Collecting Firewood and an Encounter

Hatsumi
Haaaah......

Hatsumi
I can feel my inner thirst being quenched...forest bathing is truly wonderful.

Hatsumi
Well then, I should start collecting firewood. If I take too long, it'll get dark.

Hatsumi
This branch is...hmm, it's damp. This one has mushrooms growing on it.

Hatsumi
Since I'm collecting firewood, I can't use damp branches. Hmm...this is surprisingly difficult.

Hatsumi
I found some usable pieces, but how much do I actually need? Perhaps I should have asked Iruru before I started collecting.

Hatsumi
Hmph, I'm being unusually careless.

Hatsumi
I have no choice but to call her.

Hatsumi
It's embarrassing since I was the one who volunteered...hm?

Nadeshiko
Ah, Rin-chan! Look! There are flowers blooming over there! They're small and cute!

Rin
Oh, you're right. Even though it's winter, such beautiful flowers are still blooming.

Hatsumi
Hmph, two flowers blooming side by side. Just like looking at you two, young ladies.

Nadeshiko
Eh~, I'm embarrassed~.

Nadeshiko
...Wait, waaah! You startled me...

Rin
Eh...who are you...?

Hatsumi
Oh, I'm sorry. Did I frighten you?

Hatsumi
When I saw two lovely young girls chatting, I couldn't help but speak up.

Hatsumi
My name is Renjakuno Hatsumi. Would you tell me your names?

Nadeshiko
Y-yes! I'm Kagamihara Nadeshiko!

Rin
Eh, you're telling her!?

Rin
...Shima Rin.

Hatsumi
Nadeshiko and Rin...what pleasant-sounding names. Even your names are lovely...

Rin
Uh...

Nadeshiko
Wow, Rin-chan, did you hear that? She called us lovely young girls!

Rin
How can you be happy in this situation...

Hatsumi
Don't be so tense. I'm not going to eat you or anything.

Hatsumi
I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I don't go camping much. I came to collect firewood for my friends, but I don't know how to choose the right pieces.

Hatsumi
If you don't mind, could you teach me how to select firewood?

Rin
(This person is really pushy...scary...)

Nadeshiko
Sure!

Nadeshiko
Let's see...branches like those, and thicker branches too...

Rin
(Oh...as expected of Nadeshiko. She's not intimidated at all.)

Nadeshiko
First of all, it's better to choose dried firewood!

Hatsumi
If the firewood has too much moisture, it won't catch fire easily...is that right?

Nadeshiko
Oh, if you know that, then it's just a matter of selection! There are various ways to identify dried firewood, you know?

Nadeshiko
You can look at the color and cracks...but my recommended way to tell is to take two pieces of wood...

Hatsumi
Knock them together...I see. That's a pleasant sound.

Nadeshiko
When you tap them like this, they make a dry sound! I thought this might be a fun way to identify them!

Hatsumi
Fufu, is that so? That's good information you've shared with me.

Nadeshiko
Ehehe...oh, and it's also good to collect pine cones! Right, Rin-chan!

Rin
Eh...me!?

Hatsumi
Oh? Pine cones? That's interesting.

Rin
...Haah. Pine cones are commonly used in camping. They're called nature's fire starters.

Rin
Choose ones that are open and dry, and the order of burning is pine cones first, then twigs, then the firewood...

Hatsumi
Thanks to you two, I've collected plenty of firewood.

Hatsumi
If I were alone, I'd probably still be wandering around looking for wood. Thank you.

Nadeshiko
No, no, we help each other in times of need!

Rin
Well...I'm glad we could be of assistance.

Hatsumi
You two are kind. If possible, could you tell me more?

Hatsumi
About camping. And about you, Nadeshiko and Rin...

Rin
Eh...

Iruru
Hey, what are you doing after coming all the way to the campsite?

Hatsumi
Iruru! Well, I was having trouble figuring out how to select firewood.

Hatsumi
These two, Nadeshiko and Rin, were just teaching me how to choose them, that's all!

Iruru
That's not all, is it! Rin-chan and Nadeshiko-chan...right?

Iruru
I'm sorry for the intrusion!

Iruru
You were taking so long that I came to check on you, but I'm glad I arrived before you became a nuisance...we've finished setting up the tents, and Nikako and the others are waiting while playing frisbee.

Hatsumi
Has that much time passed? I was so absorbed in collecting firewood that I didn't notice.

Hatsumi
Is the frisbee the one Nikako said she was bringing? She certainly seemed excited about it in the car...

Iruru
Yes. Once they actually started playing, they were running all around the campsite having fun. Shigure was exasperated, saying "We're not dogs to enjoy running around like that."

Hatsumi
Hmm. It seems wasteful to let only the three of them have fun. Wouldn't Nikako be happier if everyone played together?

Hatsumi
I must hurry back and throw the frisbee for Nikako's sake!

Iruru
Really, you're in such high spirits...

Iruru
Well then, you two. Enjoy your camping.

Hatsumi
I learned a lot, I'd like to thank you properly later. In fact, why don't you visit our tent later...

Iruru
That's enough! Let's go, Hatsumi! You shouldn't interfere with other people's private time, especially while camping!

Hatsumi
Oh...fufu, let's meet again.

Nadeshiko
They left...

Nadeshiko
Hatsumi-san and Iruru-san were interesting ladies, weren't they? Since we're at the same campsite, I hope we can meet them again.

Rin
Again, huh......I think I've had enough for a while...

Rin
The camping has just started, but I'm already exhausted...

Edit

Pub: 31 Aug 2025 09:31 UTC

Views: 3