Tokyo: Am I the only male tenant?

“Because it’s not an ingredient that we normally use.”

"Has Sosuke ever eaten it?"

"I don't eat it often. I remember eating it a few times when I was a kid. Because it tastes very refreshing, it is only used as a main side dish and needs to be well seasoned."

They waited until the hot spring facilities opened and started enjoying the hot springs from broad daylight.

After taking a bath, Kana Kobayakawa went outside to cool down her warm body. She was looking up information on her phone because she heard there was a delicious bakery nearby.

After walking for about forty minutes, the sweat that they had just washed off in the hot spring was now all over their bodies again, and in front of them appeared a bakery with a very unique appearance.

There was firewood piled in front of the store, and a cruel notice saying "Sold Out and Closed" was posted at the door. Maybe it was too popular, so many people drove in to buy it in the morning.

I was too unwilling to give up and was unable to move forward, but suddenly I realized that it was almost noon, so I had to quickly walk towards the "Rest Stop o Shinkari no Hana".

Unexpectedly, the two people misread the map in a panic and got lost on the road leading deep into the woods.

After walking for a while and realizing something was wrong, they used the mobile phone APP to search again and turned back in embarrassment.

They went back and forth, sweating profusely, and finally climbed up the uphill road that cut through the dense woods.

Looking ahead on the uphill road, you can see Mt. Yotei covered with white snow.

The two men climbed up the slope breathlessly. The further they went, the less dense the trees around them became, and the snow-capped mountains slowly appeared in front of them.

The view expanded greatly, and the majestic mountain peaks were right in front of them. They quickened their pace and ran towards the top of the slope and the blue sky ahead, and then──

They rushed towards the majestic Mount Yotei covered with snow!

“Wow~~~~!”

“Ah~~~He~~~!”

Ginjo Sousuke and Kobayakawa Kana raised their hands and jumped and screamed on the high ground.

There is nothing more soothing than the snow-capped mountains standing against the blue sky, absorbing their sounds!

Whether I am sweating all over or my feet are sore and shaking, I don’t feel it’s a hardship anymore.

"Great! We really worked hard, Kana!"

"Why did you have to run... that's too much..."

"What am I saying? It was you, Kana, who started running first."

The two men faced each other, breathing heavily and laughing.

Standing at the top of the mountain and looking down at the forest and stream below, one feels blood boiling and as if one has conquered everything.

My whole body has become hot due to the climbing process. Coming to this vast and uninhabited natural secret place, of course I have to leave some traces of my presence.

"Kana, yesterday I said I wanted to take you to experience some real outdoor sports. There's no better place than now, right?"

Ginjo looked at Kana Kobayakawa, whose forehead was covered with sweat and whose cheeks were painted bright red.

"Eh? But it's still broad daylight now?"

Kana Kobayakawa's eyes were wide open, and she seemed a little surprised by his proposal.

"That's exactly the feeling I want. Don't you think this scene is more exciting than the woods at night?"

Ginjo Sosuke opened his arms and felt the mountain breeze blowing past him.

"That seems to be the case."

Kana Kobayakawa put her hands on her eyes and looked around. The mountain range where only the two of them were located seemed like a stage specially built for them by nature.

The scorching sun hanging high in the sky cast overlapping shadows on the cold rocks, and the joyful shouts echoed sweetly in the valley.

There is no cover, no obstruction, forget all the disturbances of the world, and just feel with all your heart every impact that penetrates your soul.

She shook her long hair freely, letting the sun and the breeze take away the sweat from her body.

They didn't know how much time had passed, but after slowing down, they slowly walked onto the road that ran through the vast fields on the plateau.

Compared to Tokyo, where the crowds are bustling and chaotic, but the destinations and activities are all within easy reach, in Shinkariki, even if you have a destination, you don't need to rush there urgently or desperately.

You may get lost, go in circles, backtrack, or find many forks in the road. All you have to do is watch the seasons pass by and walk leisurely.

The color of blooming petals, the color of freshly turned earth, the green that descends on the dead woods...

The world is slowly being dyed with bright colors. Just enjoy it slowly, as if you were tasting each of these things one by one.

If you drive, you will definitely miss this experience because of the high speed.

When he thought of this, Ginjo Sousuke felt that the coincidence that led them here was all luck.

