Chapter 5 Do you also have dysmenorrhea?

There is a small grocery store called Muto Department Store on the corner near the river in Tsurumaki-machi Commercial Street.

The owner of the grocery store is a kind old woman, and the toys and snacks sold in the store have touched the childhoods of countless people.

Every time Natsume Naoki comes to the store and looks at the bright spring sunshine and the sparkling Kanda River outside the door, he will think of the store in "The Sweets War".

The grandma’s son-in-law is a Chinese student studying abroad. He met her daughter when she was studying in Tokyo. The two got married happily due to fate. A few years ago, her daughter followed her son-in-law back to China to pursue a career.

Because of this relationship, Natsume Naoki asked the grandma's son to do overseas shopping. Packages signed by him often traveled across the ocean and were sent to this small grocery store.

"Natsume, I haven't seen you for a long time." The old lady stood at the door and looked at Naoki Natsume, who had disappeared during the spring break. She smiled kindly and said, "You're here to pick up the package, right? It's been here for a long time."

"Good morning, Grandma Muto." Natsume Naoki greeted politely: "Because I don't need those things during the holidays, and I don't like to go out, so I haven't come to pick them up... I didn't cause any trouble to your store, right?

"

"That's not the case. It's just a pity that the people who come here to buy things are all strangers, and no one talks to me anymore. I still have to wear more clothes when I go out recently. Don't look at the heat today. The weather forecast says it will be hot today. My health is not good.

Don’t be careless!”

The old lady picked out the tightly wrapped cross-sea express delivery from the basket at the door of the store. It could be seen that she was more concerned about Natsume Naoki's package. Among the piles of express delivery services at the door, this one was placed in a conspicuous and inconspicuous place.

Places exposed to direct sunlight.

Before Natsume Naoki could pick it up, Asai Mao had already taken the package from the old lady's hand.

The package felt slightly heavy in her hand, exuding a faint smell that was very familiar to her.

"Have you got a girlfriend?" The old lady looked at Asai Mao with a smile: "The girl is so handsome."

"My name is Asai Mao, please give me some advice." Asai Mao held the package with both hands, but only crossed her legs and bowed slightly without raising the hem of her skirt.

Natsume Naoki waved his hand quickly: "You misunderstood, I'm either a girlfriend, or... just an ordinary friend! She will be the one to pick up the packages from now on. I'm here to tell you today."

Asai Mao talks little but is not shy but has a dignified and generous temperament that is very lovable. At least the old lady thinks she is very good.

A down-to-earth and generous girl, a sunny, gentle boy with a good attitude, how many people’s replicas of youth are like this——

The girls didn't say anything, but the boys were the first to be shy.

Grandma Muto thought of her husband who died young. When his classmates were teasing her at school, he would blush and deny it in a panic. He didn't notice that she was lying on the table and hiding her face behind a book, and she was also blushing.

No matter it is day or night, if a woman blushes towards you and expresses affection, she will look stunning.

"Natsume, if you feel better one day and are willing to go for a walk, you must come to the store!" Grandma Muto waved her hand and said goodbye to Natsume Naoki who was leaving: "Come and eat with Asai!"

"Many sweets from Grandma Muto's shop can no longer be bought anywhere else. They are all things from my childhood, and I still miss them." Natsume Naoki and Asai Mao walked along the riverside. "The shop also has the human touch of childhood, and now

It’s freezing when you walk into a convenience store.”

"Is there anything Natsume-kun likes to eat?" Asai Mao asked calmly: "You can keep it at home as a snack, provided it is approved by my health."

"It's really strict," Natsume Naoki smiled: "It's better to go to the store to eat. Grandma Muto doesn't lack business, but she lacks people who often chat with her."

"It's a pity that my health is not very good, otherwise I could go around here every day after school." Natsume Naoki's eyes extended to the river, "Over there, along the way from Menkage Bridge, the cherry blossoms on both sides of the river are also very beautiful."

Asai Mao followed his gaze and saw that the branches of the cherry blossom trees on the bank were almost bent to the surface of the river, and the petals were sprinkled heavily all over the river.

Next to the river bank is the tram track, and the Toden Arakawa Line, known as the "Arakawa Sakura Line", passes through here.

The tram, cherry blossoms and spring day make one wonder if Shinkai Makoto often walks here, looking up at the falling cherry blossoms in the sky and silently counting the time until they fall to the ground.

Asai Mao heard a hint of melancholy in Natsume Naoki's words.

Sure enough, no matter how cheerful and progressive you appear, will you still be dissatisfied with this sickly body in your heart?

She counted the days in her mind, and it seemed that Natsume-kun would have to endure it for a while longer before he could make a big circle from Menkage Bridge to the grocery store to eat every day after school.

……………………

After returning home and going through intense study, Natsume Naoki weakly locked himself in the room with the large package of cross-sea express delivery.

Asai Mao did not disturb him. After washing and hanging out the clothes they wore today, they started preparing lunch.

The two-story building that has spent a year as a homebody is filled with the atmosphere of life. No matter how well one person lives, it will not be as interesting as two people. It is not unreasonable for the old people to say that the lack of a woman in the house lacks the fireworks.

The fragrant kitchen was filled with the sound of grunting and chopping vegetables. Today I went out and not only bought a lot of clothes for Natsume Naoki, but also refilled the refrigerator.

It’s hard to imagine how Asai Mao got so many things. Naoki Natsume said that there is a maid with the same type of strange power as Robert in the world.

Asai Mao replied that she would not have grenades rolling out of her skirt as soon as she raised her skirt to salute, but if Natsume-kun is willing, she can cosplay at the comic exhibition.

As for Natsume-kun, he cosplayed with Locke, but they both have the same weak wrists anyway.

