"Your order's ready, dear guests."
Soon, two female staff ca over carrying two large trays of food.
"Thanks."
"Please enjoy." The two of them lingered a little as they walked away, eyes clearly reluctant to leave Shichen.
"Shichen, why were they staring at you the whole ti? Could they be other Masters?" Saber narrowed her eyes, watching the two staff leave suspiciously.
"That's impossible," Shichen laughed.
"Then why?"
"Hehe~ Saber, let explain," Irisviel said cheerfully. "It's because Shichen is ridiculously good-looking."
"Good-looking?"
"Those two are just normal girls. Of course they'd be attracted to him."
"I guess..." Saber took a closer look at Shichen and realized—yeah, he really was good-looking.
"Don't you think he is too?" Irisviel asked, curious.
"I don't care about that stuff… but yes, he is."
"Daddy's the most handso in the world!" Illya shouted excitedly.
"Mhm! Onii-chan is the best-looking!" Sakura nodded seriously.
"Alright, alright, no more flattery—there's no prize for it, you know~" Shichen smirked.
"We're just telling the truth."
"Mhm!"
"Aww, you two are adorable~" Shichen grinned and hugged both of them, rubbing his cheeks against their smooth little faces.
"Hehehe~"
The two girls giggled sweetly.
"Saber?" Irisviel turned to her.
"Hm? What's up?" Saber replied.
Irisviel looked amused. "You haven't fallen for Shichen too, have you?"
"Nope." Saber shook her head, calm as ever. "Not interested in that stuff."
"Really?" Irisviel raised an eyebrow—Saber was just a teenage girl, after all. How could she not care at all?
Even with the whole "duty" thing, no feelings at all? That didn't seem right.
"Eiri, drop it," Shichen cut in. "Saber really doesn't think about things like that."
"Why not?"
"She doesn't have ti," he said, glancing at Saber with a faint look of pity.
Saber frowned slightly. She'd seen that look from him before—and she hated it. She didn't want to be treated like so sheltered little girl.
"Even if she's busy, she's still a girl. Doesn't she at least have thoughts about it?" Irisviel pressed.
"She's probably just used to it. Rember, all the Knights of the Round Table were ridiculously good-looking."
"Oh, true… Saber, did you ever like any of them? You spent so much ti with them, fighting together and everything."
"No." Saber answered flatly.
"No way…"
"Alright, alright, stop digging into it. Let's eat. Look, Frieren's already sneaking sips of her cola."
Sluurp "Hey—I'm not sneaking!" Frieren quickly dropped her straw. "It's mine, okay?"
"Is cola really that good?" Saber asked, finally curious. She'd seen Frieren drink it a lot, but never tried it herself.
"Try it. You won't regret it," Frieren said, pushing Saber's cup toward her.
"Alright..."
Saber eyed the cup, picked it up, and took a sip through the straw.
"Hm?"
Fizzy bubbles exploded in her mouth, paired with that strange, sweet bite. She took another, bigger gulp.
A strange spicy sensation hit her throat—not spicy-hot, just... tingly and exciting.
"This is... cola?" Saber blinked, clearly intrigued.
"Don't tell you're hooked already," Shichen said, half-laughing.
He never imagined seeing Saber drinking soda, but sohow—it kind of worked?
Maybe he could convert her into a full-blown hobody. Then she might finally stop trying to change history.
Because honestly, history already happened. Changing it would change everything. Would that create a new world? A paradox? Who even knew.
Well, whatever—considering how broken the Holy Grail was, none of it mattered anyway.
"I'm not hooked," Saber snapped, putting the cup down—but her eyes still kept drifting back to it. She even licked her lips a little.
"Saber, try the burger too," Frieren offered, practically recruiting her to the dark side.
"So this is a burger, huh?"
Saber unwrapped it and took a look. Pretty basic—just a few ingredients slapped together. Could it really taste that good?
Skeptical, she took a big bite.
"Huh?"
The mont she started chewing, her eyes widened. The flavors didn't clash—they layered. Distinct textures, bold flavors, all working together.
This was... amazing.
