The clouds gradually turned red, and the afterglow of the sunset spilled across the sky.
Click!
The moment the camera shutter fell, their day's itinerary was more than halfway finished.
"All right, time to head down the mountain," With Shirou's call, the few people who were fully absorbed in taking photos relaxed.
Sella picked up the things placed under the tree, and Liz took out tissues from her bag.
"Illya-sama, wipe your sweat."
"Mm," Illya closed her eyes and let Liz wipe it.
"Are we going down?", Medea gazed out at the Seto Inland Sea, the wind lifting her long hair, the same color as the sea. And the sea was always blue, waves following one after another. Layer upon layer, endless and unceasing.
This was Mount Bofu, 246 meters above sea level. At the top of the mountain was a 360-degree rotating observation tower.
Standing here, one could take in the Seto Inland Sea, the Great Bridge, and Osaka Bay all at once.
"Mm, time to go down. Hold on, I'll go buy the tickets."
"I'll go with you, Berserker," Medea withdrew her gaze and followed behind Shirou.
She keenly noticed that the latter deliberately slowed his pace, waiting for her to catch up.
"Berserker, haven't you realized you're just too gentle?"
"Am I?"
In this kind of weather, Servants wouldn't feel hot or cold.
Yet the playful atmosphere of the day still made him take off his coat.
The fragrance of plum blossoms filled the air. In the cold weather, they could still bloom alone.
Without looking at the plum blossoms, Shirou nearly forgot it was winter.
"Did you never break down over things like this in life?"
Shirou was just about to say no when a red-coated figure flashed before his eyes.
Suddenly, he fell silent. The rosy clouds sank, and all things grew desolate.
After waiting for a long time with no response, Medea sighed, "As expected."
"Berserker," she said, "Can you tell me your real name?"
Asking such a question, the outcome was likely predetermined from the start.
This man could never tell her. Even so, she still asked. Once this step was taken, whether their relationship turned better or worse, their current interactions would certainly be broken.
"Sorry, I can't remember," The reply was so calm, with not the slightest emotional fluctuation.
———
After buying the ropeway tickets, Shirou refused Illya's request, letting her and Medea ride together while he sat alone in the back to take pictures of the four of them.
The evening glow flowing through the mountains gradually reflected on the red sea, flocks of birds returning to their nests. This scene truly lived up to "The setting sun and the solitary duck fly together; the autumn waters share the same color with the vast sky."
Every press of the full-frame camera's shutter would record four girls who seemed to be returning home from a spring outing. Within their gentle laughter was hidden an infinite joy.
After coming down the mountain, the group found a teahouse at the foot of the mountain.
First, they asked if they could brew tea themselves. After learning they could, they went in and sat down.
They paid and chose a private room. Shirou let them go ahead while he stayed behind to select water and prepare the snack platter.
At this time, perhaps not doing everything himself would be better. It was just that the approaching evening wind felt like a war horn about to be blown.
He wanted to make sure they experienced everything to the end, so that even in memory, it would feel like a worthwhile journey.
The environment inside the teahouse could be described as antique and elegant.
Bright in color, with not many scratches or peeling paint on the tables and stools, complete tea sets, and fresh, green little plants.
All of this showed the teahouse owner's love for tea culture.
After the selected water and snack platter were brought into the private room, they brewed black tea.
Upon entering such a quaint place, Sella also became stiff and formal.
She often scolded Illya, saying she should behave with proper ladylike manners.
Though unsuccessful, it was still amusing.
Medea spoke a bit about her own legend and experiences. Unfortunately, her eloquence wasn't great. Illya just focused on drinking tea and didn't want to listen to her nonsense.
Shirou pressed the shutter and recorded this scene once again.
"Berserker... happy?", Liz tugged on his sleeve.
"You could tell?", Shirou put down the camera.
"At a time like this... no need to take pictures."
"Mm, got it."
After sitting for half an hour, the group walked out of the teahouse.
Chatting under the dim night sky, Medea touched her chin and said, "I see, so drinking tea in a tearoom is this kind of experience."
"You don't like it, Caster?", Shirou checked the camera's exposure settings.
'Tsk, not good.'
After it got dark, the photos taken without a fill light had very dark skin tones for the people and a terrible amount of noise.
Later, when taking pictures, he should have Medea use an illumination spell.
"No," Medea put down her hand and glanced at Shirou fiddling with the camera.
'Why does it feel like Berserker can't part with his camera?'
'As expected, this guy just likes strange things.'
"Berserker, let's go eat barbecue! After barbecue, we'll go see the sea!", Illya was planning today's final event.
———
In winter, night fell quickly. By seven, it was already fully dark.
After eating barbecue at an outdoor stall, they proceeded to the last stop. A beach not far from Sumaura Park.
It was now eight o'clock at night.
"Wah~", Illya, putting on her coat, ran toward the sea.
Behind her, Sella shouted anxiously, telling her to be careful not to fall.
In the end, she herself fell flat on the ground, getting mockingly stared at by Liz with a blank face.
"Berserker, come on, come on!", Illya said joyfully, "The sea is so beautiful, like a mirror reflecting the night sky."
The gentle full moon rose over the sea as if giving face. Perfectly round, pure and flawless. It was a symbol of reunion.
Illya took off her shoes and stepped onto the wet sand. The sea water rushed up and submerged her ankles. The bone-chilling cold made her cry out.
This scene, it felt like it had been seen in a memory...
———
"Saber, what are you thinking?", Sajyou Manaka asked.
"Nothing, just saw a familiar scene, and naturally recalled some memories."
Artoria closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, only solemnity and determination remained.
'Irisviel, I'm sorry. This time, I must obtain the Holy Grail!'
"Indeed, when people look at the sea, they always recall some nostalgic past," Sajyou Manaka nodded in agreement, then smiled and asked, "Is that also why you want to return to the past?"
'She thought I was reminiscing about Britain?'
Artoria neither confirmed nor denied it.
Unable to determine whether it was something she should honestly speak of, she chose to remain silent, not wanting to lie.
Fortunately, Sajyou Manaka didn't press further. Instead, with her hands behind her back, she too enjoyed the final moment of serenity.
The two groups gazing at the sea were so close yet so far apart.
They each treated the other as if they didn't exist, yet in truth tacitly acknowledged this final moment, this final boundary. As if it were a dividing line between nations, between homes.
That kind of distance wasn't something one could perceive with eyes, but with the heart.
Sajyou Manaka watched the time, her clear eyes half-narrowed, then said playfully, "It's starting now, Berserker's surprise for his Master."
"A surprise?", Artoria looked up at the starry sky.
She remembered the scene she had seen in the wetlands.
Sajyou Manaka used magic to catch a fish for the egret.
At that time, she said, "This kind of animal, left alone, can hunt and survive just fine. Even so, I still want to put the food into its mouth with my own hands."
"No special reason, just felt I should do it."
"Humans are just such boring yet unavoidably boring creatures."
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.
https://discord.gg/bYAfGyp98y