Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

As Ai Hoshino returns back to her apartment after her practice at the studio, she couldn't help but overhear what her two adorable children are talking about.

"I tried my best not to think about it," Aqua murmurs; his frown dimming his usually bright eyes. "But I do wonder who our father is. Just thinking about it makes my heart sink."

"You dummy, why would you let such a little thing get you down?" Ruby huffs before treating her brother to a monotonous stare. "It was obviously a virgin conception right? There was never any guy in the first place."

Oh dear, Ai thought to herself. Aqua and Ruby are definitely geniuses, but it is definitely not good if they're going to come to odd conclusions about it.

She subconsciously rubs her ring finger, feeling not bare skin but a memory of a promise told to her four years ago.

"I know I'm a bad guy for asking to wait for me, especially when you're so special to everyone," he had whispered to her, and she had vehemently denied it in her heart.

She wasn't that special, just someone who could only lie and lie. It was the only thing that could fill her up — because it didn't hurt as much as the truth — the hard truth that no one had really loved her, and she could not love anyone else in return.

But Ai could not deny that he had made her heart beat a different emotion that day.

"Even so, I want to be selfish just this once. I want to be the only one special to you."

As his fingers danced around in telltale signs of jitteriness, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them, Ai couldn't help but gasp when she saw his eyes — star sapphires that shine brighter than any light she had seen.

He drew her hand, he made a circle with his hand, kneeling right before her.

"One day this will be a real ring, but now, it's the only thing I can offer. Would you marry me, Ai Hoshino?"

For the first time in God knows how long, tears dropped down from her face. She wanted to say yes, but she could not — if it was a lie, then it would not only break him, but it would break her too.

But her heart answered for her. Her finger inside his.

Inside the telephone booth, Ai glances down at the phone which held his contact number. The last time they had talked was when they found out Ai was pregnant.

He was overjoyed to hear the news but afraid for her safety. She had assured him that President Satou and the doctor they had found would be able to take care of her.

He told her that he was able to enlist with a governmental organization, but they were going out-of-country for a while, so he might not be able to contact her. He apologized to her a lot for not being able to make it back when she was expected to deliver.

"It's okay," she had lied to him. It was not. She wanted him next to her. She wanted him to see their children - to see what their love had brought forth.

But he didn't need to hear that. Not when he was about to embark on something that sounded important. She had worked around government officials before, and she definitely knew how hard it could be.

And she was an idol. They couldn't risk meeting each other, especially now.

They needed this lie to protect themselves.

Lies are a form of love after all.

"Papa has something to do, right? Mama will always wait for you."

Still, wasn't four years without any contact a bit too much?

As the phone rings, she twiddles with the tips of her hair. Somehow it is more nerve wracking than auditioning for any role — to be able to hear his voice again is worth it, no?

Yet her excitement halts when she hears an unfamiliar voice, a woman, answers the phone after the fourth ring.

"Hello, who is this?"

Ai exhaled, choking out the butterflies in her stomach.

"Hello, may I ask if Ritsuka Fujimaru is available? Tell him that it's Ai."

Ai could only hear several gasps and what sounded like something heavy dropping to the ground.

"Ai-san? You're Ai-san? Ritsuka-senpai's lover?"

"Yes? Who are you?" Ai asks; her confusion growing even deeper.

"Oh sorry, my name is Mashu Kyrielight! I'm Ritsuka-senpai's work partner! I didn't expect for Ai-san to call on this number!"

"Eh? Why is that?"

"Ritsuka-senpai only had Ai-san listed on his emergency contacts, but we couldn't reach it when we tried to contact it. And since he never gave us your full name, we didn't know what else to do."

Ai bites her lips. An unfortunate consequence of using burner phones and trying to safeguard her identity as an idol. But griping about those can wait until later.

"Emergency contact? What happened to Ritsuka?"

Years spent lying to forge a perfect facade, yet it cracks so easily as she drops the phone.

"Ritsuka Fujimaru is currently in a comatose state right now."

Chapter Text

Gorou Amamiya — no, he is Aquamarine Hoshino now — is never one to put stock into the supernatural. Though he concedes that what happened to Ruby and him is definitely something that cannot be explained by modern science.

Maybe it's a sign that he should be more open-minded?

Perhaps in this life, he could try learning more to understand why it happens, but he didn't see a point in looking at a gift horse in the mouth. Like really, he had scoffed at Sarina's off-handed comment about wondering what it would be like to be a celebrity's child, but look at him now.

Aqua frowns, clenching his hands. Sarina is the one who deserves this reincarnation, not him. She had so much to live for, so much left to do.

A soft touch at his hand pulls his attention away.

"Really now, you're making that look again, brother," Ruby teases. "If Mama sees that face, even she will know something is up!"

Ruby has an uncanny ability to know when he is in, as she often puts it, a brooding phase. He had to wonder what kind of life she had before she got reincarnated.

When he asked about it, she said, "Your expression reminded me of someone dear to me. He struggled so hard to help me, but in the end, all I could really do was just smile. I wanted to tell him that his efforts weren't a lie, and that he really did help give me the strength to hope and wish."

Despite her obsessive love with Ai — though he's not really one to talk — Ruby is definitely the more emphatic between the two of them. He never had a sibling before, but in moments like these, he can appreciate the familial love.

Sometimes Aqua wonders if Ai really buys their act that they are just strange genius children. No matter how much they try to act normal, they are terrible actors. Even Aqua doubts that Miyako really thinks that Ruby and him are divine messengers. Like who would still think they were divine messengers after what they pulled at that concert?

But he is grateful that she is willing to care for them more now. He couldn't do much as a four year old. As he glances at Miyako, who has been glued to her laptop since she arrived in the morning to babysit them, Aqua can't help but wince in sympathy. Work never seems to end for an idol nor their managers.

The front door opens, and Aqua can tell by the footsteps that Ichigo is with Ai.

Aqua frowns because in both his life as Gorou Amamiya and Aquamarine Hoshino, he had never seen such a look on Ai.

The light in her eyes is scant — as if the world is in perpetual night and only a twinkle of star shine peeks through.

Ruby is quick to rush to Ai's, jumping into her arms as Ai kneels down to hug her. "Mama, what's wrong? Indigestion?"

Aqua swallows his retort to Ruby when Ai laughs, and now Aqua's world is brighter now. He too, seeks that warmth and rushes to her side, putting a hand on her shoulder, only for her to wrap around him and Ruby.

"Ah, you two are so adorable," Ai clamors, "If only he could see you two now."

Aqua is quick to ask. "He? Who?"

"Well," Ai laughed, "I thought it would be a good time for you two to meet your father ever since I heard the two of you thinking such weird things about him."

Oh boy, Aqua thinks to himself, they do need to be more aware of what they say or do. But what Ai said peaks his curiosity. After all, he had heard no mention of the father even when he was her doctor.

"Eh? We really do have a Papa? No way, I don't want to share Mama with him." Ruby exclaimed.

"Silly Ruby, you and Aqua are always my precious gems," Ai jokes with her. "But it's not as straightforward as I had hoped."

"Like seriously," Ichigo gripes, kneading his forehead "I know you were tight-lipped about your lover because you didn't want to implicate the two of you, but I didn't think he was that high-up with the government."

Aqua did have some suspicions that Ai's lover was someone that was far up in the entertainment industry, and it might have sparked a scandal if any hint of their pregnancy was revealed. This revelation wasn't quite out of the ballpark either.

"Hey, I'm just as surprised too! Last time we talked, he said he was just a newcomer! You know, he's just as old as I am, right?"

