He Falls For His Childhood Onee-San! Who Returned Home After 10 Years - Manga Recap

The tail kicks off in a house resonating with the cheerful Melodies of birds with her short hair neatly tuck behind her ears the protagonist grapples with frustration while trying to ignite a fire in the cold she shifts on the hard floor adjusting her position with a rustle she holds a blowpipe in her hands exhaling into it to ignite the wood eventually the wood catches fire crackling loudly and I worry with a Hanging chain warms the room as a kettle simmers nearby filling the air with warm steam she feels relieved as the house heats up harumi

K the lead male character reminisces about his childhood friend returning from Tokyo to their Hometown approximately 2 weeks ago it's a mountainous village with a gentle stream wandering beside it the closest train station is unstaffed without any buses or convenience stores in the vicinity after her grandmother's passing His friend decided to relocate to the empty house he is currently heading to his friend's house holding a bag in his hands he appears down not because he dislikes the town but because he feels living here is somewhat wasteful as he reaches her house and knocks on the

door he hears muted sudden and substantial noises coming from inside but he can't pinpoint their origin moments later he hears the clatter of footsteps approaching the door a girl opens the Door her face lighting up with a wide Smile as she greets him with a cheerful good morning noticing his Solem expression she inquires if everything is okay to which he replies that he's just feeling a little low she is Alice min his childhood friend whom he hasn't seen in nearly 10 years when she left harumi was still a young child and despite considering her his

childhood friend there's actually a considerable age gap between them he reflects that she used To have short hair and a boyish appearance upon seeing her her roomi hands her a bag as a housewarming gift surprisingly she accepts the gift and thanks him graciously she notices his tussled hair and jokes if he just woke up comparing it to bed hair he denies it explaining that he woke up just half an hour ago outside the door lies a box labeled mui sensing his hunger she suggests making him lunch as a gesture of thanks but he declines saying

he Doesn't need lunch she insists it's fine and invites him inside saying she'll fetch a cushion for him as he observes her appearance he initially feels disappointed to see how different she looks now however he quickly reassures himself that such changes over 10 years are entirely natural he enters the room apologizing for the intrusion but looks puzzled as he gazes at the irori a traditional Japanese sunken Hearth he quickly settles near it drawn to its Warmth memories flood back from his childhood visits recalling how Alice's grandmother used to advise her against lying on the floor

like that citing it as poor manners She would argue that it was much warmer there though her grandmother continued to insist on proper etiquette as he Ponders Alice interrupts him carrying a tray in her hands and noticing his fascination with the iory she asks if he remembers it to which he admits remembering it a little Particularly the lingering smell of smoke since it's been so long she laughs noting it's the one thing he remembers about the ivory she sits next to him gripping the iory with a holding Rod when he asks about the effort required

to maintain it she agrees but shares her lifelong fondness for it wanting to give it another try seeing her determination he begins to wrap a bandana around his head to assist her but he takes it off in frustration when Alice tells him to Focus on work rather than talk he remains uncertain whether she will use the aori but she begins preparing a dish by carefully using tongs to select larger pieces of charcoal from the firewood which emit a sharp crackling sound once she gathers enough charcoal she quickly places it in a designated spot and covers

it with a net she advises him to handle it carefully because it's very hot and will darken immediately once removed from the heat With great enthusiasm she adds an extra thick piece of bacon she had bought the day before after seeing all the steps he is impressed by how delicious it looks yet remains uncertain if she truly knows how to cook it he is puzzled by the setup as it looks different from what he imagined noticing his concern she reassures him that the food looks delicious so there's nothing else to worry about she is pleased

seeing harumi's expression in the background The sound of grilling meat fills the air finally they assemble the bacon with some vegetables and decide to lightly toast the French bread while the bacon is grilling the scallions are chopped and the tartar sauce is prepared after afterward their charcoal grilled sandwich and green tea are ready Alice takes the first bite with a wide smile looking impressed by its deliciousness juicy and crispy at the same time as they relish their sandwiches arumi Echoes Alice's sentiments finding the food exceptionally tasty she then explains that charcoal grilling not only gives

food a smoky smooth texture and aromatic scent but also ensures the bread is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside making it truly delicious he is both amazed puzzled because the sandwich tastes so delicious yet he can't understand how simply toasting the bread could enhance its flavor so much seeking an answer he watches Alice Carefully blow on her tea to cool it before taking a sip as he observes her she exhales and catches him staring at her with a flushed face he feels embarrassed for staring but Alice blushes too and asks if she

has something on her face with sweat on his face he immediately denies it time passes quickly as it's l pass too after finishing her meal Alice quickly lies down folding a pillow under her head for Comfort a few minutes later harumi Returns rubbing his hands together due to the cold finding her asleep upon his arrival Alice wakes up and he teases her about sleeping right after eating joking that she might grow a couple of sizes she laughs at his comment and thanks him for washing the dishes while she slept though he insists it was the

least he could do to help sitting in front of the iory he asks if she doesn't have hot water yet as washing dishes left his hands freezing she understands how tough It can be to wash things with cold water her roomi finds himself yawning uncontrollably due to the warmth making him sleepy Alice reminds him that he used to say the same thing often even in their childhood about how warm it is here she smiles lushing slightly with relief to hear him say it again he blushes in return but starts sipping his tea without paying much

