My Childhood Friend Seems to be the Main Heroine. - Chapter 17

　Crackle-

　A flame lit up in the outdoor kitchen as if to replace the setting sun in the sky.

　It was very small at first but it gradually increased in intensity, illuminating the surroundings.

“The fire was ready!”

　Saito called the group members who chopped vegetables and prepared the rice bowls.

“Wow, that’s great, Minachi. Everyone else was like [Why it doesn’t keep burning!], but you succeeded the first time!”

“I told you I’m good at making fires.”

　Shuri, who had just finished chopping vegetables and was free, was the first to respond to his call.

　Seeing the flames burning fiercely in the pot, she complimented Saito.

　Saito, in turn, puffed out his chest.

　Saito had been camping with his parents since he was a child, so it was easy for him to make a fire.

　As long as the wood is not too wet, he rarely makes a mistake.

　Saito is glad that he goes camping every year, and the knowledge he has gained from camping comes in handy during these outdoor activities.

　Poke- poke-

“Hmm? “

　A light touch on his back made him turn around to see Riri standing there with an unhappy look on her face.

　Her complexion has improved, and she is back to her usual condition. Probably thanks to the two hours of sleep she has had since Saito put her to bed.

“What? “

“No, I’m just thinking it’s creepy that you’re all flirty with Shuri-chan.”

“I wasn’t flirty at all. I was just smiling while talking to her.”

　When Saito asked what was wrong, Riri replied with a harsh comment that he had not expected.

　He was feeling good about the praise, that’s for sure.

　However, he was not overreacting because of her praise.

　Saito told Riri that he was mistaken.

“I wonder if that’s true. Well, if you’ve got your fire going, come and help me. I have a hard time getting it lit.”

　Still, Riri did not stop looking at him with suspicion and asked Saito to help her group.

“No, you’ve been camping with me many times. You can build a fire. Why should I help you? “

　Riri has been camping with Saito several times, and she is also proficient in creating a fire, so there is no need for Saito to help her.

　Saito refused, telling her to do it himself, but Riri looked annoyed and said, [That’s true, but…Look at that.] she said, pointing to the far right.

　When he looked over, he saw three boys burning a lot of newspapers to light firewood directly.

　They were right in their decision to burn what is easily flammable and set fire to what is not easily flammable.

　But───

“Aww─── My eyes───!!!”

“The ashes are spreading everywhere!”

“I mean, even though we do this much, why won’t the wood catch fire… How come it’s not burning after using so many newspapers───!!”

　That’s a little too much.

　It is true that newspapers catch fire easily and burn intensely, but it is only momentary and has little sustain.

　Therefore, it is difficult to light firewood; if used in large quantities, a lot of ashes will come out, and you will not be able to open your eyes.

　That’s why it is better to use a small amount of newspaper and maybe some cedar leaves that have fallen down around us to light a fire on a twig that they have picked up first, and then use it to light firewood, but surprisingly, many people do not know how to do this.

　He thought that maybe some of them may have read about it in movies or books, but unless they actually try it, they easily forget about it.

　Therefore, it is quite common to have a hard time to fire firewood in such a situation.

　And it is only in such a situation that men have strange pride and waste a lot of time trying to do it alone.

“Awww…”

　But this was worse than anything he had ever seen.

　Boys were rolling around with ashes in their eyes.

　He knows it hurts, but the newspapers are still burning, and doing it near the fireplace is dangerous.

　Saito, who saw the terrible mess, thinks it will be bad if he doesn’t help.

　At this rate, he did not know when they could use the fire and cook.

“Give me that.”

“Please.”

“Okay, so Yakumo. I’m going away for a while. Call me if the fire is about to go out.”

“Roーger.”

　Saito told Shuri he was leaving and went to help Riri’s group members.

“Hey, Riri!”

　With Saito gone, Riri was about to return to the girls’ group when Shuri called her.

“What, Shuri-chan?”

“Don’t worry, Minachi is not my type. I’m more into big and quiet guys.”

“….It’s not like that. I hope you don’t mind, Shuri-chan.”

　That’s not what she meant.

　She just came to ask Saito to help her because the boys in our group were unreliable.

　It was just that the boy she grew up with looked so happy when Shuri praised him, and it annoyed her somehow.

　It is never what Shuri thinks it is.

“I see. I’ll leave it at that.”

　Riri told Shuri she was mistaken but she didn’t take her seriously.

　She gives her a smirk and a look that says she knows what is happening.

(I want to hit her.)

　She honestly thought so.

　Her hand tightens its grip.

　She wants to shoot it right into this mocking girl’s face.

　But Riri is a patient woman.

　She would never hit a child who is mentally younger than she is───

　Step- step-

“Ahaha! Hey, Riri-cchi, stop it, fufu.”

“……”

　──…she doesn’t do that.

　This is just her playing with a girl her age.

　She doesn’t mean any harm.

” Uheheー! Haha, s-sorry, Riri-cchi.”

“You don’t have to apologize. I don’t mind at all.”

“No, haa, ahahah, stop your hand if you say so! “

　For a while, the girl’s laughter echoed in the kitchen.

“What’s wrong? “

　Saito finished helping to build a fire and returned to find Shuri breathing hard and groggy and asked Riri what had happened.

“Well, if I had to say, I’d say it was her own fault.”

” ? “

　Saito tilted his head, not understanding what his childhood friend was saying.