"Like hell I would know that you brat, you didn't say anything!" Ichigo snaps back. "All this time I was worried if some lousy bastard took advantage of you!"

"Really? I didn't think it was such a big deal," Ai murmurs as she stares at her hand. Aqua realizes she was rubbing her ring finger. "No, he isn't the type of person to do that. He is the opposite of me. He never needed to lie because his truth was always beautiful."

Aqua didn't know how such a sad smile could be so dazzling — so captivating — so genuine.

"So what's the deal?" Miyako asks. "Why does it matter if he's a government worker or not? He knows how to keep a secret, right?"

"They're sending some people to our office to confirm Ai's identity as his family," Ichigo fumbles with his pocket for a cigarette and stops as he realizes Aqua and Ruby were in the room. "That's not the main issue though."

"Now you two, I just want to know that Papa didn't see you earlier, not because he didn't want to," Ai started.

"It was because he couldn't." Aqua blurts out.

"Yeah. Aqua is a smart child." Ai pulls them even closer to her as if she needs to confirm that they're right there.

"They told me he lost consciousness for over a year now. They don't know when he'll wake up."

Chapter Text

The very moment Ai sees Mashu Kyrielight, she could say without a doubt that she could not get along with her.

It's strange, Ai muses, for her to have such a strong reaction to someone she never met before. After all, if she can love her anonymous fans, then why not her?

The tall man with glasses sighs and then bows with Mashu. "Right, let's get to it. Sorry for intruding. My name is Waver Velvet. Just like Mashu Kyrielight next to me, we are Ritsuka Fujimaru's work colleagues."

Ichigo motions for them to sit around the table — Ai, Ruby, and Aqua on one side, Ichigo and Miyako at one end, and Mashu and Waver at the opposite.

Waver places his briefcase on his table. He drums his finger over the handle. "Just to make sure, are you Miss Ai Hoshino, partner to Mister Ritsuka Fujimaru?"

Ai waves at the two. "Yep, that's me!"

"I understand that you are an idol, given our prior correspondence with you and Mister Saitou. Am I to also understand that you are fine with discussing these matters with him?" Waver asks.

"It's fine," Ai smiles at Ichigo. "President Satou is a father to me."

"Get my name right when you say that please!" Ichigo gripes, rubbing his head.

"Teehee," Ai smirks. The brief levity eases the tension in the room away.

Waver glances at Ruby and Aqua. "Are these your children, Miss Hoshino?"

"No, they're mine —" Miyako begins before Ai cuts her off, wrapping her arms around Ruby and Aqua. "There's no point hiding things now. Yes, these are my precious children with Ritsuka."

"They're so adorable," Mashu coos with a fond smile. "Senpai would've loved to meet them."

He will, Ai insists to herself. He must.

"Don't get me wrong here, but you do understand that we need to keep this on the down low, right?" Ichigo asks, propping his elbows on the table and resting his chin on top of his folded hands.

"In our line of work, we do know the importance of secrecy," Waver agrees, staring at the various posters of idols in the office. "We are indeed foreigners to Japan, but rest assured, both of us know much about the culture around idols."

A weary and hesitant laugh escapes from Mashu. "Perhaps more than we would've liked."

Waver ends up mirroring Ichigo's pose. "That being said, what we can say about Ritsuka Fujimaru must also be kept hidden from the general public as well."

"You'd have to fill us in with those details. We work mostly in the entertainment sphere — rarely do we touch upon governmental and political circles." Ichigo states.

"In an official capacity, I am to tell you that Ritsuka Fujimaru is a part of an independent research organization that works with the United Nations," Waver begins, pulling out documents from his briefcase. He passes over a folder to Ichigo.

Ichigo opens the folder, prompting Ai and everyone else to move in closer to read it.

It is a file with a snapshot of a familiar someone with dazzling blue eyes. The same star sapphires that Ai could never forget.

Name: Ritsuka Fujimaru

Age: 20 years old.

Country of Origin: Japan

Family: No known biological family remains; Partner: Ai (Unknown Family Name)

Official Affiliation: Novum Chaldea Research Observatory

Role: Initial 48th Candidate — Promoted to Active Main Lead Technician.

Status: Alive — Incapacitated in line of duty.

Accolades: Promoted to Rank of [Reacted] after successful completion of [Redacted] in December 2016. Further promotion pending after successful completion of [Redacted] in January 2018 is pending due to current status. [Reacted] prevented after petitions from [Redacted] family, [Redacted] family, [Redacted] Academy.

"Research Observatory?" Aqua points out. "Ritsuka was a researcher? But if so, what were they researching that led him to be incapacitated in the line of duty? Isn't that a term used for military operations?"

Waver raises an eyebrow at Aqua. "That's one smart child you got there."

"Ah," Aqua slaps his hands over his mouth, looking as if he did something wrong.

Ai pats him on his head causing Aqua to blush even more. "He didn't get it from me so he definitely takes after his father."

"The kid has a point though," Ichigo grumbles, flipping through the rest of the files. "Lots of redacted information here. If this guy is in something we're not supposed to know, I'm not sure if Ai should get involved with this. "

"No, President Saitou," Ai refuses, staring at him. Most of the time, she often defers to his advice on what to do, but just like how she refuses to give up on Aqua and Ruby, she makes her stand once again. "We've been separated too long enough. I won't let Aqua and Ruby miss a chance to see their father either."

"I understand your resolve. I'll drop all pretenses now," Waver sighs, taking off his glasses. "In actuality, any information pertaining to Ritsuka Fujimura would've been completely hidden and locked away. In the past four years, his accomplishments have elevated his status amongst our circle. In your experience as an idol, you would know just as well how such achievements can lead to unwanted attention and notoriety. The only reason why we came here is that it was his sole wish to tell everything to you, Miss Hoshino. None of us at Chaldea could deny such a request to someone who did so much."

The more Ai hears about Ritsuka, the more it confuses her. She is excited to hear more — Ritsuka was just as special as she knew him — but it begins to scare her. The way that Waver describes Ritsuka makes it seem like she hardly knew him at all.

But how much do people know about themselves?

Even Ai can't fully explain how she is supposed to feel towards her children, much less her lover, but she realizes there's a difference. If she didn't care about him, then she wouldn't want to know more about him.

Ai can't deny that she changed from who she was four years ago — without her children, she wonders how much differently her life would've been. There's no doubt that Ritsuka changed in all those years too.

"We only have two choices here," Waver raises a finger. "One: Accept that Ritsuka Fujimaru is just a governmental worker and nothing more. If so, we can part our ways, and we'll never meet again. This will be the safest choice for everyone involved."

He raises a second finger. "Two: If you want to know more about the world Ritsuka Fujimaru lives in, we will tell you everything we can. But know that if you go down this path, your life will be in danger."

"Is that a threat?" Ichigo growls, clenching his fist.

"Not from us," Mashu denies with a head shake. "No matter what, we will always protect Ritsuka-senpai and all that he cherishes and holds dear. He said that we would experience sad and painful things in our lives, but a life can be wonderful even if it's not rewarding. Rather, it's the choices we make that makes it so. He would never choose to endanger anyone, so that is why he wanted to give you a choice."

Ai now understands why she dislikes Mashu Kyrielight. They are mirrors — both of them reflect what they see before them. Just like how Ai reflects back the love her fans give her, so too does Mashu reflect what Ritsuka Fujimaru gave her.

She can see so much of him onto her that it's frustrating.

Ai realizes that she could never freely make such a reckless decision on her own now. Not when there is Aqua and Ruby. Their safety is more important than her and him.

