Easy Survival Life Chapter 143 Bonus: December 21 (Saturday) 1/4

 

 

It’s been two weeks since we’re probably the only survivors on the island.

Saturday, December 21.

Early in the morning, Eri and I were rejoicing by the lake in the sea cave hideout.

「 It’s finally time! Eri! 」

「 We did it! Hokage-kun! 」

The tomatoes were ready to harvest.

The earthenware planter was topped with a large and magnificent red fruit.

The count per cluster is about 5-6 fruits.

Some of them weren’t shaped as well as the ones on the market, but that’s not a problem.

「 About two months after the first flower bloomed, three months after planting the seed 」

「 That was long, really 」

Growing tomatoes is relatively easy

Even so, they can’t be left alone like sweet potatoes.

Work such as watering, adjusting the main branch, and extra fertilizers are necessary.

「 Argh, geez! I’m going to bite one right now! 」

Eri picks a newly harvested tomato and brings it to her face.

She’s drooling from the corner of her mouth.

「 Why not, take a munch 」

「 Eh?! But… 」

Eri glances around.

「 You sure? 」

「 I can’t, but Eri has a good reason for it 」

「 A good reason? 」

「 You’re our chef, so you can just say that this is to check the taste for cooking 」

「 Yes! That! Hokage-kun, you’re a genius 」

Eri’s face turned bright.

The next moment, she’s already biting the tomato.

「 This is for cooking, this is for cooking 」

Eri’s mumbling excuses while munching on the tomato, and I’m the only one who can hear her.

Then, her face popped like some carbonated drink.

「 Hmmm!! 」

Eri’s face melts with a roar of excitement.

Looking at her face, I can guess what’s her impression.

「 Delicious! This is amazing! Hokage-kun! 」

Eri hands me the tomato she took a bite from.

「 Have a bite too! Hokage-kun 」

「 No, no, I’ll pass for now 」

I say that, but staring at the tomato got me drooling too.

How juicy, what a mellow fragrance.

You can even call it the forbidden fruit.

「 Your face says that you want to take a bit too, right? 」

Eri grinned.

「 Kuh, yeah 」

「 If we eat it all, then nobody will know. Here you go 」

She brings the tomato closer to my mouth.

Eri’s saying “Aaaah,” and so I opened my mouth.

I couldn’t resist.

「 So good! 」

I shouted.

Everyone’s raised the tomato with love and that’s why it’s delicious.

「 Right?! We’re going to use plenty of tomatoes from now on 」

「 I’m looking forward to it 」

「 Leave it to me! 」

Eri puts the harvested tomatoes in the bamboo basket and tries to return to the main area.

Then she had a question.

「 Will it be okay if we increase the number of tomatoes? 」

「 Of course 」

「 If so, we’ll make adjustments to increase the harvest in the future 」

「 Okay! 」

We didn’t grow tomatoes just to eat them.

We tried to increase them.

So that when the seeds I had run out, we could still have tomatoes.

The way to propagate tomatoes is easy.

Simply cut the bud and grow it in a different planter.

It’s good value since we can reuse the side shoots and expand our scale.

Besides, this is more efficient than starting from the seed.

While at it, we can also similarly propagate bananas and other plants.

「 Even so… 」

I mutter to myself as I watch Eri’s back as she moves away.

「 This is cold… 」

As the end of the year approaches, the cold weather is getting stronger.

It’s no longer possible to spend time in summer uniform and thin clothing.

And so, I wear long sleeves over an undershirt.

This is made by dismantling the uniforms of the dead.

Still, our exposed parts, like our hands and face still feel cold.

◇

At the open space located near the entrance to the hideout.

「 「 「 「 「 Uooooooooooohhhh!!! 」 」 」 」 」

Everyone cheers for the breakfast that Eri prepared.

「 The pot seemed heavy in the morning, but is this okay? 」

Eri looks uneasy.

Everyone else, including me, was all excited, saying that it was not a problem.

「 It’s okay! This is the best! It warms up my body 」

「 That’s right! As expected of Eri-dono! 」

Today, we had tomato hot pot for breakfast.

We used a lot of tomatoes and plenty of other ingredients too.

The aroma coming from the steam of the simmering pot almost makes you faint.

「 Itadakimasu! 」

We eat the meal in the lacquer bowl.

It’s just as it looks, no, it’s even better, it’s perfect!

「 I feel like I’m warming up inside 」

Shiori happily smiled.

「 True! I got my fish and this is awesome! 」

Arisa’s also in a good mood.

「 Tomatoes are great, they’re not just beautiful to look at, but they’re also nutritious 」

「 It is as you say, Ojou-sama 」

Even Amane, who isn’t as expressive, was getting warm.

「 I feel like I can work harder than usual 」

「 Hearing you say that makes me happy 」

Eri smiled in relief.

◇

After eating the tomato hot pot, we started working.

That said, it’s a Saturday, so we’re free to do whatever

「 Muscle, training today? 」

I left the hideout and called out to Muscle Takahashi

「 Of course! There’s no day off in training 」

Muscle Takahashi makes his usual flex pose as he replied.

「 I know that’s a great mindset, but try not to catch a cold. It’s getting cold recently 」

「 Got it 」

Muscle Takahashi left the hideout.

「 Eri, need help with anything? Cooking in this cold weather must be hard 」

I looked for someone to help.

First, I checked with Eri, who’s always busy.

However, she shook her head.

「 I already have enough help 」

Eri shows a wry smile.

She points at the guy standing next to her who looks proud.

「 I’m helping Eri-dono 」

It’s Tanaka.

Recently, he’s trying to show off to Eri.

I can’t believe he was making a fierce attack on Shiori not too long ago.

It all started when she started talking about otaku topics while giving him a cut.

But, his goal returned to Eri before I knew it.

Shiori must’ve rejected, or should I say that she managed to dodge him.

Oh well, who cares about the details.

Tanaka’s currently in his SIMP mode and it shouldn’t be a problem

I think

「 If Eri doesn’t have problems with it, sure 」

I looked around.

I found the Asakura sisters, Yoshiokada, and Mana.

Everyone else went outside.

(Karin’s not here either. I guess baby-making will be for tonight)

Baby-making is a regular Saturday event with Karin.

There’s no set schedule, so it seems that it’ll be for later tonight this time.

「 I’m free anyway, so how about I go look for ingredients 」

I mutter to myself, but I hear a reaction

「 Uhm, Shinomiya-san. Can I have some of your time then? 」

Hinako approached me.