Volume 1. Chapter 41

The first thing Ken felt as his eyes began to open was the fresh morning air, rich with the scents of nature. A gentle breeze softly rustled his hair, and the sun, just rising over the horizon, bathed the camp in a warm golden light. Then his nose picked up something else - earthy, and to be honest, incredibly appetizing.

His gaze slowly shifted toward the source of the smell. Not far from the campfire sat Lily, focused on preparing breakfast. Her golden hair shimmered in the morning sunlight, and a gentle look of care played across her face.

“This must be what happiness looks like,” Ken thought, still lying in the grass. “You wake up not to an alarm clock, but to birdsong. Fresh air. Nature. And... a beautiful girl cooking you breakfast.”

He felt a remarkable sense of peace. He didn’t even want to move for fear of breaking the idyllic moment. But then Lily turned toward him, noticing he was awake.

“Good morning, Ken,” she said with a warm smile, filled with joy. “How did you sleep?”

Her voice was soft yet clear, like a morning bell.

Ken, shielding his eyes with a hand, stretched lazily and smiled.

“Pretty well,” he replied, propping himself up on one elbow. “But the moment I caught that delicious smell, reality suddenly became a lot more appealing. So, here I am.”

Lily laughed, covering her mouth with her hand, though a faint blush crossed her face.

“You always manage to say something unexpected,” she said, shaking her head slightly, though her lips couldn’t resist smiling.

Now fully sitting up, Ken looked at her with mock seriousness.

“You know, I feel like one of the luckiest guys in the world. I wake up next to a beautiful girl who also happens to cook phenomenally. Somewhere out there, someone’s gotta be jealous of me.”

Lily froze, her hands pausing mid-motion as she looked at him in surprise. Her cheeks quickly flushed, and she averted her gaze, flustered.

“D-Don’t say things like that!” she mumbled, struggling to find words. “It’s just breakfast... and you think about such nonsense too much!”

But despite her chiding words, Ken noticed the corners of her lips twitch with a smile. His words had clearly touched her.

“If that’s nonsense, then I’m happy to think about it all day,” he replied with a grin.

Lily sighed, trying to regain her composure, but her embarrassment lingered. She quickly turned her attention back to the food, determined to ignore his witty remarks. Ken, however, watched her with amusement, pleased to see she’d taken his compliment to heart.

The fire crackled softly, and breakfast - judging by the smell - promised to be nothing short of amazing. Still seated, Ken looked around, enjoying the scenery. Thoughts flickered through his mind about how much his world had changed recently.

“How did I even end up here? This all feels like a dream, yet... so real. And Lily... she’s what makes this adventure special.”

His thoughts were interrupted by Lily’s voice.

“You’re awfully quiet, Ken. Usually, you can’t stop talking.”

He chuckled and turned his gaze to her.

“Just taking in the moment. You know, even the weather feels like it was made just for us today.”

Lily looked up at the sky, her face lighting up with a gentle smile.

“Yes, the morning is beautiful. It’s always like this when the forest wakes with the sun. This is my favorite time of day.”

“I get that,” Ken nodded. “It’s hard not to fall in love with a view like this.”

They continued chatting, talking about everything from the weather to the surrounding nature. Ken asked about the nearby plants, and Lily gladly explained them, sharing her knowledge. He noticed how she’d relaxed, her smile becoming freer and more natural.

“You know, Lily, if it weren’t for you, I’d have been completely lost in this world by now,” he said, looking at her. “You’re like my guide, making everything make sense.”

Lily smiled, her cheeks tinged with pink.

“It’s my duty,” she replied softly, lowering her gaze. “I want you to feel comfortable here.”

“And you’re doing a great job of it,” Ken said sincerely.

When breakfast was ready, Lily handed him a plate of hot food. Ken thanked her with a warm smile, and they resumed chatting, enjoying their morning meal. The carefree conversation, the cozy fire, and the warm sun made the morning unforgettable.

For Ken, it was yet another reminder that he had found something more than just a new world. He had found a connection that gave his life meaning.