Chapter 56: Nonchalant Daily Life in Japan 4
“I call a meeting!”
The one who declares this with a light bang on the table is the Linbel-san who is becoming well-loved by a certain minority in Japan. Like ‘babaa, please marry me!’ level of love.
But putting that aside, it is now a Sunday at the Adachi residence. The head of the house, Adachi-kun, is currently not home, but almost every single other resident is present.
“A meeting is fine and all, but why this early in the morning? I was looking forward to going to bed straight after breakfast though.”
“You...... are you a NEET?!”1
“I’m a vampire!”
Linbel-san’s censure of Grauze-san’s day-night reversed lifestyle is immediately met with a very reasonable tsukkomi.
In actual fact, Grauze-san has recently graduated from being a NEET and taken to patrolling the streets at night, all while spreading his information net through wild animals like bats and stray dogs in the area. His efforts may or may not be having an actual positive effect on the city’s public order.
According to the person himself, “it, it’s not like I’m doing it for the people of this country!”
The fact that he thinks he’s successfully keeping his identity hidden even though anyone can identify him with a glance is being perpetuated by the fact that no one is bursting his bubble. Because the true identities of allies of justice are always a secret, that’s part of the charm, yep.
“I was also planning on heading to the smithy to make that knife that Shiina had asked me for.”
“Hmm? Isn’t today Ognil-dono’s day off?”
“That’s why I’m not working on the katana and making a knife for private use, right?”
So Ognil-san replies naturally to Roman-san’s question.
Despite how he’s always hammering on metal, apparently he intends to continue hammering on metal even on his day off.
Truly a smithing idiot. He sure makes his race proud.
“Nn? But Shiina-dono isn’t here degozaru . Don’t we have to include her if we’re to have a meeting?”
So says Yayoi-san when realization hits her. Upon having that pointed out, everyone looks around and realizes that indeed the person with the greatest deciding authority in the household, Shiina-san the mom, is not present.
“Shiina went out early today to process the formalities of entering school. As her entry was officially decided at a later time than Roman’s, her application is a bit more complicated.”
“I see. Which would mean that this meeting in regards to Shiina then?”
Catching onto the topic of the meeting from Linbel-san’s words, Graios-san grins broadly.
To which Linbel-san responds with a “Umu.”
“I’m sure everyone has already heard that Shiina will also be going to school. That in itself is not a problem. Rather, it’s a good thing for Shiina. However, at this current rate, the Adachi household will meet with a terrible calamity.”
“A... calamity?”
Linbel-san’s words causes Inelteia-san (newcomer) to tilt her head in puzzlement.
However, all the others have clearly realized what Linbel-san is referring to, based on the glum looks on their faces.
“...... If Shiina continues doing all the chores herself, the burden on her will become much too great.”
“That’s exactly right!”
The comment from Makami-san, whose face is expressionless as ever yet whose tail is drooping with worry, evokes a sharp finger jab in his direction from Linbel.
“In the first place, you all are too uncooperative with the chores. Especially you men! How many times do you have to be reminded to leave your bento boxes in the kitchen when you get home before you actually remember?!”
“Well, no, I remember, I ...... do.”
“I do remember, but it’s just......”
“It completely slips my mind, then during dinner it just comes back like ‘oops’.”
The three ossans make pathetic attempts at excuses while their eyes are swimming in response to Linbel-san’s sudden explosion.
The others are all looking at the three of them with the eyes of looking at deadbeat dads.
historical
“That is indeed the case. Though my days here are yet few, I have noticed a definite overdependence on Shiina-san. If she is going to become busy with schoolwork, then I believe it would be reasonable for all of us to share the burden of the household chores.”
“That’s exactly right. Well said, Inelteia.”
“My pleasure.”
Inelteia-san respectfully bobs her head at the recognition from Linbel-san.
Her figure causes the kids to be impressed with ‘uwah, this person’s really got it together’ and the ossans to be irritated with ‘tsk, this annoying honor student.’
“Ah, then I will......”
“Elte is still young, and you’re busy with both schoolwork and research into summoning, so you’ll be exempt.”
“...... Ehhh?”
Being cut off just when she was getting all fired up and motivated leaves Elte-san in a sulk.
Yayoi-san pats her head with a ‘pon pon’ in consolation.
“Well, cleaning and laundry we can just take turns. The real problem is cooking, right?”
“Indeed. At the moment, we’re reliant on Shiina for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But this matter is not so easily resolved, is it?”
Makami-san expresses his agreement with Roman-san’s concern.
Aside from Linbel-san, none of the others knows how to cook, so it is a truly troubling issue.
“Ah, I know how to cook though.”
““WUT?!””
The person who’s suddenly raised a hand is, to everyone’s surprise, one member of the Three Ossans, the ‘freedom’ priest Natan-san.
The revelation is so unexpected that everyone else could not help but to exclaim with surprise.
“When I was on the other side, I only knew how to make food within the Church’s dietary restrictions, but after coming here I’ve been studying how to cook more delicious dishes. The recipe books here are easy to understand and also easily available, so I believe I’ll be able to steadily increase my repertoire.”
In other words, after being finally released from various strict precepts, he has been putting effort into applying his ‘freedom’ trait towards cooking as well.
It’s almost like one of those gourmets who seek delicious food so fervently that they themselves learn how to cook.
“But are you not also studying to get into a university? Will you be alright?”
“It’s not efficient to spend the entire day studying. It’ll be just right as a change of pace.”
Natan-san has come to believe in Amaterasu-sama after coming to Japan. But as it turns out, certification is required even to become a priest in Japan, and the easiest way to get such a certification is to graduate from a Shinto university.
Thus, despite being an ossan in terms of his age, Natan-san is also hitting the books with no less diligence than all the other students.
“Alright, then for cooking we’ll rotate between Shiina and Natan and me. With this, the burden on Shiina should be lightened quite significantly.”
“It is indeed a pity that we’ll have less opportunity to enjoy Shiina-dono’s food, but I suppose there’s no helping it degozaru. I’ll be more than happy to help with grocery shopping and the like degozaru.”
“Ah, me too. I’ll also try to learn the cooking of this world, though I cannot guarantee anything yet.”
“What is this? Then I can’t very well be the only one not doing anything.”
In consent with Linbel’s final decision, Yayoi-san, Inelteia-san, then Roman-san also express their willingness to help out further.
When Shiina-san returned in the afternoon and heard what had been discussed, she smiled with delight even while feeling slightly saddened at having less opportunities to cook.
Today, too, Japan is at peace.
1 NEET: Not in Education, Employment, or Training. In Japan the term is used with the connotation of being a deadbeat, someone useless who’s not making themselves useful to society nor their family.