Without another word, she devoured the rest in three bites. As she swallowed, she even licked the sauce off her lips.
"Hehe~"
Shichen suddenly laughed, pulling Saber out of her food trance.
"Ugh..." She realized everyone was staring. Again.
"Why are you all watching eat..." Saber muttered, face turning pink.
"It's a rare sight," Irisviel grinned.
"Rare?"
"You're always so serious. It's only when you're eating that we see your girlish side~"
"I…"
"Alright, alright, Saber's embarrassed. Let's eat too. Don't worry, Saber—there's plenty more." Shichen reassured her.
"I can't eat that much…"
Even though she said that, she ended up eating ten burgers. And her stomach? Totally flat.
Looking at the pile of wrappers in front of her, Saber was very embarrassed.
Shichen didn't tease her, though. He just stood up and got everyone ready to leave.
…
Outside the restaurant...
"Shichen, can I go back and rest?" Frieren tugged on his sleeve from the back of the group.
"What do you think?" he asked.
"But I'm sleepy…"
"You just ate and now you want to sleep? You're not a pig, you know."
"I'm an elf," Frieren shot back. "You know that."
"We've already walked around earlier, right? Just let head back~" Frieren whined, playing her trump card: acting cute. It worked... sotis.
"Nope." Shichen shut her down imdiately.
"Why not?"
"Just walk with us a bit more. If you go off by yourself, it makes you look antisocial. Besides, you just ate."
"Ugh… fine. You can touch my butt..." Frieren tried to bargain.
Shichen hesitated... then shook his head. "...Still no."
"Then… my chest?" Frieren gritted her teeth and raised the stakes.
He hesitated again… but still refused. "...Nope."
"You're no fun..."
"Just walk with us for a bit. I'll let you go back later, alright?"
"Ugh, fine..." Frieren sighed. She was out of bribes.
Up ahead...
Saber leaned closer to Irisviel and whispered, "Doesn't it bother you?"
She'd found out about Shichen and Illya's true relationship—and about Frieren.
"Bother ?" Irisviel blinked, then smiled. "Oh, you an Shichen and Frieren? Not really."
"Why not?"
"Frieren t Shichen before I did. I'm technically the 'newcor.' And I'm... well, artificial."
"But Shichen doesn't mind that, does he?"
"Not at all," Irisviel said with a warm smile. "So you don't need to feel insecure."
"I didn't expect you to care," Irisviel teased. "Saber, are you really just curious?"
"I'm just wondering... is Shichen the kind of guy who's... flirty?"
"Hehe~ so you noticed."
"Wait—seriously?"
"Yup. But I wouldn't call it 'flirty.' I'd say... passionate."
"What's the difference?" Saber frowned.
"Shichen treats girls really well. And honestly, he can afford to."
"I don't really get it."
"Well, back in your ti, wasn't it normal for n to have more than one partner?"
"I guess... yeah."
"What are you two whispering about?" Shichen suddenly walked up to them.
Saber went quiet.
"Nothing~ Just saying how handso you are," Irisviel replied sweetly.
"Oh yeah?" Shichen chuckled but didn't press further.
"Daddy, where are we going next?"
"Anywhere you two want." Shichen scooped both girls up—one on each arm.
"We'll go wherever Daddy goes!"
"Mhm!" Sakura nodded.
"How about the beach?"
"Yeah!!"
…
Ten minutes later…
They reached the beach. It was winter, so the place was empty.
Shichen put the girls down, letting them drag Frieren off to play on the sand. He stayed back with Saber and Irisviel.
"You're not going with them?" Irisviel asked.
"In a bit," Shichen said, his eyes narrowing as he glanced back the way they ca.
"What's wrong?"
Shichen didn't answer. Instead, he turned to Saber. "Get ready."
Saber's eyes sharpened. In an instant, her outfit changed—armor replacing her dress, a sword wrapped in wind forming in her hand. Its true form was hidden.
Her weapon was too iconic. Showing it would give away her identity. And in the Holy Grail War, a Servant's true na was everything.
…
"Oh? So you did notice ."
A man's unfamiliar voice echoed in the cold air.
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