I'm a Sword Master in Sword Art Online

The copper bell in the grocery store rang crisply as the door was pushed open.

Asuna slowly browsed among the wooden shelves, the warm yellow light shining on her fair hands. Finally, her gaze fell on a beautiful glass jar labeled "Belitez Premium Cocoa."

"Silica, could you get me some vanilla pods over there?" Asuna said softly, her gaze still lingering among the various ingredients.

“Okay, okay!” Silica stood on tiptoe, her twin tails swaying gently with the movement. Pina flew off her shoulder, twirling a vanilla pod on the top shelf of the spice rack with her tail feathers, and chirped triumphantly.

The sight of the two people huddled together checking the list at the counter made the NPC shopkeeper cover his mouth and chuckle.

Back at the guild headquarters, the two-and-a-half-story house, which Mochizuki Maple had just bought last week, still exuded the fresh scent of new wood. The open-plan kitchen on the first floor connected to the living room, with brand-new kitchenware neatly arranged on the countertop. The second floor contained the bedrooms of each member, while the rooftop terrace was bathed in sunlight.

The two women, carrying loads of ingredients, strode into the kitchen. Asuna deftly put on an apron, her chestnut hair loosely tied back with a ribbon. Silica, meanwhile, tiptoed down the mixer from the wall, while Pina excitedly flapped her wings on her shoulder.

The game system's cooking interface unfolded before them. Although the steps had been simplified, the two still diligently followed the recipe. Asuna poured the premium cocoa powder into the enameled pot, and the stove immediately adjusted to the perfect temperature. Silica stood in front of the cooking counter, the system's auxiliary lines helping her precisely measure the amount of sugar.

“Stir clockwise,” Asuna gently reminded her, her wrist gracefully turning the silver stirring spoon. The mixture in the pot gradually became silky smooth, releasing a rich aroma. When Silica leaned closer, the sweet cocoa scent clung to her hair.

When the chocolate reached its perfect consistency, the two smiled at each other. Silica took out a heart-shaped mold, while Asuna carefully poured in the melted chocolate. Pina's tail feathers swayed into a star shape as she watched curiously as the liquid gently swayed in the mold.

"Now we just wait for the system timer to finish." Asuna placed the mold into the refrigerator. Silica stared nervously at the virtual interface that had started the countdown. Even Pina quieted down, and the three pairs of eyes stared intently at the cabinet door.

As the system notification sounded crisply, the two girls held their breath simultaneously. Asuna gently opened the refrigerator door, and through the white mist, rows of heart-shaped chocolates shimmered with an alluring luster, as if telling the story of the two girls' deep affection for Mochizuki Kaede.

Asuna and Silica looked at their creations, their hearts filled with pride and anticipation. They imagined Mochizuki Kaede's happy expression as she ate the chocolate, and sweet smiles appeared on their faces.

Silica exclaimed excitedly, "Asuna-neechan, Kaede-nii will definitely love it!"

Asuna nodded, her eyes sparkling with happiness: "Yes, I hope he can feel our feelings."

She tapped her finger lightly in the air, bringing up the communication interface, and sent a short message to Wang Yuefeng: 【Can you come back to the guild now? There's a surprise for you.】

Less than ten minutes later, the guild door was gently pushed open, and Mochizuki Maple appeared at the door.

The moment his gaze swept into the house, he was instantly captivated by the scene in the kitchen, and his steps involuntarily halted. There, in the kitchen, two young women came into his view with a unique and alluring presence.

Asuna was elegant, like a white rose moistened by morning dew. A pure white apron was tied around her slender waist, the ribbon of which was gently knotted at her back. She tilted her head slightly, a gentle and shy smile on her face, looking like a quiet and gentle mistress.

Beside her, Silica stiffened her back abruptly like a startled lark, looking both adorable and flustered. She wore a pink ruffled apron, her little hands nervously clutching the edges, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of tension and anticipation.

"What is this...?" Mochizuki Kaede's gaze fell on the neatly arranged heart-shaped chocolates on the tray.

Asuna and Silica exchanged a glance, and then Asuna said, "Xiaofeng, these are Valentine's Day chocolates we made especially for you. We hope you like them."

