Re: Turning
Promises

Shinnichi opened his eyes slowly. The petals feel heavy. It felt like he could sleep again, but he felt something pushing him to wake up.

Shinnichi looked at the ceiling. Although he wanted to say "The ceiling is unfamiliar," with cliches, he stopped. To be more precise, he stopped because he felt a movement behind his head.

"Kurobane-sama!" A familiar voice of a girl greeted his ears. Makes it look up. Fiona's worried face filled his gaze.

"Fiona...is the same?" Shinnichi called his name in a confused tone. Don't know what's going on.

Shortly after, everything came back to mind. How he protects Haira, and fights Samejima. He won and then he fainted.

"Hmm?"

So, this.... Shinnichi imagined his position and the Princess. At first glance, he realized. This is a legendary lap pillow!

Shinnichi's eyes immediately rounded. He can't just accept this. His lap came from the Princess!

Shinnichi immediately got up. Realize that he is in Fiona's room. Lying on the carpet. Next to the princess's big bed.

"Don't!"

However, before being able to say anything, Fiona prevented him. He holds Shinnichi's head and pushes him back into his lap. The power of the Princess even surpasses her, Shinnichi can't even fight back.

"You're still injured, Kurobane-sama," Fiona explained. Staring at Shinnichi furiously. "Even though Erina-dono has already given you healing magic, it doesn't mean you're cured!"

Shinnichi was a bit frightened to see Fiona so differently. He could only let out, "Ba-okay, Fiona-sama," quietly.

Not saying anything more, they both fell silent. Fiona's room is quiet. A falling needle could even echo. As Shinnichi was about to raise his voice, a drop of cold water fell onto his cheek.

"Hiks...."

"Fiona-sama!?"

Seeing Fiona suddenly cry, Shinnichi was both shocked and confused. He always doesn't know what to do when the opposite sex is crying.

"Pardon me, Kurobane-sama... Hix... I'm sorry...." Tears keep flowing. Dropped from his chin to Shinnichi's cheek. "I-i... I made you experience all of that... I'm sorry...."

Fiona regrets having pushed Shinnichi. That regret was evident as he watched her receive attack after attack. As she sees Shinnichi pass out, Fiona thinks of the worst. Seeing it all made his heart feel like it was being fat.

He's upset. Angry at himself for letting. Or even make Shinnichi suffer.

How could he look at Shinnichi again? He apologized, but he knew it was all empty words.

However, to Shinnichi, those words were everything.

Shinnichi stretched his hand upwards. Clenched both hands on Fiona's cheeks. Staring at Fiona's sky-blue wet irises, Shinnichi smiled.

That smile was enough to say it all. Fiona bent her body. Touching his forehead to Shinnichi.

But her crying is not finished. Shinnichi could only faintly smile while thinking that the tears of the Princess that landed on his cheek were really cold.

❂❂❂❂❂❂

"I-I showed you something inappropriate. I'm sorry." Fiona cleared her throat as she rubbed her face with Shinnichi's handkerchief. His red cheeks showed that he was a little embarrassed.

"T-nothing." Just being able to say that, Shinnichi shrugged his shoulders slightly.

He sat next to Fiona. Leaning his body against the wall. Trying to rest yourself.

As Fiona said, Shinnichi had already received Erina's healing magic. But that doesn't mean the wound is healing. He could still feel the pain in his left hand. His bones are broken. Even healing magic takes time to heal such wounds.

"Kurobane-sama," call Fiona again. "I'm curious. How do you beat him?"

Fiona doesn't want to call Samejima. Not knowing this, Shinnichi is short-lived. He began to explain.

"Fiona-sama saw me attacking with a ball of Mana in my hand, right?" ask Shinnichi. "When I go forward and look like I'm after his stomach."

"Ah, yes." Fiona nodded. Back to remembering that incident. Despite his worries, he could not bear to think that Shinnichi's figure back then was really cool. His face was slightly red.

"I didn't actually expect Samejima to lift me off the ground. But, I think it's a good opportunity." Shinnichi scratched the back of his head.

"Good opportunity? Whatchu mean?" Fiona still doesn't understand Shinnichi's words.

"Err, Samejima has a habit. He must have brushed his hair back with his left hand after attacking me." Shinnichi realized that when Samejima kicked him. "So, I used it. I camouflaged my Mana ball and put it on Samejima's wrist. Not to forget also by using the activation time."

"Aah!" Fiona finally regained consciousness. Realize how ingenious Shinnichi's tactics are. "So, Kurobane-sama made use of that stupid habit of his to blow up the ball Which one was right on his ugly face?"

"Yes... L-like that...?" Shinnichi is somewhat stunned to hear Fiona insult Samejima so easily. But he also did not defend her. "But that's a cheating tactic. Only a coward like me would do such a thing."

Shinnichi smiled weakly. Not too proud of his victory. Unlike Izumi, he is weak. He could not win using the usual methods.

"What did you say?" Fiona prevents Shinnichi from humbling himself again. "In battle, everything is fair. No matter how weird, cheating, or sneaky the tactic is. Victory is victory."

