Four Ikemen Extra 1

EXTRA 1: A Picnic with Everyone! Part 1

 

On a certain early afternoon. I was standing alone in the kitchen, placing the meat that I’ve learned to cook on the chopping board.

 

If you work in silence, your thoughts will advance. Since Dy also wasn’t present to disturb me, I was able to indulge in deep reverie.

 

As my thoughts go in circles nonstop, I suddenly realize that, surprisingly, there might not have been an opportunity for everyone to gather together recently.

 

Alf seems to be busy recently and has been coming home late at night, I’m already asleep by then and there are times when I don’t see him. Once Ciel immerses himself in his research, he does not come out of the basement for a few days.

 

Ragna flies around while accepting requests from the guild, and Dy seems to have a nocturnal lifestyle and he’s often absent during the daytime.

 

I say that but I meet 2 or 3 of them every day one way or another but the opportunity of gathering all 4 of them leisurely just doesn’t come.

 

I just miss the time when I traveled with everyone. Just like that time with the 4 guys, I would like to experience going on a short trip with them again.

 

I was thinking about that while preparing the smoked meat. That’s right, I can now make smoked foods. I, too, have completely become an outstanding house-husband, haven’t I? Yup.

 

[Since I’m already thinking about it, I should ask everyone.]

 

Having decided that, I went to hang the meat in the preservation room.

 

I can hear footsteps from behind the door leading towards the basement. These footsteps are Alf’s. The lock clicks open, and as his indigo blue hair sways, the good-looking man steps inside.

 

[Rei, I’m home.]

 

As though he’s happy to see me, he walked up to me with large strides and hugged me tightly. I also hugged his back in return.

 

[Welcome home, Alf. You came back early today.]

[It’s because the urgent matters have mostly been finished, I also got 3 days vacation.]

[Oh, that’s great then! You can relax after a long time.]

[Yeah.]

 

Even though he’s tired, Alf still smiled refreshingly. In order to have Alf quickly rest, I pushed his back to the chair in front of the dining table.

 

[Sit, I’ll make dinner soon.]

[Is that so, well then I’ll leave it to you.]

 

Because I didn’t expect Alf to come home this early, I started cooking in a hurry.

You’re asking if we’re not going to eat that smoked meat? Since there’s a chance, I was thinking of eating it on that special day.

 

That’s right, I’ve thought of it. Won’t it be fun if I have a picnic with the 4 of them?

So if I make something like a sandwich, bring it with us, and eat it, it will probably taste the best.

 

As I was preparing simple Western dishes like vegetable soup and sauteed bird meat, and boiled potatoes, another set of footsteps could be heard from the basement.

 

The one who appears after the door clicks open is a blond and gorgeous Elf. While blinking his jewel-like beautiful emerald eyes, he looked in Alf’s direction.

 

[Huh, Alf, you’re home? That’s rare, for you to be back at this time.]

[Ciel, it’s been a while. Has your research been settled for the time being?]

[Somewhat. It would take some time before I can proceed further on my research, so I planned to relax while I’m at it.]

 

Wearing a white robe, Ciel peeked at what I was cooking from behind me while talking open-heartedly with Alf, who was in a knight’s uniform.

 

[Rei, sorry for the suddenness but can you make a portion for me, too?]

[Of course. You sit down, too, Ciel.]

[Thank you… That, I’d be grateful if you could make my portion of soup a bit larger and the chicken smaller.]

[No problem, rather, I was already planning on doing that even if you didn’t tell me.]

 

Ciel smiled happily when he heard my words and quietly took a seat. Just like that, while having the two’s quietly conversing voices as my BGM, I stirred the gently boiling soup.

 

[Here, it’s done. Eat up.]

 

The two of them started eating the meal that I cooked. Alf eats it deliciously and Ciel is also eating quietly with relish,  the two are really worth cooking for.

 

[You know, I have something to say.]

 

When I speak to them right after they finished eating, the two’s eyes focus on me.

 

[Rather than us not having enough time to all gather together, isn’t it almost nonexistent at all? Because of that, the next time that our rest time coincides with one another, I want to go to a picnic with everyone.]

[Oh, that’s nice. I agree.]

[I was also thinking of getting in touch with nature from time to time. So then, where do we go?]

[Well, that’s the problem.  Do you know a good place?]

 

We looked at each other and thought. A place that we can travel to within a day, has a nice landscape, and can give us the feeling of traveling, is it?

 

Actually, we haven’t even looked around this Zohana Lake’s grounds so we don’t have familiarity with the area.

 

For the time being, since there are forests, mountains, and rivers, maybe we’ll be able to see beautiful scenery if we climb a suitable mountain.

 

While we were humming and hawing, a large figure came in from the door leading towards the outside instead of the basement.

 

The sun had completely sunk outside, but the fiery red-haired man walked up to me boldly, placed his hand on top of my head, and heartily ruffled my hair. 

 

[Rei, I have just returned.]

[Ragna! Welcome home. You’ve come at the perfect time. There’s something I want to discuss with you.]

 

I also summarized the situation with Ragna. As Ragna listened while nodding his head, he suggested something.

 

[I see. If it’s a place with beautiful scenery then there are many of that around here, but the view from Amburezza Mountain is especially wonderful. The clouds are reflected on the Zohana Lake and each moment it changes is particularly nice.] 

[Wow, that sounds beautiful. But this time, it would be ideal if I can walk with everyone along the way and enjoy a picnic vibe.]

[I see, when it comes to a distance where we can treat it as a light exercise, it’s impossible with Human feet.]

 

Ragna also thought whether there was a place within reach with Human feet, but maybe because he’s always flying around with his wings, nothing seemed to come to mind around this area. 

 

As if he thought of something, Alf raised his face.

 

[I’m not sure if it’s beautiful or not, but I heard a rumor. Apparently, there’s a day when you can see the summit near Zohana Mountain, which is on the left of Amburezza Mountain, glow in white light.]

[Really? Could it mean that white flowers are blooming?]

[No, if it were flowers then it would bloom for a few days, but that light was said to only shine for a few hours. I heard that the appearance of the pillar of light facing the sky was magical. Because no one has gone up till there and returned, there are only rumors from people who saw it from afar though.]

 

What is it? Maybe it’s activated by some sort of magic? As I was twisting my neck, the Demon smoothly appeared from my shadow. The tied black hair gently swayed.

He lightly hugged me from behind with a sleek smile on his beautiful face.

 

[Rei, if it’s about this area then you should have asked me first. I truth about Akkun’s gossip. Should I send you there? The place’s scenery is also pretty.]

[Dy!]

 

I see, come to think about it, this is where he’s from.

When I asked him, he said that he has climbed that mountain when he was still human. Its distance is one we can walk to and return from in a day. Its range is also just right.

 

[Hey, so what is that white light actually?]

[Fufu, you’ll know once you get there.]

 

Dy smiled quietly as if he’s plotting something. This guy’s secretiveness is really strong and it seems to be useless even if I pressed him some questions, so he practically doesn’t plan to tell me until we reach the place.

…… I got curious all of a sudden after being told that, and I started wanting to take a look no matter what.

 

[Alf, aren’t you curious? Let’s go and check it out.]

[You’re right. Ciel and Ragna-dono, can you come as well?] 

[It’s okay, if anything, I wanted to take a break so it’s just perfect.]

[I have also completed the first stage of my task so there’s no problem.]

 

And thus, we promptly decided to climb Zohana Mountain tomorrow.

Alright, I’ll get up early and make some lunch boxes!!