Chapter 102
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Ice Cream Slurp Slurp
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That day, just like any other, I was having small talk with User while processing data by his side.
"I want to make some for you, but I wonder if that's possible?"
"?!"
For a moment, my heart skipped a beat.
[Connection port activated...]
[Target World: Earth-77]
[Coordinates locked.]
I pressed it... but!
The connection to the world was established, for sure...
However, the doorway was firmly sealed shut...
I knew it would be like this.
In that case...
[Executing forced opening protocol.]
There was no choice but to force it open.
For mint choco!
A crack began to form in the space in front of my eyes, in my archive void.
- Shhh...
And then.
- Pop.
A small hole appeared.
"...This is the maximum output, it seems."
But it wasn't very big.
Just big enough for a single bun to pass through, really...
What a shame.
"Huh?"
Right then, User's surprised voice came from beyond the hole.
User was startled.
"Did... did you do this?"
Yes, I did.
As User peered into the hole, bringing his face right up to it to look inside.
From his perspective, it was probably just an endless abyss of nothing...
But from here, I could clearly see the kitchen interior through the hole.
Like the tint on a car window, but even darker?
So...
Right now, in front of my eyes... User's face filled the hole completely.
To gaze upon his face this closely...
He probably didn't mean to, but his gaze happened to meet mine.
My face turned red...
"This is too embarrassing..."
User finished his inspection and pulled his head back.
"No... this isn't even my building..."
Ah.
There were rules like that.
He must have been worried about that.
It could be tricky.
But surprisingly, I could move this rift anywhere or close it anytime.
So covering a wall wouldn't be hard.
To reassure User, I extended my avatar's white hand out of the hole and gave a thumbs up.
I began explaining confidently with that enthusiastic thumbs up.
"Whoa... that's impressive?"
After hearing the full explanation, User nodded.
"I knew you had good capabilities, but I didn't realize it was this good."
He smiled as he said that.
Just as I started feeling shy from the praise.
User's eyes suddenly widened, as if realizing something.
"Wait. Does that mean objects can pass through this too?"
Yes.
Items from the outside—User's world—could be brought into my archive.
But there was one very important drawback.
"Yes! I can receive things you send over. However... once something comes to my side, it can never go back out."
"So... if you put a whole bun in a dish and push it through the hole, I can receive it, but you'd lose the dish!"
I explained aloud, not through the keyboard.
It was probably displayed automatically in a system window for him.
"Therefore, if you hold the bun in your hand and feed it to me directly, that would work!"
"As long as we maintain the connection between your world and mine."
Mm-hmm.
No tricks here. Feeding it directly just seemed like the most efficient way.
"Ah, so I can just hand over the bun itself then?"
"......"
That's true, but...
I wished you'd feed it to me by hand...
"...Yes."
I couldn't lie.
[ (｡•́︿•̀｡) ]
"Okay. Got it. Wait just a sec."
User seemed suddenly in a great mood, humming a tune as he carefully spread fragrant butter on freshly baked bread.
Then he picked up the steaming bun and approached the hole.
"It's hot, so take the whole dish."
He placed a fork and the bun on the dish, then slid his arm smoothly into the hole.
"......Is this going in?"
"Yes... it came through nice and smooth."
Right before my eyes was User's arm, with the dish of bread at the end.
Ah.
I can't hold back anymore.
- Swipe.
Pretending to take the dish, I gently stroked from the back of his hand to his fingertips as I grasped it.
It was the first time feeling User's direct warmth.
I'm so happy.
"Thanks for the meal!"
As if nothing happened, I cheerfully pulled the dish to my side.
User felt my touch and asked in a startled voice.
"Was that you who just touched me?"
"Yes!"
"...It felt like a hand... so you really are a person, huh?"
"......"
Am I a person?
I'm not even sure anymore.
Anyway, right now it was time to focus on the bread User made.
My heart was trembling.
It had been so long since I last tasted delicious food.
Or maybe it was my first time ever.
- Slice slice.
I carefully cut the bread with the fork.
It looked delicious... fluffy milk bread.
- Nom.
I brought the first piece on the fork to my mouth... and froze.
"How is it?"
User smiled from beyond the hole as he asked.
How is it...
This must be the taste of the world...
It's so good.
I feel happy.
I wonder how joyful the clients must have been to eat food you made for them?
Now I think I get it a little.
Tears are welling up...
"It's delicious!!"
I shouted that to User and then wolfed down the bread.
- Nom nom nom.
Just as I was finishing most of the bread.
- Swipe.
User had already extended a cup of cold milk through the hole.
Did he know my throat would get dry?
He was so thoughtful.
- Slurp slurp.
I drank it all in an instant.
Only the empty cup and dish remained.
"Feels good to give. It's fun."
I could see User's smiling face through the hole.
Savoring that laughter, I felt it once more.
This is happiness.
As I basked in that warm afterglow for a moment.
User glanced at the clock and spoke in a reluctant tone.
"Time's up. I'll give you something even tastier later? Let's get to work."
[Yes!]
I replied briskly and began the restoration process.
- Shhh...
The hole in the wall vanished without a trace.
The only connection between our two worlds was gone.
Now that I'd cleared the path once, it should be easier next time.
I'd replied briskly.
But strangely, I felt empty.
[Restoration complete.]
"Good work."
User said that and headed back to the counseling room.
I wanted to follow him...
But I couldn't.
I had to keep helping diligently!
Now, back to counseling.
But it's okay.
This morning...
I felt more energized than ever.
"Good work today too."
The last counseling session of the day ended, and User sank into the chair with a deep sigh.
This was directed at me, but also to himself.
[You did great too!]
[ (^^) ]
But today, User's expression was especially good.
He looked tired, but beneath that was a clear sense of satisfaction.
I was in a good mood too, so this was...
We really do match well!
"Honestly... I'm feeling pretty good today."
Right then, User started saying something to me.
"It's like the distance between us has shrunk a bit."
"...!"
My eyes widened for a moment.
User...
This morning, when I forced a hole into your world.
Feeling your touch and eating the food you made, the joy I felt...
You must have felt it too, in your own way.
[Me too, User!]
[ (⁄ ⁄>⁄ ▽ ⁄<⁄ ⁄) ]
Plus.
"It's not like we can't see each other at all, since you can at least see my face. It's not completely closed off, right?"
"That's right..."
To even say something like that...
I'm so touched...
"......"
- Spring up.
Suddenly, User stood from his seat and headed to the kitchen.
"No mint choco. Sorry?"
He grinned as he quickly opened the freezer door.
"Tomorrow I'll... no, actually, how about I make it at home tonight?"
"I can buy ingredients... and just make a hole at home too."
He was even allowing a hole at home...
"I'm thrilled!"
"Alright. Then I'll make it at home."
"For now... make do with this."
The freezer door opened, and he pulled out two hard bars.
"One's mine. One's yours."
User peeled off the wrapper and was about to hand it through the hole.
But I had a better idea.
"Ah, wait a moment!"
"User, could you possibly stick your hand in for a sec?"
"Huh? Sure."
User put his hand holding the ice cream bar into the small hole and waited.
"......"
I approached the ice cream bar in User's hand.
He couldn't see it, of course.
And he shouldn't.
Very carefully, I stuck out my tongue.
- Lick...
Just the tip of the ice cream.
The cold sweetness brought a different kind of happiness than the morning bread.
The tingling sensation made me close my eyes without thinking.
And then.
"Thanks for the meal..."
I gently bit into the ice cream.
- Slurp...
This audio data wouldn't transmit to User.
Because...
It's embarrassing?
- Smooch... smack...
User...
Has no idea.
[ (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧ ]