Nooooo! I've done it now! What a pathetic sight I must have been for Sho...
I, Artoria Pendragon, crouched down in the fitting room. My face was burning, and I replayed what had just happened in my mind.
I am the King of Knights. I should be a reliable person he can depend on, not a silly girl who gets excited over clothes.
And I did it in front of him!
"~!"
If I weren't in this small room, I might have been rolling on the floor.
I removed my hands from my face and saw a pathetic sight in the mirror. My face was redder than a ripe apple... How long will it take to calm myself down?
"Artoria-san? Sho-kun went outside. Are you feeling better now?"
"Sakura? Is that true? Is he really not here?"
"Yes. I promise."
I cautiously opened the curtain... and sure enough, Sho wasn't there. I let out a big sigh and relaxed. It helped me calm down quite a bit. Then, I felt a few pairs of eyes on me.
"W-what is it?"
"How do the clothes look?"
"Huh?"
For a moment, I didn't understand what she meant, but I quickly realized. Oh, right, I was here to try on these clothes... The shock of what happened had completely wiped my mind clean.
"N-no! I was just trying them on! I'll change right away!"
"They look great on you! Can I see the back, please?"
"Uh, ah, sure."
Pushed by Kirin, I showed her my back.
"Wow! They look so good, Artoria-san! We really should look at more clothes after this!"
"Maybe a different hairstyle would look good too..."
"That's a good point... I'll think about it."
"Wait! I'm not especially looking to buy these clothes!"
I couldn't help but raise my voice. Well, if you asked me if I didn't want them at all, that's not true. I wanted them a little!
But for a Servant like me, just having enough clothes for daily life is sufficient—
"Don't think such foolish things, you Blue one."
"Alter?"
"You can run away all you want. It just means I'll get to have Sho."
"What are you talking about—"
"There's nothing more unsightly than a woman who lacks confidence. And if it's my other half, it's unbearable to watch."
Those words struck a nerve.
Running away? It was the truth. To be told that by Alter of all people... I wanted Sho to be able to trust me. But I also wanted him to trust me. I want to be a reliable person for him. I love Sho just as much as Alter and Sakura, or even more. If I didn't, I wouldn't be here.
"I'll buy it."
"Huh?"
"Sakura, to the register!"
"But it's sportswear... If you want to show Sho-kun, maybe something cuter would be better?"
Alter nodded in satisfaction at my words.
...I said it on a whim, but when will I get to show him?
---------
Honestly, my other half is a handful. With a sigh, I, Artoria Pendragon, went outside the store. We're both Artoria, but to tell us apart, we call her "Artoria" and me "Alter."
I was summoned in a very special way during that Holy Grail War. As a result, all of Artoria's (Saber's) memories from that war are burned into my mind.
Including how she feels about this man.
Even I, who was captivated by those memories, have become like this. I have those same strong feelings.
"You're fast. How's everyone doing?"
Sho was standing there with a straight face. He was apparently passing the time on his phone. He seems like he's not thinking about the women around him, but he really is. He's a straightforward guy who's hard to read.
"It seems the brat finally made up her mind."
"It's probably better not to pry..."
He's a meddler. It's a good thing about him, but also a bad thing. He should be more proactive with women.
He would be an even better man if he had the same courage he shows when he's fighting and clashing with his enemies.
"Yeah. That's the way to go. It's better for her."
But this time, I agree with his judgment. If you keep helping someone, they won't grow. Especially a stubborn woman like her.
She understands her feelings but has no idea how to express them. I sympathize, though. Considering the position she and I, Artoria Pendragon, were in. We couldn't even think about relying on anyone else—
"—Wait a minute."
"What is it?"
"No, it's nothing. Don't worry about it."
Whew. I couldn't help but say it out loud. But it was a shocking realization. The position Artoria Pendragon was in, carrying the expectations of her people, shouldn't change even if her personality or nature changes slightly.
Could it be that what applies to her also applies to me...?
"No, no, no."
"What is it?"
Sho was looking at me, but I was so lost in thought that I couldn't respond.
Still, I thought of something stupid for a second. Could it be that I, of all people, am like an innocent girl... Come to think of it, the memories I have, are those her experiences?
I don't have any of those experiences myself...
"I, of all people, am falling behind...?"
"In what?"
How can this be? Am I, who has come this far, falling behind in the most important aspect? I can't accept that.
I should have taken care of this last night. But what did he do? He had all those women around him and fell asleep without doing anything? I'll concede that it's okay for him to have so many women. I'm the best, anyway. But what does it mean that he didn't even do anything with me?
As I thought about it, an indescribable feeling swelled up inside me.
"Tonight, you'll remember."
"Huh?"
No matter what, I'll make a move tonight. I decided and started to plan in my head.
---------
Oh, my brother, Sho-kun... is a hopeless womanizer. I, Matou Sakura, looked at his profile as we walked. We were supposed to go on a nice shopping trip, just the two of us. And I had so many things I wanted to talk about since my memories of the Holy Grail War returned.
It's fine that we're shopping for daily necessities for Saber-san and the others. But I never imagined Einhart-san and Kirin-san would come along too.
Thanks to that, it's a huge group. Sho-kun is the only guy. What a harem. Ever since we reunited on this island, he's always had a lot of women around him. I won't complain about this much now.
It goes without saying that Saber-san likes Sho-kun. Alter-san is the same. And I guess Kirin-san is too. She reacts sensitively to his every move, action, and word. Einhart-san... I don't think she's there yet, but you never know when it might happen. I can't let my guard down.
Is Sho-kun not interested in me? If he experienced the Holy Grail War, I'd think he'd want to know what happened to the others.
But I don't really feel that way anymore.
