Character Story 5: A Secret Battle!

Yuuki had just arrived at the guild house where Yukari was.

Yukari
Hmm, this is a problem. I won't be able to hit the quota just on my own...

Yukari
Huh... Yuuki? It's rare to see you come to the guild house.

Yukari
Ah, but I'm sorry! I'm kind of busy today... As much as I'd like to head out with you, I can't...

Yuuki
1. "I saw one of your recruitment flyers."

Yukari
Eh... So, did you come here in search of a job? Ahh, that's perfect! Thank you!

Yukari
The truth is, our guild just took on a massive request, and all of the other members are occupied with that. Because of that, we're shorthanded with all of our other responsibilities...

Yukari
But with you here, I can rest easy. Thank you for coming! Let's work together on this!

Later.

Yukari
Over here. Our job this time is to gather the wild berries that grow in this forest.

Yukari
These berries have a very particular scent, and there are a lot of them, so they're very easy to find -- we just didn't have enough people... Ah, there it is. The scent of the berries.

Yuuki
1. "It's the scent of the drink you always have..."

Yukari
Ah, you're pretty attentive. Ha ha, it must be a familiar scent to you thanks to me, huh?

Yukari
These berries produce a natural alcohol. The scent of it wafts through their natural habitat.

Yukari
They can be made into drinks without much work, but... As tasty as they look, we can't snack on them. Be sure to watch yourself.

Yukari
... W-What, don't look at me like that... I'll be fine. I mean, sure, I do like the scent... Gulp.

Yukari
... Huh!? N-no, I'm fine! I wouldn't start eating in the middle of work!

Yukari
Just trust your big sis! Come on, let's get gathering!

Later.

Yukari
Ohoho. Ahahaha. Hey, they're suuuper tasty... C'mon, you try one, too.

Yuuki
1. "She couldn't last one moment..."

Yukari
It's fiiiine. You an' me... well, you're underage. You couldn't drink thish shtuff normally, but if it'sh shtill berriesh, then it'sh okay. Nothin' bad's gonn' happen.

Yukari
I mean, like, you could feel jusht as good 's I do now! Let'sh feel good together!

Yuuki
1. Focus on collecting berries.

Yukari
Booo, boring. Fine, big sish ish gonna take a nap. ... Zzz, zzz...

Yuuki finished collecting the berries without any issues. He was approaching Yukari to wake her up, when suddenly, a monster appeared.

Monster
Roaaaar!

Yukari
Yawn... Ehehe, Yuuki...

Yuuki
1. Fight back.

Monster
Roaaaar!

Yuuki began to fight against the monster, keeping away from the sleeping Yukari. Things went back and forth for a while at first, but the tide turned in Yuuki's favor.

Monster
Roaaaar!

Then, catching Yuuki unaware, the monster launched a ferocious attack. Yuuki was preparing to take a damaging blow!

Monster
Roaaaar!

Yukari
Yawn... You dun' get to touch Yuuki there!

Monster
Roaaaar!

Yukari
1. "Yukari... She's using magic while asleep..."

Yukari
Zzz... zzz... Man, you really are a perv, ehehe...

However, Yuuki was totally exhausted from his fight with the monster. When he thought he couldn't fight any longer...

Monster
Roaaaar!

Yuuki
1. "Another monster! I can't!"

Yukari
Mmm... Dun' touch ma drink...

Yukari
Healing, healing... Zzz.

Monster
Roaaaar!

Yukari
Mm... Whew! That felt great. ... Huh, Yuuki? N-Next to you, why are there...

Yukari
... Eh, in the middle of work...? Did I go off to happy land and pass out...!? Yuuki, I made you do all the work...!?

Yukari
Ahhh... S-Sorry! I'm really sorry! S-Some lady I am, having you bail me out like this!

Yukari
Eh... Yuuki? What do you mean, it's the least you could do because I saved your life?

Yukari
Hey, Yuuki, why are you smiling like that? Hey, hey!

Yukari didn't have any recollection of it, but the bonds between the two of them were deeper for what had happened...