I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

Chapter Fifty-Four: Home in the Imaginary World

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Looking at the unfamiliar ceiling as she got up, Yuu Tenkuji threw off the covers, still wearing the swordsman outfit she had on when she logged off.

After confirming that the only name in his friends list had lit up, he put his one-handed sword behind him, left the guest room, and knocked twice on the door of the master bedroom next door.

Are you feeling better?

"Not yet! Don't rush the girl to change her clothes, honestly!"

Asuna's dissatisfied complaints came from inside the door, like a girlfriend who said she only needed half an hour to do her makeup before leaving home.

He could only helplessly shout, "I'm waiting for you down here, hurry up and come down!"

"Okay~"

Yuu Tenkuji really wanted to ask, "Is there really any point in changing into pajamas in a game?", but when he thought that this woman might actually come up with ten reasons to argue with him, he decisively gave up this unwise idea and turned to go downstairs.

The living room is in a Western European style, with a wooden table, a fireplace, and a rocking chair. The white curtains quietly conceal the night outside.

The adjacent kitchen also has a large oven, and is fully equipped with pots, pans and utensils. If you don't look closely, you might even think that this is a real villa. The sense of realism is so great that it makes you feel like you're in a dream.

Tenkuji Yu sat down on the brown sofa. He didn't know what kind of leather it was made of, but it felt even more comfortable than the sofa in his real home. He simply wrapped his whole body in the soft fabric and looked around with his head tilted back.

Although they had just moved in, the house was already fully furnished, and the decor was clearly a cozy home style that suited the couple's lifestyle. The warm yellow lights illuminated every corner, making people feel inexplicably at ease and relaxed.

"I guess they hired a professional designer," Yuu Tenkuji thought, oblivious to the romantic sentiment.

Not long after, the chestnut-haired girl came downstairs and greeted him naturally.

Good evening, Yu-kun.

"Tonight..." Yuu Tenkuji's lips twitched slightly as he began to speak, "Asuna, why are you still in your loungewear? Do you know we're going on a mission later?"

"Of course I know, I'll change before I go out~" She waved her hand leisurely, turned around and walked towards the kitchen, looking left and right curiously, and casually pulled out a kitchen knife.

"Besides, isn't it weird to cook while wearing protective gear? You don't feel anything, and you can't make good food like that!"

"Cooking?" With her head resting on the back of the sofa, Yuu Tenkuji looked back in surprise. "You want to cook now?"

"Of course!"

The silver blade spun three times in mid-air before Asuna gracefully gripped the hilt, a look of eager anticipation on her face.

"Otherwise, why would I learn this skill? It's just for carrying lunchboxes to do missions!"

Yuu Tenkuji spread his hands: "Fine, anyway, cooking in the game probably won't take long. I just happened to get a free kitchen, so using it to practice my cooking skills is making the most of it."

"Hmm... couldn't you have said it a little nicer?" She puffed out her cheeks and stared at him childishly.

Tenkuji Yu smiled and stood up from the sofa: "Sorry, sorry, you can do it first. I'll go outside and check the situation; there should be some information about that 'trial'."

Okay, be careful on the road!

After the cheerful voice faded, the girl began to familiarize herself with the cooking methods in the game, while the boy walked into the brightly lit night and habitually began to gather information.

Not long after, Yuu Tenkuji closed the door and returned to the warm living room.

"So this is how it's done..."

He muttered to himself thoughtfully, just as he was about to report his discovery to Asuna, when he heard a voice calling him from the kitchen.

"Yu-kun, you're back just in time. Come here for a second!"

"what happened?"

Putting aside her own thoughts for the moment, Tenkuji Yu walked into the kitchen and stood beside her.

The first thing that catches the eye is the four braised pork sandwiches on the counter.

It looks exactly the same as what's sold in stores, and you can even faintly smell the aroma of the sauce emanating from the pork.

Tenkuji Yu raised an eyebrow, about to praise her: "Success on the first try? Not bad..."

"Hey!"

A fluffy, soft thing blocked the rest of the conversation—it was toast with a fried egg, pork, and lettuce inside.

Yuu Tenkuji was careless; he didn't dodge, so he could only obediently chew and swallow, then look at the girl beside him.

Asuna blinked her clear, bright eyes, her chestnut hair falling to one side of her head as she gazed at him expectantly.

"How is it? Is it delicious?"

After a moment of silence, Yuu Tenkuji, who was being force-fed, honestly answered:

"good to eat."

"Hmph~"

Her expression immediately lit up. Asuna clapped the crumbs off her hands, put one hand on her hip, and puffed out her chest in a smug manner.

"That's exactly what I made according to Grandma Ma's recipe, of course it's delicious!"

After boasting about it, she suddenly picked up the kitchen knife from the cutting board, gestured at him casually, and smiled kindly and innocently.

