MARVEL'S MONSTER HUNTER WORLD

Just as Watson was carefully preparing a special dinner, he suddenly sensed someone behind him. He hadn't moved yet when a familiar scent reached his nose. The owner of the fragrance moved like a cat—silent, graceful.

A pair of slender hands wrapped around his waist, and a curvaceous body pressed against his back.

"Mmm, it smells amazing. I caught this scent as soon as I walked in," Natasha purred. "What is it? And~ my dear Watson~ this is the first time you didn't notice me sneaking up on you. What could possibly be so interesting that it distracted you? Oh my God…"

She leaned forward, resting her chin on his shoulder, her eyes following her nose toward the source of the mouthwatering aroma—a perfectly cooked piece of golden-brown meat.

"Honey? Are you sure you want to eat this for dinner? I have to admit, it looks very delicious—both in appearance and smell—but if I eat this, I'll gain weight."

Watson chuckled at Natasha's incredulous expression. "Babe, you can try a little piece. Just one. But, you should be prepared…"

Seemingly half-listening to Watson, but mostly drawn in by the enticing aroma, Natasha pinched a small piece of the meat between her fingers and popped it into her mouth.

"...Go wash your hands first—okay, never mind." Watson shook his head helplessly and continued cooking.

As Natasha walked out of the kitchen, she suddenly stopped in place.

Watson turned around, noticing something was off. "Babe? You okay?"

Natasha stood still for a moment, then started pacing back and forth before looking up at him. "No, I'm fine. I just… wait, what? Where did that feeling go? Honey, you didn't put something in that meat, did you?"

"What? No way. But…" Watson frowned, suddenly realizing something. Does the effect of fully cooked meat work differently on normal people?

"Do you remember the high-level endurance potion SHIELD uses?" Watson asked. "This meat's effect lasts eight times longer than that."

Natasha's eyes widened. "Wait… isn't that basically a stimulant?"

Watson quickly asked his system: What effect does fully cooked meat have on ordinary people?

Ding! The effects are the same, but due to the potency, ordinary people require an adaptation period. The duration varies per individual.

"Adaptation period?" Watson muttered under his breath.

Meanwhile, Natasha had begun throwing a few test punches in the air. She suddenly gasped, eyes lighting up. "Why do I feel like I can punch even faster?! Honey, don't look at me like that—I feel amazing. It's like I need to vent some energy, but after a few punches, it feels better."

Watson quickly grabbed a bottle of water and walked over. "Babe, calm down. You just need time to adjust. It'll wear off soon—"

Fak!

Before he could react, Natasha instinctively high-kicked the water bottle straight out of his hand. It soared across the kitchen, landing perfectly in the cooking pot with a splash.

Sizzle! Zzzt—! Thick steam immediately billowed from the pot.

Watson sighed. "Babe, are you trying to sabotage your own dinner?"

Just as he was about to clean up the mess—

"Honey, I'm coming~! Catch me!"

Natasha, now buzzing with energy, sprinted into the kitchen and jumped.

Peng!

Watson found himself flat on his back with Natasha on top of him, a mischievous grin on her face.

He opened one eye, took a deep breath, and smirked. "That red dress looks great on you today."

Natasha leaned down, her forehead resting against his. "Darling, don't you think you should take responsibility for what's happening to me? I feel like I should quit SHIELD and join the circus at this rate. Eight times the endurance potion effect? Does that mean I'll be like this for eight hours?"

"Uh… no? Maybe just a little while?" Watson gave an awkward smile before picking her up, her arms wrapping around his neck like a koala.

Natasha smirked, arms snug around his shoulders. "So… what now?"

Watson glanced at the bubbling soup. "Well, first, let's make sure the house doesn't burn down." He turned off the stove, then carried Natasha toward the bedroom.

"So, are we going for eight hours?"

"Oh, I can keep going all year!"

Three Hours Later… Late Night

"Honey… I'm hungry…"

"You just said that?" Watson teased, playfully patting her soft, rounded stomach before standing up to