YOAW 06

Chapter 6…

 Deepening Autumn and the Sound of Winter Preparations

The trees in the forest were turning red and yellow, and as morning dew began to settle, there were more and more days when their breaths came out in white puffs. Akio was reminded of the winters back in his hometown on Earth by the increasingly cold mornings and evenings. He had no idea how harsh the winters in this world would be, but it was always better to be prepared than to regret it later.

“Everyone, gather up. Starting today, we’re going to prepare for winter in earnest.”

After breakfast, Akio made this announcement, and a hint of tension appeared on the children’s faces. They, too, could feel the approaching severity of the season in their skin.

“The most important thing is firewood. We need fire not only to stay warm but also to cook. Then, we’ll fill in the gaps in the house more thoroughly to keep the cold out. And we’ll need warmer clothes as well.”

The children nodded seriously at Akio’s words.

The first task was gathering firewood.

“Alto, Kenta. I’ll show you how to use the axe and saw properly one more time, so watch closely. And don’t you dare get hurt.”

Akio started by teaching Alto and Kenta the basics of splitting firewood using relatively safe dead branches and leftover wood from repairing the shack. At first, the two were awkward with their hands, but thanks to Akio’s careful instruction and their quick learning, they gradually began to get the hang of it. Alto swung the axe down with increasing precision, while Kenta used his boundless energy to saw rhythmically.

“Good, keep it up. But don’t overdo it.”

He set them to gathering suitable dead branches and fallen trees near the cabin, while he went a bit farther away to fell thicker trees and process them into logs. Ayane volunteered to carry the chopped wood the boys brought in and neatly stack it along the side of the cabin. Miko and Yume, following their older siblings’ example, gathered thin branches and pinecones, building up a pile of kindling.

After several days, a massive stack of firewood rose high enough to cover an entire wall of the cabin. As the children gazed up at it, they were filled with both exhaustion and a deep sense of accomplishment.

Next was insulating the cabin. Akio mixed high-quality clay he had found earlier with dried grass and carefully packed the mixture into every crack and crevice in the walls. For the floor, Ayane and the others spread out thick layers of dried hay they had collected and dried. This alone should significantly improve the cabin’s insulation.

Then came clothing. The children’s clothes were thin and had many worn-out spots.

“Ayane, can you sew?”

“Yes, I learned a little from my mother in the village… but we don’t have any thread or needles…”

Akio brought out several rabbit pelts from animals he had trapped earlier. He didn’t have the proper tanning skills, but he had at least managed to dry and soften the hides.

“We can use these to make simple vests or shawls. As for needles… maybe I can carve some from bone. For thread, we’ll have to use tough plant fibers or animal sinew.”

After some trial and error, Akio carved a few crude bone needles from bird bones and twisted plant fibers into strong thread. With these scarce tools and materials, Ayane displayed impressive skill, sewing the pelts together into small vests and cape-like garments that covered the children’s shoulders and backs. Akio also helped by using the sturdier parts of his own worn clothes to patch up the children’s torn garments.

“Wow, it’s so warm!”

Yume spun around happily in her little fur vest, bringing smiles to everyone’s faces.

Food preservation was also progressing steadily. In addition to smoked meat, Akio taught the children how to thinly slice mushrooms and edible root vegetables and dry them under the cabin’s eaves on sunny days. Dried vegetables were light and easy to store.

Alto was beginning to show talent in choosing trap locations. By learning from Akio about animal paths and habits and adding his own ideas, he increased the success rate of their traps significantly compared to before.

Miko, too, was making a big contribution despite her small body. She relied on what she’d heard from an old herbalist in the village and could distinguish edible mushrooms from poisonous ones with remarkable accuracy. Of course, Akio always made the final judgment carefully, but Miko’s knowledge greatly improved their efficiency in foraging.

In the evening, after finishing their work, Akio and the children looked at the towering pile of firewood, the well-insulated cabin, and the simple warm garments they had made with their own hands.

“With all this, we should be able to make it through the winter, Akio-san,” Alto said proudly.

Akio nodded. “Yeah. But we can’t let our guard down. The winter forest can be unforgiving.”

That night, inside the cabin that was warmer than usual, Ayane sat by the fire, carefully mending the small tears in Akio’s clothes using the bone needle and plant fiber thread they had made earlier.

“Akio-san, you’re always looking after us… so at least, let me do this much,” she said.

“…Yeah. Thank you, Ayane,” Akio replied, a little embarrassed but genuinely grateful. In the firelight, Ayane’s cheeks looked faintly flushed.

Winter’s footsteps were drawing near, but in their hearts, there was a growing warmth and a shared confidence born from overcoming hardships together.