Ritsuka would understand.

That means only one choice.

"Mama," Ruby called, tugging at her sleeves. "You're crying."

A single tear falls down. Then another.

Her brain understands, but her heart doesn't.

The truth hurts.

Lies are a way to protect the ones you love.

"Ai…no, Mama," Aqua calls out. "Don't worry about us. Do what you want. We will be with you no matter what."

"Aqua… Ruby…" Ai pulls them in closer to her. "Is it okay for Mama to be selfish?"

"When Mama smiles, she's the brightest of them all," Ruby exclaims, snuggling more into Ai. "So let's meet Papa and punish him for making the number one idol cry!"

"Ruby!" Aqua scolds before turning to Ai. "We're a family right? This is how a family should be — together."

"Damn it, Ai!" Ichigo groans before he catches Miyako's wistful smile. "This is one dysfunctional family. Do what you want, but after all this, even if your lover is the head of the yakuza or something, I won't let you slack off work that easily!"

Ai heaves back a sob and wipes her eyes before she slaps her cheeks. "Alright then! I — no we made a choice. Please tell us more about Ritsuka."

Mashu and Waver share a glance as if they are discussing something with just their eyes.

"Definitely his family, for sure," Waver laughs. "Each of them is just as foolish as he is."

"Rather, I'd say, they are definitely as strong as he is," Mashu refutes in good humor. "For humans have the ability to choose the harder path in order to achieve their dreams — to become a star that blazes a path forth for the future to come."

Mashu turns to Ai and kneels down to a knee before her as if she is a knight before her liege.

"Ritsuka Fujimaru is one such person — he sacrificed himself so the future can still exist. That's why he is lost, and that is why he needs your help. For even the bravest of sailors need a bright star to guide them back home. So please, this is my selfish request."

Mashu bows her head further. "Please save Ritsuka Fujimaru. Please save my Master."

Chapter Text

"I wonder if this is on right now," Ritsuka murmurs — nothing could be seen so far but a blurry visage on the screen. "Oh, looks like it is! They definitely didn't hold back with the stuff here. Half the time I'm afraid I'll break something expensive."

He pulls his hands away from the camera lens, and his profile finally comes into focus.

"It was all so sudden, but I can't believe I'm here now." Ritsuka rubs the back of his head; his eyes surveying the room around him. "All I did was apply to a flier, and now I'm transferred all the way to Antarctica.

Ritsuka folded his hands, fiddling with his thumbs. "Thought I'd keep a diary since I'm not sure when I'll be able to contact you — Ai — again. Not sure if you'll ever get to see any of this, but it's the best I can do."

He bows his head. "But I really am the worst, leaving at such a time. Both of us know what it's like to not have parents around, and I thought I'd be better than that. I hope you're doing alright — that you and our child will be fine."

"Well, I can't keep worrying about it," Ritsuka concedes, raising his head. "I'm not quite sure what I'll be doing here really. They said I was the 48th candidate to be a Master, but I can't say I know what that means."

He laughs sheepishly, "I kinda did fall asleep when the Director was debriefing us. Didn't realize how bad my jet lag was, but then again, you'd know how much I doze off in classes. I'll have to apologize to the Director — she threw me out of the room —- but I do hope we can get along in the future. Speaking of which…"

Ritsuka glances at his watch. "It's about time for another meeting, I should really go now. Would hate to come all this way and have nothing to show for it. Especially when I need to support our family now. Not sure about when I'll get paid, but I'll get that sorted out soon. See you later."

The screen turns on — Ritsuka sits there, eyes not meeting the camera — the silence continues for a while before he pounds his fist on the desk. His fist unmoving until slowly, his fingers fan out over the surface.

"I'm sorry, Ai," Ritsuka whispers; his voice unable to muster much strength. "So much has happened that I'm still trying to sort it out myself. Trying to figure out if there is something else I could've done."

He hugs his knees towards himself, tucking them under his chin. "The entire world is incinerated — only Chaldea is left. We're the only ones that are left."

"All the other Master Candidates were left incapacitated by Lev Lainur's sabotage. Director Olga Marie is dead, and I'm the only Master left," Ritsuka chuckles, almost hysterically, but his hollow laughter unable to erase the somber mood.

"Me, someone who hasn't really finished high school yet. I can barely cast any spells, much less know how to fight. I can barely support Mashu at all."

"Me," he repeats as if the word disgusts him, "A complete nobody, trying to save the world? I'm no one special…all I just wanted to…"

Ritsuka stares at his hand, as it rises, slowly forming a circle with his fingers. "All I just wanted to be with you…and now you're gone…they're gone…"

"My favorite star…" Ritsuka chokes back a sob, rubbing his eyes. "I can still remember how dazzling you had shined on the stage. You've always pushed forward with your goals — how could I not help but chase you no matter where you went. That's right…no matter how hard it was for you, you still kept on going."

He leaps out of his chair, pacing about the room faster and faster, his stride gaining momentum with his revelation. "Yes…this can't be it. I won't let it be the end. I will see you again and our child. The Grand Order must be completed. The future must be saved."

New resolve flows back into his eyes — the strength of it illuminates the gloominess away — as if stars shine through them.

"If Ritsuka Fujimaru cannot do it now, then he will have to become the one who can."

"Hey there Ai." Ritsuka settles down into his chair, setting down his backpack on the desk. "We just managed to complete the third singularity. I think I'm getting a hang on what it means to be a Magus…and to be a Master."

"Still, there's a lot more I can improve upon. But I've always been more of a practical learner than hitting the books. Which reminds me…" Ritsuka rummages through his backpack and pulls out several seashells.

"Since we went around a lot of islands in this singularity, these caught my eye." He flips one over, displaying the iridescent sheen inside.

"Remember that one day, when we had that small date on the beach? These look similar to ones we found." He rests his forehead on his palm, twiddling with the seashells.

"Truth be told, it took me days before I worked myself up the courage to even ask you out," Ritsuka admits — eyes quite unable to meet the camera. "Though imagine my surprise when you mentioned you couldn't swim. I felt bad teasing you, but it was a nice reminder that you were still just a person."

"All those times we talked together, you shared your hopes and wishes with me. How could I not want your dream to come true? But at the same time, I felt that it was a lonely path. Even if you love your fans — even if your fans love you — will they be able to love not just the idol Ai but the Ai underneath? Was that a love you could accept?"

Ritsuka laughs, "I just wanted to make sure you weren't alone, even if you didn't return my feelings. That even if people didn't understand you, that there was someone who did."

"Hey again Ai. Has been a while since I updated," Ritsuka suppresses a yawn. "Even after four singularities completed, I guess I'm still not used to how things can suddenly spiral out of control."

A solemn hand grasps his other, but it's unable to hold back the trembles that run down it.

"We finally meet the one responsible for the Incineration of Human History — King Solomon. Or so he claims. A Grand Caster."

Ritsuka snorts, shaking his head. "It doesn't matter who or what he is, the power he had was far beyond anything I've seen before. He doesn't even see us as a threat — why would he when he took down all of us without even sweating? I don't think we have a winning chance right now. We have no way to deal with him right now."

Ritsuka rubs his chin, contemplating. "Even so, what he had said — that human life holds no meaning — I couldn't help but disagree with that."

Ritsuka shakes his head as if that would deny the words he had heard.

"No, what he said can never be right. My time in Chaldea could not have been meaningless. My life before Chaldea — my time with you — is not meaningless — it can never be that. Just because you are gone doesn't mean you aren't still precious to me."

