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The person reflected in the girl’s eyes is――――
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Fate/Prototype: Blue Silver Fragments - Arc 1: Little Lady Arc
Act 2
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Manaka: “Here you go, Bon Appetite.”
The girl said, with her back to the radiance that was morning incarnate. Standing by the east window, while showing off a table which had various dishes arranged on it, in a voice that was more lovelier than the songbird who was even now chirping outside the residence. Which was in some respects, even accompanied by her shy gestures.
Was a pretty girl.
With soft hair that was visibly transparent. And pale, translucent coloured eyes. She looked really pretty in her green dress. A single, radiant flower in full bloom――――That’s right, he was describing the girl’s figure in his mind. For example, if he was an elegant knight who was accustomed to handling ladies, then he would improvise, by extoling the girl’s beauty while he was still on the verge of giving praise, during the one time where he could offer his gratitude for the many dishes that were served to him. However, if anything, he wasn’t experienced with the ladies.
Thus, he was just, gazing at the girl.
Saber: “Thank you.”
He briefly told her. Loading his feelings of gratitude in it.
Manaka: “Umm, well….”
Despite showing some shy behavior, the girl was wearing a smile.
Manaka: “Since I don’t know your tastes, I, ended up trying to make whatever came to my mind. Although I might’ve made a bit too much of it.”
Saber: “No. I appreciate your gratitude.”
Manaka: “You don’t have to push yourself, just eat what you’d like……”
A voice which was shyly telling. That is, it was suddenly, becoming smaller.
It was about the moment when the girl’s incomprehensible gaze, quickly shifted from his figure to the table.
Manaka: “If you eat it for me…...”
A cheerfulness that was said to make all good fairies who were dancing and basking in the sun perspire. A large brilliantly blooming flower, which was wet with the morning dew. Each of their radiances, were darkening. The fairies hide, and the blooming flower closes over rewinding back in time.
Her eyes were shaking. The girl’s expression sank.
Saber: “Well then……...”
With all due respect―――――
In front of the mountain of dishes which had been arranged on the table, he could now, see himself finally coming back to his senses. Certainly, there was probably too much of it for say a normal person’s meal’s worth. Egg dishes. Bacon and Eggs, Scrambled Eggs, Poached Eggs. Each of them, were roughly enough for six people!? Incidentally, the poached eggs were accompanied by toast. This was also for six people. Salad. Good-looking with green as its basic theme, it was also enough for six people.
Meat dishes. As for the sausages which were grilled together with the thick white mushrooms, this was also for six people. Furthermore, there was one whole Kidney Pie, which had been made using mushrooms with meat and cow intestines as its ingredients. Perhaps, it had just been baked. She had just said to him, that after she’d cut it into 6 equal pieces, she’d give him the very first piece.”
The milk porridge was also for six people. An item which had cod fillet and potatoes deep fried in oil in it, was also in the pile. Dessert which was plums served with sliced peaches, were also fitting in its own way. As for the cream and scones which had been laid out for after the meal, a considerable amount of it was placed on a cake stand. On the whole, they were dishes that were unfamiliar to him. Separately, they were just items which had names which had been taught to him by the girl and images attached to them.
Saber: “It’s not a problem if it’s this amount.”
Manaka: “But――――”
Saber: “A meal serves as a knight’s vitality for when he’s appears on the battlefield. Though there is a lot of them, it is not something that will trouble me.”
Saying that, he smiled. Although it was a facial expression that he had made in order to relieve the girl, in reality, if it was this amount then it was not an impossible argument. There was a certain truth in the matter that he had expressed in words.
Now that they were facing the battlefield, a knight needed a lot of vitality. Meat, potatoes, and alcohol, it’s not like, there was an inherent belief that those knights who established their courage had to consume just that. Of course, there are limits to every exception. All of the knights who gathered at the Round Table which arose in his mind wouldn’t confine themselves to nodding at these words. In any case.
At least, he could say this without being at a loss with himself.
Saber: “It’s not a lie.”
He was betting his sword and pride on it. He will never, let himself tell a lie.
Saber: “A person with your given conduct will obtain it all. Manaka”
Manaka Sajyou―――――
That was the girl’s name.
After a little while, breakfast began. He carried the food to his mouth as words, and when almost half of the food had disappeared, the girl finally regained her original cheerfulness. Every time he told her words “It’s good.,” the girl would become cheerful right before his eyes. The presence of fairies and flowers returns. And naturally, a smile appeared on their mouths.
On the girl, as well as himself.
Manaka: “And then.”
The girl told him, with a huge smile on her face. If flowers could speak our language, then it’d probably be a sound like this. It was a sound worthy enough for him to think so. If only, his daughters who were living in that distant Avalon
[1], could sing like this.
Manaka: “See the sour creamed deep fried fish, I have confidence in that. After all, very picky Ayaka told me, that this fried food, was delicious. So this must be the one, right?”
Saber: “Yes, it has a particularly magnificent flavour.”
Manaka: “Fufu, if you like it that much then I’m happy.”
The girl closes her eyes seemingly completely happy.
Manaka: “You see this morning, nowadays, um well, to be precise I tried making an English styled breakfast from the 19th to 20th century. So, I guess what I’m wondering is if the flavour is close to your homeland’s.”
Saber: “Yes, it’s delicious.”
Manaka: “Really?”
Saber: “Yeah”
Manaka: “Really, truly?”
Saber: “Yes, My Lady
[2]. Your cooking is extremely delicious.”
Repeating his words. The girl, then deepened her smile even more.
Manaka: “I’m so glad ――――”
Tilting her head, her hair was swaying. He too, was smiling a bit in response. Depressingly speaking though―――――regarding the word, “England,” he didn’t feel like it was something that he could get used to. However, the girl’s feelings were being conveyed to him.
That was enough. As a matter of fact, it was a delicious meal.
The dishes known to him were of reasonable labour; so they probably varied in their steps. Perhaps, they had a cultural decline over the long months and years, and may’ve also combined them with ones from foreign countries. He could feel this type of time difference, in the food that he carried to his mouth. It was like he was yearning for something in there, but even so, he was grateful for the consideration.
The girl didn’t know, what he desired, what he was feeling, what he thought about all of this, or the truth. But, he was accepting of the pure being. Without expressing, even the slightest bit of nervousness about facing the battles, he just, returned a smile towards the girl, who was talking while wearing an innocent expression that suited a girl her age.
And then――――
Manaka: “Hey, Saber…”
Saber: “Yes, what is it?”
Renewed, she called out his name. So Saber, looked at the girl.
Manaka: “I, this morning, there was one thing that I understood. Um well, yeah, I definitely, must’ve known it from the start, but….”
The girl nodded “a yeah.”
Manaka: “You know in essence it’s the same as cooking.”
Before he could ask “What is?” the words were reverberating. From her cherry blossom lips. Quietly, without changing her entire tone. In an extremely natural way. For example, in the same way as a cup whose contents were spilling out as it was being turned over.
Manaka: “――――The way we do things in the Holy Grail War.”
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[1] Avalon – Home of the Fairies
[2] Yes, My Lady: Yes, my master.