kscans

Chapter 21 - A Certain Girl's Afternoon

"...Nn, ugh..."

A slow rise to consciousness. It seems it will take a little more time to get used to the autonomous return from the world of dreams. The woman—a young girl—wiggled, trying to put strength back into her vaguely sensing limbs, and the machine detected her movement and lifted her up.

The automatically opening and closing lid, the unadorned, functional appearance—it still felt more like a piece of medical equipment than a game console. With this thought crossing her mind for the umpteenth time, she sat up and checked the time.

Even though she had experienced a time that should have been approaching sunset, the clock in the real world showed it was just a little past three in the afternoon.

"...I feel like just my mental age is going to become an adult before I know it."

No matter how many times the principle was explained to her, she still couldn't quite grasp the time acceleration technology. If one were to do real-world work or studies 'inside,' wouldn't that be obvious cheating from the perspective of non-[Arcadia] users—

"Ah, right... I have to hurry."

This was no time to be lost in thought. If she didn't start preparing soon, her turn would be taken from her again, just like yesterday.

The girl threw a haori from the rack over her loungewear and hurried out of her room.

"Oh my, are you already finished for today?"

As expected, when the girl reached her destination, someone was already there.

A woman, wearing an apron as if it were the most natural thing in the world, stirring the contents of a pot in front of the stove. Seeing her, the girl puffed out her cheeks in displeasure.

"Itsuki-san! I told you, meals on holidays are my turn!"

When she complained, the woman—Natsume Itsuki—giggled and gave a playful, teasing smile.

"Fufu, I thought you might be engrossed in another adventure with yesterday's knight."

"Tch! Y-you're still misunderstanding! It's really not like that, it's a game!"

At times like these, she hated how easily her feelings showed on her face. She was aware that trying to explain away a misunderstanding like this while blushing wasn't very convincing.

It was her own fault for getting so caught up in the excitement of her first adventure last night and telling Itsuki all about it. Resigning herself to being teased, she knew she had to at least get her out of the kitchen.

As she pushed Itsuki away from the pot, saying "excuse me, excuse me," Itsuki offered little resistance, simply saying, "Oh my, oh my." The gaze she directed at the girl's narrowed eyes was one hundred percent warm and affectionate. The kind a mother or older sister would give.

She was endlessly grateful to Itsuki for handling all the housework she couldn't manage, but she wished she wouldn't usurp her own duties or try to look after her in strange ways.

Did Itsuki think she was such a simple girl that she'd fall in love at first sight with a man she'd only spent a little time with in a game? She wished she wouldn't underestimate her so much.

"Honestly... The dashi stock, is this for miso soup?"

"Yes. Would you like to take over?"

"I wanted Western food today."

"Oh my, then I shall make soup tomorrow."

"It's spring break, so I'm on cooking duty tomorrow too!!"

Her retort, meant as a comeback, lacked punch and was smoothly deflected. Itsuki was in her mid-twenties, she thought—could she herself acquire that kind of composure in the next ten years or so? She sadly couldn't imagine it.

Perhaps noticing the girl starting to genuinely sulk, Itsuki quickly dropped the teasing atmosphere and smiled softly at her side.

"Don't be upset, please tell me another story. You had a lively adventure today as well, didn't you?"

The girl was weak to this side of her. A gaze like a gentle older sister, or perhaps a calm mother. It always made her feel ticklish and embarrassed, and she couldn't help but look away.

"Well... yes, it was lively."

"Then, please, tell me. I must admit, since yesterday, I've become a fan of your tales of adventure, Milady."

This person was impossible to dislike, saying such things without hiding her genuine excitement. However, there was one point she couldn't overlook.

"I won't tell anyone who calls me 'Milady.'"

"My apologies. In that case—Lady Sora, would you please be so kind as to tell me your story?"

"I-tsu-ki-san?"

"Oh, Sora, you worry about such little things. Now, hurry up and tell me your fun story, won't you?"

Feeling undeniably played, the girl—Sora—pouted and, while looking away, said, "I suppose I have no choice," and began to recount the adventure that followed last night's.

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A little short. Will post a follow-up later this evening.