"Without those experiences, then there could be no Ritsuka Fujimaru."

"Mashu is going to die, and I cannot do anything about it," Ritsuka snarls — anger flushes his face red until it fades away with simmering acceptance.

"Once again, someone close to me is about to die, and I can't do anything." He punches his fist into his palm.

"Did you know, Ai?" Ritsuka asks, "that Mashu has never seen the world outside of Chaldea? She didn't even know what the sky looked because all she saw was snow. She still has much she hasn't seen — much she hasn't experienced yet. Just like me. Just like you. Just like our child."

"Damn it, Solomon!" Ritsuka curses, "Did you think that humanity has no worth because we will eventually die? So what if it can be short? So what if it can be fragile? If the worth of humanity is based on how they die, then that is disregarding whatever they had accomplished when they're living!"

"Olga's life was not meaningless! Ai's life was not meaningless! Mashu's life is not meaningless! The fact that life is fleeting only means that every moment they have is precious. Their efforts were not wasted! The future walks forward with the path laid down by those who came before us!"

"Just one more singularity, and we'll reclaim our future back. Even if some of us may not see it."

"Hello Ai." Ritsuka drums his fingers on his legs, unable to keep still. "It's finally time — we collected all seven Holy Grails and resolved all the singularities. In a few days, we'll rayshift to Solomon and prevent the incineration of Humanity."

"I don't want to sound like I'm setting up death flags, but," Ritsuka trails off with a hesitant laugh. "I'm not that naive. I only managed through the singularities with a lot of luck and help from everyone. Any other Master would've probably done a better job than me."

"Still, after confronting Tiamat, it made me realize — that even if we aren't certain of our future — we still have to endure and move on. That is how we show our growth as human beings. And so, to deny my own efforts is to deny that I have grown at all."

Ritsuka stands up and bows to the screen.

"I'll see you again in a few days, Ai. That's a promise I still intend to keep. After all, how can I call myself a Chaldean if I can't observe your bright star?"

No more entries recorded by Master Ritsuka Fujimaru after December 2016.

Chapter Text

"Hey big brother," Ruby calls out to Aqua from laying down on the couch. "Papa seems to be kinda a big shot, no?"

"No kidding," Aqua groans as he sinks back into the seat next to her. He lulls his head back, staring at the ceiling. "I thought we were weird enough, but this is beyond what I could imagine. A magician who saved the world several times? Seriously?"

Even with his adult-like mind, he still can't quite comprehend what he was told. He was always a man of science — wait a moment. Should he now say he's a child of magic instead?

Aqua clutches his head in frustration. He would say the gods had some twisted irony, but now he would have to consider whether or not that would actually piss them off.

Ruby giggles at Aqua, bending her head back to stare at him in amusement. "Well, anyone who dates Mama has to be just as amazing, otherwise Mama is too good for them. But I get your point. It's almost a dream come true for me, really."

Aqua raises his eyebrow. Ruby had always declined to talk about her previous life, but he had always felt like she lived a rather sheltered life, even more so than they did now. "Why do you say that?"

"Because I had always wondered what it'd be like to be a child of a celebrity and finding out that I'm a child to practically two of them is quite a shocker!"

Aqua's jaw drops slightly — why did she sound so much like — the door opens, and unexpectedly, it is Mashu Kyrielight who enters the room.

He and Ruby scramble to prop themselves up and straighten their backs to greet the visitor. "Hello, Miss Kyrielight."

"Ah, sorry to intrude," Mashu apologizes, bowing her head to Aqua and Ruby. "But I just couldn't help myself. I wanted to talk to the two of you for a moment."

"Talk to us? Not with Ai — Mama?"

Aqua cringes at his faux paus. While it was indeed hard to change a habit of referring to his mother as Ai — considering they had to go with the cover story that Miyako was their actual mother all this time — the day's revelations shake his usual composure.

"Yes," Mashu confirms as she squats down to their eye level. "We've talked with your mother about coming back to Chaldea with us. Mister Velvet is working on the finer details with President Saitou and his wife. It's most likely you two will also be coming with us for protection. I will be the one to safeguard the three of you."

"Protection?" Aqua's memories flash to when he was Gorou Amamiya — to the time he got confronted by presumably Ai's stalker and mistakenly ran off in pursuit of him. He still has no idea how Ai's location got exposed like that. Was it just a coincidence? Does that mean even more incidents like that might happen?

Mashu's eyes furrow in sadness. "Yes. Even with how personable your father is, he still made some powerful enemies. There are those who would use any advantage to target him."

"But don't worry," Mashu reassures them, "it's just a precaution. There are a great many of those who allied themselves with your father."

Aqua nods to himself, still taking it all in. Maybe it would be best for him to learn something about magic — he definitely has the time to do so now.

"Hey, Miss Kyrielight," Ruby peaks up and asks, "how well did you know Papa? Can you tell us a bit more about him?"

"Sure, there is much I can tell you!" Mashu exclaims before blushing at her slight levity. She clears her throat and continues, "He is someone who is perhaps the most human of us all: someone who is not the best, but the one who still tries their best. Someone who can see the good and bad in a person and still respects them no matter what."

"Sounds like you got a crush on him. He is Mama's, you know?" Ruby blurts out, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Ruby!" Aqua exclaims, a scandalized expression on his face.

"Maybe I did," Mashu confesses, shocking Aqua at how earnest she replies. "I always regarded him as my Senpai since he's the one who taught me how to live as a human. He's someone I've looked up to and care a lot for. My feelings for him were strong, but I never understood what they truly were."

"Man, even a lady as pretty as Miss Kyrielight is heads over heels over him," Ruby pouts, clutching the hems of her sleeves. "Is this Papa a two-timer? A playboy?"

"No, not at all," Mashu denies, shaking her head. "I'm not pretty like Miss Ai. I can definitely see she's a one of a kind idol."

Mashu pauses; a nervous finger scratching her cheek. "Now that I think about it, he does seem to have a lot of admirers. However, he was always steadfast in his devotion to Miss Ai. We didn't know much about her, but when he did mention her, we could tell he missed her a lot."

She pauses and places a hand on their shoulders. "And I'm hoping that you can help him as well."

"Didn't your report say he's in a coma?" Aqua presses on, wincing slightly at his callous question. "I mean, we're just children. What makes you think that we can help him?"

"In a sense, yes, but don't worry about that," Mashu answers, "I can tell that the two of you are a lot more special than normal children."

Aqua's insides twist into a panic, but he manages to suppress it from showing on his face. On the other hand, Ruby is trembling as she clutches his arm.

Mashu raises her hands up in peace. "It's why I wanted to talk with the two of you a bit more, to confirm my instincts. Even Mister Velvet has his suspicions. I'm sorry if I scared the two of you. That is your secret, and so we won't press any further."

Mashu kneels before them as she had done with Ai.

"It's my hope and wish that you and Miss Ai are able to connect with him at a far deeper level than we at Chaldea can. As much as we can support him, it might have the opposite effect so far."

"Humanity once again correctly walks towards the stars — always wanting to embrace the light that shines their path forward. An era that has such exemplars of humanity yet their journey to the stars could never be so different from each other. The line between hero and villain may blur, but it is inevitable for humans to struggle, sacrifice, and grow for their desires. That at its core is humanity's greatest virtue."

Closing one of her eyes, she now peers at the fated meeting of the two who had once walked by their side.

"In that vein, they are the greatest hero and villain that humanity has ever created — yet at what cost?"

A faint hint of a smirk dances on her lips as she observes the stars and stargazers moving forward..

