---
The clearing was calm again—birds chirping, sunlight spilling between leaves—while Kleila, Yui, and the newly-revived stranger sat around the simmering pot of stew.
Rylan, the man who had collapsed moments ago, inhaled a huge spoonful.
"Wow—this is good!"
As he scooped another spoonful from the pot, then frowned.
"Hey...I been meaning to ask… this orange stuff… it's kinda familiar. What vegetable is it?"
Kleila answered casually:
"Mawkin."
He froze.
"…sorry," he said very slowly, "I think I misheard. What did you call this?"
"Sun-Mawkin stew."
Rylan stared at the bowl.
Stared at her.
Stared at the bowl again.
"THE— MAW— MAWKIN? THE PUMPKIN MONSTER? THE EXPLODING VEGETABLE DEMON??"
Kleila blinked cluelessly.
"…Is that bad?"
Rylan slapped a hand against his forehead.
"Bad?! It's— It's— IT'S A WALKING BOOBY TRAP WITH VINES!"
Kleila finally paused.
"Oh. I wondered why it looked so angry earlier."
Yui hopped once at her feet.
"Pii."
(He's dramatic.)
Kleila nodded, understanding the nuance easily.
Then her eyes widened slightly.
Right… I've been understanding him since this morning till now… after that "Cooking Companion Bond Established" quest popped up.
She still wasn't used to it.
But she also wasn't about to explain THAT to anyone.
Meanwhile Rylan kept mumbling, half horrified, half impressed:
"I ate a Mawkin… and survived…? And it tastes good…?? How… how strong ARE you?"
"I'm not strong," Kleila answered honestly. "I just cooked it."
Rylan pointed wildly at the pot.
"That's worse!!"
---
📤 SYSTEM NOTIFICATION (VISIBLE ONLY TO KLEILA)
A cheerful, sparkly bubble popped into existence in front of Kleila's face.
[NEW QUEST: "Interact With the Hungry Handsome Adventurer!"]
Suggested Route: Romantic Introduction 💖
Reward: +10 Affection Points!
Bonus: Unlock Rylan's Hidden Favorability Meter!
Kleila stared, deadpan.
No. Absolutely not. He just fainted from hunger. This is not a dating sim moment. Seriously, Why Is There a Dating Menu in My Cooking System?!
The System, unfortunately, disagreed.
[Would you like to begin: RYLAN ROUTE?]
→ Option 1: Yes 💖
→ Option 2: YES (Recommended!!) 💞✨
Kleila mentally selected: Neither.
Violently.
The window glitched in protest.
---
📤 SYSTEM (flustered)
[Romance Route Declined!]
[Switching Route…]
[Friendship Route Activated Instead! 💙]
Kleila exhaled in blessed relief.
The windows vanished.
Rylan blinked at her.
"…Uh… are you okay? You zoned out."
"Oh. I was just… thinking."
He gave her a confused look, but didn't pry.
Good.
No one needed to know she was mentally fighting sparkly romance pop-ups.
---
Rylan finally cleared his throat and straightened his posture—trying very hard to look like a competent adventurer even though he had just fainted from forgetting to eat.
"I… uh… think I should introduce myself properly."
He placed a fist over his chest dramatically.
"I'm Rylan, Silver-Rank Adventurer! Professional monster hunter! Explorer! And—"
Yui hopped.
"Pii."
(Chronic hunger case.)
Rylan frowned at the small creature.
"…He really only ever says 'pii,' doesn't he?...why do I feel like I'm being judged, but I can't understand why? For some reason."
"Yes," Kleila answered smoothly.
"Only 'pii.'"
(And yet I can translate every emotion and insult. Great.)
Rylan pointed.
"Does he at least have a name?"
Kleila froze.
"Oh. Right. I never named him."
Yui looked up at her, eyes sparkling with hope.
"Pii?"
(This is my moment.)
Kleila smiled gently and placed a hand on his fluffy head.
"Your name will be… Yui."
Yui's entire body puffed in delight.
"PII!"
(You honor me! I accept! I am Yui!)
Rylan stared.
"…Why do I feel like he announced something important? Even though I only heard 'pii.'"
Kleila shrugged.
"I just know what he means."
Rylan turned to her slowly, suspiciously.
"…How…?"
Kleila said calmly:
"Instinct."
(Definitely not because of a magical cooking pet bond quest. Definitely not.)
---
THE STEW REALIZATION — ROUND TWO
Rylan suddenly paused mid-bite as a new thought struck him.
"…Hold on."
He stared at the pot again.
"…I ate a Mawkin."
"Yes," Kleila answered.
"Like… a huge one. The kind that screams when you cut it."
"Yes."
"That thing is classified as a hazard even when it's dead."
"Yes."
"…And you turned it into food."
Kleila blinked.
"…Was I not supposed to?"
Rylan grabbed her shoulders gently but dramatically.
"Kleila. Listen to me very carefully."
She blinked.
"You… are terrifying."
Yui nodded.
"Pii."
(Agreed.)
Kleila sighed.
"…Why is everyone acting like this is unusual…?"
"BECAUSE IT IS!" "Pii!" Rylan and Yui (in spirit) yelled together.
---