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Mandricardo sighs.
Sei Shonagon, who sits across him, smacks the table before releasing an exasperated groan.
"Rica-chi.. I'm the one who's getting tired of your constant sighing!"
Still, the guy didn't pay any mind. He sighs again, admiring the view of their red-headed master from afar. She looks so pretty today— not like she looks anything less from the past few days but gods, she's very very beautiful. Hair tied in a messy bun with flower ornaments, some strands from her hair draped to the sides of her face. Her eyes crinkled as she laughed to whatever Mash's talking about.
Honestly, he could stare at her the whole day.
He wants to— he yearns to tuck her hair behind her ears. To squish her adorable face, to be the audience of her daily random chatters. God he wants to—
"Hello! Earth to Rica-chi!"
Sei screams directly to Mandricardo's ear, waking him from his stupor.
"Ow! What was that for?!"
"I tried to get your attention but you've been staring at a distance and kept sighing for quite some time already! Are you okay?"
He cringed as he rubs his ear. She's already loud even when she isn't screaming!
"You didn't have to-"
Oh.
Everyone in the cafeteria has their eyes fixed on them. They're staring at Sei, AT HIM. He lowers his gaze, trying to hide his face from everyone, but to no avail, he's still visible.
Unfortunately.
This is so embarassing— wait, did anyone see him gawking at their master? He sure hope no one did because he would be so ashamed that he might request Captain Nemo to leave him in the middle of space or in an unknown Singularity if they went Zero sailing again.
"Oh no, Rica-chi melted into a puddle."
"I wish I did."
Mandricardo diverts his attention to the floor. It really is squeaky clean, he can almost see his reflection. Emiya sure takes his work seriously. That guy literally can do anything, he wishes Emiya could share his skills and talent to someone who's lacking at everything— him, Mandricardo. Maybe he can be a little bit appealing and more helpful if he learns how to cook or clean. But, alas, no one can be good at anything, well, with the exception of Emiya.
He sighs again, stares at Ritsuka's direction and to his horror (and surprise) she's looking at him too with a worried expression.
She mouths an "are you okay" and Mandricardo just nods. Ritsuka smiles at him and gives a look that says she'll be there whenever they need her.
He swears his heart skipped a beat. Good grief, he's down bad ain't he.
"Hehehe, now I know why. You have a crush on chan-Mas, don't you Rica-chi?"
Sei leans on the table, laying on the table at the process—her eyes twinkled with mirth as she wiggles her eyebrows at Mandricardo.
She looks ridiculous, it doesn't help that some of the attention are still on them. Can a hole magically appear under him and swallow him whole? He would love that.
"Seriously though, if you hole yourself inside your thoughts, nothing will happen."
The mirth in her eyes is replaced by an unfamiliar seriousness. He blinks at the sudden change.
"Will you be okay if someone else likes her?"
"Pull her away from your reach?"
Sei's words echoed through his mind. Pull her away from his reach, huh. Was she even in his reach in the first place?
Fujimaru Ritsuka— she's the strongest, kindest and most beautiful human he met. Actually— he haven't met anyone like her, she's one of a kind.
Always willing to lend a helping hand, always so gentle, so so wonderful.
She carries the future of humanity at her shoulders. That lithe form and integrity she possess— he learned not to underestimate it.
Under that beautiful face, she defeated countless of servants, the mightiest of gods, shattered the hopes and future of other Lostbelts to restore the world they once had.
She stood strong even her heart breaks into million pieces as she wipes out a Lostbelt.
She's remarkable.
He doesn't deserve that kind of person.
To answer Sei's initial question, he'll be fine.
Because he's just.. him. Unlike every notable hero in Chaldea, he doesn't possess endless treasury like King Gilgamesh nor made a huge impact in history the same as Achilles. He doesn't stand out, and he'll always stay that way.
Really. He's a lame arse third-rate servant who only owns a wooden sword. A somber and gloomy guy.. who couldn't summon Durendal.
Master deserves a person who's as incredible as her, and he's last on the list.
He isn't even at the list.
He's content with whatever they are—friends.
It's already more than enough, he's glad to have someone who understands him and who's fun to be with. He wouldn't risk it for anything else.
So.. he'll be here vowing to be steadfast in his loyalty to her.
He'll be here offering his aid, if she's willing to accept help from someone who's weak— as long as she needs him.