"Now at the culmination, what about sayest thou? Not all hope is gone — it can never be gone so long as the light is still kindling. No matter how many heliacal risings may occur, they should no longer hide behind the glory of the sun. Go forth, children of the star — guide home the watcher. Their duty is done. Their burden is no longer theirs to bear."

She turns away, walks off into the shadows. Nothing is left where she had stood but a single black feather.

"Remind them once more that the past is just as valuable as the future. A path has a beginning to its end after all."

Chapter Text

If Ai Hoshino had to use a single word to describe Ritsuka Fujimaru when they first met, she would've said: ordinary.

He was nondescript — scruffy hair, average height, non-flashy aesthetics — someone that you couldn't even pick apart from a crowd of people.

The very textbook definition.

She would have never interacted, much less struck a conversation with someone like him, much less anyone else.

She wasn't much for talking to people at that time of her life. People never had the time for her, so she never had the time for them. It was a standard life for an orphan: if her own parents couldn't bother to care for her, then who else would?

Don't get her wrong.

It wasn't as the orphanage caregivers were bad. They just had their hands full caring for everyone else.

That was until that one afternoon in the school cafeteria.

She sat in the far corner — no one else bothered with grabbing these seats because they were more interested in roomier areas to sit and chat with their friends. She wouldn't say that she was a loner, rather that she was just simply not interested in talking with anyone.

Because really, what did friends do? Did she need a friend? They'll just leave her once they find out that she was not worth their time.

"I'm sorry, is this seat taken?" He asked, one spare hand gesturing to the free seat in front of her, while the other holding onto his tray of food.

Ai shook her head, continuing to focus on her ramen, not minding him any further than needed. He looked familiar, but then again, she was never good with names nor faces.

"Thank you for the food," he prayed before breaking out his chopsticks. He glances over at her — or maybe he was staring at her bowl. "Ah, you got the ramen set, too, Hoshino-san? How do you like it so far?"

"Eh?" Ai blurted out before she realized he was talking to her. "Ah yes, it's very good. Much better than any I had."

It wasn't a lie really, but it's not like she could say that the only time she had ramen was at school? It's not like the orphanage had the money for more pricier meals.

"Ah, is that so? Time to dig in then!"

He slurped the noodles up without further ado, and Ai could see the very moment his eyes light up in enjoyment.

It's strange, Ai mused to herself, how she never really noticed how emotive a person's eyes can be.

Eyes usually frightened her — they often looked at her as if she was just never meant to be there. Disappointment. Sadness. Anger.

Perhaps that's why she was never good with faces — she didn't want to look at them in the first place. Life felt monotonous — as if she lived in a grayscale world where nothing bright could be found.

That was until now.

The blue hues of his eyes began to bleed into the canvas of her world.

As if a star peered down from the darkness of the night and guided her.

"You were right! I never had the ramen here before, but this is really good!" He exclaimed, oblivious to how Ai started to study his expressions, continuing to pick up more noodles — but he paused right before he brought it to his mouth. "Ah, I'm sorry, did I interrupt you, Hoshino-san?"

"No," she denied, "I was just wondering how did you know who I was?"

His lips formed a small pout, and she had to admit it was rather adorable.

"I know we haven't talked that much, Hoshino-san, but I sit right next to you in class, you know?"

A sheepish chuckle was the only excuse she could offer.. "Ah…I'm not usually good with remembering people. Sorry."

He waved off her apology. "It's fine, I was just teasing you. My name is Ritsuka Fujimaru, nice to finally talk with you, Hoshino-san."

Fujimaru lowers his chopsticks, scratching his cheek.

"Oh, by the way," he murmurs, pointing to the right side under his chin. "You got a bit of noodle stuck on you."

Ai could now consciously feel the food on her , she scrambled to reach for a napkin but dropped her chopsticks in the process. Then in her rush to pick up her fallen chopsticks, she bumped her head on the table's edge.

"That smarts," she moaned as she rubbed her forehead.

"Oh my, I didn't mean to startle you! Here, let me help you up!" He clamored, only for him to stumble over the leg of his chair and also bumped his head onto the table.

Maybe this was the actual reason why no one bothered to sit here. It was probably cursed.

As they raised their aching heads up together, their gaze met each other, and both of them broke out in laughter at the absurdness of the situation.

For the first time, Ai didn't think that looking at someone's face was that scary anymore.

Ritsuka Fujimaru, she rolled the name around in her mind. How fitting was it to meet him in summer?

If Ai Hoshino had to use another word to describe Ritsuka Fujimaru when they became friends, she would've said: strange.

People never bothered to do anything unless it benefited them in one way or another. That was how her mother was. She couldn't bother to care for Ai any more even after her release from prison.

So it confused her to no end, when he insisted on doing things that never really benefited him.

After finding out they were indeed seated next to each other — he was to the left of her — she found herself enjoying school a bit more.

Mainly because observing him always taught her didn't really bore her as much as the lessons did.

Like how now he was falling asleep, the classic tell-tale signs of unfocused eyes and nodding his head back and forth. This wasn't the first time that it happened. It won't be the last either.

After quickly glancing back to the front of the class, she wasn't the only one who noticed it.

The chalk whistled through the air as it landed on its mark and hit Ritsuka right on the forehead.

"Ah, what hit me?" Fujimaru's eyes snapped wide open as he flailed around in his desk.

"Glad to see that you're now with us in class, Fujimaru," the teacher drawled, and the class laughed.

"Now if you don't want to get extra homework, make sure to answer this question correctly. Minamato-no-Yoshitsune made his mark in his history with his achievements during the Genpei War, especially during the naval battle of Dan-no-ura. What was his childhood name?"

"Ushiwakamaru!" Fujimaru responds without hesitation.

"Correct," the teacher confirmed. "Glad to see you're not slacking in your studies. This will be on your test. Now Hoshino, tell me who was Yoshitsune's greatest follower, known for his strength and loyalty?"

"Eh," Ai murmurs, stalling to try and remember who it was. History was never her strong point, but a motion from her left caught her attention.

Fujimaru held out seven fingers while trying to hide it from the teacher.

Seven? That's right; there was that one person with seven weapons or tools.

"Benkei?" Ai answered, hoping she remembered correctly.

"Correct." The teacher nodded and began to write on the chalkboard — Minamoto-no Yoshitsune. Then he draws a line and writes "Minamoto-no-Yoritomo" at the end of it.

"Now let us talk a bit about Minamoto-no-Yoritomo, the elder brother of Yoshitsune. It was said that Yoshitsune led several campaigns against the Taira Clan in the Genpei War for his brother Yoritomo. After the Taira clan was defeated, Yoshitsune was awarded several titles by the Emperor Go-Shirakawa."

He paused, now drawing a question mark between the two. "Some historians speculate that since Yoshitsune now had enough support — talented followers, accolades, and the Emperor's favor — he could oppose his brother and take over the clan. Others speculate that Yoshitsune had no aspiration to do so, and that Yoritomo was simply too jealous and suspicious of Yoshitsune. Regardless of the reason, Yoritomo opposed Yoshitsune's rewards and titles and later sought to dispose of him."

After everything Yoshitsune had done for his brother, Ai wondered, was it simply cruel or pragmatic of Yoritomo to turn on Yoshitsune so easily? It only reinforced the idea that people really only do what benefitted them the most.

At the end of the class, Ai had to thank Fujimaru for telling her the answer. "Say, have you always been interested in history?"

He nods, putting his textbooks back into his bag. "Just a bit. I grew up listening to the Chronicles of Yoshitsune. So you can say that Ushiwakamaru is my childhood hero."

