The light of the dazzling sun, shines in through the gap of the closed curtains.
The voices of songbirds tell the time, while perching on the branches of the trees right beyond the window.
Signs of the morning.
The coldness and darkness of the night disappears off to somewhere like a lie, the day which should’ve been “tomorrow” until right before I go to sleep, comes along and becomes the form of “today.”
Ayaka: “……. nnhh.”
While rubbing her heavy eyelids, in her soft bed, Ayaka Sajyou wakes up.
Waking up was the worst.
Why, because she had a cruel dream.
Although the contents of it are fragmentary and she doesn’t really remember them, she only knows that the memory of that moment, 8 years ago, appeared to her as dreams.
Ayaka: （It’s, morning）
While mumbling it in her mind, she stretches out her hand to the digital alarm clock that was placed on her bedside. As her right hand came out from the blanket, a chilly air touches it.
‘This feeling is in my group of favorite things.’
Yes, even the comfortable feeling of her bed which regulated her own body temperature, or even the light of the morning sun, she likes them just the same as those songbirds’ voices.
Even so, cold things are cold.
Although she is driven by the temptation to want to curl her entire body up in her blanket and fall asleep again, she somehow endures it.
She brings the digital alarm clock closer to her eyes. Although the part about normally spending her everyday life even without glasses didn’t trouble her very much, with eyes which had become worsened as they were in these eight years, it was hard for her to see the items on hand without wearing glasses. After all she is near-sighted.
【1999】
After turning a fleeting gaze towards the western calendar display like always, she checks the time.
【AM 5:59】
5:59 AM.
It is not a particularly uncommon time for her classmates who have morning club practice for instance. However, Ayaka didn’t belong to any club, so this time is definitely the time when she must get out of bed.
Ayaka: “Perfect, ugh.”
As she mumbles it, she turns the alarm switch off.
The time that the alarm was setup for is 6:00 AM.
So, “perfect.” She had to quickly get out of bed.
Wriggling and crawling out from her blanket, she squirms to takes off her pyjamas.
She then puts on her high school uniform which she had laid out before she went to sleep last night, puts on her glasses which she had left on the top of her desk, and then combs her hair in front of the full-length mirror that was beside her wardrobe. Since her hair is not really that long, she finishes it right away. It’s okay. At least, it didn’t affect her breakfast time.
Her breath is white.
The air in the corridor, was even more colder than the inside of her room.
Walking to the bathroom at a fast pace, she washes her face with water that was so cold that the air didn’t bother her at all.
Naturally, she fixes her fringe in place with a pin so that it doesn’t get wet.
Ayaka: “Hya!”
It’s cold. Surprised, she lets out a cry.
Although she was thinking, ‘I’ve clearly woken up by myself,’ the hints of sleep that were apparently still left somewhere on her vanishes in that moment. Her consciousness, is clear. Wiping the moisture off her face with her personal towel, she removes the fringe pin, as she puts on and adjusts her glasses―――
Suddenly, it catches her eyes. The small stepladder which she cannot use now.
Ayaka: “I should throw it away, next time.”
After muttering it and sighing, she looks at the mirror.
Naturally. Her own appearance, was reflected in there.
She didn’t even wet her bangs, so it’s her 16-year-old self.
She didn’t resemble that person, very much. But if she’s forced to say it, then―――
Ayaka: “What an ordinary face.”
The words were naturally spilling out.
A girl who wore glasses. A girl, who didn’t stand out or seem to fit in anywhere, is in there.
She might not solely resemble that person, or even have her clear eyes which should shine by catching the light, but they didn’t attractively shine through the lens of her glasses. ‘Yes,’ Ayaka thought.
It was a face that couldn’t be said to be in, her group of favorite things.
Before her own reflection in the mirror, she wondered why the expression in her eyes were so full of caution.
It might be oozing out of her character.
Her own personality.
‘In other words, I’m gloomy, cowardly, narrow-minded, and……….’
