An Illusion?

"Hmm? Why are there so many dishes?"

As Chiba lifted the gray cloth door curtain, he saw Yukina helping Hirohiko carry dishes to the dining table, while Nao sat properly in a chair, waiting to eat. There seemed to be quite a lot of food today. Half the table was already covered in dishes, and Yukina was still bringing more over.

Obviously, the four of them could not finish all this food. Uh... well, it was not that they could not finish it. Rather, under normal circumstances, they would never make this much food.

After all, today was neither a special holiday nor an occasion worth celebrating. "Are there guests?"

After blurting out the question, Chiba asked again.

"Yeah."

Hirohiko nodded without looking back, still stir-frying a dish as though he were in a hurry.

"Since you're back, go call them from the riverside."

Almost at the same time, Yukina spoke up. She placed a plate of snow-white tofu on the table and glanced at Chiba, who was holding up the gray cloth curtain.

The riverside?

Chiba paused slightly.

Kakashi?

Then Kakashi's name surfaced in his mind. Other than Hirohiko, Yukina, and Kushina, Kakashi was the only one who came to visit his cabin. For a time, Kakashi had often come here to fish. Whenever it rained or snowed, he would usually mooch a meal from Chiba before going home.

If the rain or snow was too heavy, Kakashi would choose to stay the night. However, that had only happened once.

The bedding Chiba was using now was actually what Kakashi had slept in when he stayed over that time. Chiba had not cared much at the time, and there was nothing much to say about it, so it had never been mentioned again.

Besides, Yukina had said the riverside,