That had surprised Ai. She hadn't thought he would be interested in such things.

"Is that so? Do you think it was sad that everything Yoshitsune did, Yoritomo still wanted him gone?"

Fujimaru paused his shuffling and let go of his bag's clasp. "No, I don't think it's sad."

"Why do you say that? He was betrayed by the one who was supposed to be his family?" Ai pressed on.

"Last year, I had a neighbor once — a war veteran," he recalled, wistful of nostalgia touched his face. "I talked with him every day after I got home from school. He lived by himself for nearly twenty years by himself — no one had visited him, not even his family. It made me mad, actually. I told him that after everything he had done, he was left alone with nothing."

Just like me, Ai shouted from inside of her. After all of this, she had no one. No family and no friends.

"But he told me," Fujimaru continued, "'It's true that there were sad and painful times, but when I look back, they become trivial and insignificant. And it's not a lonely life either — after all, I'm talking with you'".

"It was then I understood that life didn't need to be rewarding for it to be wonderful, rather it's how you live your life that does. After all, we got to be friends by banging our heads on the table, right?" Fujimaru winked at her.

Ai giggled, but she was more glad than she expected. Her first friend. Her very first one. "That's a strange reason for us to be friends."

"Is it?" Fujimaru questioned, closing his bag. The two of them silently decided to walk out of the class together. "I like talking with you though."

She tilted her head in confusion. "I don't think I'm that interesting."

"That's not true. Aside from your love of ramen, you also like to sing, don't you?" Fujimaru asked.

She had to admit that Fujimaru had a frightening ability to keep on surprising her no matter what. She didn't think she told him that at all. "Eh?"

Fujimaru scratched his head. "Ah, well, sometimes when you're lost in your own thoughts, I can hear you sing along to a tune."

"Oh boy, that's actually embarrassing," Ai lamented. "I didn't think anyone would hear me."

"But you do have a wonderful voice, you know?" Fujimaru complimented her. "I'm sure that if you ask someone else, they would say the same and ask for an encore."

"Enough of that, you're just teasing me, aren't you! You dummy!" Ai exclaimed, heat rushing to her cheeks.

Fujimaru laughed, "Hey, what are friends for?"

If Ai Hoshino had to use one more word to describe Ritsuka Fujimaru when they became lovers, she would've said: genuine.

He had invited her to go to the beach with him — said that he had something important to tell her.

In the year that she became friends with him, she had never known him to lie. He really wears his heart on his sleeve unlike her who still kept it locked tight inside of her.

She would say that being with him was the most fun she ever had in her life but still — a part of her feared when it would end.

How long would it be until he found someone else more interesting to be friends with and leave her behind?

Ai knew it was irrational — that he wasn't like everyone else in her life — that he honestly did care for her.

And so she took President Saitou's offer to become an idol.

If her lies weren't the truth, then she would keep on lying until it did. If she wasn't someone special, then she would have to become special. If she didn't love people, then she would lie until she did.

Maybe then, she would admit to Fujimaru — and to herself — that she cared for him as well.

That she too enjoyed their long discussions when walking from school.

That she liked it when he constantly praised her singing.

That she found it cute when he had to lecture her on the "cool factor" of mechas.

That she got annoyed whenever someone else talked to him and asked for his help.

Because Ritsuka Fujimaru is the opposite of her.

Her lies protected her ugly self. His truth reflected his beautiful heart.

But if she took the wrong step, how could their relationship be the same again?

And so she found herself excited and dreading what was so important that Fujimaru had asked her out.

They met together in the early morning — Fujimaru had arrived fifteen minutes earlier only to find Ai had been there even earlier than he was. Both of them laughed and ribbed at each other before they hopped on the bus towards the beach

Unlike before she became an idol, she now had to disguise herself with a mask and sunglasses, but Ritsuka had never minded. But even now, she could see something different in him.

The constant wiping of his hands on his handkerchief; the constant clearing of his throat and gulping — various signs that Ai had learned during her idol training to tell that he's nervous.

It was strange but comforting, in a sense, because Ai had always known him to be a very confident person. That he too can show another side meant that there was something else she could learn about him.

As she walked out of the bus when they had arrived, she smelled the briny air for the first time. She had never been to the beach before.

Fujimaru slapped himself lightly on the cheeks before he said, "Looks like a wonderful day for it. Let's go, Ai."

Before she could even register that it was the first time he called her by her given name, he had reached out and taken her by the hand.

It was big and rough, and she realized the difference between her hands and his — but it was gentle and comforting. How long was it that someone had touched her? She didn't realize how much she would crave such warmth — that she wasn't willing to let go.

It was a day full of a lot of her firsts.

First time holding hands with someone.

First time letting the cold sea waves caress her feet.

First time scavenging for colorful sea shells.

The sun was about to set, dying the sea a bright orange.

"Ai," Fujimaru had started, once again using her first name, pausing to take a deep breath. "Did you have fun today?"

"Yeah I did," she admitted, watching how the waves come in and out to the shoreline. "I didn't really think you'd take me seriously when I said I wanted to see the sea one day."

Fujimaru smiled. "Of course I would. I always pay attention to you. I'd do anything for you."

"Really?" Ai asked. "I must be a lucky gal to have such a good friend. "

"No, if anything I'm the lucky one," Fujimaru murmured, shaking his head. "Ai, don't get me wrong here. I don't want to be just friends anymore."

Her heart had dropped, fearing the worst. "What?"

Fujimaru took both of her hands into his. "You're an idol now, but even so, I want to be with you. I want to support you and your dreams. But I'm afraid — afraid that you'll go so far away from me."

"No, that won't ever happen!" Ai blurted out. "I don't want you to leave me either. Not like everyone else."

This wasn't the reason why she became an idol. Not at all.

Fujimaru intertwined his fingers with hers. "I won't leave you. No matter how far you go, I will always keep my eye on you. I know that you can't publicly have a lover, but I want to be selfish. Would you please be my girlfriend, Ai?"

Just like that her heart soared back up, reaching the stars.

"Yes, Ritsuka, I will!"

First time someone embraced her.

First time she embraced someone.

First time she felt loved.

Chapter Text

"Don't worry about official documentation such as passports. We will have it all covered." Waver assures Ichigo and Miyako as he flicks the ashes of his cigarette into the ashtray before him. "Though it's just for appearance sake. We're not going to be leaving via commercial means anyway; rather, we have special transportation for this occasion."

"Feels like something from a spy movie. Never expected to get involved with something like this, even as the president for idols." Ichigo huffs from his own cigarette, and the smoke exits with his sigh.

"Damn…how long has it been since I've scouted Ai?"

"More than six years now," Miyako answers as she sips from her cup of coffee. "I don't blame you for forgetting. Learning when Ai was pregnant definitely took a few years off our lives."

Ichigo cradles his head and groans. "Don't remind me. I don't want to go through with that again. I wanted to strangle the bastard who knocked her up."

He pauses his lament and leans back into the sofa, staring at the ceiling. "But when she first learned about the kids, she changed — in a better way. Maybe that's my fault. She was a broken kid when I found her, but I saw the raw talent in her. A diamond in the rough."

Ichigo could only scoff at himself. "'Lying is fine — pretty lines are what fans want. As you continue saying, 'I love you', the lie might actually become the truth'. And who knew she became the biggest liar ever? Pushing her into this business may have done her more harm than good."

"Ichigo…" Miyako murmurs as she reaches for his hand to console him. "She knows how much you've supported her. I don't think she would have ever regretted becoming an idol. After all, it's our dream that all of us share."