"I think that sentence should stop at 'fair', Fiona-sama." Shinnichi smiled weakly. Somehow the words of the Princess slightly pierced his heart.

"... But, thank you." Shinnichi remained grateful that the Princess had comforted him.

He never saw a woman crying for him. He may be a bit surprised, but he feels happier. After all, he had already seen the Princess defending him from Samejima, he felt his pride as a man was slightly hurt. He thinks it's worth it.

"Together." Fiona smiled sweetly. It's good to make Shinnichi better.

Soon, he felt something on his shoulder. Fiona leaned her head. Finished wiping his wet cheeks, the handkerchief was still in his grasp.

"I...." Fiona raised her voice again. "Always see you practice, Kurobane-sama."

"Huh?" Shinnichi is confused to hear Fiona's words.

"First time, I didn't accidentally. However, seeing you practice every morning before sunrise, every day using the same magic, with the same unyielding expression." Fiona's face turned red. It looks sweet like an apple in the snow. "I always get up early for that."

"wait. So, I really don't need to wake you?"

Shinnichi's question was greeted by the Princess's small laughter. For some reason, he chose to talk about that trivial thing. But, that's what Shinnichi is like. Always looking out for others.

"No. I always get into bed after you're done practicing." Fiona replied after laughing for a while.

"Ughs... Think about how much time you wasted." Shinnichi smiled slightly.

"Fufu, but I'm happy to be woken up by you." Fiona seduces Shinnichi. Her smile did not look like the smile of a 15-year-old girl. "I want the first person I see when I wake up is you, Kurobane-sama."

"To-please don't joke, Fiona-sama." Shinnichi could only avoid that topic. He could hear Fiona fufu ria.

Fiona leaned back on Shinnichi's shoulder. The young man's body felt warm. Different from himself. From birth, his body was always cold. However, lately, he has always felt warmth in his chest when he is with Shinnichi.

When he was with her. When he spoke to her. When he saw her practicing. When he touched it. When she smiles for him.

"I like it all." Fiona whispers. Hard enough to reach Shinnichi's ears. "I want to always be with you, Kurobane-sama."

Shinnichi said nothing. More precisely, he didn't have to say what. He could feel his face flushed with embarrassment.

"Can you promise to always be with me?"

"O-Oh, sure....."

W-w-what did I say!? Ha-should have been Kurobane-sama who said that wasn't it?!

I-it's a proposal, right!? W-w-why would I answer him like that?!

Thinking of such an insignificant thing, the two of them sat side by side in silence. Each with a red face.

Maybe that's what's gonna happen. But Fiona didn't let him. Given what happened to Shinnichi, he did not want to regret it anymore. Who could have guessed something like that could happen again?

Fiona rounded her resolve. "Kurobane-s."

Hearing Fiona's call, Shinnichi immediately turned his head. He felt Fiona's hand wrapped around his neck. Unable to react, he felt something soft and cold touch his lips.

"!?"

Shinnichi opened his eyes wide. Staring at Fiona who kissed him with a red face. The princess did not even open her eyes. Too embarrassed to do it.

After a while, Fiona broke free from her first kiss. He lowered his head, not daring to look at Shinnichi.

Shinnichi did nothing. His brain was busy digesting what had just happened. He thought it was a dream. However, a cold touch in his hand made him realize that this was all real.

"U-uhmm...." Fiona still did not dare to look at Shinnichi. His hand touched Shinnichi's finger slightly. "Sorry...."

"That's okay...." Shinnichi again gave that answer. But, he knew that it was not something appropriate.

Against his own embarrassment, Shinnichi turns to hold Fiona's hand. Feel the soft and cold skin. A sensation he could not forget any time soon.

"Um.." he said slowly. Feeling awkward saying it. "I-I promise to always be with you, Fi-Fiona-sama."

Fiona was still staring down silently. Shinnichi doesn't realize it, but Fiona is now smiling. He rested his head on Shinnichi's shoulder.

Much slower, he whispered something more. However, this time only Fiona heard it. He could not yet say the whisper to Shinnichi.

At least, for now.

Geck, tok, tok. The knock on the door made the two of them jump in shock. Make them look at the source of the sound.

"Excuse me, Kurobane Shinnichi. You are asked to appear before his Majesty king Albert." The voice of a female servant was heard from behind the door. He gave a somewhat confusing order.

"I? Not Princess Fiona?"

Shinnichi wondered. He had never been summoned by the King. Closest, accompany the Princess when facing her.

Several reasons appeared in his head. His feud with Samejima, his status as an otherworldly person, or even his relationship with the Princess. It doesn't all sound good. He's a little scared.

"Please immediately face His Majesty in the throne room. Your Majesty is already waiting" said the maid once more before leaving.

Shinnichi looked at Fiona. He had a worried expression. Before Shinnichi could say anything.

"I'm coming along."

Fiona. Shinnichi could only smile weakly. At least he's not alone.

They rushed towards the throne room.