The campfire flickered by their feet, the crackling of burning wood never ceasing.
Camping had been commonplace for ninjas in the past. As a military training exercise, however, it had been phased out by the Ninja Magistrate in recent years. With retired and active ninjas promoting it, it had gradually evolved into a niche leisure activity.
"I don't really know what's so fun about camping." Hitomi said as she turned the grilled fish in her hands.
This was a valley in the woods, with a brilliant river of stars overhead.
"Could it be that you still hadn't gotten enough camping when you were little?" The firelight reflected on her face as Hitomi turned to look at Mimi.
Because Mimi was so absorbed in playing with insects that she often forgot to go home, she would usually spend the night in a secret burrow she had dug herself.
Occasionally, she would change things up and choose to pitch a tent and camp in the forest.
It was a shared memory for the three of them.
Mimi lowered her head and organized her fishing rod.
Unlike when they were children, when a trimmed wooden stick and a piece of string were enough to make a simple fishing rod, this time they had finally opened the deluxe equipment that had been sitting in storage for so long and put it to use.
Mimi busied herself with her work.
Sure enough, retirement and fishing were a perfect match.
"Why are you making artificial bait? Didn't you always use insects to fish?" Hitomi said. "There are barely any fish. They're only enough for me to eat. You haven't caught as many as you did when you were little, Mimi."
"Be patient." Mimi continued her movements in an orderly fashion, neither hurried nor flustered. "When we