Being unable to move was more frustrating than Shiomi had anticipated.
Even with someone always nearby, taking meticulous care of him, it did nothing to ease the sense of helplessness.
"If you're feeling down... do you want to rest a bit?"
Artoria noticed the shift in his mood and asked gently.
"No, that's not it." Shiomi quickly denied it, realizing he'd let his emotions show, and gave a slight shake of his head.
He had always been used to moving freely. Suddenly being paralyzed wasn't something he could adapt to overnight.
And Romani had said, based on the exam results, that it would take at least a month before he'd be able to move again.
"Then..." Artoria hesitated, uncertain of what to say. She didn't know how to comfort him or lift his spirits.
"It's fine. Don't think too much about it," Shiomi said warmly. "I'm just bored. Not being able to move is frustrating—even if there's always someone here with me."
Artoria leaned in a bit closer, studying his face seriously. "Really... are you sure? If there's anything I can do for you, just say it."
"Say it? There's no hierarchy between us," Shiomi said with a wry smile.
"But I've already decided—I'm going to protect you," Artoria replied earnestly. "You protect humanity and the world. I'll protect you."
"Isn't that a bit one-sided?" Shiomi murmured.
Artoria blinked in surprise.
Once, she had been a king who gave her life for Britannia. Later, she became a goddess—unable to die—making cold yet necessary choices for humanity's survival.
And now, she only cared about one man.
He was right—her actions were undeniably biased.
"...Maybe it is," she admitted softly. "But I can't die normally anymore. If I don't start doing the things I actually want to do, free from duty and obligation... isn't that the future you hoped I'd find?"
She smiled, like they both understood something unspoken.
"So I'll say it again: if there's anything I can do for you, just say the word. After all, I'm on shift today."
This time, she corrected her phrasing just a little.
"Hmm... You really want me to say it? Don't regret it later."
Shiomi narrowed his eyes slightly and glanced toward her chest.
The white blouse, paired with a deep blue skirt and boots, looked simple but perfectly suited her demeanor.
Especially the blue ribbon at her collar—it brought just the right balance to the whole outfit.
Of course, what stood out most was the way her top strained against her full chest, the fabric pulled taut as though the buttons might pop at any moment.
"…If you mean that, then of course I won't say no. But you're still…" Artoria's face turned red, though she accepted Shiomi's teasing without resistance.
It was just the two of them here—there was no need to hold back.
"Let me stay like this for a bit," Shiomi said earnestly.
"I understand."
Without hesitation, Artoria pulled him into her arms, letting his face rest gently against her chest.
"How's the weather outside?" Shiomi asked, inhaling the soft scent that lingered on her.
"It's been clear for a while now," Artoria replied. "And since it's just turned 2017, the Antarctic outside Chaldea is still in the middle of its polar day."
"I see…" Shiomi murmured. "Alright, let me up."
Artoria supported his shoulders and helped him sit upright. "Was that enough?"
"It felt safe, warm, and really nice… but not feeling anything else is kind of tragic." Shiomi gave a crooked smile. "Also, it's not great to get your clothes all wrinkled."
"Don't worry. The outfit was borrowed from the Director, and she even prepared a spare," Artoria said with a confident smile.
Shiomi gave her a subtle look. "That explains why the fit seems a bit off… Next time, maybe ask Sakura. Her wardrobe might suit you better."
Artoria nodded in agreement.
"I want to go outside for a bit."
That was all he said.
Thankfully, the medical department had wheelchairs ready for emergencies, and with someone accompanying him, getting a breath of fresh air wouldn't be an issue.
So Artoria helped him change, picked him up, and carried him over to the wheelchair near the door.
"Getting carried like this while conscious feels kind of weird."
"You might not remember, but in Camelot, when you collapsed after the combat trial I arranged, I carried you the same way," Artoria said as she set him down and adjusted his posture. "Though... my feelings were very different back then."
She wheeled him out of the room and down Chaldea's quiet corridors.
"That final fight at the tower… it was my last chance. If I hadn't been able to reach you, I really might've killed you," Shiomi said softly.
"Good thing it didn't come to that," Artoria replied. Her voice echoed lightly through the still hallway. "Otherwise, I never would've known what it's like to share something so genuine with you."
"I'm glad it turned out this way."
Through the broad floor-to-ceiling windows, sunlight poured into the corridor, casting reflections from the pure blue sky above the Antarctic plateau.
Just looking at the scene made Shiomi feel less stifled somehow.
Before he could say anything, Artoria seemed to already know where he wanted to go and pushed the wheelchair toward Chaldea's outer gates.
Those massive doors were almost never opened—especially in Antarctica, with its endless blizzards and the constant pressure of the Incineration of Humanity threat. The facility had remained sealed for so long.
But now the crisis was over, and for once, the weather was calm.
As the heavy gates slowly opened, the chill of the Antarctic air swept in. Shiomi couldn't help but feel how long it had been since he'd felt something like this.
Artoria draped her cloak over him to keep him warm and pushed him down the slope leading outside.
"How is it? Is it too cold?"
She clearly felt the sharp contrast between inside and out. It didn't affect her much, but for the fragile state Shiomi was in, it wasn't exactly comfortable.
"I'll be fine for a little while," Shiomi replied. "It's been ages since I've seen a sky like this—not through Rayshift, but with my own eyes."
"This is what you fought so hard for. This is what you won."
"You too," Shiomi said. "We wouldn't have made it through the final battle in the Temple of Time without you."
"Thank you," Artoria answered softly.
Then, as if a thought had just occurred to him, Shiomi asked, "This might be a bit of a pointless question, but… once Chaldea finishes its follow-up work, and I've fully recovered, would you come with me?"
Technically, as someone who was no longer meant to exist in this time, she shouldn't remain here. But if she wasn't doing anything—just staying by someone's side—then maybe it wasn't a problem.
"Of course."
Artoria accepted without hesitation.
...
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