“Ruth, give me the chocolate.”
“Yes, your highness.”
Ruth pulled out a small wrapped package from her bag and gave it to Theia. Theia then removed the wrapping, revealing a transparent case.
“Is this... Saguratin?”
“That's right. Me and Ruth made this.”
Inside the transparent case was a Saguratin made from chocolate. Some of the detailed parts had been simplified, but they had reproduced the design of the very sharp angled sword well.
“You too?”
“Yes.”
Hearing that Theia had made the chocolate with Ruth, Koutarou was overcome with a mysterious feeling.
What is this... It was the same during the ski trip but this is more, different...
A warmth spread through his chest. And while he felt comfortable, he felt just as strongly that he wanted to protect this feeling. It was a feeling of security that he would feel from his parents. The feeling of duty of wanting to protect a small child. The two feelings intertwined and created a complex emotion.
“Satomi-sama. We have only made this chocolate sword, there is nothing else.”
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“We have poured our feelings into this one chocolate... Will you accept it?”
“Yeah... thank you.”
Koutarou reached out with his hands as if he was being drawn in. It was incredibly difficult for him to disobey Theia right now.
“Thank you for everything, Satomi-sama.”
“And if possible, we want you to keep helping us in the future.”
“That's a given.”
Koutarou nodded firmly after receiving the case from Theia.
“A given, is it?”
Theia narrowed her eyes and slightly tilted her head. That expression was more gentle than usual.
“Yeah. Is that so strange?”
“Of course it's strange... If that's your answer I don't know what we were fighting over all this time. Fufufu.”
Theia laughed in a gentle voice, and Koutarou felt that her laughter was very comfortable. Even though just ten months ago, they would start fighting just when he heard that voice.
“But I won't let you win right away.”
“I understand. I don't want Kiriha to fall into any danger either.”
“...Thinking about it calmly, you're right about it being strange, Theia.”
“Right?”
Koutarou and Theia laughed together, they both looked so very happy. It was quite strange to see an invader and her victim together like that. But to them that was now their everyday life, and it should be their everyday from now on too.
Their laughter continued for a while longer. Ruth watched over her master whom she adored, and the legendary knight she had nothing but hopes for. With the miracle she had hoped for occurring right in front of her, she was satisfied.
And once the laughter had died down, Ruth finally opened her mouth.
“Your highness, Satomi-sama, let's go home. It is starting to get cold.”
The only worry Ruth really had now was their health.
“That's true. Let's go before we catch a cold.”
“I'm hungry.”
“Once we get home, Shizuka-sama's chocolate cake might be ready.”
“That's right, I almost forgot.”
The two agreed with Ruth's suggestion and the three of them headed towards the entrance to the rooftop.
Ruth, who was in the lead, opened the metal door and entered the school building. Theia followed behind her, however before she passed through the door she stopped and turned back to Koutarou.
“That's right, Koutarou, let me tell you something else that's strange.”
By turning around, Theia's golden hair swung around and shone in a burning red color as it was bathed in the setting sun's light. And at the same time, Theia's expression was shining just as much.
“Hm? What?”
Koutarou stopped, and the two stood so close that they could feel each other’s breaths.
“Actually... it's about that chocolate.”
Theia reached her hand out and touched the transparent case Koutarou was holding.
“What about it?”
“Yes. You see, this chocolate is without a doubt...”
Theia looked up at Koutarou and showed a mischievous smile.
“...a true love chocolate.”
Theia spoke those words as if it was nothing, but Koutarou couldn't do the same when he heard them.
“...Eh?”
The moment the words reached Koutarou's ears, he was unable to think. It was as if someone turned off the power to his brain.
“That's all I wanted to say. Brrr, now let's hurry home, Koutarou.”
Having said everything she wanted, Theia showed a satisfied smile and she left Koutarou behind and entered the school building.
“...Eh?”
Even after being left alone, Koutarou stood still on the roof for a little while longer.