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Ever since Schale secured a pardon for the members of SQUAD, the now free girls of Arius have been making up for all the lost time, doing anything and everything that they missed out on in their youth.
Today, a certain Princess has come up with an idea, dragging a certain Leader along with her.
Indeed, that Leader promised she’d make it up to her Princess for all the time she’d been gone.
“Saori, we’re here.”
The girl in front of her slowly turns around, her thick jacket and pink hair fluttering in the wind.
“Hmm, what’s wrong Saori?”
The previous incursion into a fashion mall seems to have been a beneficial one, Saori thinks to herself.
She has almost never seen Atsuko in clothes other than her ARIUS-provided tactical clothing.
Now, Saori thinks to herself again the thought that has been probing her head every day on their journey to make the most of their youth.
“Just how many beautiful things were we missing out on?”
Suffice to say, Saori is stunned by how absolutely beautiful her Princess looks in new clothes.
“Ehehe, what are you talking about Saori?”
“A-ah, no! I- I didn’t mean to say that out loud! You just…”
A slight twinge of red paints Saori’s face as she turns her gaze away from Atsuko, almost like she’s a light too bright, too beautiful to look directly at.
“You just… look really amazing, Hime.”
Atsuko’s face widens in slight surprise, and then turns into a soft smile.
“You look amazing too, Saori. Your clothes suit you very well.”
For a few seconds, they stand in front of the grocery store silently, people giving them curious looks as they pass them by.
“Come, Saori, let’s go in.”
“Okay.”
Atsuko waits for Saori to return to her side. Once Saori walks next to her, they enter the store together side by side.
“So this is the grocery store that Sensei mentioned. Amazing…”
The two girls look around in awe at all the different colors and products that line the shelves of the supermarket. They could never imagine so much food, and so many different kinds in one place.
“Where do we go first, Hime?”
Atsuko takes her phone out of her pocket and opens her Notes app.
“Sensei sent me a list of areas we should check out. He told me we should buy things from each of these… ‘aisles’ so we can experience as many new things as possible.”
“I see, I understand.” Saori looks around and retrieves a shopping cart from the side.
“First, let’s go to the vegetables.”
Saori lets Atsuko lead the way and follows closely behind her.
Recently, Saori has found that her focus and reflexes have gotten worse. For example, in this moment, Saori cannot perceive much other than her Princess in front of her.
Perhaps she’s getting lax, far too relaxed in their newfound freedom. However, for some strange reason, she finds she really enjoys this sensation.
Being able to let down her guard. To stop thinking about all the evil…
And focus on the one thing she cares about most in her life.
Saori almost rams the cart straight into Atsuko as the girl in front of her comes to a stop.
“Saori, look. So many new vegetables.”
Saori turns and is met with a massive shelf of fresh plants. She finds her eyes darting around at all the products she’d never seen before.
“I wonder which ones taste good, Saori. I’d like to cook some new food for us now that we have a place to stay in Schale.”
“I’m sure whatever you make will be amazing, Hime.”
Atsuko smiles, then pulls out her phone again.
“Sensei gave me this list of recommendations, too. Get ready to put stuff in the cart, Saori.”
Saori finds herself tensing up at her Hime’s orders, diverting attention to the task at hand.
“Carrots, onions, garlic, tomatoes, string beans, radish…”
As Atsuko speaks word after word, Saori reads labels and grabs food at lightning speed.
“And finally, okra… oh!”
Atsuko is surprised at the organization of vegetables now located in their cart.
“Thank you, Saori. Let’s move on.”
Of course, Saori is always proud when that iconic smile appears on Hime’s face, especially when it’s because of her.
The events of the day follow in similar fashion, the pair going from aisle to aisle, discussing and purchasing various goods according to Sensei’s recommendations.
“Saori, look. That jar on the top of the shelf. I cannot reach it.”
Saori immediately tiptoes and grabs the jar of candies, gently placing it in Atsuko’s hand.
“Thank you, Saori.”
For the 34th time today, Saori finds herself dying inside a little, her mind hazy and elated from making Princess happy over and over again.
Finally, they reach the checkout with a cart full of random products. After Atsuko pays with money that Sensei gave her (rip to their wallet), the two leave the supermarket, grocery bags in Saori’s right hand.
“Saori, I’m hungry. Hiyori told me about a place she found nearby that sells delicious snacks. Let us go.”
Atsuko turns her head and takes Saori’s left hand.
Saori stops in her tracks, confused.
“Hime? What’s this?”
Atsuko looks at her with a strange expression, one that she cannot quite place.
“I’m holding on to you.”
“Why?”
“…”
Atsuko stares at her in silence. After almost a minute of it, she opens her mouth.
“In case… you run off again.”
Saori feels her heart twinge as Atsuko’s face morphs into a pout.
“Hime… I promise. I will not leave again.”
Saori stares at her with a resolute face. A face that knows her sins, that has reflected on her actions, remembered her friends in solitude over and over again as she fought for her own survival.
Seeing this, Atsuko smiles, a smile warmer than any other she’s seen today.
“I see. I trust you, Saori.”
Saori feels something awaken inside of her. Something that she has never known before, yet feels like she should.
A single tear rolls down her eye.
“Thank you, Hime.”
Saori loosens her grip, wrapping her hand gently around her princess.
“Now let’s go, Saori. I believe you would enjoy the red bean flavored one.”
Saori returns to her side once more and begins to walk forward with her.
Indeed, this time around, she will never leave them. Never leave her.
Saori looks up at the blue sky, at the massive glowing circle that dominates the city, then back to Atsuko’s face.
There is so much more to look forward to.