After finishing his conversation with Rias and Akeno, Arthur quietly excused himself, stepping out into the hallway with an unhurried pace. The atmosphere of the room lingered faintly in his mind, but he didn't dwell on it for long. There were still others he needed to check on, and one in particular stood out.
Asia.
Her room was a little further down the corridor, tucked away in a quieter section of the building. Compared to the energy surrounding Rias and Akeno, this area felt calm—almost fragile. Arthur paused briefly outside the door before knocking once, then entering without waiting too long for a response.
Inside, Asia lay resting on her bed.
Her body looked visibly exhausted, the aftermath of continuous healing clearly taking its toll. While her injuries had already been treated, the strain on her stamina was evident in the way she lay there, her breathing soft and slightly uneven. Healing others might not leave wounds on the surface, but the cost was still very real.
When she noticed him, her tired eyes lit up immediately.
"A-Arthur-san…" she said softly, trying to sit up.
"Stay," Arthur said calmly, raising a hand to stop her. "You've done enough for today."
Asia hesitated for a moment before slowly settling back, though the small smile on her face didn't fade. There was a quiet happiness in her expression, the kind that came simply from being acknowledged.
Arthur walked over to the nearby table, where a small bowl of fruits had been left. Without saying much, he picked up an orange and began peeling it with practiced ease. The room remained silent except for the faint sound of the peel separating and the occasional rustle of movement.
Asia watched him curiously.
"You don't have to do that…" she said gently, though there was no real resistance in her voice.
Arthur didn't look up. "I know."
The peel came off cleanly, and he separated the orange into neat slices before placing them in his hand. Only then did he turn toward her and extend it forward.
"Eat."
Asia blinked, surprised for a second, before carefully reaching out and accepting it. Her fingers brushed lightly against his, and she quickly pulled back, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks.
"Th-thank you…" she murmured, lowering her gaze slightly as she brought a slice to her lips.
Arthur watched her quietly as she ate, his expression softer than usual, though still carrying that same underlying composure.
"You did well," he said after a moment.
Asia paused mid-bite, her eyes widening slightly as she looked up at him. "Eh?"
Arthur leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms. "Your performance," he clarified. "That level of healing… sustaining it for that long under pressure isn't easy. Most would have collapsed much earlier."
Asia's blush deepened instantly.
"I-I didn't do anything special…" she said, shaking her head lightly. "I just… did what I could to help everyone."
"And that," Arthur replied, "is exactly why it was impressive."
She froze for a moment, clearly not used to such direct praise. Her fingers tightened slightly around the orange slice as she struggled to respond.
"I… I'm just glad everyone is safe," she said quietly, though the warmth in her voice betrayed how much his words meant to her.
Arthur tilted his head slightly, studying her reaction.
"You really don't know how good you are, do you?"
Asia looked down, her expression softening. "I'm still learning…" she admitted. "Compared to everyone else, I feel like I have a long way to go."
Arthur let out a faint breath, something between a sigh and a chuckle.
"You nearly carried your entire team through that match," he said. "If that's 'still learning,' then I'd say your standards are a bit unreasonable."
Asia couldn't help it—she let out a small, shy laugh.
Arthur stepped closer to the bed, his presence naturally drawing her attention again. He reached out, lightly tapping her forehead with his finger.
"Stop underestimating yourself," he said. "It doesn't suit you."
Asia blinked again, startled by the gesture, before her blush returned even stronger than before.
"O-Okay…" she said softly, nodding quickly.
Arthur straightened, his usual calm demeanor returning, though there was a faint hint of amusement in his eyes now.
"And next time," he added casually, "try not to collapse immediately after. It makes things inconvenient."
Asia puffed her cheeks ever so slightly at that, a rare hint of playful protest showing through her usual timid nature.
"I didn't collapse…" she mumbled, though her voice lacked conviction.
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
She quickly looked away.
"…Okay, maybe a little," she admitted quietly.
Arthur let out a small chuckle.
"That's what I thought."
Asia peeked at him again, her expression softening into a gentle smile as she continued eating the orange. The exhaustion was still there, but it felt lighter now, eased by his presence and words.
For a moment, the room settled into a peaceful silence.
And in that silence, Asia felt something simple but precious—comfort.
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