attention to her he gazes at the suspension chain contemplating how much has changed since Those days days despite all the changes he feels the same comforting warmth around the fire where she sits making him drowsy Alice interrupts his thoughts mentioning how he used to sleep on her lap all the time when he was little he looks surprised after remembering this she asks if he wants to sleep again he lets out a soft side reminiscing about 10 years ago when he would sleep in her lap the next day harumi visits and cuts some wood for Alice

leaving the rest on The ground for later using a hand card he transports it and she expresses gratitude for his help confidently holding an ax she informs him that she will now chop the wood to prepare the aary placing it on the larger piece left on the ground she begins chopping with his hands in his pockets he asks if she needs his help she declines mentioning she only has one axe and needs to be able to chop up enough wood herself she playfully suggests he'll just stay there And observe her instead sitting on the bench

with a concerned expression he asks if she has ever chopped wood before she shakes her head and explains holding an axe in her hands beside a hand cart full of wood that she learned how to chop wood by looking it up on the internet so she's confident she can manage he exhales understanding the situation Alice begins chopping recalling the steps she learned from the internet she starts by gripping the axis Handle with her left hand and placing her right hand next to the blade using a band wrapped around the handle to increase her grip strength

which is particularly helpful for women then she slightly spreads her legs apart positions herself with one foot in front of the other aligns her back and firmly attempts to chop the wood with the axe despite trying to follow all the steps she struggles to even make contact with the wood sitting at the table harumi Observes her silently without saying a word she tries again to chop the wood following all the steps and manages to make a slight impact this time when he offers to help she declines insisting on doing it herself she decides to give

it another try but struggles to even make contact with the wood after 10 minutes of effort frustrated she looks at her hands and expresses frustration feeling an odd sensation as if she can't even feel her hands due to continuous tries Seeing her struggle without success he interrupts with concern suggesting she might be overdoing it she denies his suggestion with a sad expression he adds that chopping wood can be daunting for beginners warning her that 10 minutes of effort will leave her sore the next day glancing out the window with a chuckle he wonders aloud if

it's just him or if it really is is quite hot today then he remarks to her that she's quite unique after he mentions it she looks back at Him with a tired expression he clarifies that after spending so long in Tokyo she suddenly decided to return to the countryside and now she's even using the irori instead of responding directly she inquires whether he believes this he further explains that it's not common for women to spend their free time chopping wood she wearily remarks that she supposes so too as he looks at her he doesn't say

anything further but attempts to encourage her with detailed Instructions for another attempt she looks at him with exhaustion listening carefully to all his directions he adds that she should also aim a bit closer to the center of the wood rather than toward the sides as she has been doing she appears puzzled by how he knows all these details he mentions that his grandfather has been teaching him since middle school she playfully grabs him by the collar and scolds him for not sharing these tips earlier defending Himself from her playful attack he clarifies that she had

said she wanted to do it on her own she releases him removes her coat and tries chopping the wood again this time following his instructions to keep her leg spread shoulder width apart she positions her axe in the middle of the wood and asks him if she's doing it correctly he gazes at her with concern and tells her that given how cold it is outside there was no need to remove her coat she responds That she's been working so hard that she's feeling very enthusiastic even in the cold weather she's feeling hot then she finally

exhales and grips her axe in her hands following his instructions carefully she avoids swinging the axe down and lets it drop straight finally splitting the wood into two pieces he looks pleased as she successfully splits the wood she glances back at him with a thankful expression he smiles warmly his eyes acknowledging her gratitude as she Heads back home she sneezes indicating she might have caught a cold sitting on the bench at home she tends to cut on her finger wincing with pain from chopping wood upon looking at her he asks about her hands because today

she worked really hard but she smiles and despite the lingering stain in her hand she assures him she's all right she gazes at the wood where she successfully chopped wood by herself realizing with a laugh that she'll likely feel sore all Over tomorrow right now she feels completely exhausted interrupting her Ry he asks if there's anything he can do to help her she points towards a pot containing a meal she's prepared curious about its contents he asks her what's inside he opens the lid with a clunk revealing a hot appetizing meal he looks puzzled wondering

when she had the time to cook this food since she had been with him all the while she playfully informs him that he cooked the before Chopping the wood there are several other pots containing a variety of dishes such as boiled cabbage with tomatoes curry dishes boiled flounder vegetable stew and more these dishes demonstrate her versatility in cooking all of these are prepared using the aor leveraging its warm ashes and excellent Heat attention the fu dish is completed by simply adding a touch of sugar and a pinch of salt in addition to these dishes they

bake Mochi as well once all The dishes are ready he sets them on the table along with chopsticks for her the spread looks incredibly appetizing after a hard day she craves something sweet to enjoy she expresses gratitude for the meals and joyfully mentions during the prayer before eating and today she doesn't need to restrain herself during the prayer he watches her puzzled as he doesn't quite grasp its meaning ignoring him she enthusiastically starts eating making a bit of noise despite its heat She blows on it to cool it down but can't resist starting to E

before it's fully cooled so starts drinking it directly from the bowl her facial expressions indicate that the food is delicious he found it unusual that she was so focused on chopping wood today also she could indulge in sweets without worry later on but she stops him to not think like that the house feels warmer with the fumes emanating from the aori and they've also had their meal looking At her eat like this he felt a wave of nostalgia after finishing their meal both of them sit outside the house when Alice rests her hand on her

