As they walked away from the graveyard, hands still entwined, Akari managed a small smile through her lingering sadness.
"So… how have you been?" she asked, her voice soft but genuinely curious.
Arnold raised an eyebrow, giving her a playful smirk. "Pretty okay. Though I think you already knew that—considering your 'secret' weekly checkups on us weren't exactly invisible."
Akari blinked, a hint of embarrassment crossing her face. "Wait… you noticed?"
Arnold chuckled. "Yep. Pretty early on, actually. I'd see you lurking around the town square every other week, with a cloak that was about as subtle as a flashing sign that said 'Definitely Not Akari.'"
Akari sighed, giving him a gentle nudge. "It wasn't that obvious."
"Oh, it was," Arnold replied, laughing softly. "Kuro and I started making a game of it. 'Spot Akari' became a weekly event, honestly. I think you made Kuro paranoid. He kept thinking you were following him even when you weren't."
Akari stifled a laugh, even as the sadness lingered in her eyes. "Alright, fine. Maybe I wasn't as secretive as I thought. But I just… I just wanted to make sure you were both okay. Without, you know… being in the way."
Arnold squeezed her hand gently, his voice warm but teasing. "Hey, I'll let it slide this time, Miss 'Stealth Expert.' Just don't try to sneak around us again. We'll spot you in a second."
Akari rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling, a glimmer of warmth starting to thaw the sadness. "Fine. Guess I'll leave my cloak at home next time."
As they finally left the graveyard, Akari paused for a moment, glancing back at the graves, her expression softening with a mixture of sadness and resolve. She took a deep breath, then turned to Arnold, her voice gentle.
"Your brother…" she began, her voice catching slightly. "He told me to tell you he was proud of you. That you were going to be an amazing king, wise and strong." She smiled, watching as Arnold's eyes filled with tears of joy and pride, a soft laugh escaping him even as he wiped his eyes.
"Proud of me?" he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. "That's… that means everything. Thank you for telling me."
Akari nodded, feeling a twinge of pain in her chest as she left out the part where his brother had asked her to look after Arnold and where he'd spoken of his love for her. She held that part close, keeping it safe as a quiet memory, just for herself.
Arnold was silent for a moment, then looked up, his eyes still shining but now with a warm smile on his face. "He always had this way of believing in me more than I did in myself. I just… I wish he could've been here to see it."
Akari gave his hand a gentle squeeze, a small smile of her own breaking through. "He's proud of you, Arnold. I know it."
As they walked together, Arnold cleared his throat, giving her a sly grin. "You know," he began, "it's been a while since we've gone for a walk like this. And I gotta say… you're still pretty—no, scratch that. Way prettier. Like, a lot prettier. And mature too," he added with a playful wink.
Akari raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Well, someone's trying hard today," she teased, rolling her eyes. "But fine, I'll humor you. Yeah, you've grown handsome too."
Arnold straightened up, clearly delighted. "See? Knew I was getting better with age!"
Akari chuckled. "Or maybe it's just the lack of competition here that's making you look better."
Arnold laughed, holding his hands up in mock defeat. "Alright, alright, point to you. But admit it, I'm your best-looking friend."
She snorted. "By default, Arnold. Don't get too cocky!"
As they continued their walk, Akari felt a soft warmth blooming within her, realizing just how long it had been since she'd genuinely smiled. The weight of the past year and a half—the missions, the losses, the endless solitude—seemed to lift, even if just for a moment.
Arnold looked at her, his eyes warm and sincere. "Your smile… it's beautiful," he said softly, pausing as if searching for the right words. "Just… keep smiling like that. It suits you."
Akari's heart tightened. She blinked, trying to hold back the emotions welling up, and managed a small nod. In that moment, she felt seen—not as the soldier or the lone survivor, but as herself. And for the first time in a long while, she felt a glimmer of peace, knowing that someone truly cared.
Akari looked down, feeling the weight of guilt tugging at her heart. "I think… maybe I should go," she murmured, hesitating as she looked at Arnold. "Me being here isn't really helping either of us."
