Chapter 105: Colors
[May 30th, evening.]
[Only one day remains before the end of May.]
Late at night, when the dormitory was about to close.
The soft moonlight fell, casting a pale white glow like a thin ivory veil that gently brushed away the dense, heavy darkness of the night.
The two of them had just finished their late-night meal and were walking back toward the dormitory. In Eikou's hand was a bag containing yakisoba bread and drinks — the snack he had bought for Oberon.
"Hmm~ hmm~ hmm~"
Artoria happily followed beside him, unable to stop herself from humming a cheerful tune.
"You're in quite a good mood tonight," Eikou couldn't help but remark.
"Ha ha, am I?"
Artoria smiled, revealing her pearly white teeth,
"I guess it's just because tonight feels especially relaxing. We got to eat, play games, and there's no class tomorrow morning — it's basically my perfect day!"
Eikou thought to himself that Artoria's idea of a perfect day was surprisingly simple, just like an ordinary person who wanted to live an easygoing life.
But after spending some time with her, he had come to understand a bit of her true nature.
This Artoria, compared to the dignified King of Knights of Britain, was much more like a simple country girl — plain, unpretentious, and just a completely ordinary girl.
"The only thing I regret is not being able to stay overnight at their house, though I think I'd probably be too nervous to sleep anyway."
"Huh, you like staying over at other people's houses?" Eikou asked.
"Not exactly, I just really admire that feeling of having fun together with everyone..."
Artoria said a little shyly.
"In the past, my life was rather lonely and dull, so I really want to experience that — being able to laugh and play freely with friends you can open your heart to, eating delicious food, losing yourself in games, and laughing foolishly together after doing foolish things. Deep down, I really love nights like this! I truly hope there'll be more opportunities like that in the future!"
After a moment, as if realizing she had said too much, she softly added,
"Would you think that's too childish? Please don't laugh at me right now."
"Ha ha, it's definitely a bit childish," Eikou couldn't help but laugh, "but I actually think the same way as you — this is exactly the kind of life I've always dreamed of."
"Uwah, you think so too..."
Artoria looked rather surprised.
"What's so surprising about that? Aren't dreams supposed to be the things that make us happy and look forward to life? Living these joyful days like this — that itself is already a dream. Or rather..."
At that point, Eikou hesitated slightly.
Finally, he pressed his lips together, smiling softly with a trace of melancholy: "Artoria, would you like to hear what I really think?"
"What do you mean by 'really think'?"
Sensing the subtle change in his tone, she replied, "If you want to talk, Eikou, then tell me."
"I just feel a bit uneasy — kind of scared, wondering what'll happen when days like this come to an end. The happier I am in the present, the more I worry about the future."
Eikou took a deep breath, deliberately lightening his tone so as not to make the atmosphere too heavy:
"The first semester isn't even over yet, but I'm already worrying about what happens after graduation next year. Maybe by then everyone will go their separate ways... ha ha, sounds gloomy, doesn't it? I can't believe I'm turning into one of those 'emo guys.'"
Artoria blinked, then gave a bright, carefree smile: "That's totally normal, actually I feel the same way."
"Really?"
"Umu umu, I always get the feeling that being this happy will one day get me punished by the heavens," Artoria said with a laugh. "But honestly, having that kind of feeling isn't bad at all — the more afraid you are of losing something, the more it proves that you truly, truly treasure these days, right?"
"Yeah, maybe you're right."
Eikou shrugged, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
"Or maybe I'm just overthinking it. It's only the end of May, the first semester isn't even over yet."
"In that case, we've got to enjoy this year to the fullest!"
Artoria spoke with a passionate tone, then suddenly seemed to remember something.
"Let me secretly tell you a little secret, Eikou."
She suddenly leaned closer to him, her snow-white and adorable face taking on an unusually serious expression.
"What is it?" Eikou asked, slightly startled by her solemn demeanor.