cheek lost in thought while he gazes at her and asks what's on her mind she tells him she's been pondering about him calling her unusual yesterday he's surprised to learn she's been dwelling on this and she nods in confirmation she explains with a somber expression that when she returned for her grandmother's funeral After a decade it was such a moment of Amazement for for her to return to her childhood Village that she decided to come back without much thought she also desired to get the iory working again then with great surprise he asks her if

she's certain about settling here and using the auror considering the constant smoke issues whenever she tries to use it leading to more frequent washing of her clothes and acknowledging how challenging chopping wood can be however She explains that despite the challenges and side effects when lighting the fire she felt genuinely happy splitting the wood also left her feeling accomplished and the food she prepared in the iory tasted exceptionally delicious that's why she decided to move here with a great smile and a blush on her face she gazes at him and expresses her happiness at being

back after hearing her reason for returning he remains puzzled and continues to ponder the real motive Behind her coming back to this town as he sits beside her maybe there are multiple reasons as well but he doesn't believe a high school student like himself can do much about them but seeing her smiling and content face he also Grins and thinks that if she is happy and smiling right here then perhaps there's no need for any other reasons he tells her that if her happiness is genuine that's sufficient however he playfully adds that even with All

those reasons she remains one of an unusual the next morning her entire body is hurting leaving her unable to get out of bed on a clear morning a girl dressed in attire crosses a bridge spanning over a stream while on the phone they ask if she managed to invite her roomi out today to which she replies that she couldn't the person on the other end expresses disappointment about not being able to spend time with her she nervously admits That she's unsure where to take her roomi for a date because there aren't many options around here

the person on the call suggests not treating it like a date yet but instead to casually invite him out to dinner after practice despite her attempt to say something she's interrupted with advice not to wear a Jersey under her skirt standing on the bridge clutching her shoulder bag and cell phone she declines saying she cannot do that the other person agrees And tries to explain that they simply mean she should be more careful then Mourns her not to complain if a cat thief comes and steals him away from her with her short hair pinned back

she hangs up the call and gazes at the stream feeling both confused and sad the concept of a cat burglar seems outdated and unbelievable to her on the other side harumi is on the way to Alice's house carrying a heavy full white bag he Pond that no matter how delighted she is With almost anything they of her he's puzzled about whether she really needs all these things as he approaches her house he Pond the appropriateness of visiting the home of a woman who lives alone like this despite their long-standing friendship from childhood he feels this

might not be appropriate as he approaches the door to ring the bell he hears a loud crashing sound from inside without hesitation and filled with concern for Alice he rushes into Her house to check on her upon entering the house he is shocked to see Alice looking perplexed as a girl falls on her her in an unusual manner he couldn't comprehend the situation and asked them about it in shock both girls looked embarrassed upon seeing him the other girl looked at him affectionately and greeted him with a good morning then as the girl stands up

from beside Alice they all sit on the floor near the iori she proceeds to explain in a formal Manner why she was in such an awkward position with Alice she arrived with the house-warming gift but received no response when she rang the doorbell hearing smoke emanating from inside she grew concerned about a potential fire so she hurried inside and discovered her lying on the floor prompting her to assist her immediately but as she approached Alice suddenly woke up startling her causing her to lose balance and fall onto Alice after Hearing the entire story he chastises

Alice clearly attributing the incident to her negligence Alice visibly embarrassed explains that the warmth of the room had tempted her into taking a nap she couldn't resist the girl bowed slightly in apology realizing she had misunderstood when she thought Alice had collapsed due to smoke Alice quickly raised her hand to stop her taking responsibility she apologize for causing unnecessary worry her roomi watches both Of them with a smile finding it entertaining then the girl sits upright with both hands resting on her legs and her school bag beside her she introduces herself as akiyama hanoka a

15-year-old third-year student at Middle High School she further mentions that she attends the same kete Dojo as her roomian in her reply Menace Alice introduces herself with a smile casually remarking about her age and jokingly mentioning that she's quite old to overcome her own Hesitation about age she shifts the conversation to hanuka's posture complimenting how straight and poised she looks which reflects her karate practice then she waits for akiyama's response but instead of replying it seems like she's staring at Alice angrily feeling her gaze directed towards herself she whispered nervously to harumi that hanoka Chan

appeared somewhat upset with her but he dismissed her observation explaining that hanoka Is just naturally shy like that after hearing him she wants to trust his words but when she glances at hanoka again she notices that she is still staring at her her expression leaves no doubt she is glaring at Alice with intensity making her feel extremely awkward under her gaze continuously sensing her piercing stare Alice grows increasingly nervous and tense Unsure how to respond meanwhile hanoka abruptly stands up leaving her confused she politely asks If she can use the bathroom initially shocked by her

abrupt movement Alice quickly recovers and without hesitation permits her to use it she informs her that it's to the left pass the kitchen at the very end then she hurriedly grabs her handbag and rushes towards the bathroom after hanoka leaves Alice again expresses her confusion to him insisting that she's sure hanoka is angry with her but he doesn't seem to agree with her while talking they suddenly hear soft Footsteps behind them when they look back they see hanoka hiding behind the glass door with only her Shadow visible hesitantly she apologizes for making them wait as

