In a corner of the capital of the Kingdom of Sinfonia, nestled near a residential area just past the stall district, stood a building that served as both a church and a clinic.
In the break area situated deep within the examination room, a woman with black hair and eyes—a rarity in this world—sat in a chair, conversing with Fia, the clinic’s proprietor.
“...We’ve exchanged many letters now, and I believe our friendship has deepened sufficiently. I’d like to move on to the next stage soon... What do you think?”
“Right. I’ve said this many times, but I’ll say it once more. ‘Hikari’... this is a clinic. It isn’t a romance consultation center, you know? Could you please take this elsewhere?”
“How can you say that? Fia, you’re the only person left I can rely on!”
“...No, I think you’ve made a catastrophic error in judgment regarding who to rely on. Seriously...”
As Fia wore an exasperated look, Hikari—the First Hero Noin, currently out of her armor—gazed back with a pleading expression.
The two were longtime close friends. Noin visited Fia quite frequently to consult her about her recent romantic woes—which, from Fia's perspective, was a significant nuisance.
In the first place, although she was far older than Noin, Fia had zero romantic experience herself. Any advice she could offer was superficial at best. Still, Noin seemed to trust Fia—her dear friend—implicitly, and she stared at her with eyes begging for help.
Faced with that, the good-natured Fia couldn't simply turn her away. She let out a heavy sigh and spoke.
“...Fine. So, what specifically do you want to do for this ‘next stage’?”
“W-Well... perhaps we could go see an ‘Opera’ together...”
“...Wait, I’m sure I’ve heard that word before. An opera troupe, was it? That doesn't exist in this world, does it?”
“Going to see a ‘Motion Picture’...”
“That doesn't exist either.”
“H-How about ‘Noh’!?”
“No, I don’t even know what that is.”
“U-Uugh...”
Everything Noin mentioned was from Earth—specifically, from the era she had lived in. Fia, a denizen of this world, didn’t understand them at all. Nevertheless, she could more or less grasp the intent behind her words.
“...In other words, that’s it, right? You just want to go on a date.”
“A D-D-D-Date!?”
“Honestly, there’s no need to be that shocked... But isn’t that fine? Why don’t you just try inviting him?”
“...Fia, could you ‘invite him for me’ instead?”
“Why!?”
It seemed Noin’s trouble was that she wanted to deepen her bond with Kaito, her current pen pal. Fia knew they exchanged letters frequently, so she agreed that going out together was a good idea, but the pathetic plea that followed left her stunned.
Noin looked down bashfully, twiddling her index fingers together.
“If you’re already writing to him, you should just invite him in a letter, right?”
“...B-But... it’s... s-so embarrassing...”
“...”
Watching Noin mumble in a tiny voice, Fia looked so exasperated she was practically speechless.
“...Sigh. No matter how much I lacked mental composure back then... I really have to wonder how ‘I lost to someone like this’...”
“Someone like this!?”
“Yes, someone like this. Truly... there’s never been a more pathetic former Hero.”
“Uugh, you’re cruel, Fia.”
“I’m not being cruel. The one who’s truly cruel is the person who barged in during my precious break time after I finally finished my consultations to force a romance consultation on me.”
“Augh...”
Gazing into the distance as if reminiscing about her past self, Fia directed a weary stare at the pathetic First Hero before her.
“...Look, stop brooding and just invite him. Miyama-kun isn’t the type to refuse. You can just say, ‘Let’s take a little walk together’ without being so stiff about it.”
“...Y-Yes. I’ll do my best.”
“Good. That’s more like it.”
Fia’s role in these consultations was essentially just to give Noin a push. When she provided encouragement with firm words, Noin nodded, looking somewhat relieved. Seeing her like that, Fia also managed a smile and took a sip of her tea.
As the romantic advice session wound down and the conversation shifted toward general small talk, Noin’s expression suddenly turned grave.
“...Fia. What are you going to do about the Six Kings Festival?”
“...”
At those quiet yet pointed words, Fia’s eyes drifted to the invitation sitting on the corner of the table—the one Noin had brought for her today. After a long silence, Fia lowered her head. When she spoke, her voice was weak, a total departure from her earlier tone.
“...I’m not going. I can’t go.”
“...Chrome-sama said she wanted to see you, Fia. And you, Fia, you also...”
“I want to see her! Of course I want to see her!! But... after all this time... I don’t know... what kind of face I should make if I see her.”
“...”
Noin listened in silence as Fia spoke in a voice that sounded as though it might shatter into tears at any moment. Fia was precious family to Kuromueina, and Fia adored her just as much. Yet, she had not looked upon Kuromueina’s face for over a thousand years.
“Chrome-sama took me in when I had nothing and raised me... To me, she’s like a mother and the most important person in the world. But I... I ‘betrayed’ someone as precious as her...”
“That’s not true. You—”
“It is true!”
Fia cut off Noin’s attempt to console her with a pained, agonized expression.
“Because I was an idiot... I made Chrome-sama cry. I never wanted her to have to make that kind of face... and yet, because of me... I have no right to face her.”
“...Even so, if it’s Chrome-sama, I’m sure she would...”
“I know. I know that. I’m sure Chrome-sama would welcome me with a smile. She would forgive me... But I... I can't forgive myself...”
“...I’m sorry. I was being inconsiderate.”
“No. I’m the one who should apologize. I got too emotional... In any case, I won’t be attending the Six Kings Festival. You should go and enjoy yourself, Hikari.”
“...Alright.”
They had once been enemies who traded blows, but they were now close friends who shared their hearts. Noin understood Fia’s long-standing suffering all too well. Because she understood, she couldn't find the words. She didn't know what she could possibly say to bridge that gap.
Changing the subject to something trivial, Fia steered the conversation away, and Noin followed her lead without further mention of the festival.
After a while, Noin left. Alone in the room, Fia stared at the invitation she had been given—specifically at the name “Underworld King Kuromueina” written upon it.
“...I’m sorry... Chrome-sama... I’m so sorry...”
She whispered apologies meant for no one to hear—the same words she had repeated for over a thousand years. As she spoke, a memory of a certain voice resurfaced in her mind.
—Even if I were to learn of your past sins, Fia-sensei, my respect for “the you of now” would not disappear.
Those words had come from the slightly peculiar otherworlder youth she had met recently. He hadn't judged her past or pried into her secrets; he had simply offered kind, warm words that respected the person she was today.
“...That... honestly, it made me so happy. Ahaha, what am I thinking? There’s no way something like that could happen...”
Muttering under her breath, Fia slowly raised her head and looked out the window at the scenery.
“...To think that a boy so much younger than me, whom I’ve only just met... might be able to change me, just as he’s changed so many others... It’s a far too selfish expectation...”
Serious-senpai: “Gata!?”