Chapter 43 - Radish Harvest
The day after spending the night with Flora. After getting out of bed, we changed into our everyday clothes and were about to welcome the long-awaited Radish harvest.
A vegetable I grew with my own hands, although while being taught by Flora.
Thinking that made me feel unusually happy, and I could feel that I had finally come this far.
The period it actually took to grow was about twenty-six days. It should have been a period of only twenty-some days, but to me, it felt like I had spent a very long time.
Until now, I had never properly held something like a hoe and had only been swinging a sword, so I was bewildered not knowing how to handle it, but thanks to Flora, I was able to come this far. I can't thank her enough for teaching me, who had no knowledge, so kindly and thoroughly.
I knew the red fruits peeking out from the soil were small, but my heart was overflowing with great expectations.
I gently pinch the stem extending from the red fruit that is pushing up the soil into a mound with my fingers.
Then I breathe in and let out a large breath. The smell of the soil in the field and the unique green smell tickle my nostrils.
"Well then, I'm pulling it, okay?"
"Yes!"
When I spoke to Flora, who was beside me, she responded with a full smile.
Flora, who had a soft expression, also looked somewhat restless and was staring at the Radish at my hand.
Thinking that Flora was excited just like me made me feel happy somehow.
When there is someone to share even joy with like this, things become extremely fun. Especially if that is the person you love.
Putting strength into my fingers, I pull out the Radish buried in the soil all at once.
"Yo-tto!"
Then, the Radish came out cleanly from the ground, exposing its vivid red fruit to our eyes.
"Uwaa! It's a beautiful shape!"
When I lightly brushed off the soil and placed it on my palm, Flora rejoiced as if it were her own.
The Radish sitting roundly on my palm had a beautiful round shape, and something like a root was growing slightly from the tip.
The realization that this is a vegetable I grew myself wells up from the depths of my chest. This indescribable feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment. It's completely different from when I finished subjugating a monster, and the joy is decidedly greater.
...So this is the joy of harvest.
While feeling the warmth spreading gently in my chest, I mutter as if savoring it in my heart.
I roll the Radish on my palm to enjoy its presence and shape, and touch the stem and leaves extending from the fruit. The slightly extended root below the bulb is cute.
I'm just happy that a vegetable I grew myself is in front of me...
I, who had been immersed in the accomplishment of the harvest alone for a while, snapped back to my senses at the sound of "Fufu" leaking from beside me.
Looking to the side, Flora was watching me holding the Radish with a smiling expression.
"Fufufu, I understand that feeling of yours, Aldo-san. Because I was like that too when I harvested the vegetables I grew myself for the first time."
At Flora, who spoke while letting out a chuckle, I became a little embarrassed.
Flora's eyes are very lukewarm.
They are like the eyes looking at a novice adventurer boy who has defeated a goblin for the first time.
I say quickly as if to gloss over this embarrassment.
"Next, Flora, you try pulling one."
"Is it okay?"
"Of course. Because it's a Radish we both grew. I had decided from the beginning to harvest it together."
Yes, I had decided in my heart to harvest together even before making the field. I'm very happy that it's coming true now.
"Well then, without hesitation... Ei!"
When I said it while smiling broadly, Flora showed a happy expression and pulled out a Radish with a cute shout.
The Radish Flora pulled out was also a beautiful red color just like mine, and was plump.
"It's a beautiful Radish."
Flora brushes off the soil adorably with her white fingers and smiles at me.
Flora's smile as she shows me the Radish and smiles is very wonderful. Unintentionally, my cheeks also naturally loosen as I watch.
I wash away the two harvested Radishes with the water from the canteen I brought from the house.
It's a freshly picked Radish, after all. I want to taste it in its freshly picked state.
The soil is washed away cleanly, the Radish's original vivid redness is restored, and a smooth gloss can be seen. The Radish reflecting the sunlight is very beautiful.
"Well then, let's eat it right away."
"Yes!"
Saying that, Flora and I bite into the harvested Radishes.
A pleasant crisp sound rings out, and rich moisture spreads in the mouth. The moisture exhaled from the Radish contained a pleasant sweetness unique to vegetables, and later ran across the tongue with a tingle.
"It's sweet and a bit spicy."
"But that's what's good about it, isn't it?"
We crunch on the Radishes, which are full of moisture and have umami and a bit of spiciness.
Flora was also biting into the Radish bit by bit as if savoring it. That movement was like a small animal and was a bit cute.
Perhaps because it's freshly picked, the sweetness seeping out from the Radish is very delicious. The inside of the mouth is filled with moisture and it feels good; I feel like I could eat any amount of this raw.
While eating and exchanging impressions of the taste, the Radishes in Flora's and my hands were gone in no time, leaving only the stems and leaves.
The stems and leaves of the Radish can be used for cooking, so I put them properly into the basket without throwing them away.
Flora said they can be used widely for stir-fries, salads, simmered dishes, and soups, so I'm looking forward to it very much.
"Well then, let's harvest a lot for breakfast too."
"Yes!"
◆
After harvesting a lot of Radishes, we return to the house to eat breakfast.
After thoroughly removing the soil that got on us in the field, we go up to the entrance.
"Excuse me... Ah."
When she puts on the slippers and enters, I notice that Flora gave a greeting behind me and her face turns red.
I know it's a word that came out naturally from her past habits, but I feel like teasing her.
"Hahaha, this isn't someone else's house anymore, you know?"
"Geez! It can't be helped. It's only been since yesterday..."
Flora pouts her mouth as if sulking.
That appearance is again so cute and funny that I laugh even more.
"Aldo-san, from now on, my house will be just like your family home too, you know?"
Ugh, when she says that, I lose a little.
Entering Elgis-san's house as if I own the place... I still can't do it. That's just too embarrassing.
I was an orphan, so I've never had a family until now. There were younger brats and sisters at the church orphanage, but this is completely different.
When I enter the house, she welcomes me with a soft smile and envelops me.
I know that place where I can feel an indescribable warm feeling is a good thing, but perhaps because I'm not used to it, it's terribly embarrassing.
"That's right. Sorry, sorry."
When I carefully prepare the slippers as if apologizing for teasing her, Flora chuckles and puts her feet in.
When I place the basket containing the Radishes in the kitchen, Flora puts water from the jar into a basin to wash the Radishes.
There's a considerable amount of Radishes, so this will be a lot of work to wash.
"I'll help too."
"No, um, I want Aldo-san to wash something else."
I offer to help, but for some reason, I'm asked to wash something else.
Hmm? There are no unwashed plates, and there shouldn't be anything in particular to wash?
When I look at Flora wonderingly, she turns her face red from embarrassment and says,
"...Um, that, the, the bed we slept in together yesterday..."
At Flora's words, spoken in a voice that seemed to fade away while she averted her gaze, I understand what the thing to wash is.
Come to think of it, we washed our bodies after waking up this morning, but we hadn't washed the sheets yet.
"Ah! Oh, that's right! I'll go wash them."
"I-I'm sorry. It's too embarrassing for me..."
Hearing Flora's apologetic voice behind me, I hurried toward the bedroom.
There are two things to announce. Please look forward to the next episode.