The comfortable morning breeze brushes by, swaying the leaves in its path as the sun looms overhead, shining ever brightly.
Her eyes closed, she sits on the porch overlooking the yard. A peaceful still absorbed in meditation. Nothing can pierce through the barrier where none dares bother her, except…
A slight humming creeps up behind her, sneaking through the unknown cracks of the barrier and into her ears. Her lone hair straightens up the moment it enters.
"Hm?"
Opening her eyes, she glances back at the direction of the humming, towards the place where all wonders exist.
The source of it comes from the most unexpected of them all.
"Shirou?"
He jumps and turns, a plate and cloth in his hands.
"Saber?"
Standing up from her position, she walks towards the kitchen. Her eyes curiously glancing at something peeking out from his pockets as he finishes washing the dishes.
"What got you into a cheerful mood this morning?"
"Oh, that… well…"
He runs his hand through his hair, noticing her gaze on his waist, he grabs the item from the pocket and hands it to her in a hurried manner.
It was a flyer of sorts.
"Just read this."
"Hm?"
With a hint of confusion bubbling up inside her, she takes hold of the paper and reads through it, a particular sentence catching her attention.
"...The Fuyuki Festival?"
"Yeah. It only comes in every five years so… as you'd expect, I couldn't help but get a little excited."
"Every five years…"
She mumbles under her breath, the date being oddly familiar to her as she tries to dwell on it but-
"You want to go, Saber?"
Shirou's words halt her from delving any further.
"I do not know…"
She looks back up at Shirou's gaze. A strange glitter hides deep in them, an unusual sight to see from him.
And yet, despite their strangeness, she felt as though she's stabbed with a sharp blade.
"I…"
Unable to bear the weight, she glances away. "I guess I can go…"
"Nice! We're headed out tonight then."
Even though it is odd, seeing him this excited brings a little smile on her face.
Hopefully the festival will be a pleasant experience once the time comes.
The festival bustles with an immense sense of excitement emanating from within. The area is filled with rows of stalls that seem to go on forever, from food, accessories, to games, with dozens of crowds hustling together enjoying their time as they partake in the various activities that lie in every corner.
Just the sight of it alone elicits an overwhelming feeling upon her.
She has been to festivals before, but this is unlike anything she has seen. Though cheers were commonplace back then, there was always a sense of uneasiness hidden underneath all the layers, like a facade of mirrors with small, tiny, scratches on the glass surface that nobody would notice.
But it is still there regardless.
This however is nothing like that. Here, everything has no filter, no facade, or anything of the sorts. All she can see among the crowd is just pure happiness.
And that, despite the irony, is enough to make her uneasy.
Unconsciously, she grabs hold of Shirou's hand as she lifts up her scarf, beset by the abundant sense of sudden hesitation from witnessing what is in front of her, she does not know if it is something she can get used to.
Even then, at least she has someone to guide her through the ordeal.
"Anywhere you want to go, Saber?"
"Hm… I will go wherever you want, Shirou."
"Alright. Then let's go."
With her hand in his, he leads her through the seemingly endless tide of people as she keeps up with the pace. With only Shirou's destination known to him, all she can do is follow him as she always did in the past.
Eventually, they reach it. In front of them, a line of targets stands with a vast array of toys hanging from the top. As she looks around to digress the purpose, she notices the words on the stall itself-
"Shooting game, win and get one?"
"Yeah. Want to try it, Saber?"
"Hm, I suppose I can try…"
Her words trail off as her gaze fixates on a certain stuffed animal from amongst the others. With a mane as fluffy as its body, her desire is already set the moment she lays eyes on it.
"You want that lion, Saber?"
With nary a word, she nods.
Shirou then gives her a smile and turns to the vendor. "We'd like to play please."
The old vendor with a wispy beard looks at the two of them for a moment and gives a playful scuff. "Out for a little 'outing' are we, eh?"
The both of them nod before they realise what he truly meant- a slight blush appearing on their cheeks as they try to deny it in vain at the old man's laughter.
"Relax, I'm just joking. Here," The vendor hands out the toy gun, "Take out all the targets and the prize is yours - whichever of your own choosing of course."
Saber grabs the gun, determination apparent in her expression as she, clumsily, tries to aim at the targets while struggling to steady herself.
It makes for a ridiculous look, one that she is fully aware of.
Her ears and cheeks reddening from the display she is putting on, she takes a deep breath and pulls the trigger.
Only to hit nothing, nothing, and nothing.
…
Her determination failed her as she hangs her head in silence, not wanting anyone to see the sheer embarrassment on her face.
"It was a good try, Saber."
Shirou's comforting words lessens the pain, but only a little as he steps up to take on the challenge in her place.
With the gun aimed and steady, sheer focus is his gaze as he takes a deep breath, and then-
As he pulls the trigger, the targets fall one by one, the bell ringing the moment the final one is shot as Shirou looks at the scene with a satisfied smile, with her watching on with an awed gape.
The vendor lets out an impressed whistle. "Nice one, kiddo. Now, what's going to be your pick?"
He points at the lion to which the old vendor readily grabs and hands out.
Shirou accepts the prize and gives it to Saber who hugs it to her chest, her smile brighter than the sun. "Thank you, Shirou."
