Tomato on the Run

Staring deadpan at this person who I would have least expected to wake me up this early in the morning—the sun isn't even up yet—I couldn't help but question what they wanted, "Good morning, Alice." She seemed to be shaken up by my sound announcement. Alice had been slowly crawling onto the bed, getting ready to awaken me, but I had beaten her to it.

"Oh… you're up…" Alice replied, taken aback, her face flushing like a tomato.

Alice had slowly scurried off the bed as I sat straight up, quickly but quietly not wanting to awaken Asuna who was sound asleep on the sofa. My eyes peered around the room looking for any sign of Stella but it looked like she went to her own room to get some rest, good. I thought to myself.

Slowly getting off the bed, I motioned Alice over in a quick motion. She followed silently as we entered the hallway, but I couldn't help but tease her, "I don't think tomatoes are supposed to walk." I bursted out a suppressed laugh, mostly laughing at how horrible my joke was rather than her actual expression. She gave me a slight nudge, her face returning to normal as only the tip of her ears remained slightly red.

"So, what is it you wanted?" I asked, my body finally starting to catch up, "Would you like to go out and hunt a beast with me? Before I went to sleep I'm sure I saw something out there, and I think it'll be a little fun." She said, her response completely surprising me.

I've actually never seen an actual beast let alone know if we could beat one, and if i'm getting the gist she only told me about this, "So you think we could beat a beast? I've never seen one and from what I've read they are not so polite like a stuffed animal." I pointed out, not sure if doing this would be worth it.

But then it hit me. This was a chance to see how far my core really could go without experiencing "OD" I had been able to test my core a little, but if I wanted to develop it further aside from ways like meditating the core, using it would also help me slowly dig my way to its next quarter let alone stage.

I couldn't help, but feel like this would be wrong though. What if something were to happen to us? I thought to myself with overwhelming uncertainty. 

"How about we at least tell my sister? If we don't come back within the next few hours to come search for us, if anything happens I'm sure we're going to be in a lot of trouble, and my sister could be able to prevent that." I suggested hoping she would consider it.

"We'll be fine. I'll make sure we come back within two hours, okay?" Alice urged.

"Alice I don't thin—"

"Come on please! I promise It'll only take two hours at most!" Alice pleaded before turning around and marching off, "Where are you going!" I asked trailing behind her, "To the forest." she responded winey. 

I kept telling her to stop and to rethink her decision. I was going to just wake up Asuna and ask her to come along but I just gave in, letting out a deep sigh. I followed her. It would be wrong to just let her go on by herself, but what would the Landhearts think of me if something happened to her? What would happen between them and my parents? 

There were too many things to factor in to make a proper decision. I had to take her feelings into consideration, if I choose to tell her parents they would probably find what she did childish—not saying it is or isn't—and perilous.

And it could possibly form a wall of distrust between them, and if anything that's not what I wanted to happen, but If I choose my sister to come even if she was just behind trailing after us, she would probably feel… sad. 

If I wanted to get any closer with her I had to first show faith in her, show her my trust in her words. Afterall what is a friendship without something as simple as trusting one another, even with how dangerous her decision could have turned out to be, it would be best to stick by her side.

Pushing down the bubbling feelings within my chest I yawned and then caught a glance of Alice's gaze which was directed towards me, "You didn't have to come with me." She said, looking down at the muddy terrain as we stepped foot into the forest, "Nope, I'm glad I came," I dismissed, "Besides look how far we are now, no point in turning back, and if we go through the back door again we might wake someone." I said looking just right over my shoulder making sure no one was following, and this got a chuckle out of Alice, "Thank you."

Her mood completely shifted as we walked through the mushy soil, she had a big smile plastered all over her face, "Okay, let's get moving. 'Two hours,' remember?" Alice said, reciting herself.

With a simple nod we picked up the pace.