“…… Shortcoming? ”

Itachi hesitated about this question and fell into thought.

He seemed to be seriously considering the answer to this question.

On the other side, Artoria was always glued to the scene in front of her.

I don't know why, but she was a little concerned about the communication between Itachi and Rin in front of her, or rather...... Depressed?

'What's wrong with me?' ’

They asked themselves if they had been in the past, and they wouldn't have cared so much about such trivial matters.

But why did Rin just ask Itachi to evaluate herself this time, and why did she care so much?

Could it be that it's because he knows that Rin is going to pursue Itachi, so he cares?

But...... Why?

Artoria looked at the scene in front of her, and unconsciously recalled the conversation she had with Rin that day on the way home from the early morning training with Itachi.

“…… What do you mean? ”

At that time, Rin seemed to be surprised that she and Itachi were just friends.

After getting her answer, her voice seemed to carry an irrepressible emotion.

"You say, you're just ordinary friends?"

And her expression, Artoria is still very clear.

It was an extremely complicated expression, with joy, surprise, and anticipation...... All kinds of emotions are rubbed together and bloom on that delicate face......

……

"I should say yes, very close friends."

Artoria unconsciously turned her head and glanced at Itachi, who was holding a document behind her, and read it carefully, "He taught me, or helped me confirm a lot of qualities, that people should have in the world." ”

"In the same way, I taught him a lot about fighting, about how to do things."

"We are very, very close friends."

Rin's eyes were full of eagerness for this explanation, "...... So, the two of you aren't in a relationship? ”

"Love...... Companion? ”

Artoria frowned slightly, stared at Rin in front of her, whose face was full of eagerness and eagerness, shook her head and replied softly: "No, the relationship between the two of us is very pure, please don't speculate and speculate too much." ”

She had never thought about it, and she had never imagined that someone would ask her such a question.

Couple?

This kind of vocabulary has nothing to do with the first half of his life.

Should I be a man or a woman?

After all......

I married a queen in the last world.

At that time, in order to ascend the throne and stabilize the situation, he ascended the throne as a man and married a wife.

Although, apart from political relationships, she has hardly had too close contact with his wife.

Rather than being a queen, it is better to say that she is by her side as a courtier.

But...... There is indeed such a past.

"Great!"

And at the moment when Artoria's response just fell, in front of her, Rin almost blurted out the thoughts in her heart.

“…… Ahem, I mean, I'm glad. ”

But soon, she realized that something was wrong, and quickly coughed dryly, "Itachi is such an excellent person, I still have a chance to fight for it." ”

“…… Do you like ferrets? ”

Hearing such straightforward words, Artoria realized the intention of the person in front of her, "You want to pursue him?" ”

As she spoke, she couldn't help but glance back at the person behind her.

After discovering that Itachi had been looking at the documents all the time, he turned his attention back to the girl in front of him.

"Of course."

Rin didn't hide the idea in the slightest, "There are a lot of girls in our clan who like Itachi. ”

"Like him, in terms of character, looks, and ability...... Who doesn't like someone who is so good in all sorts of ways? ”

"Before, we all thought that Itachi was already with you, or engaged."

Speaking of this, she couldn't help laughing, "But since the two of you have been together for so long, and the relationship is still a friend, then I think I should have a chance." ”

But then, Rin quickly explained, "However, I don't mean that my conditions are better than yours. ”

"I mean, maybe we've been together for a long time and live together, so Itachi can only treat you as family, and there is no way to think about men and women."

"And if my friend whom I don't see often pursues him, maybe he will be more curious."

"But I'm going to pursue him next, you...... You don't care, do you? ”

She asked cautiously.

The implication is to ask Artoria if she has a liking for Itachi.

Calmly walking in the direction of home, Artoria shook her head, "No. ”

"I was just friends with him, and I never interfered too much in his life."

"If you're going to pursue him, I have no reason or identity to judge."

What should be the attitude of a friend who wants to pursue another, better friend?

It's supposed to be a blessing, right?

I wish them all the best they can be together soon.

But Artoria always felt a little strange in her heart, and inexplicably, she didn't bless them according to the daily etiquette.

"Can you help me, then?"

Hearing Artoria's response, the eagerness in Rin's eyes became even hotter, "I have to take advantage of the fact that the rest of the clan knows about your relationship, so that Itachi will have a good impression of me as soon as possible and distance myself between men and women." ”

Not to mention her own generation, even older than herself, or younger than herself.

For example, if Uchiha Izumi and others had known that Itachi and Artoria were actually just ordinary friends, they might have taken action immediately and pursued Itachi.

Back then, Itachi was not yet famous, and when he was still in the ninja school, he was guarded every day.

If Itachi's ownerless affair is revealed, Rin feels that there will be a lot of pressure on her to pursue him.

But with Artoria's close friend as an assist, the situation is completely different.

“…… Help? ”

Artoria hesitated slightly.

"yes."

Rin nodded, "As Itachi's closest friend, you must know what he likes to do and what he likes to eat, right?" ”

"As long as you tell me what he likes to do and eat, I will try to understand and learn."

"I'm sure he'll soon be able to develop a good impression of me in the rest of our relationship, after all...... Female chasing male compartment yarn. ”

Her voice was full of pleading.

In the past, for such a trivial matter that was not particularly troublesome, Artoria would definitely choose to help.

However......

This time she hesitated.

Regardless of Rin pleading and persuading her, she just walked forward slowly.

Artoria's eyes were leveled at the path ahead, but her heart was extremely strange.

It wasn't until she was close to home that she whispered, "I won't help you." ”

"If you want to pursue him, you can observe his life yourself and try to make him feel good."

"But I'm not going to help you."

I don't know why, Artoria always felt that if she agreed to help Rin pursue Itachi, she would definitely regret it in the future.

Maybe...... Is it 'intuition' reminding you?

"yes......"

As for Artoria's response, Rin looked a little lost.

And in addition to the loss, she has some ...... A different kind of thought, an idea about Artoria.