Ayaka: “……Huh. crap, the time, the time.”
‘―――So hopelessly……..’
‘……Ordinary.’
Rushing, she walks through the corridor and opens the door to the dining room, passing through it to go to the kitchen.
Although he says that doesn’t mind the ‘person on duty system’ for cooking, she wanted to make it by herself as much as possible, after the unbelievable amount that he made the last time she entrusted him with it. Although she didn’t particularly mind having to eat lots of food, it would be bothersome to naturally come up with something if she has to eat the same amount of food as him.
Fetching some vegetables from the refrigerator with her fingers which still had the bandage from yesterday wound around it, she grasps the kitchen knife, and begins with the tomatoes.
With a tap-tap, she starts cutting them up.
Just cutting the vegetables, she thinks ‘I’ve gotten a lot more skilled at it compared to when I was a child.’
It was after elementary school when she had noticed, that even one style of cutting changes the texture of the food, directly connecting it to taste. To that end, she couldn’t really puff her chest at it.
Despite being able to prepare mainly vegetables, it had taken a considerable amount of time for her to realize it.
Ayaka: “I’m really am ordinary, aren’t I?”
Saber: “Good Morning, Ayaka. It appears you’re early again this morning.”
Suddenly, a voice ―――
Despite not wanting to be surprised at this moment, “Wah!” she cried. She was surprised.
As she turns her gaze, he, appeared there.
―――He who had blue eyes, that appear green with the addition of light.
―――My, Servant.
Ayaka: “Geez. Don’t scare me like that, Saber”
Saber: “I’m sorry, Ayaka. I didn’t mean to surprise you, but you were concentrating.”
Ayaka: “I’m just cutting vegetables.”
Saber: “I can see that. But still, you’re very skilled at handling kitchen knives.”
He smiles as he says it.
It was his usual, smiling face.
A kind smile that was as if he was saying, “I’ll accept everything about you.”
It was definitely an illusion, but the sunlight that was shining in from the window, felt like it was sparkling and shining, wrapping around him as if he was being blessed. It didn’t mean that he was emanating magical power, or that he was even a prince from inside a picture book.
Ayaka: “……It’s normal.”
Somehow, she slightly says it while forming a calm voice.
She focuses on the cooking task before her eyes. ‘Let’s finish this quickly.’
Quickly she makes the breakfast.
In the Fresh Vegetable Salad, are Sunny Side-Up Fried Eggs. As well as toast. Sausages which were also prepared because he came up to her and asked, “Don’t you have any meat?” are also fried.
Meat. Oh, meat―――
Meat, stuff that comes from the bodies of living beings are no good to her. She can’t stand it. Blood too. So, sausages. The feel of the meat, the non-impression of blood, ready-made stuff, she couldn’t handle those kinds of meats unless it was this style of processed food. She can only say, that she is disqualified as a Black Magus. The bandage that was wrapped around a finger on her left hand was good proof of it.
Although Ayaka thinks that she’s pitiful, there was just no helping it on this.
Saber: “It looks delicious.”
Ayaka: “I just, sliced and fried it.”
Saber: “Skills can also be applied to simple tasks. The same goes for swords, and kitchen knives too.”
Ayaka: “…….”
Without deliberately answering it, she begins to try and set the dining room table.
And, as if she was anticipating it, he had done it in a blink of an eye.
He did all the rest to the extent, that Ayaka came in carrying the cups and milk that was taken out from the fridge.
Ayaka: “……. Thank you.”
‘For once, let me say thank you.’
Without hearing his reply, she arrives at the table, he clearly says, “Thanks for the food” in the seat next to Ayaka who softly says, “Thanks for the food” and chews on it. Breakfast begins. First is the piece of tomato, after putting it in her mouth, she eats the Sunny Side-Up Fried Eggs―――
‘Aah.’ ‘Did it again.’
Despite not being aware of it.
Ayaka exhales a sigh in her thoughts.
