She's That Knight Known as Zero 24 Thank You

She was clearly... mad? Mad for who? Azusa?

He stared at her at the same time another face popped up in his mind. He was truly taken aback.

"I think that this knight is right, Yukimura."

From the side another voice was heard, everyone bowed down in respect as the king of the kingdom walked towards where Akihiko is standing.

Eureka bowed her head as well. Upon raising her head once again, not even a hint of the anger she had a while ago was visible.

"I just came from their home and spoke with her. This knight was right in saying that we never tried to know what Azusa really wanted. We shoved power and wealth to her not even knowing if she really wants it," Akihiko lamented in front of all the knights.

"From this day forth, squad 5 group 4 is relegated to squad 12. Squad 7 group 3 is promoted to squad 5 and will be it's group 4. Squad 10 group 2 is promoted to squad 7 and will be it's group 3. And finally, squad 12 group 5 is promoted to squad 10 group 2."

"You do know the reason for this arrangements. Be thankful you are not dismissed. Such an act should never be tolerated, but you shall be watched."

After saying so with finality he eyed those who had bullied Azusa after all Azusa was from squad 5 group 4.

Everyone who was promoted was happy, while those relegated were embarrassed that they kept hanging their head until everyone was dismissed.

Akihiko dismissed everyone but asked Eureka to stay.

"Eureka, allow me to thank you," he started looking at Eureka who had her eyes cast down.

"This knight cannot accept your thanks, your highness," she answered without looking at him.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I never told her not to die, I only told her to die on her own."

"Oh, but you still stopped her from taking her and the others' lives. So just let me thank you," he said as he looked at her while something is tugging inside him.

Eureka just bowed her head not answering him, seeing how she will have no answer and him having no more questions he dismissed her after saying, "If I ask you, I know you won't go. So I am commanding you to go and visit Azusa as she has something to say and requested me to tell you to go."

Eureka bowed again with respect to him and Yukimura before leaving.

"You seem so quiet. Did that girl hit you hard?" Akihiro then faced Yukimura who not even once spoke after Eureka berated him.

"I... Maybe. I guess," he answered but something is still bugging him.

"What's wrong?" seeing how his friend is distracted he couldn't help but ask.

"No, it's nothing," he shrugged.

"I see, anyway me promoting her team is not against you isn't it?"

"No, I have no complaint. She had been doing a great job the same with her team while guarding the gates," he answered which made Akihiro furrow his brows.

"Why the sudden change?" he couldn't help but ask.

"What do you mean by that?"

"If it was in the past, you would be completely against it already."

"I just want to give her a chance, that's all."

"Ooh, you're giving her a chance, that's new." Akihiro couldn't help but tease.

"Stop it Akihiro, I'm just giving her a chance that's all. But if I see her do something suspicious I'd instantly question her nonstop.

"I see, I see. Up to you," he said as he turned his back, but before he does, he looked one last time to the direction Eureka left and frowned. As if thinking something too deep.

*****

*knock knock*

"Azusa, someone is here for you," her mother said after opening the door.

Eureka, who has a poker face, entered afterward. Azusa's face instantly brightens upon seeing her. If you didn't see her in the past you'd never think that she is someone whose eyes are full of hatred. Who tried to take her and her friends' life. This time she looks so refreshed and wears a revitalized face that matches her age perfectly.

"I've been waiting for you," she beamed just as Eureka stood beside her bed.

"You see, upon waking up, I really really wanted to thank you. After what you said last night, I started thinking and realizing how stupid I've lived my life all this time. So thank you," she said as she looked at her with eyes full of emotions.

"Why are you thanking me? I didn't tell you not to die," she said indifferently.

Azusa smiled. It is true she didn't tell her not to die but her words are the same as saying so. Plus it was her who asked Karen and Feena to let her off the hook in this accident. And if it's not for Eureka, the three of them wouldn't be able to talk everything out.

"They came here a while ago you see," she said with serenity, "Feena and Karen."

****

Azusa was sitting in her bed, after a full nights sleep and a lot of time for herself, she was able to think everything she did thoroughly. How stupid she was, how stupid her actions were, and how stupid she is for having such a wretched heart.

*knock knock*

"Who is it?" she asked upon hearing the knock.

"It's us," slowly the door opened and she saw both Feena and Karen.

In an instant, guilt filled her eyes together with tears that started flowing nonstop.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," she kept repeating herself as she gripped her blanket tightly. She did a terrible thing to them, it was her who distanced herself from them but it was them who she blamed. She became jealous when she saw them trying to get close to Eureka and even forgot how they stayed outside her door every day for a whole month waiting for her. She got even more jealous upon hearing the news of their engagement forgetting that she has no right in the first place.

Seeing her anguish, it felt like their hearts are being squeezed. It was so painful, they could only run towards her and hugged her tight as tears started flowing down their eyes.

"Don't be, it's all in the past now. We too are at fault. You stopped wanting to see us and started avoiding us, but we truly are your friend we should have seen how pained you are. We should have seen how you were being treated in your squad. And yet we neglected a lot of our duties as your friend, we apologize," Feena said as she caresses both Azusa and Karen's back.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry I didn't pester you even more. If I did maybe we will have a different outcome?" Karen then said looking at both Feena and Azusa.

"Even after what I did to you, you're still kind enough to say such words to me. If Eureka didn't stop me last night, we might all have perished already," Azusa was truly remorseful.

"Eureka, before she fainted talked to us, do you know what she told us?" Feena said looking at her.

Azusa looked at her with confusion visible in her eyes.

"You call yourself her friend, then treat her better. People once they reached their limit they could do something they really didn't want to. What happened tonight was her reaching her limit. If you really are her friend then treasure her even more. You may not have interacted with each other for 10 whole years but do you really want her to end up in prison? If you really care for her then think of a better decision now. Losing her might cause you far more grief than what you think. She did something like this, she wanted to take you with her cause in the end within her heart, you are still her cherished friends and this action shows how much she wants to be with you. How much she wants to spend her time with you. You should talk and straighten out all these misunderstandings of yours."

Karen chuckled, "That was the longest explanation I've heard from her, it is also the first time I heard her talk about friendship," she then looked at Azusa, "But she was right, we've been dragging this for so long already. So can we talk?"

Azusa's tear kept falling as she nods her head.

It took them 3 whole hours of talking and catching up before the other two had to leave for their duty. Azusa looked at them sadly, they could only reassure her, "Don't look at us like that. We'll visit you again once our duties are over, okay?"

*****

"Thank you for everything," Azusa looked at Eureka in the eye and said her thank wholeheartedly.

"Don't thank me, I only did what I did for the sake of the kingdom," she said indifferently.

Chapter end