In Misaki’s room, Yuka and Sayuri’s stream was playing on the laptop.

  As usual, Misaki was watching it, but Shinobu was staring at it as if devouring it with her eyes.

  Like Sayuri, it seemed she was seeing something called camping for the first time.

  For Misaki as well, seeing Shinobu happy made her happy, and as she watched her like that, the pace at which she drank naturally quickened.

  And the stream went on, and Yuka began recounting an episode about Misaki at an all-you-can-drink.

  Shinobu had been giggling softly, but when she noticed Misaki beside her wearing a bitter expression, she instinctively lowered her eyes.

  “That girl…”

  No sooner had she murmured in a small voice than she took out her smartphone and began making a call.

  The streaming screen went completely dark, and Yuka’s flustered voice could be heard.

  While on the phone, Misaki wore a severity rarely seen in her.

  Shinobu was slightly startled by the sight and found herself at a loss for words, but when Misaki ended the call, she showed a smile and said, “Did I surprise you? I’m sorry.”

  Then, she gave a light clap of her hands—

  “Now then, shall we try making some camp food?”

  she said as she stood up.

  Setting the laptop she had been watching the stream on down on the floor, she instead set up a portable gas stove and a frying pan.

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  “Can you make it here too?”

  Shinobu was gazing at the stove and frying pan with keen interest.

  “There are a lot of simple dishes, so yes, I can.”

  She lit the stove and spread a thin layer of oil in the frying pan.

  After a short while, once she had confirmed the oil was heated, she gently laid out two thin slices of bacon.

  At the sizzle and the aroma rising into the air, Shinobu was completely captivated.

  Misaki glanced at her, nodded in satisfaction, and moved on to the next step.

  “Next, we’ll sauté the shredded potatoes.”

  Leaving the bacon fat in the pan, she added the potatoes and spread them out.

  “Then just a little thinly sliced yellow bell pepper. That’s for color.”

  She cracked an egg into an empty space and gently made a fried egg.

  The cherry tomatoes she simply rolled along the edge of the pan.

  “Once the tomatoes are heated through, it’s done.”

  Watching Misaki’s smooth, unbroken cooking, Shinobu clapped her hands in delight.

  “Wow, that’s amazing.”

  “Something like this is easy.

  It all fits in one frying pan.”

  Misaki watched the food carefully so they wouldn’t burn, smiling softly.

  I made it on impulse… but I could never have eaten that much myself. What a relief.

  The door opened, and two voices called, “I’m home!”

  Then Yuka added, “Misaki-san, I’m sorry.”

  “Oh, don’t worry about that. I said too much as well.

  Here, eat. I made it thinking you’d be coming back.”

  She plated the bacon and eggs that had finished cooking in the frying pan and set it in front of Yuka.

  Yuka eating with clear enjoyment, while Shinobu was describing Misaki’s cooking to Sayuri.

  Misaki watched the scene calmly, sipping her drink.

  I made it on impulse, but I could never have eaten that much myself—what a relief.

  Just as she was feeling relieved, Yuka—her eyes shining—invited her, “Misaki-san, you should do a camping stream too.”

  Of course, Misaki refused, citing the possible appearance of supernatural beings.

  Upcoming Releases

  Short story: "Ghost's Sugoroku"

  ?Chapter 1: March 12 (PST).

  ?Chapter 2 to 4: March 13 at 8:00 PM (PST).

  ?Chapter 5 to 7: March 17 at 8:00 PM (PST).

  ?EXTRA & Author's Note: March 20 at 8:00 PM (PST).

  Update Schedule & Related Links

  : Contains the full update schedule and all related links.

  : Get early access and support the project here.

  : Read the Japanese version here

  Feel free to leave a comment or question—I'd love to hear your thoughts.