My youth story, a crossover anime, turns out, is FGO!

The salty sea breeze swept over me, and the once-black tide returned to its original color, shimmering like scattered gold under the setting sun, creating a serene and profound beauty.

The tide slowly pushes into the beach and then slowly recedes, revealing the damp sand beneath. Small crabs and sea turtles emerge and begin searching for their food. Snow-white seabirds fly low overhead, then suddenly swoop down and snatch a crab away.

This scenario has been repeated for tens of thousands of years, a length far exceeding human history.

Eriri stood on the beach, gazing at the distant horizon.

She had already removed her gorgeous clothes and accessories; the dazzling diamonds and beautiful gemstones were all taken off her. Even the blue dress designed by the royal designer was left in the palace without her taking it with her.

At this moment, she was wearing a simple white dress with the hem flowing between her legs, and her long golden hair swayed slightly in the sea breeze, tied up in two ponytails by a pair of fair hands.

She wasn't wearing shoes; her white feet shone brightly on the sand.

She was holding an old sketchbook, her hands gripping the edge of the book so tightly they were slightly white.

She has really matured a lot in the past few months.

At least in her, the forced composure and elegance of before were gone, replaced by a nobility and naturalness that emanated from her very being, with every step she took being exceptionally calm and graceful.

The sun was nearing its end, but its last rays still lingered, the golden light scattering across the shimmering sea against the dim sky.

Very beautiful.

However, it is also very glaring.

However, Eriri did not avoid her gaze, but recklessly stared directly at the last rays of sunlight. Stimulated by the light, tears welled up in her eyes.

Eriri didn't move. She continued to look at the sun as if she were being tortured, as if she wanted to capture its final appearance in her eyes.

There will never be another tomorrow; all she has left is this moment.

However, princesses cannot weep, for their crowns are made of jewels and brilliance, and their magnificent robes are armor. They must always maintain a dignified and proud demeanor and are never allowed to bow their heads for even a moment.

But if it's Eriri, as a girl named Eriri...

Cry.

If the crying is due to physiological stimulation, then it is permissible, since humans are such fragile creatures. Such crying is not a sign of weakness, but rather something that deserves forgiveness.

A sharp pain shot through her eyes, and her eyes filled with tears, but Eriri was willing to endure the pain so she could see the sun.

Just like before, even when I was covered in wounds, I was determined to pursue that person.

"Don't look, you'll get hurt."

A large, warm hand blocked her view, and a gentle voice, as always, rang in her ears. It seemed that nothing had changed; he was still as considerate as ever.

Eriri blinked unconsciously, and tears suddenly fell, leaving a wet trail on her fair skin.

"Yinglili."

The young man before me was just as noble and dignified as when we parted, radiant and glorious. His short, golden hair almost blended into the sunset, and in the backlight, his eyes took on a deep turquoise color, like lake water.

He was still wearing his pale silver armor, though it was tattered. But this did not diminish his glory; on the contrary, it seemed to embody the resilience and indomitable spirit that had slowly emerged from blood and fire.

"Keeping my promise, I've come to say goodbye."

The simple eight characters struck her chest like a heavy hammer, and Eriri subconsciously pursed her lips.

"I'm sorry, Eriri, I..." Arthur looked apologetic.

"Don't apologize, Arthur." Eriri tucked a stray hair behind her ear, her blue eyes reflecting Arthur's small image. "I always feel like you're apologizing when you're with me."

Arthur paused, his voice lowering, "I'm sorry..."

“But I don’t want to hear your apology.” Eriri slowly shook her head.

An apology is something you do when you can't do something.

only……

“You have nothing to apologize for, Arthur. You did nothing wrong.”

Eriri clasped her hands together and placed them on her chest.

"I know I'm a very willful girl with a bad temper. I like to make things difficult for others and I'm also very weak, always relying on you... Taking care of someone like me must be very tiring."

To lay bare her own blood and sweat—this is probably the greatest sincerity Eriri can offer.

"I was the one who was wrong all along, and I'm the one who should apologize. But you're just too kind, so you always have to apologize on my behalf."

"I'm really sorry for causing you so much trouble."

You clearly decided to show a more carefree side, you clearly decided to let him see you let go, but why do tears still keep falling?

Perhaps the sun was just too bright.