Because Sho-kun is that kind of person. He's the kind of person who helps anyone in trouble. Ever since I came to this island, I've seen him do it so much that I've gotten used to it.
He cares about the people he helps, but he doesn't see anyone as special. He's just responding to people's feelings.
But that's why it motivates me.
I won't just make him respond to my feelings; I'll make him crazy about me. But besides my love, I also want to repay him.
My life was given to me by Sho-kun. If he hadn't been there, I would have been destroyed in that hell. If he gave me my life, I have to spend my whole life repaying him.
But I can say with certainty that these feelings aren't just from a sense of obligation.
I also have a strong desire to be devoted to Sho-kun as a woman.
I have a lot of powerful rivals. They're all good people and important friends. But still, I can't give up being number one.
I've been waiting for my memories of the Holy Grail War to return. When I first met him on this island, I was a little hurt, but I understood and waited.
"Sho-kun, shall we take a break at that store?"
From here on out, I'm getting serious, Sho-kun.
---------
I wonder what kind of person Senpai really is. I, Kirin Toudou, cooled my blushing face with a cold drink and watched Sho-senpai "ahhn" for Artoria-san and the others.
He did it naturally for Einhart-san and Sakura-san, and for me too. And for those two twin-like Artorias. He was a little forceful with Einhart-san, but she didn't seem too embarrassed. And people don't usually "ahhn" for others, right?
And more to the point, I had no idea he was living with the two Artorias. Senpai doesn't have an obligation to tell me about it, but knowing he has other relationships with women makes me a little... worried.
And Senpai has gotten stronger.
I don't know what kind of turmoil he went through. At least I can't imagine how he got this strong in such a short amount of time.
I don't think I can beat him now. The gap has grown that much. It wasn't like that during our duel back then.
"Kirin, want some?"
"Oh, yes! Munch."
While I was spacing out, Senpai put a spoon in my mouth. As I moved my mouth, the sweetness of the cream and the tartness of the fruit spread inside.
"Is it good?"
"Hehe. It's delicious."
"Sho-kun. It's my turn now."
"Yeah, yeah."
Senpai pointed the spoon at Sakura-san.
There's a lot I don't know about him, but I still think of him as my senpai. No matter how strong he gets, his kindness hasn't changed at all.
But if it stays this way, we'll just be senpai and kouhai. Hmm, what should I do? It's a disadvantage compared to the people he lives with!
Maybe I should just move into his house... No, I can't do that! My family wouldn't allow it, and besides, living with Senpai...
But I want to spend more time with him. How can I—
"Ah."
I found it.
It's something we talked about a little before and then dropped.
"S-Senpai! Can I talk to you for a moment?"
"W-whoa! You're sucking on the spoon too much...! There's nothing left...! Ah, what is it, Kirin?"
"...Should I wait?"
He was in an incredible position. Artoria-san must really like sweets.
"No, don't worry about it. It's fine like this."
"Is that so...?"
It really doesn't look fine, but if Senpai says it is, then it is.
"Actually, I wanted to talk about this today. It's about the amica thing from before..."
"Ah... that."
"Gah! Cough, cough!"
After I started with a little preamble, Einhart-san started coughing. Maybe she got a drink in the wrong pipe from her straw?
"Einhart?"
"N-no. It's nothing. Kirin-san, are you going to become Senpai's amica?"
A little while ago during morning practice, I saw something. I saw Kirin-san pressing him to touch her chest.
Nothing happened at that time, right? I was hiding, and when I came out, they were gone. Maybe something happened between them that I don't know about...
"No, we just talked about it a little before. Nothing's set in stone yet."
Senpai and Kirin-san looked dumbfounded. Is it really nothing...?
"Oh, I see. I'm sorry, I thought—"
"You thought what?"
"N-nothing! It's nothing!"
If I think about it calmly, Kirin-san would never talk about something like that where people can hear. I jumped to conclusions. That's definitely what happened!
Sigh. Maybe it's me who's too distracted lately...
---------
I wonder what Sho-senpai is really like. I, Einhart Stratos, held a straw in my mouth, watching Senpai "ahhn" for everyone.
My first impression of him was that he was a person of great ability. That was it. I was pretty reckless back then, so I didn't have any other feelings for him. Now, it's a little different. I think of him as a senpai I can respect.
When I saw him this morning, he had the presence of an incredibly strong person. He was clearly different from just a few days ago. What kind of training did he do?
And while he was getting so strong, how did he get so close with two women I didn't know and go shopping with them?
You can't have loose relationships with women. I was taught that in school. Men especially have to be careful. Maybe Senpai isn't careful enough.
Maybe I should point it out to him, even if it's rude. It would be too late if something happened to him.
"Actually, I wanted to talk about this today. It's about the amica thing from before..."
"Ah... that."
Amica? Now that I think about it, during a morning practice a little while ago...
"Gah! Cough, cough!"
I remembered that thing and choked on my drink.
"Einhart?"
"N-no. It's nothing. Kirin-san, are you going to become Senpai's amica?"
A little while ago during morning practice, I spied on them. Kirin-san was pressuring Senpai to touch her chest.
Nothing happened at that time, right? I was hiding, and when I came out, they were gone. Maybe something happened between them that I don't know about...
"No, we just talked about it a little before. Nothing's set in stone yet."
Senpai and Kirin-san looked dumbfounded. Is it really nothing...?
"Oh, I see. I'm sorry, I thought—"
"You thought what?"
"N-nothing! It's nothing!"
Thinking about it calmly, Kirin-san would never talk about something like that where people can hear. I jumped to conclusions. That's definitely what happened!
Sigh. Maybe it's me who's too distracted lately...
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