SAO: Strawberry Bunny

The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. But for Strawberry, the day had started far too early. She groaned softly, rolling over and tugging the blanket over her head in protest against the cruel intrusion of morning. Unfortunately for her, the soft sounds of giggling pierced her feeble attempt at resistance.

"Rise and shine," came Quinella's amused voice, smooth and teasing. Strawberry begrudgingly peeked out from under the covers, her sleep-heavy eyes landing on Quinella, who sat perched on the edge of the bed with Muffin cradled in her arms. The little bunny looked completely content, his nose twitching happily as he nibbled on something small and fluffy.

Strawberry blinked, squinting at the half-eaten treat in Muffin's tiny paws. A strawberry muffin. The irony wasn't lost on her, but at the moment, she was too tired to laugh about it.

"You're letting him eat… himself?" she muttered groggily, her voice muffled by the pillow.

Quinella chuckled, her violet eyes gleaming with mischief. "It's poetic, don't you think? Muffin enjoying a muffin. Maybe I'll make this a tradition."

Strawberry groaned again, flopping back onto her pillow. "Too early for poetry…"

Quinella tilted her head, pretending to ponder. "Hmm, maybe too early for poetry, but not too early to get up. Come on, we have a busy day ahead."

Strawberry opened one eye, glaring at Quinella weakly. "And what, exactly, is so important that it couldn't wait another hour?"

Quinella stood, gently placing Muffin on the bed. The bunny gave a chirp of protest as his snack was taken away, but Quinella ignored him. She turned to the door, but not before giving Strawberry a knowing smirk. "You'll see. Just hurry up and get ready."

It wasn't until Quinella turned to leave that Strawberry's sleep-addled brain fully registered what she was wearing. A thin, silvery-blue nightdress that seemed to flow like liquid as it moved, highlighting Quinella's graceful figure and elegant beauty. The delicate material caught the morning light, making her silver hair shimmer like moonlight. Her bare feet padded softly against the floor as she crossed the room, and just before she disappeared through the door, she glanced back, her violet eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Oh, and you might want to put on something a bit more presentable. Unless you're planning to greet the whole inn in your... current state."

Strawberry blinked, looking down at herself. She was still wearing the light pink sports bra and black pajama shorts she'd slept in, the outfit leaving little to the imagination. Her toned six-pack abs and lean, athletic build were on full display. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks, and her cheeks flushed a deep red.

Quinella's soft laughter echoed in the hallway as she closed the door behind her, leaving Strawberry alone to stew in her embarrassment.

"Great," Strawberry muttered, burying her face in her hands. "Just great."

Muffin, still lounging on the bed, chirped innocently as if to ask what all the fuss was about. Strawberry sighed, giving him a gentle pat on the head. "Traitor," she mumbled, though there was no heat in her words.

Twenty Minutes Later

Strawberry, now fully dressed and slightly less mortified, sat at a corner table in the inn's dining area. Muffin perched comfortably on her shoulder, his little nose twitching as he eyed the room for any potential treats. Quinella sat across from her, looking as poised and sophisticated as ever, though she'd swapped her nightdress for a more practical yet stylish outfit. Despite her composed demeanor, the faint trace of a smirk lingered on her lips, as if she were still silently enjoying Strawberry's earlier flustered state.

A server approached, setting down steaming cups of tea and small bowls of fruit as they waited for their main breakfast. The smell of fresh bread and sizzling meats wafted through the air, mingling with the soft hum of conversation from other patrons.

"So," Quinella began, her tone light but purposeful as she stirred her tea, "about today's plans…"

Strawberry groaned inwardly, already dreading where this conversation was headed. "Please tell me we're heading straight for the next part of Ormi's quest. Or maybe the labyrinth. Literally anything but what I think you're about to say."

Quinella raised an elegant eyebrow, her amusement clearly growing. "What you think I'm about to say? Enlighten me."

Strawberry sighed, leaning back in her chair. "Shopping. You're going to say shopping."

Quinella smiled, a picture of innocence. "And what's wrong with a little shopping? We've had a busy couple of days. It wouldn't hurt to take a break and restock our supplies."

"It wouldn't hurt you," Strawberry countered, pointing an accusing finger at her. "You're the one who enjoys wandering aimlessly from stall to stall, trying on jewelry and debating over potions we'll probably never use. I, on the other hand, would rather face a dozen goblins than deal with—"

"Excuse me," Quinella interrupted, her tone mock-offended. "First of all, the potions I buy always come in handy. And second, you're just upset because you don't know how to appreciate the finer things in life."

Strawberry crossed her arms, fixing Quinella with a deadpan stare. "The last time we went shopping, you spent twenty minutes haggling over a scarf you didn't even buy."

"It wasn't the right shade of blue," Quinella said matter-of-factly, taking a sip of her tea.

Strawberry groaned, letting her head fall into her hands. "You're going to kill me."

Quinella chuckled softly, reaching across the table to nudge Strawberry's hand. "Come on, it won't be that bad. And who knows? Maybe you'll find something you actually like this time."

Strawberry gave her a skeptical look. "Highly unlikely."

Muffin, sensing an opportunity to side with Quinella, let out a cheerful chirp and nudged Strawberry's cheek with his tiny nose. Quinella's smile widened, her violet eyes dancing with mischief. "See? Muffin agrees with me."

"Traitor," Strawberry muttered again, though a small, reluctant smile tugged at her lips.