Natsume Naoki complained again that she had even watched "Black Lagoon" and was still a cosplayer, but it was a pity that she didn't know how to make dolls.

"Natsume-kun, lunch is ready, beef brisket soup and grilled food."

Asai Mao reminded Natsume Naoki in front of the bedroom door, and then knocked on the door three seconds later.

The door opened, and what came into view was Natsume Naoki's somewhat pale face.

I have to say that this face is much more handsome than when I first saw it a week ago. There is no extra long hair covering half of the eyes, and there is no messy chicken coop.

"Oh, okay, but please help me bring the meal to the bedroom. I still have things to do and I can't stop." Natsume Naoki said.

The words were accompanied by an unpleasant smell that left the mouth astringent.

"I understand." Asai Mao bowed slightly, went downstairs, divided the food into portions suitable for Natsume Naoki's appetite, and served them on small plates.

It only took her three meals to figure out Natsume Naoki's appetite. The maid's observation was so meticulous that she was worthy of Natsume Naoki's nickname of "moving a huge amount of money."

After bringing the food into Natsume Naoki's bedroom and placing it on the table, Asai Mao noticed the electronic scale in the room.

The electronic scale is not big, and there are several bowls next to it, which contain various kinds of medicinal materials that have been weighed.

"I'm gonna start now."

Natsume Naoki saw that Asai Mao had been looking at his bottles and jars, took a mouthful of rice and said: "Chinese medicine, I have not been in good health since I was a child, so I use some Chinese medicine with milder properties to treat it."

"I didn't expect Natsume-kun to do this."

There was doubt in Asai Mao's eyes, "Isn't Natsume-kun a fool or a waste?"

Natsume Naoki decided to pretend he didn't see it for the sake of the rice with beef brisket soup that was so delicious that it almost melted on his tongue.

"Maybe it's because I'm sick that I have a hazy memory of my childhood, especially those before the age of eight. Maybe I was born stupid so I can't remember things at that time."

Natsume Naoki replied: "When I was a child, my parents often traveled on business and had many connections, so they sought medical treatment everywhere. They had been to China and learned about traditional Chinese medicine, so they hired a teacher for me... I probably remember that I learned it, but I don't remember clearly.

Now. I have to watch videos now to consolidate some knowledge.”

As he spoke, Naoki Natsume asked her to look at the computer screen. The video being paused was a video from a YouTuber who specialized in sharing knowledge about traditional Chinese medicine.

"Although the voice has been accelerated, you can still tell that she is a young lady with a nice voice." Natsume Naoki said: "The knowledge she shared is very useful. I often watch and learn from it. She doesn't talk nonsense and hits the nail on the head, and her resolute videos

The style has received rave reviews.”

Many YouTubers do not show their faces and can also process their voices. They only show their faces from the neck down when cooking, drawing, etc., so as not to lose their temper and affect real life.

The young lady Natsume Naoki is looking at is like this.

"No wonder." Asai Mao thought thoughtfully.

"What's the wonder?" Natsume Naoki asked.

"No wonder Natsume-kun knows how to boil Chinese medicine." Asai Mao looked at the weighed medicinal materials and asked, "What Chinese medicine are you preparing to boil, Natsume-kun?"

Natsume Naoki paused while eating, then lowered his head and replied casually: "Nothing, it's for treating a cold. The weather has gotten really fast lately, and I'm afraid I'll catch another cold."

"Hmm~" Asai Mao exhaled a slight nasal sound from her nose, and her beautiful eyes flashed: "It turns out it's for treating colds."

Natsume Naoki picked up the rice a little faster.

"That's rude. I'll come up and get the plate later. Please use it slowly, Natsume-kun."

Asai Mao left, and Natsume Naoki watched the video while eating, but he watched it at double speed.

He is not studying, but looking for videos.

Traditional Chinese medicine treatment consists of many prescriptions and must be done step by step. The prescription Natsume Naoki is looking for now is an advanced version of his previous prescription. Calculating the time, it is time to proceed to the second stage of conditioning.

As for the prescription, he only remembered seeing it before and thinking about using it in the future, but he forgot to collect it.

So he was watching the first video from his little sister as a review and looking for the video where the prescription he was looking for was found.

After tidying up the house downstairs, Asai Mao turned on the TV but was thinking about something.

She wondered why she hadn't found out anything about such an important thing before.

Half an hour later, Asai Mao knocked on Natsume Naoki's door again as promised.

At this time, Natsume Naoki was still playing at double speed to look for the clip he wanted. He had already watched more than a dozen issues and still couldn't find it.

Asai Mao glanced at his computer screen while clearing away the dishes, and before turning to leave, she said to him: "The prescription you are looking for is in the issue of 'Learn Traditional Chinese Medicine with Me, Advanced Chapter 23'."

"Hey, what?"

Natsume Naoki was stunned when he heard this and didn't react. He took off his headphones and looked at Asai Mao.

She said nothing, letting Natsume Naoki carefully consider what she just said.

"No, I...ah?" Natsume Naoki came to his senses. There were so many flaws that he really didn't know where to complain, so he simply followed the selection mentioned by Asai Mao, and found that he was really progressing.

There is the prescription you are looking for in the 23rd issue.

"How do you know what I'm looking for?" Natsume Naoki was slightly surprised.

Asai Mao looked at the medicinal materials and said naturally: "You are watching my video, why do you think I know?"

"Ah, this YouTuber is you?"

Asai Mao nodded calmly.

In front of a maid, everything is possible.

"So Asai, you actually knew just now..." Natsume Naoki thought of a possibility and looked at the medicinal materials.

Halfway through his words, when he met Asai Mao's eyes as if he were looking at a joke, his face turned red all of a sudden.

Asai Mao had no expression on her face and asked very seriously: "So Natsume-kun, you also have dysmenorrhea?"
Chapter completed!