The chubby kid's eyes lit up.
He swallowed.
Then he picked up the lighter again.
He'd actually used a lighter a few times before.
Just now, the pile of leaves had been too low, and the lighter's flame had brushed his fingers.
This time, he learned from his mistake...
The chubby kid lay flat on the ground.
That way, he wouldn't have to hold the lighter so low.
The chubby kid gave himself a mental pat on the back for his cleverness.
This time, he successfully lit the leaves.
Everyone's eyes seemed to light up along with the flames.
"Whoa, it's burning! It's burning!"
"I'm still the best."
The chubby kid got to his feet, looking very pleased with himself.
"Yeah, yeah, you're the best."
The others gave the chubby kid a rather halfhearted compliment.
"Hurry up."
They only had eyes for the rice cakes.
"Let's grill the rice cakes~"
The children threaded the rice cake slices onto sticks.
Then they held the slices over the fire.
The blazing fire cast a rosy glow over everyone's faces.
They all wore expectant smiles.
The atmosphere was great.
As they waited for the rice cakes to cook, they chatted about whatever came to mind.
But then...
A disagreement over yesterday's cartoon made their argument grow louder and louder.
The atmosphere grew tense.
"I'm done talking to you!"
One of the arguing children irritably waved his hand.
Unfortunately...
"Ah!"
"My rice cakes!"
The two rice cake slices on the stick held by the child beside him fell straight into the fire.
The boy caught in the crossfire immediately went red-eyed.
"What did I do...?"
"Why'd you knock my rice cakes off...?"
He'd already smelled how good they were.
The tall and