Everyone had experienced picnics like this before.
After all, that's what parent-child activities were all about.
But now...
Whatever. After Kie prepared plenty of fresh ingredients, Kaito stored them and summoned the rock platform again. They flew into the air to find a suitable spot for a picnic.
Incidentally, Shinobu also joined.
Basically, everyone they knew was there.
Tents weren't necessary. Kaito could simply create a stone house as a temporary shelter and let it sink back into the ground when they left.
"This place should be suitable."
They arrived at a mountain lake deep in the mountains, and Kaito landed there.
It was a gentle slope about 200 meters up the mountain. This lake was likely naturally formed, the water accumulating over time.
However, there was also a mountain stream flowing down. The water in this natural depression wasn't from an underground spring, but collected rainwater.
He checked. The water could be used after boiling; it was basically filtered already.
"Come on! Help prepare the ingredients~"
Sayuri started giving directions. After Kaito unloaded all the ingredients and seasonings, Nezuko and Tanjiro quickly came to help.
Takeo and Hanako went with Mikoto and Eriri to gather suitable dry wood nearby.
"The fire pit is ready. We'll grill here."
A large bonfire was set up, allowing everyone to sit in a circle for the simplest style of barbecue.
Although charcoal grilling might be tastier, occasionally having wood-grilled barbecue wasn't bad either.
During the parent-child activities, Kaito enjoyed eating meat grilled over wood fires.
"It's a shame we didn't bring swimsuits or anything."
Misuzu looked at the clear lake and said regretfully.
"Forget it. The water will get cold at night."
"Hehehe, I know."
Misuzu laughed slyly.
It wasn't so much about the cold water, but the presence of other children?
Although she, as an adult, didn't care about the kids, she had to respect Kaito's possessiveness.
As long as any other male was present, it was best not to do such things.
Except for Kaito.
"If you know, why mention it? Instead of lazing around by the lake, come help thread the meat."
"Okay, okay~ But Kaito, are there any fish in there?"
"No, I checked."
There were indeed no fish, and the bottom wasn't muddy, but covered in stones.
Thanks to those stones, the lake water was clear. If it were muddy, aquatic plants would grow abundantly.
Come to think of it, the surrounding area was mostly rocky slopes. You had to go a bit further to find trees.
"Too bad, I was hoping for some grilled fish."
"We brought fish."
"No, no, I mean fish that live in an environment like this. Compared to farmed fish or fish caught from rivers, wouldn't fish from here be much fresher?"
"You're only thinking about food, aren't you?"
Watching Misuzu slowly thread the meat, Kaito sighed and flicked her forehead.
As she winced slightly, he took the threaded beef skewers she had finished and neatly arranged them on a clean plate.
Night fell...
Enjoying the beautiful, brilliant night sky and moonlight, eating delicious barbecue beside the lake reflecting the stars, everyone was overjoyed.
The scene also evoked a sense of wonder.
After all, in their modern environment, they rarely saw such a beautiful starry sky when looking up.
It was also...
With nearly a hundred years of terrifying development, they had far surpassed the accumulation of several thousand years.
What would the living environment be like in the next hundred years?
Development was just too fast, too fast!
"Ahhh~"
"So good!!"
No alcohol, just various drinks from Kaito's Gate of Babylon.
Misuzu chugged down some cola, then snatched Kaito's already-opened can and took a few more gulps.
"See, if you can't handle the spice, don't add so much chili powder."
"Hmph, hmph! It's gotta be spicy to be exciting!"
But Sayuri, Kie, and the others didn't agree.
It was just too spicy!
A little was okay, but when the whole skewer was red with chili powder, it was unbearable.
At that point, you didn't know if you were eating meat or chili powder!
After a while, they finished the barbecue and began chatting casually by the lake, discussing various things about the Taisho era.
Basically, gossip.
Kie didn't know much, so after a few topics, she fell silent. But Shinobu, having traveled far and wide, had plenty to say and chatted animatedly.
She even openly criticized certain feudal lords and their policies.
Well, they couldn't hear her anyway!
They were indeed too rigid!
Someday, those people would be hanging from lampposts!
After chatting, with nothing else to do, everyone retired to the stone houses Kaito had created to rest.
They were open-air, without roofs.
Tanjiro and Takeo shared one; Kie, Nezuko, and Hanako shared another.
Shinobu had one to herself. Eriri and Mikoto, encouraged by Misuzu, shared one.
That left the remaining people to share the last one.
This arrangement was also subtly encouraged by Sayuri.
She had been waiting to see the fun.
Since Misuzu couldn't resist making a move, she definitely had to help!
And it wasn't like she could refuse!
Otherwise, she would be doomed to fail her math exam!
So!
Late at night!
After confirming everyone was asleep, Misuzu went to Kaito's location.
Entering, she saw Kaito idly playing a game on his phone.
"So... you came after all."
"Hehehe, if you were sleeping, I would have gone back to sleep too~"
"Haha, since you're here, you might as well not go back."
Kaito smiled slightly, mischievously, and took out a test paper from behind him.
Since Sayuri did math problems, Misuzu would do physics!
"Here, solve this: Why can a lever lift the Earth?"
"???" Misuzu was dumbfounded.
'I came over in the middle of the night to do physics!?'
'Are you serious!?'
She didn't know how to solve physics problems!!
The knowledge she had learned had long been returned to her physics teacher!
She was sure her physics teacher would be very grateful!