In her usual habit, she had yet again, made Sunny Side-up Fried Eggs.
Saber: “My apologies, I take it that it would’ve been better if I hadn’t of heard that, right?”
She, didn’t say anything. In any case, he whose place is as the most excellent Servant, knew what Ayaka didn’t want to say. Was it because he had a magical connection with his Master, no that is not the case, he is just merely perceptive.
Straightaway, she speculates something. ‘Even now, he, absolutely knows what I’m apologizing for.’
Saber: “The Sunny Side-Up Fried Eggs, I like them with either frying method. So, I do not mind letting you give them to me in your favourite style.”
Ayaka: “Um, okay……”
See. He knows.
Without batting her eyes to him, Ayaka nods.
Ayaka: （Like, huh?）
She whispers in her mind. Like she was trying to avoid his perception, quietly.
Although Turnover eggs are really her favourite, no, although it was, now, she’s not really sure whether that’s the case anymore. After all she had continued to make the Sunny Side-Up Fried Eggs which her big sister had always liked.
In the first place, she liked Turnover eggs when she was younger, so she might’ve discovered her tastes with her modest rebellious spirit towards her big sister who was perfect.
Suddenly―――
Without knowing it, Ayaka was looking out the window.
8 years ago. It was as if she was dancing around and around, in that spot where that person was basking in the morning sun.
Ayaka: “……. Hey, Saber”
Saber: “What is it?”
Ayaka: “You, you were my older sister’s Servant. In the Holy Grail War, 8 years ago, weren’t you?”
Saber: “That’s right. Manaka was my Master.”
Ayaka: “What kind of Master, was she? My older sister, that is…...”
‘A genuine curiosity.’
‘That’s probably, all that it is,’ Ayaka thinks to herself.
Was it because she had hated to continue her meal in still silence, or that it might even be better for her to hear a lot or even a little bit of information about the Holy Grail War, a couple of reasons come to her mind. But, the most closest one, is that she thinks she’s curious. Cause she had suddenly become bothered about it. She still spoke of it at any rate.
Saber: “Manaka, well let’s see, she was an excellent Magus.”
He smiles.
Saber: “She was very talented. She was not very forgiving to other Magi, but even so, I felt that she carried no less than first grade talent, somehow.”
Ayaka: “Huh?”
She was feeling, hooked on his words.
She completely tilts her head.
Ayaka: “Oh. Your memory of last time, about the first Holy Grail War is fuzzy, right? I believe you’ve mentioned that before.”
Saber: “Ah……. Um, yes.”
8 years ago, he was also participating in the Holy Grail War.
The first ranked Heroic Spirit of the Sword. He, fought as my older sister’s, Manaka Sajyou’s Servant, entirely defeating the other six Heroic Spirits and had obtained the Holy Grail. However, right before that happened, he broke his contract―――
Ayaka: “Aftereffects, right. Is your memory from after being summoned this time, alright?”
Saber: “Oh, yes. There’s no need to worry, the only unreliable part of my memory, concerns the events of 8 years ago.”
He gives a nod.
It didn’t appear like there was something wrong with him.
He, was a flawless person. A person? No, a Heroic Spirit. Nestling close to herself who is the lowest of the seven ranked Masters – Princes, he is the first ranked Servant, who had sworn to fight alongside her in this Holy Grail War.
His smiling figure, is truly refined like a hero drawn in a picture book. And yet it’s overflowing with such a lively energy―――
Ayaka: （Huh?）
His usual smiling face.
Even though it should’ve been that, now, for just a brief moment.
There’s somehow, a seemingly sad, apologetic, almost unpleasant weird look on his face.
Indeed, it’s like its being suspended on his face?
Ayaka: “Saber?”
Saber: “Ayaka. May I also ask you a question?”
Ayak a: “Huh, um, sure.”
Saber: “Your older sister. About Manaka Sajyou, how did you feel about her?”
Originally Posted by Arashi_Leonhart
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