Arnold's grip on her hand tightened, his face showing both frustration and care. "Are you really leaving again?" he asked, a hint of desperation in his voice. "Can't you just stay, for once?"
They stood in a quiet corner of a park, and Akari noticed the sideways glances from people passing by, a few whispering and giggling. She realized they were still holding hands—probably looked like a romantic scene straight out of a storybook. She felt a blush rise, but tried to focus on the serious matter.
"Stay?" she echoed, shaking her head slightly. "How can I face the families of the people who… you know, who didn't make it?"
Arnold gave her a look of disbelief, his mouth twisting into a half-smile. "You'll manage—you're Akari, after all. You've faced armies, wild beasts, and about fifty solo missions. I think you can handle a few glares at the market."
She couldn't help but crack a small smile at his words. "That's… different."
"Oh really?" he teased, "and here I thought you were unbeatable! Come on, just stay." He leaned in, lowering his voice. "Besides, people are staring at us like we're some tragic couple torn apart by fate. Might as well give them something to talk about."
Akari rolled her eyes, finally laughing. "Fine," she sighed, giving his hand a little squeeze. "Maybe… just maybe, I'll stay a while."
Akari let go of Arnold's hand, but an odd, lingering feeling tugged at her—maybe she should've held on just a little longer. She pushed the thought aside, a smile forming as she said, "Alright, I'm staying. But let's keep it a secret and surprise Kuro. I think he'll be happy… or at least shocked."
Arnold snapped back from his stare, clearing his throat and chuckling. "Yeah, shocked is more like it. He'll probably pretend he knew all along. But…" he trailed off, unable to stop himself from looking back into her eyes, his own gaze softening.
Akari raised an eyebrow, noticing his dazed look. "Something wrong, Arnold?"
He blinked, snapping out of it. "N-No, nothing! Just, uh… you know… maybe it's just nice seeing you like this."
She laughed lightly, nudging him. "Just you wait, Mr. Smooth Talker. Kuro's the one who's going to be at a loss for words."
Arnold laughed, though his mind still drifted to that feeling—the wish he'd held her hand just a moment longer.
As they walked, Akari squinted at Arnold. "Wait a minute… how did you know I've gone on over 50 missions?"
Arnold grinned, a mischievous spark in his eyes. "Hmm… future king's secrets."
"Oh, really?" She crossed her arms, feigning suspicion. "You're not secretly stalking me, are you?"
"Who, me? Pfft, as if I'd go to those lengths." He tried to look innocent, but couldn't hold back a laugh. "Let's just say I have… 'resources.'"
Akari raised an eyebrow. "Resources, huh? You mean eavesdropping on Duke gossip?"
Arnold shrugged, failing to hide his smirk. "Maybe. A future king's gotta know what's happening with his top knights, after all."
She rolled her eyes, nudging him. "Fine, keep your 'kingly' secrets. But you're not fooling anyone."
He laughed. "Guess I'll have to work on that royal poker face."
Akari smirked, glancing at Arnold with a teasing glint in her eyes. "Hey, come on, let's stay at my place. I have a lot to show you."
Arnold raised an eyebrow, his expression turning mockingly serious. "Your place? What are you suggesting, my lady?"
Akari's grin widened. "Don't get your hopes high, my dear. Just a friendly night over."
Arnold chuckled, leaning closer with a mischievous look. "Oh, just a friendly night, huh? So, I won't need to bring any… candles? Or, you know, the romantic dinner setting?"
Akari rolled her eyes, pushing him away with a playful shove. "Keep dreaming, Arnold. There's nothing romantic about my couch and leftovers."
He leaned back, pretending to look disappointed. "Oh, well. Guess I'll have to settle for just… the tour of your library then?"
Akari snorted. "My 'library' has only one book, and it's titled 'How to Not Get Killed in Battle.'"
Arnold let out a dramatic sigh. "I suppose I'll have to settle for that then... But I'm warning you, my expectations for this 'friendly night' just skyrocketed."
Akari chuckled, shaking her head. "Good luck with that. I'm not even sure where the remote is, let alone anything else."