Silica nodded repeatedly, "Yes, Brother Feng, we put a lot of effort into making it!"

Looking at the two girls before him, Mochizuki Kaede felt a surge of warmth in his heart: "Asuna, Silica, thank you."

Asuna picked up a piece of chocolate and gently brought it to Mochizuki Kaede's lips: "Kaede, try it and see if it's good."

Mochizuki Kaede slightly opened his mouth and put the chocolate in. The rich sweetness spread in his mouth, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. He nodded to Asuna.

Seeing this, Silica wasn't going to be outdone. She immediately picked up a piece of chocolate, stood on tiptoe, and brought it to Mochizuki Kaede's lips, saying playfully, "Brother Kaede, this one is super delicious too."

Mochizuki Kaede smiled and ate it again, her smile as warm as the sunshine.

Seeing the two girls' adorable appearances, Mochizuki Kaede picked up a piece of chocolate and fed it to Asuna and Silica respectively. The three of them fed each other, and their laughter echoed in the room.

Bina, however, was so overwhelmed by the pungent smell of romance that she flew to the side, landed on the windowsill, tilted her head, and watched the interaction between the three.

In this warm and sweet atmosphere, Asuna felt her heart pounding faster and faster, as if it were about to leap out of her chest. Her eyes became hazy and affectionate as she looked at Mochizuki Kaede's face, an overwhelming emotion welling up inside her. The moment Mochizuki Kaede touched her lips with the chocolate again, she instinctively bit his fingertip, then quickly blushed and let go.

"Asuna...?" Mochizuki Kaede's voice was filled with doubt.

The next second, the chestnut-haired girl suddenly took a step forward. She gently wrapped her arms around Mochizuki Kaede's neck, and under Mochizuki Kaede's astonished gaze, Asuna tilted her head slightly, closed her eyes, and pressed her lips to his.

“Eh…!” Silica exclaimed.

Mochizuki Kaede was taken aback at first, then reacted, gently responding to Asuna's kiss, his hands naturally resting on her waist. This deep kiss, like an electric current, flowed between them, as if trying to infuse all their love into it.

After what seemed like an eternity, when the chocolate-scented kiss finally ended, both of them were breathing heavily.

Asuna's hazy eyes were still unfocused, and a glistening trace remained on her lips. Mochizuki Kaede gently brushed her lips with his thumb, the vibration of his chest transmitted through their pressed bodies as he chuckled: "So sweet... Is this a step in the chocolate recipe?"

"It's a limited-edition gift," Asuna replied, trying to sound calm.

At that moment, time seemed to stand still, and the whole room was filled with a sweet atmosphere, as if even the air had turned pink.

Just as this dreamlike moment was about to be frozen into eternity—

"What are you doing!?"

Chapter 156: A Love Affair Among Three

"What are you doing?!"

The cold voice, like a thunderclap in the cold night, carried a hint of anger and instantly shattered the warm and sweet atmosphere in the room.

Mochizuki Kaede, Asuna, and Silica all turned their heads at the same time and saw a tall figure standing in the entrance hall.

Mitt's long legs were slightly apart, her high purple ponytail swaying neatly behind her head, a few stray hairs clinging to her neck from her rapid breathing. Those usually calm purple eyes now burned with a complex emotion: anger, shock, and a barely perceptible hint of…injury?

Yuna stood behind her, her pink lips parted into a perfect "O".

The kitchen fell into a deathly silence.

Pina's tail feathers snapped straight up, and as if sensing danger, she flew back to Silica's shoulder.

Oh no! They've been caught kissing... A wave of panic washed over Asuna.

Ten minutes later, in the lobby.

Mochizuki Kaede sat upright in the center of the sofa, head bowed, hands clasped on her knees. To her left, Silica almost buried her face in Pina's downy fur, while to her right, Asuna stood upright, her chestnut hair falling to cover her burning red ear tips.

Mito stood opposite the three with her hands on her hips, exuding an imposing aura like a queen about to judge a criminal. Yuna sat at the table, nibbling on the surviving chocolate. Although she had long sensed the subtle atmosphere between Mochizuki Kaede, Asuna, and Silica, the shock of witnessing the kiss still overloaded the little songstress's CPU.

