What are you just standing there in the tatami room?　We're going to practice!

　I was warmed up in the living room by the kotatsu (Japanese heated kotatsu) when Sister Elinora said to me.

　Elinora is looking down at me with her hands on her hips.

　The attitude of taking it for granted that we are about to practice.

　Huh, but it's sweet. I am exempt from practice today thanks to Bartolo.

I don't practice today.

What?　What are you talking about?　Stop dawdling and let's go outside.

　As if she thinks I'm spoiling it as usual, Sister Elinora pulls on my arm.

　The force is so great that my body is out of the kotatsu in the blink of an eye.

The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that I have other things to do, not spoil it!

What's going on?　What's that?

　When I made a serious appeal, Elinora sister relaxed a stress.

　However, she doesn't seem to have the slightest intention of letting go of my hand from my arm. It's held firmly in place so that you can't escape easily. Isn't this too cautious?

'You're going to call it a nap or something anyway, right?

'No, it's true what Al says, Elinora.

　Dad Nord came in with Bartolo behind him.

'Yeah?　Really?

I've got some ingredients I really need to get today. I need to borrow the monk's magic for that.

So why don't you try another day?

　Oops, she makes a sharp point about her sister Elinora's habit.

　But I'm sure it's all right. I'm sure Bartolo will come up with a good reason to keep me in the house.

　It's a very good idea to have a good time with them.

The target today is a small fish called bracken. We can only catch them when the lake is nicely frozen. You don't know if you'll catch it tomorrow if you miss it today.

Oh, really?

　When Bartolo told her why, Sister Elinora muttered in disapproval.

'Wait a minute Bartolo,'

Hmm?　What's that, kid?

　I call Bartolo over to me, who is saying something a little weird.

'Isn't there some kind of setting up for me to go out there?

You don't mind if I skip rehearsals, do you?　They didn't tell me not to take him out.

　That's slightly different from what I was looking for.

'Me, I'd like to skip my training with the help I can give while I'm lukewarm in the mansion like I did the other day.

But that's not going to counter your little girl's point, is it?　Either way, the way I can slack off, this is what I'm going to end up with.

　That may be true. A half-hearted excuse surely won't convince Father Nord or Sister Elinora.

　Isn't it pointless to want to skip practice in the cold because you didn't want to, and then have to go outside as a result?

　No, let's put a positive spin on it. Even if I have to go out there, it's much easier and better to catch a small fish like bracken or something like that than to practice.

''Are you sure you're okay with that, Dad?''

　Elinora's sister, with a tone of voice that admonishes our father for being on the wrong track, asks Father Nord.

　It's only a break from training, but you're overreacting.

The bracken is a fish that can only be eaten at this time of year. Besides, I was going to cancel today's training because of the muddy conditions in the courtyard.

　Huh?　Then there's no need to go fishing for bracken, right?　If the training is cancelled, that's fine by me. We'll be fine.

"Bartolo, if it's not today, I'm sure we can still catch some bracken.

You can't say that now.

　I know. But if the rehearsal process had been cancelled, I would have wanted to stay in the house.

It's good to practice even when it's muddy.

Maybe so, but that kind of training is a little early for the unfit Al.

"Well there's something wrong with my dad today. He's holding Al's shoulders in a strange way.

　No, no, I don't think it's weird to put a seven year old through the rigors of training.

It's not funny. That's why today's practice is cancelled. If you want, you can help Elinora with Bartolo.

　He said this and left the living room as quickly as he could.

　Hmmm, Elinora was right, Dad is a bit strange today. Normally he would grade me a little harder.

　Well, it's a reasonable decision since the courtyard is mangled by the snow and frozen in parts.

　And there's no point in forcing yourself to practice and getting injured.

'Hey, Bartolo has an idea why my dad is crazy, right?

　Sister Elinora's smile gives off an incredible power.

　She seems quite unhappy that my training was not skipped, but that the training itself was cancelled.

　But I guess she can't have it because she doesn't have a point to hit it.

　Bartolo looks at me like he wants to help, but that's not my problem.

　And we all have no idea why Dad Nord is being so strangely nice to me.

　Seeing my non-helpful attitude, Bartolo let out a sigh of abandonment.

''Well bracken is the Nord's favorite food.

Hmm, yeah.

　Sister Elinora is a flat-footed minister who doesn't know what kind of emotions are caged in.

　It's scary, to say the least.

'Come on, Bartolo. Let's go fishing for bracken, shall we?

'Oh, oh. Yeah.

I'm coming with you.

　I was about to leave the living room with Bartolo to get away from the heavy air, but sister Elinora said something I hadn't expected to hear.

'What?　Is Sister Elinora coming too?

Yes, I do.

　I was about to say why, but I couldn't bear it. I wanted to praise myself for that.

　However, it seems that I couldn't cover up my suspicious gaze.

　It's your father's favorite food, so why don't you take a lot of it?

　Elinora sister looked a little embarrassed as she said while playing with her own bangs.

　I thought she would come to you because she was bored or to take it out on you, but Elinora sister's reason for action was more sane than I imagined.

''Is Elinora sister such a character?''

Shut up.

Ouch!

　When I finally lost my patience and plunged in, sister Elinora gave me a deco pin.

　It would be a cute retaliation if she was just a girl, but Elinora sister is not just a girl. A gurgling sound was heard on her forehead even though it was a decoupin.

　Naturally, the pain was unfashionable compared to a normal deco pin.

''~~~!

Boy, that's a lot to say.

　Bartolo looked at me in agony as he was dumbfounded.