"Also, if you're going to comment on my cooking next time, please try it first, okay?"

The gleaming light of the blade reflected on his face. Tenkuji Yu raised his hands, slowly backing away as he earnestly explained.

"I just wanted to comment on the appearance. After all, yours is just like what you sell in bakeries, so you definitely don't intend to be perfunctory."

"Really? Thank you for your kind words."

Asuna shrugged noncommittally, finally put down the cleaver, and then pushed him out of the kitchen.

"Okay, okay~ You go wait in the living room first! I'll bring the snacks over in a bit."

"There are even snacks..." As Tenkuji Yu walked out, he also looked back at her.

She tilted her head up and revealed a gentle and cheerful smile that was somewhat different from her usual one.

"Of course! How could I be satisfied with just making a few sandwiches when it's my first time cooking at home?"

"At home?" Tenkuuji Yu was surprised. Had she already considered this "temporary residence" as their home?

Seemingly realizing that her statement was somewhat inappropriate, Asuna quickly coughed twice and corrected herself seriously, "It's a home in the virtual world. I have cooked in the real world!"

"I see..."

He smiled helplessly, said nothing, and followed the warmth of her palm back to the living room.

After waiting for about ten minutes, she came out carrying a wooden tea tray with a pot of tea, a plate of biscuits, and two white porcelain teacups on it.

"Ta-da! Afternoon tea set!"

Asuna smiled and sat down opposite her, arranging the items on the tea tray one by one. She said cheerfully, "There really is everything here. Although the styles don't quite suit my taste, I can use them for now and buy new ones later."

"You even have to buy new teacups, you really go to great lengths..."

After thanking her, Yuu Tenkuji picked up the teacup filled with tea and took a small sip.

The tea is light yet fragrant, as if you can see red and blue flowers blooming in the steam. It is a delicious herbal tea that can refresh the mind.

He picked up another biscuit and ate it with his tea. The two mingled and slid down his throat. The warm aroma seemed to melt his whole body from his stomach, enveloping his head all the way from his stomach.

As a master chef, Yuu Tenkuji couldn't help but nod repeatedly—even though it was a fictional world, the feeling brought by the food was incredibly real.

"Is it tasty?"

Asuna rested her chin on her hands, not joining in the enjoyment, but simply watching him with a smile as he closed his eyes to savor the food.

Yuu Tenkuji snapped out of her reverie and answered her in a serious tone:

"It's delicious."

Asuna's smile widened even more.

"As long as it tastes good, that's all that matters. I made these cookies with a lot of heart while thinking about how you said I was 'constipated' at lunchtime~"

"..."

The hand that was about to take a cookie froze in mid-air.

Tenkuji Yu's lips twitched slightly as he looked at her with a subtle expression.

Asuna had intended to maintain her expression of "What are you looking at? Be aware of your foolishness!", but after being stared at so intently, she couldn't help but burst out laughing and covered her slightly flushed face with the back of her hand.

"Haha, just kidding~ You eat, you eat, I'll trade you the sandwich first..."

Taking a deep breath, Asuna tucked a strand of hair that had fallen in front of her eyes behind her ear, slid her right hand down, opened the window, and made a deal with him.

After Yuu Tenkuji clicked "agree," he also placed a scroll in the transaction window.

"This is……?"

Chapter Fifty-Five: The First Step for Couples

With a hint of doubt, Asuna confirmed the transaction, the scroll materializing in her hand and unfolding it.

"I found it in the mailbox outside the door."

Yuu Tenkuji put down her teacup and explained as she examined the item, "See its name? 'The Scroll of the Kingdom of Love's Trial (1/10)'. That means we need to complete ten tasks to obtain the 'Flower of Beloved' and leave this place."

"Is it really that troublesome..." Asuna frowned slightly, complaining as she softly read the brief words on the scroll.

"The first test, the speed of 'love'... Please note that the test will start timing immediately after using this scroll, and you cannot receive it again if you fail."

"Eh—"

She gasped in surprise, her eyes wide as she looked at Tenkuji Yu. Her fair face, bathed in the warm yellow light, looked rather adorable in her stunned state.

"Putting aside the strange name of this mission, the fact that you can't accept it again after failing once is just too difficult! And the information is so scarce, there's no time to prepare at all, even though we finally made it here!"

"Don't be so quick to draw conclusions." Compared to Asuna's slightly flustered expression, Yuu Tenkuji calmly took a sip of tea and said slowly.

"It says it can't be claimed again, but it doesn't say whether it's 'this trial' or 'all trials.' Usually, when game text is written so vaguely, it's either deliberately creating suspense or it's an intentional way for the developers to leave room for maneuver—and for us, the latter is more likely."

As her expression gradually calmed, Asuna stared at him: "What's the basis for your confidence?"