"So," Mitt's voice was colder than the permafrost winds, "you were secretly developing a love triangle behind the guild's back?"

She deliberately emphasized the word "triangle," and the leather gloves made a screeching sound as if they were about to break under the strain.

Asuna suddenly looked up: "It's not a love triangle! It's..."

Her amber eyes glanced at Silica, who was burying her face deep in Bina's downy fur, her exposed nape red as if it were about to bleed.

Mochizuki Kaede took a deep breath: "Mitsu, about this matter..."

"No need to explain," Mitt interrupted, raising his hand.

Seeing the atmosphere getting increasingly tense, Yuna quickly stepped in to smooth things over. She took a bite of chocolate and said with a smile, "Um, the chocolate is delicious."

Mitt glared fiercely at Yuna.

The purple-haired girl re-examined the three people before her, including Mochizuki Kaede. In the real world, she was a top student, consistently ranking at the top of her grade. Her aloof demeanor and striking beauty made her resemble a plum blossom in the snow. However, it was precisely because of this aloof personality that she had very few friends; her only close friend was Asuna. Her hobby was playing video games. For her, romance was something distant and foreign, utterly uninteresting.

But the scene before her eyes was completely beyond her comprehension and expectations. She never imagined that Asuna, whom she considered her best friend, would develop such a relationship with Mochizuki Kaede.

"The guild forbids members from developing impure relationships." Her voice was cold. "It will affect other members, disrupt teamwork, and especially..."

The word rolled on the tip of his tongue before he swallowed it back: "...kissing, this kind of transgression."

"The three of you, take a break from the guild for now." Mitt turned around, her ponytail tracing a sharp arc. "Use this time to calm down and recharge for a few weeks. You can rejoin the team after you've dealt with your excess hormones."

"Eh?"

Mochizuki Kaede, Asuna, and Silica looked at each other in bewilderment.

……

The twenty-second floor.

Wangyue Feng was awakened by the birdsong outside the window.

The soft morning light filtered through the gaps in the linen curtains, casting dappled patterns of light on the oak floor.

He slowly opened his eyes, the first thing he felt was the warm weight on either side of him. His right hand was gently held by Asuna, the girl's eyelashes fluttering slightly in the morning light like the wings of a snowflake, with each steady breath. His left hand was held in Silica's arms like a pillow, her pale pink cheeks peeking out from between her brown hair.

In the wicker nest beside the bed, Bina was fast asleep, hugging her own tail feathers, the sky-blue down rising and falling with her breath.

Mochizuki Kaede didn't rush to get up. He stared at the ceiling, memories flooding back, the scene of being "exiled" by Mito two days ago still vivid in his mind. At that time, Asuna blushed and chuckled, "I think Mito did this to create some space for us to be alone. After all, in the guild, we always have to hide when we need to be close. Why not take this opportunity to find a home for the three of us?"

So she and Silica pulled out the floor guidebook and eventually chose the twenty-second floor, which was surrounded by lakes and forests.

Mochizuki Kaede carefully withdrew her hands, got up, and stepped onto the solid wood floor. The moment she pushed open the French windows, the crisp, clean air unique to the 22nd floor rushed in.

The twenty-second floor is one of the lower floors, and therefore, it is quite spacious. In the center of this floor stands a large lake, reflecting the surrounding blue sky, white clouds, and green mountains and trees. The south bank of the lake is the main street area, [Gaular Village], while the north bank is the maze area. The rest of the area is filled with beautiful coniferous forests.

The small house of Mochizuki Kaede and her two companions was quietly located at the southern end of this building, near the outer perimeter.

"Well……"

A lazy, nasal sound came from behind. When Mochizuki Kaede turned around, she saw Asuna stretching her body like a cat that had just woken up. The straps of her pure white silk nightgown had slipped down to her arms, revealing her shoulders as smooth and delicate as fresh snow.

"Good morning." Mochizuki Kaede handed over the brewed mint tea. When the warm cup touched her fingertips, she squinted her eyes slightly and revealed a satisfied smile.

