December 26, 2024
Floor 76: Arc Sophia
After spending most of last night and this morning unwrapping and enjoying the gifts given to me by my friends and family, I decided to take a stroll around Arc Sophia, seeing different players all excitedly spending their Christmas money or using the items given to them on the holiday. As I looked on, however, I spotted Leafa running up to me with her arm flailing as if she was trying to flag me down.
Leafa- Kazzu! Wait up!
I chuckled as I stopped walking, putting my hands in my pockets as the blonde fairy ran up to me, catching her breath after running for quite some time.
"You know you didn't have to run. You could've just flagged me down and I would've approached you."
Leafa- Yea, well I had something really important that I wanted to ask you.
"Well you've put in more than enough effort to run after me. What's on your mind?"
I was trying to figure out what was so important that she had to run in the freezing cold just to ask me. Was it about a mechanic in the game? A certain quest or enemy she needed help on?
Leafa- Well it's about this item. Something called "Hornfrog Meat". I just don't know what to do with it.
That's it? All of this for a food item? But wait... Hornfrog Meat...?
"Could I see the item real quick?"
She nodded and pulled the item out of her inventory and sure enough, the item she had was an S-Class ingredient.
"Leafa, this is an S-Class ingredient! How did you manage to get a hold of that!?"
Leafa- S-Class? So it's rare?
"Yea. I've seen plenty of these annoying toads before but never had the chance to grab that item. You've got yourself a luxury item there."
Leafa- So... we can eat it?
"Well, you have to cook it first. Boiled... or maybe fried... hmmm... maybe you could take it to Asuna or Ashtry. They have the highest cooking skills."
Leafa- Well... um... actually...
"Once it's done, do you think I could have a piece? I mean if it's ok with you?"
Leafa- Kazzu, do you and my brother always have Asuna or Ashtry cooking for you two?
"Well... like I said, they have the highest cooking skills... and me and Ashtry live together with Kiyo... so... yes? I'm pretty sure her and Asuna are the only ones who have maxed out cooking or pretty close to it."
Leafa- Well... the thing is... I don't want to take this to Asuna or Ashtry...
"Any reason why?"
Leafa- Because I want to try and cook it myself.
Oh boy...
Leafa- I've been teaching myself how to cook these last two years while my brother was in the hospital and I just thought it wasn't fair that Asuna and Ashtry have to be the cooks all the time.
"Well... I'm not trying to rain on your parade Leafa but... real life skills don't transfer over to this game. In order to cook like Asuna or Ashtry, you have to raise the skill. If you don't have the skill, you are just going to waste the ingredient."
Her face shifted and looked more determined than before. She was going to cook this meat no matter what I said to her now.
Leafa- We'll see about that! I'm going to give it my best shot!
"Well you have fun doing that. Just let me know who I need to bring a healing crystal too later on."
Leafa- Oh no you don't mister!
Her grip on my arm was tight and aggressive, almost as strong as Strea's. I wasn't going anywhere.
Leafa- Since you don't believe me, I'll put my skills up to the test. I'll whip you up a feast you'll never forget.
Before I knew it, I was being dragged against my will back to the inn and towards Leafa's room. A small bead of sweat as well as a tiny blush flushed over my face as she had me in her iron grip.
Why do I say shit that immediately gets me into trouble...?
As the door to Leafa's room closed behind us, I figured I might as well enjoy what little life I had left and sat on her couch, replacing my armor with my normal clothes and rubbing my temple.
Leafa- Now you stay right there while I go change into something more comfortable and get to work on my masterpiece.
"Can't wait..."
One & A Half Hours Later
How long does it take to cook one ingredient? Even with the lowest skill, it shouldn't take this long...
My answer came when Leafa came outside with a long green nightgown and a defeated look as she approached with a plate of some mysterious looking slop.
"God Leafa... what did you do...?"
Leafa- I'm sorry...
"No need to apologize... guess I know why you spent so long in there. I mean... it's an S-Class ingredient so it shouldn't taste too bad right?"
I said with slight worry in my voice as i grabbed the plate from Leafa's hands, causing her to jump and try to grab the plate back.
Leafa- No please don't eat it! It's all burned, and it could make you sick!
"Don't worry Leafa, I've been afflicted with poison before so I'm sure this can't be any worse than that."
Leafa- But...
"Look, I'll be fine Leafa. You went through all of this trouble to try and make something for me. The least I can do is eat it, even if it isn't as great as Ashtry's cooking. So... bon appetit!"
I took a spoonful of the burnt slop and quickly downed it into my gullet. The taste of charcoal and ash covered my tongue, and I hacked a few times but other than that, it wasn't that bad. A failure for sure, but nothing too harmful.
"I could lie and tell you that it's good but... I would rather be truthful... that... is really bad..."
Leafa- Yea... I know... I'm sorry...
"Don't be sorry. Like I said, you tried something and it didn't come out the way you wanted. There's no need to feel downhearted about it. That's why you just gotta practice with the cooking skill if you're really serious about it."
