Free activity time, which was from 1 PM to 4 PM in the afternoon. During this time, whether the elementary school students stayed in their rooms or played in the backyard, Uchiha Ryo and the others could finally get a short relaxation.
"Uchiha-kun, the group of middle school students calling themselves the Youkai Detective Agency have already gone into the mountains. Let's follow them during our free time!"
Chitanda pointed to the mountains, and Fujiwara Chika followed behind, looking ready to set off at any time.
"You two get your heads back in the game. If you're really bored, go to the kitchen to help prepare the ingredients."
Fujiwara Chika: "Tch.... it's not fun here."
Hiratsuka Shizuka: "If it's not fun, go help. Uchiha! And Shirogane, you two come here."
Hiratsuka Shizuka carried a wooden box to the backyard, put it on the ground, breathed a sigh of relief, and looked around.
"Where is Yukinoshita?"
Uchiha Ryo: "Over there chatting with elementary school students. President Amakusa is also there."
Hiratsuka Shizuka looked up and saw Yukinoshita and Amakusa Shino sitting on a wooden bench at the edge of the backyard next to a little girl, chatting about something.
"Fujiwara and Chitanda, go call Amakusa and Yukinoshita over to help in the kitchen. Uchiha and Shirogane, one of you come with me to move things, and the other go to the mountain to get some firewood."
Shirogane Miyuki and Uchiha Ryo looked at each other.
Uchiha Ryo: "Then I'll go get firewood."
Hiratsuka Shizuka nodded. "You can go. Just pile the firewood you find in the backyard. After all, we have to solve the meals for more than sixty people, so we probably need a bit more firewood. When Shirogane finishes helping me move these things, I'll let him go help you."
"No need, I'm enough alone."
With the power of Wood Release, mere firewood was nothing difficult. However, picking up firewood gave him a chance to go up the mountain.
"Uchiha-kun!!"
Chitanda ran over quickly. "You're going up the mountain, right?"
"Mhm, going to pick up some firewood. I know what you're going to say. Just stay here obediently. I'm enough alone."
Chitanda Eru scratched her head awkwardly. "Um, although I thought about going up with you, it's better for me to stay. But since Uchiha-kun is going up the mountain, can you help me ask that detective group if they found any youkai!"
Uchiha Ryo: "....That's doable. If I meet them, I'll ask for you."
After speaking, Uchiha Ryo turned and walked towards the mountain. At the same time, Enyun-chan in the room also jumped out and followed her master silently up the mountain.
.....
Cooking Area—
The cooking area cleared out for them by the inn was actually a large washstand. Washing rice, vegetables, etc., all had to be done here.
When Fujiwara Chika went to call Amakusa Shino and the others, Yukinoshita also walked over with Tsurumi Rumi.
Of course, not only Tsurumi Rumi went to the cooking area. Many elementary school students who thought they could cook took the initiative to come and help.
Yukinoshita roughly scanned the ingredients used. Pork belly, carrots, onions, potatoes..... It seemed their dinner was curry.
The variety of these ingredients was not rich, basically common curry ingredients for ordinary families. For the cooking level of sixth-grade elementary school students, it was quite suitable for them.
Fujiwara Chika: "Curry, huh.... I prefer ramen for dinner~"
Hiratsuka Shizuka: "Oh oh, Fujiwara knows her stuff. That's right! Ramen is the most delicious thing in the world!"
Regarding the curry, Yukinoshita gave a mediocre evaluation.
"Making curry is a very safe choice. Although you can't make rich and luxurious dishes, it won't fail."
After all, Yukinoshita glanced at Tsurumi Rumi beside her and the three Shirosaki Hana talking and laughing opposite.
For elementary school students, with their help, it was naturally impossible to make those complex dishes.
Yukinoshita picked up a potato and gave it to Tsurumi Rumi. "Do you know how to peel?"
"Don't look down on me. How could I not know how to do such a simple thing!"
Although Tsurumi Rumi was an elementary school student, she never thought she could only do things elementary school students should do.
The corners of Yukinoshita's mouth curled up. She seemed to see her past self. "Why doesn't Rumi go with Hana and the others? Look, aren't they getting along very harmoniously over there?"
Opposite, Chitanda was like a leader of children, leading a group of little girls to wash rice and vegetables.
"Isn't senpai also cutting radishes here without blending in with them.... Besides, I don't know what to talk about with Hana and the others. They are really too childish, just like little kids."
You are only eleven or twelve this year too. But just like Tsurumi Rumi said, because she had thinking abilities beyond her peers, an invisible generation gap appeared between Rumi and Shirosaki Hana.
Just like old people don't understand why young people are addicted to the internet, and young people don't understand the joy of old people's health preservation, generation gaps caused by different ways of thinking can also appear between peers.
At some point, Chitanda suddenly came to the side and heard Tsurumi Rumi's statement.
"But, you won't be happy without friends, right? Playing happily with classmates is a wonderful childhood memory."
Tsurumi Rumi: "I don't need those bad memories... won't it be fine if I make friends when I enter middle school or high school?"
The girl put down the peeled potato in her hand and handed it to Yukinoshita, and Yukinoshita also skillfully took it and started cutting it into pieces.
Tsurumi Rumi believed in her judgment! She looked forward to the future, believing that after entering a new environment, everything would turn for the better.
"Unfortunately, your idea is wrong."
Yukinoshita Yukino punctured Rumi's dream with a serious expression. Rumi turned her head and stared at Yukinoshita's eyes somewhat resentfully, but Yukinoshita still said.
"When you enter high school, your thinking will still exceed your peers. Because while they are progressing, you are also progressing. Everything will only repeat itself then."
Tsurumi Rumi: "Why are you so sure!"
"...."
"Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth."
Yukinoshita said something out of nowhere, and Tsurumi Rumi fell into silence upon hearing this.
Chatting with this beautiful big sister for so long today, although she still didn't know her name, only that they were from Shuchiin, but.....
Tsurumi Rumi seemed to see a part of her future in Yukino.
Just like Yukino saw her past in Rumi..... Was the past Yukino not that kind of loner? Shinomiya Kaguya had Hayasaka Ai at home and Fujiwara Chika at school, but what about her....
"Then... what should I do?"
Tsurumi Rumi's tone finally softened.
Just as Yukinoshita was about to speak, she felt the ground start to shake violently. Earthquake? Why would an earthquake happen!
Without hesitation, Yukinoshita hugged Tsurumi Rumi immediately intending to hide. Just as others were about to take action.... the earthquake suddenly stopped.
Hiratsuka Shizuka: "Hey, hey, what's the situation? The magnitude just now was obviously not low, why did it stop so quickly?"
Chitanda: "Sensei! Uchiha-kun! Uchiha-kun is still picking up firewood on the mountain!"
Hiratsuka Shizuka looked at the mountain road not far away. "It should be fine. You saw his performance at the sports festival. And it didn't shake for long..... At most, he just fell down."