"This time I studied really hard," she said, "I even secretly reviewed carefully for quite a while. I'm definitely going to get high scores in this midterm exam!"
Eikou answered sincerely, "That's great, my deskmate is a true honor student."
"That's not what I meant, I mean..."
Under the dim moonlight, the tips of her ears turned slightly red, her voice so soft that only the two of them could hear:
"Didn't they say that whoever gets the highest score can choose their seat? So that means…"
"This time, if I score high enough, I'll be able to keep sitting next to you."
Hearing that, Eikou was a little taken aback.
"Eh, you want to sit next to me that badly?"
"It's weird, isn't it? But somehow, I just don't want to give up the seat next to you to anyone else."
Artoria puffed up her slightly flushed cheeks, her green eyes filled with determination.
"Even though I've been really happy since transferring here, I'm happiest when I'm sitting next to you! I want to keep sharing a desk with you from now on too!"
"Ehm..."
Hearing her say that so sincerely and earnestly, Eikou's face flushed red, and his heart began to beat faster.
He didn't know why, but suddenly he felt a bit nervous.
"W-why aren't you saying anything? Did I say something weird…?!"
Seeing Eikou remain silent, Artoria's face grew even hotter, and she hurriedly asked.
"It's nothing, I'm just… a little introverted." Eikou replied shyly.
Artoria: "?!"
What the hell is he pretending for? He didn't look shy at all when he was stripping Arjuna-sensei's clothes!
In the blink of an eye, they had arrived at the girls' dorm entrance.
It was time to say goodbye.
Of course, if possible, Eikou would've loved to follow her in.
"Goodbye."
Eikou waved his hand, turned around, and prepared to leave.
Artoria quickly stepped up the stairs, yet still turned her head to look back at him once more.
Under the faint moonlight, her golden hair reflected the glow of the crescent moon, and on her fair face appeared a clear expression of shyness, mixed with a trace of loneliness.
"Ehem ehem…"
Standing before the dormitory porch, she cupped her hands around her mouth, cleared her throat to gather courage,
And right after that——
"Mochizuki Eikou!"
The Caster who was usually easily embarrassed suddenly burst forth with astonishing courage, not caring whether she disturbed others or if anyone else could hear her.
"What is it?"
Eikou was startled by her shout; he turned around with a face full of confusion.
Standing under the bright porch light, Artoria showed a radiant smile, happily shouting to him:
"From now on, I want to be with you too!"
"OK!"
He couldn't help but laugh, like a six- or seven-year-old child, cupping his hands around his mouth like a megaphone, cheerfully shouting back to Artoria:
"Sure! Let's go out and have fun again tomorrow, Artoria Caster!"
"UMU!"
She smiled brightly, waving vigorously at him.
Eikou waved back; the two of them said their goodbyes under the night sky, as the gentle moonlight stretched along the path dividing them.
「When I'm alone, that sound still echoes in my ears」
「If it hurts, then it's okay to give up」
「All life will eventually come to an end」
「It's precisely because we know we'll lose it someday」
「That we find those ordinary moments more beautiful than anything else in the world」
「Before saying goodbye」
「I just want to be with you」
「Even if that day comes tomorrow, I won't have any regrets」
「You are the one who gave me colors」
「The world I experienced with you, I want to etch deep into my eyes」
...
[May is about to end, only one day left, and another month passes.]
[Though there's still a long way until the end of the year, deep down you feel more and more reluctant — the more complete things feel, the easier it is to feel lonely.]
[From the moment humans ate the fruit of knowledge, they became wanderers.]
[They place their fragile hopes in the future, stepping onto a journey guided by the cards of fate.]
[Only strong will and persistent effort form the sole path to grasp one's dreams.]
[Summer has arrived, and when next spring comes back...]
[Life at the academy will come to an end, so you decide that before that day arrives, you must live to the fullest and shine brightly — to bring it to a perfect close, along with everyone's laughter, as the final farewell.]
...