hanoka steps out from behind the door Alice notices a change and excitedly compliments her for taking off her Jersey saying she looks great harumi realizes that she had been wearing a jersey Anoka squeezes herself and trembles with anger not responding then she sits next to harumi while Alice Remains uneasy convinced that it's clear hanoka doesn't like her harumi inquires whether she removed her Jersey because she was feeling hot then changes the topic to ask about the housewarming gift as he reminds her about the gift she exclaims and begins to open her bag with a loud

noise which her roomi finds unusual since she is typically quiet but now making a lot of noise instead of responding she presents a 1 kg piece of wild bore meat as a house morming gift Mentioning that Grandma manise took great care of them so her mother wanted to show gratitude seeing the large amount of meat heru's eyes widen with excitement after receiving the gift Alice suggests having dinner together Anoka with an angry expression is about to refuse but harumi agrees expressing his own interest in having dinner together he clasps his hands together and asks Alice

to cook for them praising her as a great chef upon hearing him she Smiles warmly takes the meat bowl and agrees to cook for him this makes hanoka jealous and she eagerly announces that she will also gladly accept the invitation both of them are puzzled by her sudden Outburst prompting harumi that there's no need to shout Alice begins cooking with confidence setting up a tripod over the firewood they adjust the heat by adding wood under the legs of the tripod as needed next she places a frying pan on top of the tripod Adds some fat

and heats it until it sizzles with the sound of frying then she fries the sliced garlic to release its aroma for carefully placing the meat with tongs slow roasting the wild bore meat in addition to these ingredients she adds mixed spices for seasoning and rosemary to enhance the flavor and reduce any unwanted odors she cooks all the ingredients continuing to hear the sizzle of frying observing the slightly weak fire under the tripod she hands a Bamboo blow Pike to hanoka and requests her assistance in stoking the fire hanoka appears confused unsure of how to use

it but Alice reassures her explaining that it's straightforward just hold it close to the wood and blow into the center while it seems she's hesitant to help harumi eagerly volunteers to blow on the fire but Alice declines his offer suggesting he might not be light enough for the task of blowing on it while listening to their Friend's conversation she feels saddened deciding to give it a try herself she takes the blowpipe positions it near the wood and begins blowing as Alice instructed with a crackling sound the wood starts to burn after seeing the fire catch

both Alice and harumi smile and express their appreciation Alice thanks her warmly for the help then continuing with the recipe she advises letting the meat rest for a moment once it's cooked then she fries the Vegetables in the meats fat and finishes by lightly frying everything together now it's ready to eat it looks very appetizing when served with salted cabbage and a generous portion of rice they begin eating by picking up the meat with their Chopsticks and then dipping it into the rice they express their gratitude for the meal and hanoka eats with a enjoyment

finding the sounds appetizing she comments on the excellent flavor noting that as one matures into Adulthood one learns to truly appreciate such delicious food especially when it's prepared by someone like Alice Alice smiles appreciatively and thanks her for the compliment the food is so delicious that hanoka can't resist continuing to eat until she finishes her Bowl oblivious to the fact that both of them are watching her after finishing her meal she sets the chopsticks down on the empty bowl she then feels a mix of embarrassing and nervousness bowing her Head with tears in her eyes

after eating all the food to dispel her hesitation Alice smiles and reassures her that she can eat as much as she likes mentioning how hungry she must have been Anoka looks at her with an incredulous expression feeling hurt by her earlier rudess while the two girls chat harumi diligently finishes washing the dishes upon realizing her behavior she quickly apologizes to Alice who doesn't understand why she's apologizing in the First place with great sorrow she explains that she had made many incorrect assumptions about both of them after hearing her out Alice sharply reaches towards her shoulder

as if to scold her but then gently places her hand on the cushion instead Anoka confused by the situation assures Alice that she doesn't need to apologize commenting about lying down in that spot mentioning how nice and warm it feels however Anoka doesn't respond there's Only the crackling sound of burning wood seeing honoka's expression Alice laughs softly knowing that hanoka has fallen asleep in that position Alice then goes over to harumi and excitedly remarks that they were just getting to the interesting part as evening descends Alice walks back once again across the bridge calling out

to the same person again the person again asks with uncertainty if she had dinner with harumi in response she affirms that they Indeed had dinner together upon hearing this the other person becomes visibly excited thinking hanoka has finally gathered the courage for this however after a brief pause she replies that it was not just the two of them as she gazes at the flowing stream she explains that it includes him her and miss cat Thief at Alice's house everyone is busy cleaning she is sweeping hanoka is scrubbing the floor and harumi is helping place the

pillows correctly After a lot of hard work Alice feels relaxed seeing the room now shining and well organized with a smile Anoka sigh in relief after the exhausting work noting how much cleaner the room looks Alice Smiles in agreement praising their efforts she hastily apologizes holding her ear for making hanoka help with the cleaning but hanoka immediately stops her saying it was no problem since she volunteered to help so there's no need to worry harumi suddenly interrupts them Also looking tired from The Hectic work he teases hanoka saying she wouldn't stop apologizing for her rude