Their breakfast arrived moments later—plates piled high with eggs, bacon, fresh bread, and roasted vegetables. As they dug in, the conversation shifted to lighter topics, and Strawberry found herself relaxing despite her initial resistance. By the time they finished eating, she had to admit (grudgingly, of course) that Quinella's enthusiasm for the day's plans was at least a little infectious.

"All right," Strawberry said with a resigned sigh as they stood to leave. "Let's get this over with."

Quinella smirked, looping her arm through Strawberry's as they made their way out of the inn. "You'll thank me later."

Strawberry doubted it, but as Muffin chirped happily from his perch, she figured she might survive the ordeal—if only for his sake.

Ten minutes into their shopping trip, Strawberry was already questioning her life choices. She had told herself earlier that morning she could survive this. How hard could it be to follow Quinella around for a few hours and let her do her thing? Apparently, much harder than she'd anticipated.

Their first stop was a quaint little clothing store nestled in the heart of Flora's market district. The sign above the door read Florescent Touch, and the shop itself radiated charm. Its rustic wooden exterior was adorned with flowering vines, and the display window featured beautifully crafted dresses and cloaks that seemed to shimmer faintly in the light. Despite the store's inviting appearance, Strawberry hesitated at the door, sensing trouble ahead.

"This looks harmless," Quinella had said, flashing her a smile that could either mean she was genuinely excited or about to unleash some kind of elaborate scheme. Strawberry had a sinking feeling it was the latter.

Inside, the store was cozy and colorful, with racks of clothing neatly arranged in rows and shelves lined with accessories. The walls were painted in warm, earthy tones, and the faint scent of lavender filled the air. Behind the counter stood an elderly Faune woman with long, fur-covered rabbit ears that twitched as she greeted them with a kind smile.

"Welcome, dears!" the Faune woman said warmly. Her voice was soft and soothing, like the perfect grandmotherly stereotype brought to life. "Please, take your time and look around. Let me know if you need help."

"Thank you!" Quinella said brightly, already making a beeline for one of the racks. Strawberry followed reluctantly, her scythe strapped across her back and clearly out of place in this delicate, fashion-forward environment.

"Quinella," Strawberry started, her tone heavy with warning, "we're just here to browse, right? In and out?"

"Of course," Quinella replied breezily, flipping through a row of cloaks. "Just a quick stop."

That quick stop turned into twenty minutes of Quinella treating Strawberry like her personal dress-up doll.

"Try this one," Quinella said, shoving a jacket into Strawberry's arms.

Strawberry barely had time to protest before Quinella was grabbing more items—a tunic here, a pair of boots there, even a scarf—and piling them on top of the first. The Faune shopkeeper looked on with amused delight, clearly entertained by the spectacle.

"Quinella, I don't need—"

"Nonsense," Quinella interrupted, holding up a deep purple coat and scrutinizing it thoughtfully. "You've been wearing the same gear since we got here. You need something more versatile. Something with flair."

"Flair?" Strawberry echoed, raising an eyebrow. "I'm not trying to be a model."

"No," Quinella said, her violet eyes twinkling with mischief, "but there's no harm in looking good while you're out there slaying monsters, is there?"

Strawberry sighed, glancing at Muffin, who was perched on a nearby shelf and watching the proceedings with a curious tilt of his head. "Traitor," she muttered again, though this time Muffin didn't seem to mind. He let out a small chirp as if encouraging her to play along.

One by one, Quinella handed her pieces to try on. Some of them weren't so bad—like a simple black cloak with silver embroidery—but others were so far out of her comfort zone that she couldn't help but groan. A bright red jacket with fur trim? A pair of boots with far too many buckles? A tunic with glittering gemstones sewn into the neckline?

"This is torture," Strawberry muttered as Quinella thrust yet another outfit into her arms.

"It's called fashion," Quinella corrected with a smirk. "And you're welcome."

Strawberry begrudgingly tried on a few pieces, stepping out of the fitting room to Quinella's appraising gaze. For a brief moment, Quinella's teasing demeanor softened as she took in Strawberry's appearance.

"That one actually suits you," Quinella said, gesturing to a dark green jacket that hugged Strawberry's athletic frame. "You should keep it."

Strawberry glanced at herself in the mirror, tilting her head. It wasn't terrible, she supposed. The jacket was practical enough, with reinforced shoulders and plenty of pockets, and the color wasn't too flashy. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that Quinella was enjoying this far too much.

"All right," Strawberry relented, shrugging. "I'll take this one. But only this one."

"Deal," Quinella said with a wink. "For now."

As they made their way to the counter to pay, the elderly Faune woman beamed at them. "You two make a lovely pair," she said, her ears twitching slightly as she rang up their purchase. "You bring out the best in each other."

Strawberry froze, her face heating as she struggled to find a response. Quinella, on the other hand, simply smiled, her expression unreadable.

"Thank you," Quinella said, her tone light but amused.

With their purchase in hand and Strawberry's dignity only slightly bruised, they left Florescent Touch and stepped back into the bustling market. The morning sun filtered through the canopy above, casting dappled light over the cobblestone streets. Strawberry adjusted her new jacket, glancing at Quinella out of the corner of her eye.

"Is this how the whole day is going to be?" she asked warily.

Quinella grinned, looping her arm through Strawberry's as they strolled toward the next stall. "Oh, you'll love the next stop. Trust me."

Strawberry wasn't sure if she believed that, but as Muffin chirped happily from her shoulder, she figured she'd survive. Probably. Looking back at the beautiful silver haired girl who was currently humming beside her as they walked, she thought, or maybe not?