Standing barefoot on the beach, the sea breeze blowing in lifted her golden hair, her two ponytails chasing each other in the wind.

The blonde girl wept uncontrollably.

"...I've never thought that way." Arthur smiled slightly, his gaze sincere, the smile blending into the light behind him. Judging from his demeanor, he didn't seem like the type to lie.

"I have been watching you."

The blond knight king said earnestly, "No one will dislike a girl who keeps working hard. You look truly beautiful as you grow up."

"My assessment remains the same as it was initially."

"Eri is a very cute girl."

"She is the cutest girl I have ever seen in this world."

Whenever Eriri hears those words, she still feels the same flutter in her heart as she did at the beginning.

On top of that, the blond king added a sentence

"She is also the most beautiful woman."

The lovely girl will eventually grow up to be a dazzling and beautiful woman.

Eriri instinctively covered her lips, suppressing her trembling heart.

Even though I was trying not to cry, even though I was trying to say goodbye to Arthur happily, why couldn't I stop the tears?

"I know I'm weak and always rely on you too much, clinging to you desperately. So, I try so hard to force myself to become strong, beautiful, and a shining princess, so that maybe I can be worthy of the prince."

At this moment, Eriri abandoned all pretense and bravado, revealing the true feelings in her heart.

"As it turns out, I'm not a princess after all, so it's impossible for me to marry a prince."

Therefore, it was impossible for her and Arthur to be together. She knew this from the beginning, but his gentle nature always gave her a false sense of security.

It feels like if I try just a little harder, I can get closer and hold his hand.

"In the end, I'm still that ordinary girl who gets into drawing and anime."

"Not shiny at all, not noble at all."

"I tried my best."

I worked incredibly hard, pushing myself to tackle massive books I'd never imagined, attending classes from morning till night, and maintaining proper etiquette and dignity while interacting with others.

"In the end, I am still Eriri, the ordinary Eriri Sawamura Spencer."

“Arthur,” Eriri smiled, “don’t worry about me. Even if things get worse, it’ll just be like before.”

After all, putting on a brave face is something ingrained in Eriri's genes, so at this moment, after briefly revealing her true feelings, she puts on her thin armor again, pretending to be invincible.

"look."

Eriri held up the sketchbook in her arms and showed its contents to Arthur.

The wind blew through the drawing paper inside, turning the pages rapidly like fluttering butterflies, and even in that short time, Arthur could see what was inside—it was all about him.

From naivety to maturity, from amateur to professional, that wasn't just the time Eriri and Arthur spent together, but also represented her growth during that period.

Both his mindset and his painting skills have undergone a complete transformation, like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon.

"I am the author of the best knight manga in the future, the great King of Knights. Please write me a recommendation. I will print it on the title page as the best encouragement."

Arthur stared intently at Eriri and slowly said, "Okay."

He took the sketchbook, wrote a passage on it, lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes casting a shadow under his eyes, and the rustling sound of pencil and paper rubbing together filled the air, creating a serene and gentle scene.

Eriri made a frame-like gesture with her hands, enclosing Arthur within it.

She gazed at Arthur greedily, cherishing every single second; this was their last moment, there would be no more.

Therefore, Eriri is grateful that she is a painter, so that she can at least depict her love and her glory on paper. She wants to remember every scene in her mind and etch his appearance into her heart.

Even if it doesn't reach even a fraction of King Arthur's brilliance, it's enough to remember him.

"Hey, Arthur."

There was just a little bit of resentment at the end.

"Facing myself like this, this terrible, ordinary me."

"Have you ever liked me?"

Wiping away her tears, Eriri smiled, a radiant and beautiful smile that seemed to make her shine.

In the end, she hoped that Arthur's memory would remain of her most adorable moment.

So, she asked this question, feigning nonchalance and liveliness.

"Was there ever a moment when you fell in love with me?"

Did you ever fall in love with a girl named Eriri Sawamura Spencer?

Did you fall in love with her cuteness, silliness, clumsiness, and arrogance?

She has many, many flaws, but she keeps trying to keep up with that glorious figure ahead of her, even if she gets hurt and her feet are covered in blood, she stubbornly pursues him.

Have you ever seen such a figure before?