Behavior the other day assuring her that she acts like a samurai Anoka shouts at him reminding him she warned him not to bring it up as they tease each other like friends they all start laughing he settles near the sunken Hearth noting its dirty appearance in an otherwise clean room cleaning the floor is crucial as household vacuum cleaners aren't Suitable for ash removal to clean the traditional Japanese floor mat to Tommy without damage they sprinkle well squeezed tea leaves on it and gently brush it with a soft bristel broom as he cleans the Hearth remarks

that it feels surprisingly fresh when it's not burning and as they're cleaning it once again so naturally there's no fire burning Alice looks at him in disbelief covering her mouth with her hand and snickering at him noting how fresh the aori appears to Him he looks confused not understanding the reason for her chuckle Anoka also in disbelief explains that he sounds like an old man harumi changes the topic by asking if there's anything else they can help with now that they're available politely requesting her permission with a Madam she graciously declines thanking them for already

helping more than enough however hanok gives her a friendly but assertive look implying she doesn't need to keep mentioning it Suddenly Alice realizes there's still one more demanding task left to do leading them to the main task she mentions the stair chest they inquire if she is referring to staircase storage Furniture to which she concurs explains that this stair drawer belonged to her grandma and was discovered at the rear of the room where her grandmother used to store her belongings in the past she then asks for their thoughts on the fireo which she finds a

bit gloomy Despite GR ually adding more furniture to it they agree now understanding how the fireplace appearance has changed standing at the room's doorway she points out her plan to move the stair chest from this room to the fireplace area but admits she can't manage it alone sliding the door of the room she looks towards them with a polite smile and expresses gratitude for their presence acknowledging it as a significant help however after a brief Glance into the room she abruptly shuts the door with a loud unsettling noise leaving them confused and startled by her

sudden action with some hesitation and deepen thought she asked them to wait outside briefly because the room is in a chaotic State inside understanding her concern they agree to wait she hurriedly enters the room and from outside they hear various sounds of Shifting and organizing objects suddenly all the noises stop causing them to Worry about her well-being they ask with concern if she is okay and their anxiety increases when they hear her faintly calling for help in a rush they open the door for ful finding Alice lying on the floor covered with old boxes only

her hand visible they rushed to her Aid with hanoka removing the boxes and harumi holding her hand to assist her they ask her what happened and after she grants permission they lift her out of the pile of boxes counting slowly to ensure a Careful rescue her clothes are disheveled and she coughs from the dust apologizing to them for the ordeal she expresses relief feeling like she narrowly escaped a dangerous situation after res resing her he is jolted in shock as he sees a hand approaching with a sharp crack Anoka strikes him forcefully causing him to

collapse with a resounding impact tears and a hint of blood marking his distress Alice rushes to him her voice filled with concern as He rides in pain onoka apologizes explaining her reaction was instinctive using a knife hand strike Alice admonishes her cautioning that such actions can be lethal and reprimands her for not restraining her reflexes lying on the around he softly questions why he always ends up taking the blows after a few minutes as they regain their composure Alice holds a crate and apologizes to both she clarifies that she unpacked only the essentials from Her

luggage leaving the rest untouched and hadn't realized how disorderly it remained while helping her move drawers Anoka also expresses regret for accidentally hitting him however he looking visibly improved reassures both girls that there's no need for apologies as it was clearly an accident as they take and remove boxes they finally uncover the stair chest they are surprised at how lovely it looks and agree that it will enhance the beauty of The iory room however they then notice the piles of files and boxes obstructing the drawer creating tension as it will be difficult to move it

with determination and hard work they successfully shift it into the fire room they all Express excitement and admire Alice's taste noting how well it fits into the room with the drawer in place the room now looks exceptionally attractive Alice expresses gratitude once again for their help harumi shifts The conversation mentioning his hunger as it approaches 3:7 p.m. recognizing the time Alice searches in the fireplace with tongs and retrieves something she desires to eat a warm roasted sweet potato with excitement she instructs them to peel off the foil splitting it into two pieces steam rising from

the Hot Potato both gaze eagerly at the potato enticed by its delicious appearance and enticing Aroma meanwhile harumi appears puzzled noticing there's No fire in the Hearth Alice confidently explains her process she Burns wood to create sizable charcoal pieces covers them with layers of ashes and wraps the sweet potato and kitchen paper and aluminum foil before burying it nearby this method keeps the fire burning slowly under the ashes cooking the sweet potato gently she also cautions them to avoid touching the hot charcoal to prevent Burns she proudly informs them that she had prepared everything before

They began cleaning ensuring they could enjoy the meal afterward hearing this he teasingly reminds her of Past Times when she could eat without worries especially after chopping wood joking that now she's truly worked up a sweat she playfully shouts at him to stop teasing her amid their friendly banter hanoka looks confused not quite understanding their conversation they sit on the bench with their potatoes beside them taking a moment to pray before eating Alice takes A bite of her warm potato savoring its deliciousness glancing at hanoka she noticed is that hanoka has already finished hers Alice

understands the appeal of sweets after a day's work knowing that sweet potatoes become even sweeter when cooked slowly at a low temperature with her hand over her mouth still filled with potato Alice gazes admiringly at the drawer once more noting how adorable it looks harumi then asks if she's particularly fond of it to Which she explains that it's wonderful and fits perfectly in the room recalling her past experiences in the house hanoka asks if the drawer Ally belonged in that spot harumi is surprised to hear her realizing she remembers its history well she explains that

