"Isn't this weather just perfect?"
As they strolled along the winding path, the girl glanced at Saber, hoping to spark a conversation.
"Yeah, I guess," Saber replied, his gaze fixed ahead, a slight shrug dismissing the enthusiasm.
"Do you remember the fireflies back then...? Aren't they beautiful!" she continued, trying to engage him.
"Yeah, it was okay," he said, his tone flat, barely making eye contact.
She sighed but pressed on, "I've been thinking about planning a picnic here soon. What do you think we should bring?"
"Food, I guess," Saber mumbled, his attention wandering as he kicked a pebble along the path.
The girl frowned slightly but tried again. "We could make sandwiches and bring some fruit. It would be fun, right?"
"Sure, whatever," he responded, not sounding convinced, his focus still elsewhere. His halfhearted reaction caused something within the girl to snap.
Disappointed, she watched a pair of ducks swimming nearby and attempted to bring him back. "Look at those ducks! They're so cute. Don't you think?"
"Yeah, ducks are fine," he said dismissively, his expression unchanged.
...Ducks?
Saber promptly turned his head to gaze at the ducks from the distance. His mouth momentarily opened before closing a second after he snapped back to his thoughts.
Trying to shift gears, she cautiously ventured, "What about your art? Have you thought about working on anything new?"
It hasn't been a while since Saber started having interest in art. He mentioned something about practicing in order to not let his skill in painting rust.
"Not really... Just stuff," Saber replied, his voice still lacking energy.
"That's okay! Inspiration comes and goes," the girl encouraged, determined to keep the conversation alive. "What do you think inspires you?"
"No idea," he answered brusquely, his hands shoved in his pockets.
She felt a pang of frustration but didn't give up. "I watched this documentary about creativity the other day. It was fascinating! It talked about how artists find their spark. You'd love it!"
"Sounds boring," Saber replied, still not paying attention.
The girl bit her lip, trying to find a way to connect with him.
Suddenly, she couldn't hold back anymore.
"Why are you ignoring me!!?"
Her loud question startled Saber. He moved away, covering his ears.
"I'm not... ig...noring... you...?"
When he peeked out, he noticed some of her hair had fallen, hiding part of her face.
"...Sorry."
He quickly apologized, realizing his mistake.
"Why are you ignoring me...?" she asked again, her head hanging low as she tightened her grip on her dress.
Saber looked at her before turning his gaze away.
"I'm sorry..." He repeated.
She raised her head to meet his eyes. Though her face was hidden, he sensed her deep hurt from being overlooked.
As for why...
"How many days do we have left?"
Three weeks? He wasn't sure. Everything felt like a blur, moving too fast for him to keep track.
It had been some time, but...
"It's getting near."
He found himself enjoying her company more than he thought.
"...?"
Saber was lost in thought, briefly glancing away. When he turned back, the girl had disappeared from in front of him.
He looked around quickly spotted her at the edge of the lake, removing her sandals one by one. "Hey! What are—?" he called out, but she ignored him as she stepped into the water.
Saber rushed over to her when she turned and playfully splashed him with water just as he was about to reach her.
"Hey, stop it!"
Droplets fell from his hair as he tried to shield his face from the water.
The girl giggled, enjoying in his surprised expression. She splashed him again, water flying everywhere.
"Stop... Huh?"
Saber's irritation melted away with her laughter. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly as he quickly kicked off his wet shoes and socks before hopping to the lake.
It sent a wave of water splashing toward her. She squealed, lifting her arms to shield her face, her laughter ringing out.
For a few moments, the world around them faded.
Saber felt loss in the moment.
As the laughter began to settle, they found themselves sitting on a swing nearby, still catching their breath.
The sun warmed their faces as they exchanged laughs with each other.
"Isn't this your 41st favor? I have cheered you up, so that means I only have to grant you three more, right?"
"Yeah, sure…"
Saber couldn't help but smile as he observed the tiny ants marching across the ground.
"You still haven't used your favor," he reminded her.
He recalled the 301st round of their chess game. He had made a careless mistake while moving a piece. By the time he realized his error, it was already too late.
Each of her moves chipped away at his defenses, and slowly but surely, his King found itself trapped in a corner. With no options left, he surrendered, making her the victor.
"Mmm~?" The girl hummed with a hint of delight, tilting her head to steal a quick glance at him.
She quickly turned away, shrugging her shoulders. "I'll use it soon," she said with a weary sigh. Her tone puzzled Saber, and he looked at her with curiosity.
Before he could respond, she stood up, her movements graceful and deliberate. She stepped closer, the warm sunlight casting a golden hue over her hair, making it shimmer like spun gold.
In that moment, the world around them seemed to slow down, the rustling of grass and the distant chirping of birds fading into the background as her words hung in the air, rich with promise.
The flower field of dandelions surrounding them began to sway gently in the soft breeze. The air was filled with the sweet scent of wildflowers, mingling with the earthy aroma of damp soil, creating a serene atmosphere.
"Let's make the most of our remaining time together."