O· D2310, Dormitory, Mogadishu

"Hey! Ha! ”

In the empty dojo, two people are sparring with bamboo knives. Although they are still just children from the perspective of their petite figures, there is a big gap between the intensity of the competition and their external age. The two of you come and go, and the number of moves is enough to dazzle the onlookers, not to mention the speed that is difficult to distinguish with the naked eye, so that people can almost only see the two figures flying around the scene, and the sound of shouting is endless.

"Click, pop! When—"

As usual, the contest ended quickly, and one of them was knocked off the side with a bamboo knife. The victor took off his mask, and his golden hair fell to his shoulders, revealing a fair-skinned and slightly immature girlish face. The tuft of hair on her head that had been suppressed by the mask for a long time couldn't wait to "bang" out. The girl closed her eyes and shook her head, as if to dispel the stuffy feeling of being covered in the mask before.

"Lost again...... Alas, it seems that I have not improved at all. The losing side also took off the mask, and the girl with short blue hair looked at the bamboo knife she had dropped on the ground, her expression a little lost, "Am I really not suitable for kendo......"

"No, Catherine is a lot stronger than before." The blonde girl picked up the bamboo knife on the ground and put it on the weapon rack next to her with the one in her hand, "How can anyone be a thousand miles a day, take your time." ”

"However, no matter how much I improve, I certainly can't surpass Saber's." The blue-haired girl called Catherine lowered her head and said, with disappointment and discouragement in her tone that could not be concealed.

"But Catherine's shooting skills are very strong, and I can't catch up with this anyway." The girl named Saber turned around and smiled, "Even if it's me, you don't have to compete with one or the other in everything, do you?" ”

"Even if you say that, I ......," Catherine kept her head down and sullen.

Saber looked at the dejected Catherine, walked up to her and grabbed her hand: "Follow me!" ”

"Ahh Saber, wait......" Catherine was caught off guard and almost fell, she couldn't resist Saber's strange power that was far beyond the needs of a 10-year-old girl, and she couldn't help but run after her.

A moment later, on the roof of the dormitory, two young girls sat side by side, their hands on their knees, their chins resting on their knees, looking at the slowly sinking sunset where the sky met the horizon.

"Catherine, you're the first friend I've brought here—or rather, you're my first true friend." Saber turned his head to stare at Catherine and said seriously, although it was only a few simple words, it made the blue-haired girl deeply feel her loneliness in the royal family.

“Sa，saber？” Catherine looked at Saber's unusually solemn expression and couldn't speak.

"Catherine, you know that in your heart, right? As for me, not only as you call Saber, but also as Siglinde von Pendragon. With this surname on my back, I will one day inherit the title of kingArthur, which is my fate, or more precisely, my original sin as a royal family. Saber said as she approached Catherine, putting her forehead on her friend's shoulder as if seeking support, "But to be honest, I really don't have any confidence, not at all. You may think my swordsmanship is very strong. But you don't know, swinging the sword desperately is actually a behavior pattern that I have no choice but to choose in order to hide my inner fear. When the time comes, will you continue to support me as always, even if I have the same inescapable weakness, but one day I will become kingArthur, to lead the Knights of the Star Cup, and even the whole country? ”

"Saber, I'......" Catherine was silent for a moment, then nodded vigorously as if determined, "Of course, I'll always have your back, Saber—no, kingArthur!" ”

Saber looked up at Catherine's serious expression.

"I will definitely support you, and, for your sake, I will also work hard to inherit the title of Star Cup Knight!" Catherine stared into Saber's clear eyes and said with great certainty.

"Flutter...... Hahaha. Saber burst out laughing.

"Huh? How? Yes! What are you doing? The blue-haired girl was still looking at the blonde girl laughing without an image with a look of incomprehension, but she was suddenly hugged by the latter.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I really couldn't hold back. Because Catherine's serious expression is really super, level, but, love, ah! I said, don't be a star cup knight, let's be my princess! Saber said as he pressed his face against Catherine's face, rubbing it constantly, "Well, your skin is so good, I want to take a bite." ”

"Saber, it's too close...... Ah, don't touch there, bastard! Saber, you big idiot! ”

In the afterglow of the setting sun, the seeds of friendship between the girls are deeply planted.

At that time, they did not know how this small seed would grow into a leafy tree, nor did they know what kind of thrilling life would be woven by the various fateful links derived from it. It's just that they simply know each other's hearts and promises, and they are as untransferable as a thousand-year-old rock.

It was their first and best time.