it came to her mind after they moved the drawer there and she further recalls how he used to climb up on it all the time and get scolded he agrees but interrupts reminding her that she once fell from it and got a nose bed Alice looks at him for confirmation and hanoka who doesn't remember this also looks puzzled harumi reassures them that he clearly remembers it Alice appears confused as she can't recall these events her roomi explains that she had already moved out by then it was when hanoka moved to the town now understanding why

she doesn't remember Alice asks Anoka if she's not originally from there Anoka agrees and explains that she lived in Yokohama before Kindergarten Anoka further informs him that at that time the aori wasn't being used anymore and since he was small he probably doesn't remember Alice also agrees with her harumi teases her saying she must be remembering it wrong because he was never that much of a kid he adds it's funny she says this after nearly killing him with her Cate move frustrated she reminds him it was unintentional and asks him not to hold it against

her Alice Smiles at their Conversation thinking hanoka is making a convenient excuse she interrupts telling them to stop arguing and suggests they can climb the stair chest as much as they like since she plans to move it back to the room both immediately shout that they won't do it because they're not kids anymore Alice laughs saying she was just joking harumi continues teasing mentioning that Alice once fell and got a nose bed according to their grandma she looks confused as they all sit and Reminisce about the past the next morning harumi visits and places a

small box filled with pesticides into a hole in a wall with a dull thud he informs her that for now they'll leave it there and warns her that the poison won't work immediately she bows respectfully thanking him for his help and apologizing for always bothering him she trembles with frustration noting that these pesky Critters are showing going up everywhere he explains that these Animals look for warm places during the cold season so it's normal for them to gather inside houses she expresses sudden distress not wanting these creatures in her home The Intruders are rats which

can cause serious damage and spread diseases like food poisoning if rats are found they must be immediately dealt with He suggests that if she wants to keep the mice away she could always get a cat she seems to agree with him but appears confused at the mention of a Cat he guesses she might not like them but she denies it without giving a reason sensing her hesitation he changes the subject and explains other ways to deal with the problem as a last resort He suggests calling Grandpa who can handle the situation she finds this suggestion

reassuring he then sits down to put on his shoes preparing to leave because grandpa needs his help understanding this she apologizes for bothering him when he's busy he smiles And waves goodbye she thanks him once more as she watches him walk away she feels a Pang of sadness contemplating his suggestion about getting a cat closing the door with a heavy thud she Pond the idea of using a cat to keep the mice away but feels unsure about getting one lost in thought she turns back and finds a black and white cat comfortably Seated on the

mat near the iory it wakes up with a stretch and meets her gaze causing her to quickly look away feeling Uneasy under its stare the cat nonchalantly returns to its original position and resumes sleeping indifferent to her presence she is filled with words unsure of what to do with it that seems to be at home in her house as if it owns the place despite her uncertainty about how it got inside with the door locked determined to act she quietly lowers herself to the floor near the cat handling the mat carefully from the Corners to

avoid waking it or causing it to flee she carefully pulls the cushion towards the main door without waking the cat opens the door quietly and gently places it outside with a sense of melancholy the cat wakes up and walks outside casting hopeful glances at her she feels helpless knowing she can't keep it in her home she watches with a sense of resignation until it disappears behind the house as she turns back she washes the dishes and dries her hands With the kitchen towel she reflects on how the cat didn't move at all when she pulled

the mat wondering if it might belong to a neighbor if it's astray it's surprisingly comfortable around people feeling sad for kicking it out she knows she can't let it stay because it would be a problem suddenly she remembers she left the cushion outside when she goes to retrieve it she's shocked to find the same cat comfortably sitting on it again she shouts in confusion as she has just Pushed the cat out of her house it feels like a dream but determined not to let the creature stay she pushes it out again and immediately locks the

door with a sharp sound hoping it won't return however her hopes are dashed when she sees the cat back in the iory room licking its paws now annoyed in finding the situation creepy she sharply runs towards the cat to chase it out but the effort leads her exhausted she stumbl stumbles in front of the cat looking Helpless as she tries unsuccessfully to persuade it to leave she wonders if the cat has returned from some hidden spot perhaps the wall feeling a mix of sadness and sweat on her face she pleads with the cat to go

away on its own only to be stunned when it seems to mock her with laughter suddenly haruni K appears behind her and calls the cat by its name Anga he apologizes for entering her house without permission explaining it's common in the countryside where doors Often remain unlocked she is surprised thinking herian went home recently but he corrects her saying it was 3 hours ago shocked she asks if he knows the cat wondering if it belongs to someone or is lost he explains that the cat is a stray that often visited when his grandmother was alive

and has been doing so for years he expresses concern as he hasn't seen it since his grandmother passed away understanding the story she looks at the cat with Newfound affection and emotion he diverts her attention by informing her that his Grand po told him to bring her a gift with great excitement he opens the bag with a loud rustle revealing a rainbow trout a classic catch from Mountain String fishing in Winter he further explains that there's a regulated fishing area nearby where anyone can fish even in Winter despite the cold he managed to catch many

fish but found carrying them all back quite Challenging according to morama harunobu harumi's 73-year-old grandpa with various talents winter fishing is a romantic Pursuit for True men even though stream fishing is typically banned during these months as she listens she clasps her hands in a prayer-like gesture her thoughts on his grandpa then bows quickly with a swift sound of rushing expressing heartfelt thanks each time harumi doesn't grasp who she's praying to he then hands her The fish bag the cat emits a loud demanding sound for food sharply moving its paw towards the bag eager for

