to make popcorn, and the corn that makes popcorn is harvested after waiting until it is so dry that it withers. After harvesting, are the kernels left to dry for a while and are supposed to become popcorn?
It’s a vague memory, but that’s how it was, I think.
If it were a different variety, it wouldn’t be popcorn.
But it’s worth checking out. I only ate popcorn in elementary school when we went to the movies. I haven’t had popcorn in years because I’ve been cooped up at home since I became a junior high school student. It would be nice if I could eat it while watching a movie, but unfortunately, there are no movie theaters or TV sets in this world. But I thought there was a theater in the royal capital.
Do they even allow people to eat while watching the play?
Well, even if I never get a chance to eat it, I want to show Fina and Shuri how to make popcorn. It explodes with a popping sound, and the hard seeds turn into soft white fluffy food. That stuff is amazing the first time you see it, you’ll understand.
I’ll take the withered corn.
[Yuna-oneechan, I don’t think you can eat that withered one because it’s too hard. This one seems softer.] Shuri
Shuri compared the withered corn and the green, ready-to-eat corn.
[I’ve got something I’d like to try. I need some withered corn for that.] Yuna
[Something you want to try?] Shuri
[I’m not sure if I can eat it though.] Yuna
[Are you going to eat it?] Shuri
Suri looks at the withered corn and seems a little confused.
Well, I don’t think I want to eat something that looks this hard either.
[Shuri and Swaying Bear, help me pick up the corn over there. Hugging Bear, help me with this one.] Yuna
<<Ku~u ~ n>>
Shuri and I split up to harvest fresh corn and withered corn.
The cotton candy we made at the student festival was good, but popcorn would have been better.
Well, I didn’t have any popcorn seeds at that time. I don’t even know if this will turn into popcorn either.
[Yuna-oneechan, I’m starving.] Shuri
While we were picking corn, Shuri said something like that. Indeed, it was almost lunchtime.
[Let’s eat some corn, then.] Yuna
[Un!] Shuri
I took out the pot I bought from Rojina-san’s place, filled it with water, and put it on the fire to boil.
In the meantime, we continued to pick corn.
After a while, the boiled corn came up nicely.
[Be careful, it’s hot.] Yuna
I wrapped it in a handkerchief so it wouldn’t burn Shuri, then I gave it to her.
Shuri eats corn while blowing at it <fu ~ fu ~>.
[Ah, it’s hot.] Shuri
[Eat carefully.] Yuna
[But it’s delicious.] Shuri
[It’s freshly picked after all.] Yuna
I gave some to Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, who were both sitting on the floor.
Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear skillfully held the corn with both paws and began to eat it.
Since corn was not enough, I cut up some fruit I picked earlier and put it on a plate.
[Mmm, they’re all delicious. I wish oneechan had come too.] Shuri
Fina is probably being spoiled by Tirumina-san right now. I tried to imagine it, but I can only imagine her working rather than getting spoiled. But I’m sure she’s happy about it.
[Then, let’s get some more for Fina and Tirumina-san as souvenirs.] Yuna
[Un!] Shuri
[Also, for Gentz-san.] Yuna
I’d feel sorry for Gentz-san if you forgot about him.
After eating the corn, we continued to pick fruits and vegetables to bring to Fina and the orphanage.