Waver could only nod to that sentiment. "You heard it from Miss Hoshino, remember? She sees you as her father figure. You can have faith in yourself."

"I really do see her as my kid at this point," Ichigo admits, finding some reassurance that he had done some good in Ai's life. "As much as I want her to succeed, I don't want her to have regrets. This Ritsuka kid might be what she needs. I owed it to her this much. Even four years apart, she still holds him dear to her heart. It would be a great, sappy romantic story if it wasn't so damn disheartening — that she still doesn't trust herself yet to break out of the mask she built."

"Almost like they're two star-crossed lovers," Miyako agrees.

Waver flicks more of his ash into the tray. "It is relatable no matter where we're from — people will wear all sorts of masks to hide their true selves. But when they do finally find the person they can trust their most vulnerable self to — that's when they no longer need to wear one."

Ichigo broods for a moment as he runs some mental calculations. "The Tokyo Dome Concert is at the end of this month. B-Komachi can still practice without Ai — not ideal but doable. We can run a cover story if Ai gets asked where she is, but she has to be there for the concert. Are you sure whatever you need her to do will get done soon enough?"

"Yes, but I'm not sure how it will turn out, " Waver admits, furrowing his eyebrows. "Even if it doesn't have any results, we'll be able to get them back in no time."

"Give it to me straight now that the kids aren't here," Ichigo demands as he grounds the remains of his cigarette butt. "The whole coma thing is some cover story, right? What exactly is the issue with this Ritsuka kid?"

"In a sense, you can say he's lost." Waver pulls out his lighter, flicking off his cap with his thumb and ignites the flame. "You're in this business, you've probably seen similar cases before. When the pressure gets placed on you, people either endure it or —"

Waver snaps the cap back on, extinguishing the flame.

"They burn up and crash," Miyako finishes for him; her face pale as she recalls the amount of heartbreak she had witnessed from the back of the stage.

"And what if he was never given the luxury to even fail?" Waver continues the scenario, relighting the flame again.

Ichigo frowns, lines forming on his forehead. "From what Ai mentions, he was just a regular kid with no real talent. You see a bunch of these types heading onto the stage for the first time, and they get eaten alive."

"Painfully so. He started off at zero: no actual skills or experience compared to those around him. But not once has he complained about his circumstances. No one would've blamed him if he did. Against all odds, he did it though — a complete miracle." Waver pauses, staring at how the flame shines resolutely.

"A miracle, you say…almost like our Ai," Ichigo mumbles, "I guess birds of a kind do flock together."

Miyako laughs, but it was somber just like her smile. "Never a dull moment with this family. Really though, spending all those years thinking the ones you love are dead? I'm not sure what I'd do. Oh why do the two of them have to suffer so much? They are just kids."

The flame begins to flicker.

"Even so, kids will have to grow up one day — some more harshly than others," Waver agrees, "what he had experienced in these years, no regular human could have remained unaffected. No matter how much he continues to persevere, eventually —-"

The flame goes out; nothing remains but pale smoke.

"There won't be anything left to burn."

"Really, Ritsuka," Ai sniffs, patting her eyes dry and failing terribly. After watching the last diary entry on the laptop she borrowed from Miyako, the tears just wouldn't stop."

"You never seem to stop making me cry for you, dummy," She pouts as she crosses her arms together. "Always being the hero no matter where you are…you've saved me in so many ways now that I think about it."

She trails off, clutching her ring finger. "But even so…even you need a hero to save you, Ritsuka."

As someone who wore masks all her long, how could she not see through the one he began to forge for himself?

"I can see what Kyrielight-san means now. 'If Ritsuka Fujimaru cannot do it now, then he will have to become the one who can.' Lies are really a form of love, isn't it? My lies was to protect myself, but yours was to protect us all at the cost of yourself."

She could smile at the irony. "Really, I was telling Ruby that if she was afraid to fall, she would just fall over more, but I'm just the same as her. I was afraid to say it at that time because it would hurt me and you if it were false. But now…I definitely think I can do it now. So wait for me."

The cloudiness of her tears fades away, and the bright stars shine through again.

"Although, this reminds me," Ai murmurs, looking back at the laptop. "I should say it in person to them too, but that will have to wait when I get back. After all, B-Komachi is all of us, not just me."

Ai isn't sure what she expected, but she didn't expect a kid to greet them after their shuttle ride to the airport. Multiple of them, in fact. They were all scrambling to receive their luggage. Maybe kids are just that smart these days?

The one with the feather in his cap steps forward and salutes. "Greetings, the Hoshino family. I'll be your captain for this flight on our ship. You can call me Captain Nemo."

"...Like the character from Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea?" Aqua asks, and Ai could not get enough of his adorable, baffled look. She wonders when he had the time to read all of these books as she pats the top of his head.

"Perhaps." Captain Nemo just smiles, sidestepping the question.

"Anything amiss while at dry dock, Captain?" Mashu asks as they all walk inside the ship. It was strangely larger than what it appeared on the outside.

"Nothing. Calm as the eye of the storm, really," Nemo chuckles. "Perhaps we've been too used to such dangers that moments of peace just feel strangely off.

"Whoa, it's like a sci-fi movie!" Ruby blurts out and she gawks at the sight of what appears to be a central hub with several computer monitors. There even seem to be several holograms on display.

"Welcome to the Storm Border's main hub," Nemo explains. "We'll be reaching Novum Chaldea in less than thirty minutes, so please enjoy your flight for the brief time we are together."

"Wait, isn't Chaldea in Antarctica? Thirty minutes from Japan? How fast are we going?" Aqua exclaims.

"True, if we were going the conventional means, it would definitely take longer than half an hour," Nemo winks to Aqua. "But, time is of the essence, so we will prepare you all for the Zero Sail."

"Interesting."

On his table before him, there are several camera shots of Ai Hoshino in the company of two unknown people — a man and a woman, both wearing glasses.

"The Tokyo Dome Concert is soon. At your zenith, I will take everything from you. After all, a star shines brightest before they shatter."

Chapter Text

Her lonely hand ghost around the cold glass of the cryogenic chamber — her fingers linger around the area above his cheek before she slides it away.

"Back again, Kama?"

She hears a familiar sigh and deigns not to even turn around; her gaze still on his face — eyes still closed to a reality that should have been his.

"Shut up," Kama snaps, tired of dealing with her over and over again. "Who else can better monitor his condition than me, right now? Why are you still even here anyway? Go back to that damned Shiva and leave me alone."

"And why are you still here, Kama?" Parvati counters with her arms crossed over her chest. "You're not the only one in Chaldea who worries about Master, you know?"

"Like I care. He only needs me," Kama scoffs, but her voice isn't as confident as it could be. A multitude of Servants did come to the front of her forethought, but it didn't matter.

Parvati frowns, but her eyes are sympathetic towards Kama. "This is about her, is it? Kama, you should've known that—"

Kama clenches her fist as blue flames spark around her and enveloping it. "Shut up, Parvati! Of course I knew! I'm the God of Love. How couldn't I know about her?"

Kama pauses, glancing at the dancing cinders before she closes her eyes to calm herself down. The flames subsides as she exhales out her frustration. "All that I could have given him, any fantasy that he could live out, he still chose only one thing — his love for her."

She stomps her feet rather childishly despite being in her higher, more adult ascension Saint Graph. Kama rants, "Going out on dates after school, listening to music with the same headphones, sharing the same drinks — it's rather sickening!"