fish as well he remarks it's hungry for trout calling it greedy she laughs heartily resigned to her fate in now that she must care for the cat as her grandmother did now she begins preparing the fish by gutting and scaling it followed by a thorough rinse with water using metal skewers she carefully pierces the fish through both sides ensuring it remains Stable and doesn't slip during cooking metal skewers are chosen for their excellent heat conductivity which Cooks the fish evenly and speeds up the process after skewering she sprinkles salt over the whole fish Winter's natural

osmotic pressure eliminates excess water and any unpleasant odors making the process effortless she also salts the fins and warns him that if anyone is preparing the fish for the cat they should skip the salt and just Remove the small bones breaking them into small pieces continuing she positions the skewer a bit away from the flame and lets it cook until the water stops dripping from the inside she feels excited savoring the ultimate iory cooking experience for her moments like these are simply the best glancing at the cat stretching and demanding food she assures it that

the meal will be ready shortly while sitting in front of her roomi she unintentionally begins to Twitch and gently Pat in gawa it also relaxes as she Taps it suddenly with a hint of fear she withdraws her hand making a light sound perplexed he looks at her and asks if she doesn't like cats emotionally she explains that it's not that she dislikes them rather when she starts touching them she becomes attached he still looks puzzled not seeing attaching to cats as a bad thing she reluctantly mentions that the lifespan of these Little Creatures is Much

shorter than hers till she knows this cat will likely be gone before her after understanding her intention he is left speechless then he asks her to look at him while he gently Taps the cat as he nears touching it it gives him a wary look he points out the cat's cautious demeanor noting that other than Grandma the pet wouldn't allow anyone else to pet it perhaps ingoa has felt lonely since her passing but now with Alice here it seems less lonely and is Sleeping so peacefully Alice grasps the situ sitation and begins to pet it

with deep affection and love while he watches her with a fond smile suddenly Alice recalls something promptly folds her hands and instructs Ang GOA that since it's here it's its duty to take care of the mice and she'll pay rent harumi appreciates her decision acknowledging it's not a small commitment a few days after cleaning her home it's a fresh morning Alice stands outside the house With Grandpa morama harunobu and harumi alongside a loader van morama opens the door with a loud Creek as the stiff lock gives way and Alice is Amazed by the interior as

she enters he explains that his nephew and family used to live in the main building but they've since moved out leaving the barn still in use as a warehouse Alice admires the Cozy atmosphere of the building which Grandpa agrees with having refurbished it to achieve this cozy look he mentions Upgrading the dirt floor and adding a loft and another floor on top of that harumi teases his grandpa suggesting that it would be an easy job if he asked for help to which the seasoned man replies that it's easier said than done originally the barn was

used to store farm equipment like hose seeding baskets and carts hence it only had a dirt floor Grandpa assures Alice that there's plenty of room for her luggage here though she appears unsure about using The space he solemnly reminds her of the seriousness recounting how she almost had a map with her belongings as her roomi confirms she starts to explain but he changes the subject reassuring her to disregard his ramblings and accept their Hospitality with a warm smile he assures her they're happy to assist her then he tells harumi he's heading to the field and

advises him to help her move her luggage she thanks him sincerely Bowing in gratitude harumi experiences a strong Sense of familiarity In This Moment both of them are shifting a huge wooden drawer which appears very heavy she asks if he is okay and he confirms that he is fine when she notices him carrying two crates at a time she worries whether he can can manage that much and might trip however he reassures her again saying he is not a kid anymore smiling she apologizes explaining that she still sees him as a small child in her

mind she instructs him to watch the floor as It is dangerous working in Shifting the heavy luggage makes them hot so they remove their jackets seeing H carry two crates at a time she decides to try it too however she quickly feels discomfort realizing they are heavier than she thought and she begins to sway unsteadily almost dropping them harumi easily takes the crates from her with one hand while holding a chair in the other advising her not to overdo it in that carrying one at a time is fine While shifting luggage he gets excited when

he finds a small box and is amazed that Grandma menis kept it Alice finds the moment sentimental and is surprised when she opens the box to find something he usually keeps both agree that Grandma manise was a wealthy woman when they open the box he is astonished to find a baby shirt with harumi's name on it halice takes the shirt from him excited by how cute it is but she wonders why Grandma kept it all these years her Umi Looks confused by the small shirt Alice holds the tiny shirt in front of him laughing and

says she was just thinking about how much he has grown to her his little cute image still feels more natural he doesn't respond she teases him again saying he can still wear this he playfully snatches the shirt from her with great effort after shifting all the luggage they try to escape the cold weather Alice starts shivering and remarks that it's still freezing even With the door shut harumi agrees noting that they didn't notice the cold earlier because they were moving around He suggests it's time to leave as they left their coats in the car and