"Thank you, Xiaofeng." Her voice was still soft from just waking up. She held the teacup in both hands and took a sip. The coolness of the mint completely woke her up.

As she adjusted her slipped bra strap, she glanced at Silica, who was still fast asleep, and suddenly chuckled, "We agreed to wait for the meteor shower together last night, but everyone got tired of playing and fell asleep."

Mochizuki Kaede laughed too: "Shall we try again tonight?"

Asuna nodded, went to the window, took a deep breath of the morning air, and felt the breeze from the lake brush against her cheek, lifting a few strands of chestnut hair.

"The weather is perfect for fishing today." She turned to look at Mochizuki Kaede, her amber eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"Okay, let's go to the lakeside later." Mochizuki Kaede nodded.

Asuna went to the kitchen and began preparing breakfast.

Light, quick movements soon filled the kitchen as Asuna took the whole-wheat bread that had been fermenting overnight from the freezer. The knife made a pleasant, crisp sound as it sliced ​​through the bread, releasing an immediate aroma of fresh wheat. Her slender fingers deftly spread out lettuce leaves, spread homemade berry jam, and then topped them with a golden-brown sunny-side-up egg.

Every movement has a pleasing rhythm.

. . . .

Thank you to [Sengoku no Gaim-chan] for the knife!

Chapter 157: Picnic

Silica was gently awakened by the aroma of fried eggs and toast. She sat up groggily, rubbing her sleepy eyes. Pina fluttered her wings and flew up, landing on her lap and affectionately nuzzling her palm with her head.

"Good morning..." Her voice was soft and sweet, with a lazy quality to it, and her brown hair was slightly curled up, making her look especially cute.

"You're awake just in time." Asuna turned around and smiled, gently flipping the fried egg in the pan with a wooden spatula. The golden egg whites curled slightly at the edges, emitting an enticing aroma. "Breakfast will be ready soon."

Silica stretched and, still feeling a bit sleepy, walked to the window, standing side by side with Mochizuki Kaede. The morning mist over the lake was gradually dissipating, and sunlight pierced through the thin veil of fog, scattering across the water like crumpled gold leaf rippling on the surface. The distant coniferous forest appeared exceptionally verdant in the morning light, and a few water birds skimmed across the lake, creating tiny ripples.

"What are we going to do today?" She looked up, her lovely eyes reflecting the morning light.

Mochizuki Kaede looked down at her, a slight smile playing on her lips: "Fishing, picnicking, and then..."

He paused, his voice carrying a gentle smile: "Let's wait for the meteor shower together tonight."

Silica's eyes lit up instantly: "Really? I didn't get to see it last night, I have to see it today!"

Bina chirped merrily on her shoulder.

Asuna served the perfectly fried sunny-side-up egg, golden and crispy toast, and freshly mixed salad to the table, and the three of them sat around the wooden table by the window.

"I added some honey to the bread," Asuna said, pushing the plate towards Silica with a smile. "Would you like to try some?"

Silica couldn't wait to take a bite, the sweet aroma of honey and the wheat flavor of bread spreading in her mouth: "Delicious!"

Mochizuki Kaede took a sip of hot tea, her gaze shifting between the two men.

Pina was squatting in front of a small plate, holding a nut with her paw and pecking at it with her head tilted to the side.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Mitt is leading Yuna through the maze area.

In the dimly lit passageway, the purple-haired girl's figure moved like a ghost among the stone pillars. The scythe in her hand drew a cold arc, each swing precisely tearing apart the monster's body. The purple blade light lingered in the air for a moment before dissipating.

Yuna followed behind, her fingertips lightly caressing the strings, a melodious tune enveloping Mit. The buff made Mit's attacks even faster, but her expression remained cold and stern, her purple pupils revealing no emotion whatsoever.

—Since Mochizuki and the other two left the guild, Mito has become more silent than ever before.

Yuna secretly observed Mitt's back.

The girl's purple high ponytail swung sharply with her fighting movements. Her attacks were still precise and deadly, but compared to the past, there seemed to be a hint of... anxiety?

"Mite, your pace is much faster than usual today," Yuna said softly, her fingertips still playing the piano.