At the same time, in the supermarket.
Having changed out of her school uniform, Artoria now wore a white blouse and a long blue skirt, stepping out of the changing room. She seemed slightly uncomfortable, tugging at the back of her skirt, her face slightly flushed as she looked at Manaka. "Um… Sajyou, I'm done trying this on. Do we really need to buy this one?"
"Yes, it looks great on you, Pendragon-san." Manaka said with a smile. "See, Pendragon-san suits simple styles like this much better than fancy, ornate clothes."
"Thank you for the compliment, Sajyou. But isn't this skirt a bit too loose?"
"Skirts are supposed to be like that. How about trying this one too?"
Manaka approached with another piece of clothing. This one, however, looked more like a party dress than everyday wear. Plain white, sleeveless, with two long, slender gloves instead. If worn, it would likely leave the upper chest exposed.
Artoria hurriedly waved her hands. "Sajyou, this one's a bit… I think what I'm wearing now is fine. No need to buy more."
"One set of clothes isn't enough. A girl's wardrobe needs at least a dozen outfits, you know."
"That many?"
"Of course. We girls need different clothes for different occasions, unlike guys who can get by with just two or three sets." Manaka laughed. "My wardrobe has lots of clothes too. Though I usually wear just two or three regularly, I always keep the others ready."
"Ready? For special occasions?"
Manaka nodded. "Yes, some for going out with Naoki on weekends, some for New Year's shrine visits with Naoki, and some for parties with Naoki."
"It sounds like you and Natsukawa are truly inseparable. You have a great relationship."
"Great… Yes, but just great."
Putting the dress back on the hanger, Manaka looked at Artoria. "Pendragon-san, since Naoki rarely gives us chances like this, and he's not here, I'll say a few things from my heart…"
If Naoki were present, Manaka would never say what followed. But now, she was willing to speak, to the person in front of her who, in less than two days, had almost taken her place.
"Pendragon-san, I like Naoki. I really like him."
This was something Manaka had never told anyone but herself. Since shortly after they met ten years ago, she vaguely felt this way, and those feelings grew stronger over time.
Artoria wasn't too surprised. After all, a girl who cooked three meals a day for someone, spent most of her twenty-four hours with them, and couldn't accept anyone else—what could it be if not love? Hatred?
But why was she suddenly saying this to her?
"Pendragon-san, do you like Naoki?"
"Huh?"
Her thoughts froze.
Asking if she liked her Master?
[Oho~ Looks like this is a crucial choice that'll shape the story's direction. How will you respond, Lia?]
[Father King and Master… Doesn't sound bad!]
[Mordred, behave, don't talk nonsense, eat your candy—Little Gray, keep an eye on your big brother.]
Before Artoria could think, the voices of Merry, Mordred, and Morgan buzzing in her mind already threw her thoughts into chaos.
(Let me think clearly…)
First, it was certain Artoria had no romantic feelings for Naoki. Though Naoki was an exceptional man, seemingly perfect in many ways, his flaws—like laziness and maybe flirtatiousness (?)-made him feel more real. If he interacted with ten women, perhaps eleven would fall for him.
Putting herself in that position, Artoria thought she might also like him a little.
But right now, she had no such thoughts.
"I don't have romantic feelings for Natsukawa, Sajyou." Artoria shook her head. "He's a great guy, true, but we've only known each other for less than two days. In such a short time, even if I liked him, it'd only be for his looks. I don't think that's true love."
"Liking someone just for their face isn't true love?"
Manaka murmured, then nodded as if in strong agreement. "Yes, I think so too. Back then, some girls who met Naoki for just a day or two confessed to him because he's so handsome… Those kinds of people don't deserve Naoki at all."
"So… you asked me this to confirm my stance on Natsukawa? Then you can rest easy. I have no intention of falling in love with anyone right now. On the contrary, for your feelings for each other, I'll fully support you."
"Really?!"
Manaka's eyes lit up, and she patted her chest in relief. "Thank goodness… Honestly, I was so nervous. If you'd said you liked Naoki… I wouldn't know what to do."
"Why?"
"Because… it feels like you two are hiding something from me, like there's a unique connection between you—sorry, that might sound weird, you don't have to think about it."
"Right."
(She seems to have noticed something? I shouldn't have shown any traces. Did she guess it from the changes in the relationship between Master and me?)
Just as Naoki could sense issues possibly caused by Artoria from Manaka's behavioral changes, Manaka could also pick up on things from the shifts in Naoki and Artoria's relationship.
Though their ten years of memories and experiences were fictional, and they lacked real-world memories, they had truly been together for a decade. Besides Arthur, they were the ones who had spent the longest time with each other, the ones who understood each other the most in this world.
Changes in the other could only be quickly noticed by them—as long as it wasn't about romantic feelings. Naoki, dense as a log when it came to emotions, would never notice changes in how others felt about him.
"Your relationship is really strong."
Artoria suddenly said this without reason.
"Huh? What did you say, Pendragon-san?"
"Nothing, never mind. Anyway, do we need to buy more clothes? I think two sets are enough."
"Not enough, let's get four more."
"But money… I don't have much."
"I'll pay. Naoki gave me his card at noon."