Alice is feeling very cold he tries to open the door but it makes a heavy sound and doesn't budge he makes several attempts with great effort but to no avail Alice looks tense but he reassures her that the door's lock is just a bit stiff frustrated he mutters that it's useless To keep trying since it won't budge seeing her worried expression he relaxes and says he'll just call Grandpa to open it from the outside when he checks his pocket for his phone he realizes it's in the car he asks Alice if she has a cell

phone but she says she doesn't surprising him since it's unusual not to have one these days shivering she asks if there's another way out although there isn't he reassures her that Grandpa only went to the fields and will Be back soon which eases her worries a bit however he adds that grandpa will return by evening and it's only noon they both decide to search for something to keep warm and Rush towards the luggage hoping to find something useful among the items after searching Alice finally finds a large blanket and shows it with great excitement however

their Joy turns to concern when they discover there's only one blanket they both insist the other take it holding on to It tightly and pushing it towards each other finally Alice angrily orders him to use it which he reluctantly accepts under the condition that they switch every 5 minutes she reassures him that she's fine and doesn't need his is worry though she's shivering from the cold seeing his concerned expression she smiles and assures him she's okay emphasizing her maturity he looks at her sadly then suddenly drapes his blanket over her shoulders as well she's puzzled

By his gesture while harumi feels awkward and foolish about his impulsive action realizing it reinforces her view of him as childish he stops himself from dwelling on it acknowledging their urgent need if he hadn't acted Alice would never have agreed to the blanket remembering GR warning about the risk of their body temperatures dropping they wrap themselves up in the blanket as a first precaution he apologizes for any perception of him as immature trying not To let it bother him as he shares the blanket with her he tries to calm His Thoughts by remembering they got

locked inside while helping Alice San with her luggage suddenly he Shivers at his own actions and scolds himself out loud prompting her to ask if he's okay he reassures her though he's visibly confused she points out that his hand on her shoulder is hurting her flusters he quickly apologizes and removes it in a jolty manner he recalls how in his rush To cover her he had placed his hand on her shoulder when he came back to his senses he froze feeling extremely awkward he apologizes repeatedly his face turning blue with embarrassment and begins to pull

the blanket back insisting that he didn't mean anything by it and was just following Grandpa's instructions to keep warm she looks at him understanding the situation and relaxes assuring him that she knows it was necessary she then AP apologizes for Being stubborn about not taking the blanket earlier but he reassures her that it's totally fine in a quiet voice she admits she wasn't expecting this situation he agrees and they both laugh informly about their actions he tries to maintain as much distance as possible from her under the blanket creating an awkward silence the tension makes

the situation feel uncomfortable he struggles to find the right words to break the silence but Alice speaks up First she mentions that despite it being winter they might be sweating from the cleaning she apologizes awkwardly if she smells due to sweating her question seems unbelievable to him he quickly reassures her that she doesn't smell bad turning toward her with a smile he unintentionally compliments her saying that her scent is actually very pleasant realizing what he just said he immediately turns away trying to clarify that he didn't mean it like that Alice Looks at him with

great affection while he feels embarrassed and awkward for unintentionally complimenting her his face flushed in this awkward situation they suddenly hear a heavy sound prompting both to shout loudly harumi's Grandpa realizing something is wrong calls out if they are still in the barn they confirm their presence with loud voices explaining that the door won't open understanding the gravity of the situation he considers it a serious Issue and tells them to wait a few minutes while he makes a strong effort to open the door when he finally opens it he finds them sitting dectivitive lugage has

worn them out both of them are unable to explain while they are exhausted this is not the cause of their distress after a long and tiring day they finally arrive at Alice's home both feeling quite hungry Alice prepares a meal on the stove and there is a bubbling sound of something Cooking in liquid when she lifts the pot's lid the aroma intensifies their appetite the dish is pork miso soup which differs from regular M of soup by the addition of pork giving it a unique flavor the sound of the liquid from the pork adds to

the anticipation Alice mentions that harumi once told her he could hang a pot above the iory to make soup since it's quite cold today she had planned to prepare it ahead of time so they could all enjoy it Later she serves him a bowl of the soup and although herui doesn't recall the conversation he tells her that grandpa has already left he advises her not to worry about him as he had a hunting trip planned which couldn't be avoided instead of a formal meeting it was more like a feast they first say a prayer to

thank the Lord for the meal despite the soup being very hot Alice starts eating it with chopsticks taking small sips as she's too hungry to wait after finishing Her meal she expresses a deep sense of relief after noticing his reaction to the soup she smiles and comments on how it really warms him up he agrees but points out that she was also feeling very cold which she acknowledges with a smile reflecting on the unexpected day and the surprise of being locked in the barn she playfully teases him about how surprising it was when he covered

her with the blanket and they begin a light-hearted chopstick duel making Slight noises as they're having fun inaa enters and harumi starts coughing stating that it was an emergency despite acknowledging the seriousness she continues to tease him about how his actions seem spontaneous she then affectionately holds Ang gawa and asks for its opinion he apologizes feeling a bit awkward but she reassures him that despite everything he appears to have grown into a reliable and impressive person she admits her surprise at how Things turned out and in Goan meow's in agreement he notes that both she

and the cat are teasing him but the cat meow to assert it's not teasing after a friendly exchange he thanks her for the meal and leaves while she reminds him to pass along her thanks to Grandpa leaving Alice's house with a bagged in hand he steps into the clear moonlit night as he walks he reflects on Alice's consistent Behavior which is both comforting and slightly frustrating he scolds himself For overthinking by giving himself a gentle tap on the head realizing how cold it is he hurries home meanwhile Alice sits on the cushion with inoa recalling

their awkward moments she tells her cat that it has been a long time since someone embraced her like that and she's surprised by how it unfolded this time here I am it's been a while I was in Deni about my love here I st I know I walked away had to find a person I become go