Life In The Limelight : I Married A Gamer Girl-Chapter 55: Research : Cooking

Kazuma and Masako continued their at-home activities for their slice-of-life game research. After their... eventful yoga session, they moved on to something a bit more traditional but just as immersive—cooking.

"I think this might be the most important feature in our game," Masako said as she tied her apron around her waist, standing in their spacious kitchen. "Food is a huge part of daily life, and players will want realistic taste descriptions."

Kazuma smirked, rolling up his sleeves. "So we're really going all out, huh? Trying recipes we've never had before?"

Masako nodded enthusiastically. "Yep! We'll cook a variety of dishes, rate them, and use that to build the game's food ranking system."

Kazuma chuckled. "Alright, sweetie, but just so you know... I'm not responsible if one of our experiments turns into a disaster."

Updat𝓮d from frёewebnoѵēl.com.

Masako winked playfully. "Then don't mess up, dear."

They gathered ingredients, picking recipes at random from various cookbooks and online guides. The first dish on their list was a spicy seafood pasta. As Kazuma chopped up fresh garlic and onions, Masako handled the seafood, carefully deveining shrimp and seasoning it with an assortment of spices.

"You know," Kazuma mused as he worked, "this kind of reminds me of a cooking game we played together last year."

Masako grinned. "Oh, the one where you burned every dish?"

Kazuma groaned. "I was testing the game mechanics!"

Masako laughed, bumping her hip against his playfully. "Uh-huh. Sure, dear."

After a bit of playful banter, they threw their ingredients into the pan, sautéing the mixture until the rich, garlicky aroma filled the kitchen. Kazuma stirred the pasta sauce, while Masako tested the heat level by taking a small taste.

Her golden eyes widened as she coughed. "Oh wow, that's spicy."

Kazuma smirked. "Too much for you, sweetie?"

Masako glared at him before scooping up a spoonful and shoving it toward his lips. "Try it, dear."

Kazuma took a bite, his eyes instantly widening as he felt the fire spread across his tongue. "H-Holy crap! That's insane!"

Masako giggled. "Told you."

They quickly adjusted the seasoning, making it milder while still keeping the rich, bold flavors intact. Once the dish was complete, they plated it beautifully, then moved on to the next dish—a fluffy Japanese-style omelet.

Masako took the lead this time, carefully whisking eggs while Kazuma heated the pan. They poured the mixture in, rolling it skillfully with chopsticks. As Masako concentrated on getting the shape perfect, Kazuma admired how focused she looked, her lips pursed slightly in concentration.

"Wow, sweetie. You're taking this omelet really seriously."

Masako huffed. "Of course! A poorly rolled omelet would be a disgrace to our game's food ranking system!"

Kazuma chuckled. "I love how dedicated you are."

Masako finished the omelet, flipping it onto a plate with a satisfied grin. "And I love how good this looks!"

They moved on to a few other dishes, including beef stew, grilled fish, and a decadent chocolate lava cake. Each recipe brought its own challenges, but with teamwork, they managed to create some truly delicious meals.

By the time they finished cooking, their kitchen was a mess of flour, sauce splatters, and scattered utensils, but they couldn't care less. They sat at the dining table, plates filled with the fruits of their labor.

Masako clapped her hands together. "Alright, dear. Let's taste and rank everything!"

They tried each dish, rating them based on flavor, texture, and overall satisfaction. The pasta, after adjustments, was a solid 9/10—rich and flavorful with the right amount of spice. The omelet was 10/10—light, fluffy, and seasoned perfectly. The beef stew was hearty, 8.5/10, while the grilled fish was simple but delicious at 8/10.

Finally, they reached the chocolate lava cake. Masako sliced it open, and molten chocolate oozed out perfectly.

Kazuma whistled. "Damn, that's beautiful."

Masako smiled proudly. "Alright, let's try it together."

She scooped a small piece onto a fork and held it up. "Here, dear, say ahh."

Kazuma's face heated up slightly, but he obediently leaned forward, letting her feed him. The rich, velvety chocolate melted on his tongue, sending a wave of pure bliss through him.

"Wow," he murmured. "That's... amazing."

Masako giggled. "Told you."

Kazuma swallowed, then smirked. "Your turn, sweetie."

He took another forkful and held it up for her. Masako blinked, her golden eyes wide as she realized what he was doing. Her cheeks tinged pink, but she leaned forward and took the bite. The moment the warm chocolate hit her tongue, she let out a soft, satisfied hum.

Kazuma, watching her expression, felt his heart race.

Masako licked her lips. "Mmm... this might be my favorite."

Kazuma coughed lightly, turning his gaze to the side. "Y-Yeah, same here."

A few seconds of silence passed as they awkwardly glanced at each other, both blushing.

Masako finally broke the tension with a teasing grin. "Are you flustered, dear?"

Kazuma huffed. "You started it!"

Masako laughed, resting her chin in her hand. "You're adorable."

He sighed in defeat. "At this rate, we're going to have too many romantic interactions for our game instead of food rankings."

Masako winked. "Maybe we should add a date mode where players can cook for their significant other."

Kazuma chuckled. "That... actually sounds like a great idea."

They finished their meal, chatting and laughing as they brainstormed more ways to make their game feel as immersive as possible. By the end of the night, they were full, satisfied, and completely in love with the memories they had made.

Cleaning up could wait. For now, they were just happy being together.

Another successful day of research.