To Leon, Abigail’s running speed didn’t seem all that fast, but compared to an average person, it was already impressive.
What surprised him more was that, contrary to his expectations, she didn’t start slowing down after the predicted five or six minutes. Instead, she kept going for more than ten minutes without easing her pace. The only noticeable change was that her breathing had become a bit heavier.
Such outstanding physical endurance made Leon raise an eyebrow. He wasn’t sure if it was thanks to the Starfruit extract she had drunk or something else entirely.
After thinking it over for a moment, Leon figured it made sense.
Abigail was a native of Stardew Valley, and her family was one of the largest suppliers in the area. They were fairly wealthy. Coupled with the fact that her father Pierre and mother Caroline doted on her as their only daughter, Abigail probably ate meals prepared from high-quality crops on a regular basis. Having a body like this wasn’t too strange.
“Phew… Leon, you doing okay?” Abigail glanced back at Leon, who had been keeping less than a meter behind her the whole time, and asked between breaths.
“Doing fine.” Leon smiled, matching her pace perfectly as he replied.
“No wonder you can manage such a huge farm all by yourself. Your stamina’s insane.”
Seeing Leon’s unchanged expression and relaxed manner while keeping up with her, Abigail started regretting underestimating him. At this rate, she was going to lose for sure. They were nearly at Pelican Town, but she could already feel her stamina slipping. She knew that if Leon made a final sprint, he’d easily leave her behind.
Her mind spun rapidly, searching for some trick to turn things around. Ideas came and went, but none were practical.
While she was still thinking, Leon spotted the “Welcome to Pelican Town” sign ahead. The finish line was within reach. Time to overtake her and claim victory. He sped up.
Abigail could only watch as Leon breezed past her, widening the gap between them. Gritting her teeth, she forced her legs to move faster, and it worked—she closed the distance to under two meters.
“Ah!”
But just then, whether due to uneven ground or her own hurried steps, Abigail stumbled. Letting out a startled cry, her body pitched forward. Aside from flailing her arms helplessly, there was nothing she could do but watch the cobblestone path rushing up to meet her.
She quickly raised her arms to shield her face, but before she hit the ground, she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist. The pull lifted her out of gravity’s grasp, leaving her suspended in midair.
“You alright?”
Lowering her arms, Abigail saw the one holding her up—Leon—with a mix of exasperation and concern in his expression, his voice tinged with mild reproach.
She was about to say she was fine, but then an idea struck. This was a rare opportunity. “I think I twisted my ankle. It really hurts.”
Leon sighed. He was about to crouch down and check her ankle when Abigail quickly stopped him.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m checking to see if it’s swollen,” Leon explained.
“No way, that’s embarrassing!” Abigail refused immediately.
She was really worried that Leon would notice her ankle looked perfectly fine and realize she was lying. Leon, however, assumed she was just being shy and suggested, half helplessly, “Then how about I take you to Harvey’s Clinic? I don’t know if it’s a sprain or something worse.”
“No need. I know my body—it’s not broken. Probably just a twist. I’ll rest and put some ice on it.” She crossed her arms in front of her chest, decisively rejecting the idea.
“Can you walk, then?” Leon didn’t press the clinic issue. Judging by how calm she was, she probably wasn’t badly hurt, and that put him at ease.
“It hurts too much. I can’t walk. Why don’t you carry me?” Abigail said at once.
“Not embarrassed now, huh?” Leon couldn’t help but tease her.
After all, she had just refused to let him even look at her ankle, but now she was asking for a piggyback. How was this any less intimate? If anything, wasn’t it more so?
“You’ve carried me before!” Abigail shot back casually. “And it’s just a piggyback, not a hug. What’s there to be shy about?”
She wasn’t stupid. She remembered falling asleep in the Calico Desert, only to wake up in the comfort of Leon’s bed in the pleasant climate of Stardew Valley. She didn’t need to think too hard to figure out what must have happened in between.
“Alright.”
Since Abigail didn’t mind, Leon wasn’t about to make a fuss. This wasn’t even the first time today he’d carried her—he was starting to get used to it.
He stepped in front of her and crouched down, offering his broad back.
Abigail didn’t hesitate, draping herself over him and naturally wrapping her arms around his neck. Her legs rested loosely against his hips. She remembered she was supposed to be “injured,” so she made sure not to move her legs at all to avoid giving herself away.
Once he stood, Leon instinctively hooked his arms under her legs to support her, reducing the pull of gravity on her body so she wouldn’t have to exert herself.
“Don’t move around,” he told her before heading toward Pierre’s General Store.
Leon didn’t think much of it, but Abigail’s cheeks flushed red.
Being awake and leaning against his back was nothing like when she’d been asleep. First, there was his scent—a comforting, reassuring smell she’d noticed before but never this close. It made her heart race.
Then there was the warmth radiating through his clothes, and the solid feel of his back. Every bit of it conveyed safety, not discomfort.
When they entered Pelican Town, the sight naturally drew glances from passersby. Leon kept his face neutral, but Abigail, embarrassed, buried her head against his back to avoid their eyes.
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