Even if he didn't find the dream croquette, even if everything was just a long detour like being lost, this journey would be an irreplaceable treasure for him and Kana Kobayakawa.

After a while, they walked out of the gentle downhill road and came to the wide national highway.

Looking at the map, we only need to walk a little further before we reach our destination, "Rest Stop o Shinkari no Hana".

"Hmm? This national highway looks familiar..."

"Isn't this close to the bus stop where we got off yesterday?"

As Ginjo Sousuke walked, he looked up at the wide road and discovered.

"Huh? Really? Isn't that the convenience store where we bought groceries yesterday?"

Kana Kobayakawa pointed at the convenience store in front and shouted.

"It turns out that we took a long detour to reach our destination..."

"There's nothing wrong with that. Maybe this is the true meaning of traveling."

"Sousuke seems to have gotten used to traveling."

"Yes, I prefer to experience different beautiful scenery every day rather than the monotonous days in Tokyo."

"Yeah, I think so too, if time and money permit..."

Kobayakawa Kana spoke as if she was deep in thought.

Continuing along the national highway, we finally saw a spacious parking lot.

In a corner of the parking lot, there is a large greenhouse. Since the name of the rest stop is "Makkari no Hana", that must be their destination.

There are direct sales areas for agricultural products and also buildings that look like halls.

In the distance, a large flag with the word "restaurant" written on it was flying, and there were also smaller flags for tempura, katsudon, tempura soba, etc., swaying in the spring breeze.

This scene is so tempting that my stomach starts growling just by seeing the name.

There is a small cafe in front of the greenhouse, and there is also a mobile food truck parked there.

"Shall we eat something first?"

The moment he thought this, Ginjō and Kobayakawa Kana spoke at the same time.

"Hmm... There are so many delicious foods... Which one should I choose..."

"Sousuke! Look at that!"

Kana Kobayakawa pointed to a van in the distance that was used as a food truck. A banner fluttering beside it read: "Freshly fried croquettes."

"There are croquettes?!"

The two couldn't help but run over and look carefully at the menu posted on the car.

"Local specialty: two luxurious croquettes made with Makkari's specialty lily roots for 300 yen each"

Ginjo Sousuke just stared at the paper blankly for a moment.

"welcome!"

A cute girl who looked like a junior high school student popped her head out of the van.

"Would you like to order the lily stalk croquettes? They also have French fries. The set meal is large and only 500 yen. It's a good deal!"

The girl, who still had a hint of childishness, spoke in a cheerful voice.

It's interesting to see croquettes and French fries sold together as a set meal.

"Then please give me a set meal."

Kana Kobayakawa paid the money a little anxiously. The girl neatly put the item into a paper bag with a clip and handed it to her with a warm smile.

The paper bag in her hand was very hot. She opened it and took a look. Inside were two small, round, golden croquettes and some perfectly fried potato chips.

Although there was a bench nearby, Kana Kobayakawa seemed unable to wait.

She used the two toothpicks inside to pick up the round croquette, handed one to Ginjo, and stood there taking a bite of the other.

The thin batter is very crispy when you bite it, and the croquette is hot on your tongue. It has an elegant and smooth texture with a slightly soft sweetness.

There is no extra seasoning, and the texture and taste are very similar to potatoes, but if you taste it carefully, you will find that it is a little sweeter than potatoes.

She looked at the cross-section of the bite, and it was pure white.

"This could be..."

To Ginjō who was still blowing air into the croquette, Kobayakawa Kana said in surprise...

Chapter 401 The truth of the past

"Hmm? What do you want to say, Kana?"

Ginjo Sousuke came closer and asked. Because the croquette was very hot, Kana Kobayakawa's voice was unclear.

"Huhu, I mean, this couldn't be the one that Meihe was talking about..."

"Excuse me."

Kana Kobayakawa blew a few breaths and finally cooled her mouth down, but she was interrupted in the middle of her words.

The two people turned around together, and standing behind them was a middle-aged woman in an apron.

"Excuse me...what were you talking about just now? I seemed to hear Meihe's name..."

The woman spoke to them in one breath.

"Mom, are you going out? I can help you watch the store."

The junior high school girl who was in charge of sales just now stuck her head out of the van and seemed to have noticed the situation here.