And Shirou, with a slight blush, glances away from the brightness before him. "Anything for you, Saber. Shall we go explore some more?"
"Of course."
With a nod, they begin to walk away from the stall to continue their journey, but not without a little farewell from the vendor himself.
"Now good luck with your date, you two!"
Who took the opportunity to embarrass them as they walk away, a blush on their faces while the old vendor laughs watching their figures fade into the crowd.
They explore every depth of the festival, taking part in all activities there could be experienced, from the games, accessories, to the delightful cuisine, everything is a wonder to her.
To the point where time is but an afterthought, where before she was overwhelmed by the cheerful atmosphere, now fully embraced as she moves through the stalls one by one, the entire catalogue once endless now shortened to but the single digits.
To where she would follow Shirou for guidance, now he has to follow her just to catch up with her excitement.
But alas, all things must come to an end eventually as they find themselves now at the outskirts of the festival, the lights now dimming as the event nears its end.
A lone tall tree overlooking them as they take the opportunity to sit down, a respite from the festival despite its wonders.
"That was fun. Didn't think you'd be so enamoured though, Saber." Shirou said with a smile on his face.
"W-Well it is a different experience so I wanted to… fully appreciate it, of course.
She said, chewing on the kebab she got from one of the stalls.
"Oh really? Not because you wanted to try all the foods?"
"N-Nothing of the sorts! I just…"
She pouts, looking away from Shirou who just chuckles at her.
It is not her fault that the cuisine was exquisite despite how much she wanted to resist…
Sighing, she leans back into the tree, her eyes roaming up to the stars above. The stuffed lion tucked into her chest.
Where she notices a lone streak of light racing up to the horizon.
"Shirou, look."
The moment she points out the light, as Shirou's eyes reach up, it bursts into a magnificent bloom of colours, followed by more of its kind.
One by one they fill the air, painting the horizon with a vast array of colours blending with the brightly ever-twinkling stars akin to a kaleidoscope.
She did not think that such beauty could exist. The way the bright colours blend with the starry sky, the feeling it brings in her akin to a wondrous awe, she couldn't resist.
Her mouth agape, she does not want anything else but to watch in eternity, together with the boy she is with.
But… It feels strange. It is as though she is forgetting something…
"Shirou."
"Hm?"
"I have been meaning to ask…"
The one question she has had in her mind ever since she saw that date, she could not get it out of her mind.
"What makes this festival so special to you, Shirou?"
"...Why do you ask?"
"It is just… five years ago, is that not when…"
"Ah, that. Well…" He sighs, staring at the night sky, a distant gaze as if reminiscing something. "Yeah. That's when my old man passed away. Before that though, well…
He's the one who took me here for the first time. I didn't know much about festivals, so… I just went around and absorbed everything I could about it, all the while oblivious to the fact that he was sick. Thinking back on it…"
A nostalgic, melancholic smile spreads on his lips, she could see the memories swirling in the light of his eyes reflected by the fireworks.
"Maybe, that was the way he wanted to spend his last days… those times we spent at the festival, of us watching the fireworks together, of me laying on his back as he carried me home… it was probably just to make up for the times we didn't spend together. But, now, I don't know how to feel."
Shirou's words belies a sense of sadness, a longing that seems uncharacteristic and yet not at the same time. Even now, as he continues to stare at the vibrant coloured sky, she could tell that, despite the longing nostalgia and sadness, there is another reason hidden that is yet to be revealed.
"How so, Shirou?"
"I invited you here just to relive those moments. To see how it's like to go with someone I hold dear, similar to how he did but… something about it just feels… I don't know, selfish."
Selfishness to allow one to be happy, huh? So that is how he feels.
…They really are alike. However, it is a flawed thinking nonetheless, one she will correct.
After all…
"It is not selfish to be happy, Shirou."
Her hand wraps around his as his eyes look back to her own. Their gazes locked, one of surprise, and one of softness.
"You are not selfish to be wanting, to be reminded of the moments that define you. If anything, that just makes you human."
"But… using you just to feel a certain way, isn't that-"
"Are not the moments we have spent here already not genuine, Shirou?"
A sudden question cut him off. She would not let him finish his thoughts, for it is pointless.
Because no matter what he says about it, she will correct him, like he did for her that day.
His gaze wavers for but a moment before they regain their focus.
"They are."
She smiles. "Then that alone should be enough. After all, whenever you are happy…"
She leans in, their breath upon each other. This kind of close intimacy would have caused both of them embarrassment long before, but now?
"I am happy."
It is but a reminder of how far they have come.
And without a moment's delay, she seals his lips with her own.
It feels as though it lasted an eternity, but in reality, a second as she leans away to look him in the eyes.
Of the times they have spent, of the struggles they have ploughed through as Master and Servant, they found in each other a kinship unique to themselves.
Now, with the proof of their contract long gone, the proof of their love remains.
With her palm on his cheek, she once again leans in.
"I love you, Shirou."
Underneath the stars, the fireworks shading them as the lights below fully dim, a single promise forms between them.
"Promise me that we will always be together, no matter what."
"...No matter what."
And so with another kiss, the promise is then sealed till the end of time.