"Perhaps he wanted to see you, but the Saber class was taken by you. Left with no choice, he chose the Berserker class."
"To see me?"
Artoria's face was filled with bitterness. From Kurumi's perspective, she didn't look like a legendary king but just a young girl—one troubled by the woes of adolescence.
Dressed rebelliously, it was hard to know what to say about her outfit.
"No, no, no."
Artoria shook her head nervously. "He definitely wants revenge on me. I will never forget that day and how much he hates me!"
"I heard them say I have no emotions. How could that be? I am human too!"
Artoria's demeanor was off, making Kurumi frown slightly. Suppressing her 'charm,' Kurumi helped the young knight's emotions gradually stabilize.
Kurumi rubbed her smooth chin. The coffee was still steaming, and though the sun was shining brightly outside, it felt cold and devoid of warmth inside.
She pushed the pastries toward Artoria. "Maybe Lancelot came to apologize to you."
"No, absolutely not..."
The 'charm' had disrupted Artoria's judgment, leaving her mind muddled with images of Lancelot.
Comparing the 'Knight of the Lake' with the Berserker exuding malevolent energy, Artoria felt a pang of heartache.
"Well~"
Kurumi stood up, bent her slender waist slightly, and cupped Artoria's cheeks with her hands.
At that moment, Artoria, still in confusion, suddenly woke up!
The fresh scent filled her nostrils, and the soft touch on her face exuded no hostility!
"Witc—"
"Hm?"
Kurumi's wine-red eyes seemed to speak. As Artoria's pupils refocused, a gentle power different from magic surrounded her, clearing her chest of anxiety. She felt a soothing coolness and was very comfortable.
The ends of Kurumi's ponytail turned white, and a divine glow seemed to shimmer around her.
"Feeling better?"
It wasn't until Kurumi let go of her cheeks that Artoria felt like she had woken up from a dream.
"Kuru... Kurumi, thank you!"
"Would you like to continue our date?"
"Date?"
Artoria was puzzled. "Is this a modern term? Does it mean the same as a duel?"
Kurumi rolled her eyes. "Little girls shouldn't always think about fighting."
Artoria frowned uneasily. She seemed particularly sensitive when others referred to her as a girl.
"A date~" Kurumi rested her chin on her hand again, leaning on the table. She seemed particularly fond of this gesture.
But as a knight, it looked awkward, causing unnecessary strain on her body.
"In simple terms, it's just about eating~."
"Eating?!"
Kurumi could clearly see the dull-haired girl's eyes light up like gas lamps, drawing attention easily.
It seemed Artoria, as a summoned Heroic Spirit, had limited knowledge of modern information.
"Like me and Irisviel?"
"I suppose so."
Kurumi sighed. "A date is a way to foster mutual affection."
Standing up, she extended her hand to Saber. "Artoria, would you like to give it a try with me?"
The little lion quickly picked up the cake from her plate and stuffed it into her mouth. She then drank the milk coffee in one go, elegantly wiped her mouth with a napkin, and reached out to hold Kurumi's hand. Her emerald eyes were full of anticipation. "Shall we go?"
Her small hand was soft, slightly wider than Kurumi's. It might be a racial difference, but Kurumi didn't notice the calluses typical of someone who wielded a sword.
'A Heroic Spirit body? Or perhaps such an extraordinary person can achieve a second physical transformation?'
Uncertain, Kurumi held Artoria's hand and walked out of the café with Red Queen floating behind them. She covered her mouth to stifle her laughter.
In her view, her master's forced explanation of the term 'date' was simply too amusing!
...
Shopping was said to be a woman's nature, but for Kurumi and Artoria, it was a boring activity.
Artoria, with her knightly principles, was naturally calm and composed in front of women.
They shopped from morning till afternoon, eating meals and snacking in between.
As the evening sun slanted, Kurumi could barely maintain her expression. She watched Artoria still battling a takoyaki. She sighed lightly.
Although she knew about this Saber's appetite, seeing it in person was still astonishing.
Remembering the restaurant owner's face at noon, Kurumi couldn't help but laugh.
Artoria's cheeks bulged, her emerald eyes reflecting the pure hues of the sunset.
After chewing thoroughly, she swallowed the takoyaki and looked at the girl beside her, who was chuckling softly.
"What is it? Do I have something strange on my face again?"
Kurumi waved her hand, her gaze drifting into the distance. The sunset's glow bathed the wooden bench they sat on, creating a serene atmosphere.
Suddenly, a takoyaki appeared in the scene of the beautiful sunset!
"Want some?"
Kurumi blinked. Seeing Artoria's serious expression, she leaned forward and took a bite.
"Tasty?"
"Mm."
The oil glistened on her pink lips, making them shine and tempting someone to take a bite.
Kurumi couldn't comprehend Artoria's appetite, just as Artoria couldn't understand why Kurumi ate so little.
In fact, to accompany Artoria in eating these snacks, Kurumi had to use spiritual power more than once to digest the food in her body forcibly.
What could she do? Her retinas reflected the golden-haired girl.
At this moment, Saber held a paper tray in one hand and a skewer in the other, stuffing takoyaki into her mouth!
The area around her mouth was already shiny with oil. A photo at this moment would definitely be blackmail material!
"Ah~"
Kurumi leaned back, her posture lacking any ladylike elegance. Her back against the bench, she touched her slightly bulging stomach. The vortex of spiritual power within her began to churn slightly.
Looking up, she saw stars starting to twinkle in the sky.
'What a terrible day.'
"Hm?"
Both voices spoke simultaneously. Kurumi turned her head and realized Artoria was gone, and there was no magical fluctuation around.
"Was she summoned by a Command Spell?"
Kurumi lazily stood up, stretching in the sunset, even through her long dress, revealing her beautiful curves.
"Not giving anyone a chance to rest, really..."