Although Alice had brought me to the Sky Castle via a rather... unconventional method on my birthday, it turned out there was a proper teleportation facility located directly beneath it. From there, visitors were whisked up to the castle through the use of teleportation magic.
Fia-sensei and I presented our tickets at the reception and soon found ourselves stepping out onto the castle grounds. I hadn't really taken the time for a proper tour during my last visit since I'd been so overwhelmed by the surprise. Seeing it now, the castle’s exterior—a structure of such radiant white it could only be described as a chalk-white palace—was breathtaking. But even more impressive was the view from above.
"Looking at it again, the scenery here is really wonderful," I remarked.
"You can see the entire capital from here," Fia-sensei added. "Though, the lack of any fences is a little frightening..."
"It’ll be fine. There’s fall-prevention magic cast over the whole area, so you won't fall off."
"I see. That’s a relief, then."
While it would have been nice to simply linger and enjoy the view, we decided to save that for later in the evening and headed inside the castle first.
I opened the guide pamphlet we received at the entrance. The place was even larger than I’d imagined; it seemed unlikely we’d be able to see everything in one go. For now, we decided to visit the exhibition on the history of the Kingdom of Sinfonia.
The floor was lined with paintings depicting the capital in various eras. Seeing it like this made the city's development over the years quite apparent.
"Seeing the townscape like this... it really has changed quite a bit. It’s only natural, I suppose, but it's clear how much it has flourished."
"That's true. I built my clinic in the Kingdom of Sinfonia about two hundred years ago... Oh, look. It was right around this time."
Fia-sensei looked at the paintings with a nostalgic smile. I spent the rest of the afternoon sightseeing with her, taking in the various exhibits until the horizon finally began to glow with the setting sun.
We sat together on one of the benches in the Sky Castle Garden, looking out over the capital as it was bathed in the crimson light of evening. Seeing the number of couples nearby, it was easy to see why this was such a famous date spot.
"...It’s beautiful, isn't it?"
"Yes. Even though it's where I usually live, seeing it from up here makes it feel like a completely different world."
As we sat there in the peaceful silence, time seemed to slow. Suddenly, Fia-sensei leaned her head against my shoulder.
"A lot has happened today."
"Indeed. Between the theater, the restaurant, the museum, and the Hero’s Hill... Tre-san’s 'assistance' really kept us moving."
While we had traveled to many spots, the fact that Fia-sensei and I had finally connected our hearts and become lovers was an exceptionally significant change.
"I'll admit it now," she began softly. "When I first met you, Miyama-kun, I felt a bit of... well, jealousy. My feelings were complicated."
"Eh?"
"I saw you as the one who achieved what I never could. It made me very conscious of you, though it’s difficult to put into words."
She clung to my arm then, as if afraid to let go.
"But I think, deep down, I was also hopeful. I thought that if you were the one who saved Chrome-sama, then maybe—just maybe—you could save me, too. Someone who had lost the ability to save herself."
"Fia-sensei..."
"I thought it was just a foolish dream, but you really did save me. I was always running away, lying to everyone and even to myself. You gave me the courage to finally face Chrome-sama. I can't tell you how happy that made me."
She looked up with a wry smile.
"But it's quite a problem. I have a debt to you that I could never possibly repay, yet when I'm with you, my love for you drowns out everything else. Instead of trying to pay you back, I'm just here enjoying myself."
"That's perfectly fine. In fact, I prefer it that way. If you're happy spending time with me, Fia-sensei, then that makes me happier than anything else could."
"I see... Hey, Miyama-kun?"
"Yes?"
She paused, her eyes searching mine with a sudden, serious intensity.
"I know I need to work hard on this myself, but... would you mind if I was a little selfish? Just for a moment? Miyama-kun... will you make me happy?"
"I will. I promise. I'll make sure you never have to run away from your own happiness ever again, Fia-sensei."
"Ehehe. Then make sure you hold onto me tight, so I can't slip away."
I pulled her close and kissed her. Her face, flushed crimson by the evening sun, was radiant. It was a face filled with a level of joy I could never have imagined from her former self.
Serious-senpai: "Aaaaaaaargh! Noooooooooo!"
???: "You're so noisy... Do you have some kind of condition that makes you scream every time things get sweet-nessu?"
Serious-senpai: "I need pain! I need suffering! I need something serious! Please, give me a serious development!"
???: "It's not happening-nessu."
Serious-senpai: "...Just a little? A tiny bit? Just a sprinkling of salt would be enough..."
???: "None at all."
Serious-senpai: "...Why is this world so cruel?"