mikage pt1

Today’s interview is about the harvest festival that takes place in “Habataki Green Farm,” located in the park.
Of course, any farm will be overflowing with produce raised with love and care, but there’s one plot that especially draws the eye.
Colorful bell peppers, almost like Christmas tree ornaments, merrily swaying as far as the eye can see.
And in the midst of them, a young man crouching low, diligently toiling away. I called out to him.
“Ain’t our peppers just the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen? I’d like to let them hang on the vine a little longer, get a little more ripe, but... how about it, miss? Wanna give it a try?” And with that, he planted his harvesting shears firmly in my hands.

“The green ones aren’t ready yet. Bell peppers get more colorful as they ripen, but it takes some time.”
The young man raised the pepper in his hand over his face, blocking against the glare of the midday sun as I told him I was here on behalf of the Habataki Watcher.

His name is Mikage Kojirou.
When I asked him why he worked at the farm, he flashed his teeth at me in a grin.
“Nature, I guess?”
With a loud laugh, he added, “If I don’t play around in the dirt from time to time, I don’t really feel alive.”

“...Teach, are you picking up chicks in the field? You sly dog.”
Hearing the sound of Mikage’s laugh, people had gathered in the neighboring farms.
“Yeah, when you’re as bad as me, time and place don’t mean a thing!” he chortled back.
Seeing the audience grow, I introduced myself again as a writer for the Habataki Watcher.
Mikage shook his head, as if a little act had just been exposed. “Come on, don’t just spill the beans like that. You can’t enjoy life without a little patience!”