After writing the last word, the blond youth softened his features, and a golden hue enveloped his hair and figure. He was always so radiant and pure, untouched by worldly dust.

As the knight king who saves the world, he is destined to travel to various worlds, chasing the beast he must defeat.

Only at this moment does he remain here, as a knight beside a young girl.

This journey is not only to protect the world, but also to protect the girl before me, Eriri Sawamura Spencer.

King Arthur once made a promise that he would never break.

“Yes.” Arthur Pandoragon didn’t lie, so he didn’t hide the warmth and emotion in his heart.

"I think I must have fallen in love with you."

Eriri stared wide-eyed in disbelief; she herself had never expected to receive such an answer.

I just wanted to appear carefree before parting, and I was just a little unwilling, so why did I get such an answer?

"...Knight King, you wouldn't lie, would you?"

Eriri instinctively clutched the dress at her leg, and after a long silence, she finally managed to utter this sentence.

The setting sun shone into Arthur's azure eyes, creating a shimmering, golden light that resembled the gentle ripples of spring water. He nodded slightly.

Perhaps it was the moment she shone brightly on the podium, or the moment she awkwardly and clumsily tried to keep him, or perhaps it was her relentless pursuit of him, or even the answer and the emotion she evoked on the night they signed the contract…

In short, this feeling of being moved is genuine.

"I swear, I will love my beloved until death."

Arthur spoke gently, as if making a vow, the last of the nine rules of knighthood.

Eriri is actually very lucky, not for any other reason, but because she is the girl who has spent the most time with Servants.

For an ordinary girl to radiate beauty, time is needed.

And how could anyone watching this flower bloom not feel a moment of heart-stirring emotion?

After all, he had always watched over this flower and protected it.

At least for now...

The blond knight stepped forward and embraced Eriri. The embrace was so broad and warm, as if it could encompass and care for everything.

His clear, gentle voice rang in her ears, finally waking Eriri from her dreamlike state.

"Yinglili."

“The Arthur Pandoragon who stands here will carry on this love until the moment his body perishes.”

"It has nothing to do with anyone else; it is only the emotion standing before you that belongs solely to this Arthur Pandoragon."

The same feelings would never arise if the time, place, or encounter were different.

Even if it's just a fleeting moment of attraction.

It belongs only to this one Arthur Pandoragon.

"I'm sorry, this is the last time I'll apologize."

"Love is beautiful and aspirational, but love is destined to hurt others."

Like a bright red rose dripping with blood, it represents love, but it has sharp thorns; if you try to hold on tight, you will inevitably get pricked.

In the end, King Arthur ultimately hurt his Master, the Master he had sworn to protect.

"Yinglili."

Gently, a kiss falls.

May your future be filled with glory and honor.

These were King Arthur's last words to the world, not farewell, but a blessing.

Golden spiritual particles scattered before her eyes. Eriri reached out to grab them, but passed right through the illusion. The golden light did not exist in the world at all, just like this fate. Once they parted, it vanished like a dream.

However, it gave her the most beautiful dream.

"Arthur, Arthur..."

The blonde girl knelt down, covered her face with her hands, and broke down in tears, as if trying to release all her sadness and pain.

As she herself said, no matter how strong she tries or how hard she tries, deep down, she is still the proud yet weak, impulsive yet timid Eriri.

"You are the most despicable bastard in the world! I can never forget you, I can never truly let go... Waaah..."

He left a deep scar on her heart, and even if it eventually heals, one afternoon she will suddenly feel lost and aching.

After the spirits disappeared, the picture book fell to the ground and lay open.

A gentle breeze blew by, and I happened to turn to the first page. The English handwriting on it was both vigorous and beautiful, with strokes as sharp as iron hooks and as graceful as startling clouds.

"Everything goes well and you get what you want."

Everything goes smoothly and all wishes are fulfilled.

He wrote this sentence with a heart full of blessings, even though he knew it was an impossible future.

The girl's cries grew fainter and fainter, eventually fading away in the wind.

Pain, sorrow, despair, but eventually you will let go.

Because that's what humanity is, that's what growth is. No matter how painful or sad it is, in the end, we must wipe away our tears and keep moving forward.

We keep moving forward towards poetry and distant places, towards the stars and the sea. Along the way, we may stumble, get hurt, or even die.

But it won't stop.

They will arrive someday.