Before I could say anything else, my body started to feel off. My stomach clenched and my forehead started to break out into a sweat. I looked down at my hands only for my vision to get fuzzy and my skin turning pale.
Fuck...
Leafa- Kazzu!? Do you have food poisoning!?
"Honestly... wouldn't... surprise.... me..."
Maybe S-Class food poisoning can be this lethal in a safe zone. If this is what players feel like after being killed in their sleep, I would rather just die now.
Before another reaction could leave my body, my eyes fell heavy and I collapsed on my back. My eyes closing as everything went dark.
Leafa- Kazzu! Oh no... this is all my fault...
"Just... use... an... antidote... crystal... for... now..."
I managed to weakly say. As quickly as I said it, I heard her inventory open and a crystal being used. It helped a little bit, but my eyes and body still felt heavy. I wasn't getting up for a while. It even started to feel cold, like the blackness my eyes surrounded me in had a deep chill to it.
Leafa- Kazzu, you're shivering. Are you cold? What should I do?
I couldn't even form the words. I was too weak and too cold to respond to her.
Leafa- Maybe I could share my body heat with you?
Wait, what?
Without having the power to protest, I soon felt a heavy but admittedly warm feeling right on top of me as Leafa had decided to do exactly what she said and was sharing her body heat with me.
Leafa- There! Now you'll be warmed up in no time!
I could only manage to respond in a groan. I didn't want to be in this situation but found no way of escaping it.
Leafa- Don't worry Kazzu. I won't let you go until you feel all better.
Fuck my life... why do I always find myself in these situations? It does feel... kind of nice though... almost... comforting...
The warmth of her body combined with the comfort of her bosom sent me right to sleep. It wouldn't be for another few hours until I woke up, blushing at the fact that she was still on top of me, now asleep.
Ok... how do I get myself out of this situation...?
I cleared my throat before moving my hands to her arms and gently shaking her awake.
"Hey um... Leafa... you can get off of me now..."
Leafa- Hm... oh... oh! Sorry!
She quickly got off of me and dusted herself off, allowing me to slowly sit up and do the same.
Leafa- So... you look a whole lot better now...
"Yea... a lot better thanks... but... why did you suddenly get the idea to lay down on top of me?'
Leafa- W-well you were shivering! I thought that it was an effect from the food and you were already not looking great so I thought if I could warm you up, you would feel better faster. That's all I was doing, I promise!
Her face turned beet red, thinking I was accusing her of taking advantage of me while I was comatose. I quickly grabbed her shoulders to try and calm her down.
"Hey relax, I wasn't accusing you."
Leafa- Now thinking about it, I should've just brought a blanket from my bed. God, I'm an idiot. I'm sorry. I wasn't too heavy or anything was I?
"Not really. I noticed the change in weight as you laid down on me but after a while it... kind of felt nice and comforting really..."
Leafa- Oh?
"Wait, sorry, that came out weird! Sorry!"
Leafa- No, it's ok. I understand.
A small silence filled the room before I let out a sigh and removed my hands from her shoulders.
"I do thank you for staying with me through all of that though."
Leafa- No problem. Kazzuto... I mean... Kirito used to do that for me all the time. Whenever I had a cold, he would always look after me. So, I guess some of that rubbed off on me.
"Sounds like he is a good brother to you, being able to look after you like that."
Leafa- Yea... though I'll admit that we've never shared body heat like that before. Might be taking things a little too far.
We shared a chuckle before another small silence fell between us.
Why is this super awkward now? Where do we go from here?
Leafa- Well... um... would you possibly still be hungry after all of that?
"It has left me a little hungry. Why?"
Leafa- Great! I'll be right back!"
She quickly left towards the kitchen again which left me genuinely frightened. I nearly shot for the door.
"Please tell me it's not anymore of your cooking!?"
Leafa- It's not! It's something I found at the shops. You'll live!
I let out a sigh of relief and fell back down to the floor, patiently waiting for her to come back. A few minutes later, she arrived with two bowls of rice porridge.
"Rice porridge? I mean... at least it's edible..."
Leafa- That's right! Even I can't mess this up!
"I thought you said you got this from the shops!?"
Leafa- Sorry... but you said it looks edible so... eat up.
I rolled my eyes before taking a spoonful and shoving it in my mouth. Compared to the disaster that I ate before, this was heaven.
"This is really good."
Leafa- Whew... that's a relief. To be honest, I tried to make it just how my mom would make it whenever Kirito and I had a cold.
"Well for something so simple, it's really delicious. Your mom would be proud."
Leafa- Thanks. And just to be clear, I am a way better cook in the real world I swear. Probably better than Asuna and Ashtry combined. No doubt about that.
"Well maybe if I get the chance, I'll drop by and put that to the test."
Leafa- You better!
We both shared a laugh before continuing to chow down on the rice porridge, thinking of home and hoping we get the share the experience of a real life home cooked meal once again.