"Sickening?" Parvati interrupts, a hint of teasing in her voice, "or is that just another term for being jealous, Kama?"

"Shut up. I'm not jealous." The sneer on Kama would've been intimidating if not for her resolute pout. "I only gave him those dreams just so he could have the strength to carry on. Why would he choose her? Another wannabe idol? They're like a dime-a-dozen over here in Chaldea! Even I can be one too if I tried!"

Parvait could only shake her head at Kama's denials. "Oh Kama, continuing on this path will only hurt you."

Kama sighs, rubbing her temple. She rests her hand over his chest, her fingers fanning outwards as if they could grasp his metaphorical heart. "For the last time, shut up Parvati. You're the last person that should care. I'm doing this because even if it sickens me, I'm still a God of Love — for his one wish was to see his beloved on the stage one last time.

"He deserves this much after everything."

Ai Hoshino didn't have fond memories of her own mother — not much of a surprise to anyone considering how she left Ai at a young age.

But that is not to say that she didn't have fond memories of a mother.

Though fondness was far from the first emotion she experienced when meeting her boyfriend's mother.

Ritsuka had mentioned that she would be welcomed no matter what. Ai thought that she no longer got butterflies in her stomach after being on the stage, but each step towards his apartment was a never ending aftershock to her overthinking mind.

Upon further reflection, Ai realized she wasn't just nervous — she was afraid. Afraid that his mother wouldn't approve of their relationship — of her.

What if she was just like her own mother? Who would want a troublesome child in the family? What if Ritsuka began to reject her and abandon her as well?

A gentle grasp of her hand shook her away from her pessimism, and his warm smile brought back her own as well. She embraced his arm and leaned deeper into his shoulder.

One time she wondered and asked how he seems to always know how she was feeling, no matter how much she never let it show on her face.

"I don't think it's anything special, really," he had tried to downplay it, but he was always excessively and frustratingly modest at times. "I just pay attention. Everyone has their own story to tell, their own circumstances that shape them. And I just saw you — always smiling, but it felt so lonely. That was when I realized that I wanted to be your friend."

He was really such a busybody, Ai had mused, but she wouldn't change that for the world. It was definitely his kindness that helped fill a void in her heart — an emptiness created by the lack of connections in her life.

No one else really had made the step forward to get to know her better, but she realized that she never really let others do so either.

It made her want to change — to fill in that gap with something much more. It was why she became an idol.

Another deep breath to settle her nerves as they stood before the door to his apartment. The door opened before Ritsuka could even put his key to unlock it. Through the doorway, Ai could see a young woman, wearing an apron — if for not Ritsuka's earlier description, she would've thought she was his older sister instead of his mother.

"Sorry for intruding, my name is Ai Hoshino," Ai introduced herself, bowing her head deeply to show her respect.

"Oh my, you're much cuter in person than on the television! Come in!" Without a warning, she rested her hands on Ai's shoulders and steered them inside towards the living room where there was a kotatsu. There was a teapot — still warm judging by the faint wisps of steam leaving the spout — and cups set out for them. "Ritsuka, you should've brought her over earlier!"

Ritsuka could only do his trademark sheepish laugh and rubbing the back of his head. "Just wanted to be sure everyone was okay with it first. Is Dad still working?"

His mother sighed, leaning her cheek into her palm. "Unfortunately, he called in to say that his team was kept in overtime. But that's okay, we'll have more chances in the future."

She poured out the tea into a cup and offered it to Ai first. "Please."

It almost reminded Ai of the times where she and President Saitou went around to do interviews, but the smile on Mrs. Fujimaru was much warmer than the company she previously had.

"Oh dear, I forgot to bring out the snacks," she exclaimed before winking to Ritsuka, "Ritsuka, would you be a dear and retrieve them from the dining room?"

He rolled his eyes before patting Ai on the shoulder as a sign of small comfort. "Don't tease her too much, Mom."

There was no doubt that she had wanted to talk to Ai alone. Perhaps she could sense Ai's nervousness when she reaches for Ai's hands and pats them gently.

"Don't worry, I just wanted to know you a bit better. I can only know so much from Ritsuka, but seeing you right before my eyes now — you must not have an easy life?"

Ai almost frowned, trying not to let her confusion and panic color her voice. "Eh? What could you mean—"

" — It's your body language. Being nervous isn't strange, but being so guarded is another story. Just like the times I've seen you on television, you haven't let slip your mask and still wear that same smile, even when sipping your tea. I can only imagine what kind of life you had lived for you to wear such a facade already at this age."

Ai had to wonder if his mother was the main reason why Ritsuka was so astute at times.

A solemn smile adorned her face. "Both of you are different yet so alike in the same way. He was always a kind child, but he never placed his own desires above others. Oftentimes, it felt like he was taken advantage of since he could never really say no. So when he first told us about having a girlfriend, it was the first time that he expressed something that he wanted for himself. What I wanted to say is thank you for being with my son."

"No," Ai tried to stop Mrs. Fujimaru from bowing to her. "If anything, I'm the one who has so much to thank him for."

"And that is what love is — the two of you supporting each other, filling in for what the other is missing. I just want you to know that no matter what, you will be welcomed here. You'll be as much a daughter to me as my son is."

In that brief moment, Ai had learned a small taste of what motherly love was. Someone who had her back even as she may fall down.

Perhaps things might've been different, Ai had mused, if Ritsuka's parents had lived on.

Both of his parents passed away before she could meet them again. All the police reports could say was that it was an accident as the brakes in the car they were driving in failed to work.

Chapter Text

"Perhaps investigating Fujimaru's background had more merit than I thought," Goredolf grumbles, flipping through the reports and files on Chaldea's brief sojourn in Japan. "However, this is not what I expected. It does explain why he went to Chaldea willingly, but I digress."

Waver agrees with a nod and grimaces with a sigh. "The death of his parents is too suspicious. Not only that, Miss Hoshino had mentioned how her obstetrician mysteriously disappeared before her delivery."

Waver pushes another file onto the desk; it opens to a profile picture of a relatively young Japanese adult male with glasses, wearing a typical white lab coat.

Gorou Amamiya.

"Their current status?" Goredolf asks, raising his eyebrow and quickly furrowing them right after observing Waver's expression.

"Still missing to this day. Since Mister Amamiya had no known living family or friends other than his colleagues at the hospital, there wasn't a push to search for him."

Goredolf grunts, "Any known connection to Magecraft?"

"No, none of his family were known practitioners either."

"Any possibility of leaving due to bribery or to avoid being caught in a scandal?" Goredolf suggests, drumming his fingers on the desk. "From what we've seen of idol culture, I can understand that it could be detrimental to be involved with them. Maybe the pressure got to him?"

Waver shakes his head. "From the way Miss Hoshino talked about him, he was extremely devoted to her and the twins' wellbeing. There is little to no chance of that being a possibility. He knew the estimated delivery day, and he was adamant on seeing it through, even reassuring her that he would come to her if she called for him."

"So the worst case scenario is that he got neutralized." Goredolf rubs their chin, slowly standing up from his chair to pace around behind his desk. "Was Fujimaru being targeted before he came to Chaldea? Is that why he omitted so many details about his personal life?"

"That's perhaps more of a mere coincidence since he didn't want to implicate Miss Hoshino, but these findings require further investigation."

Goredolf closes his eyes, slowly taking it all in. He nods to himself several times as if he needs his own reassurance. "Very well, I approve. Find out the full circumstances behind his parents' death and the doctor's disappearance with the authority of Chaldea. I assume that Miss Hoshino doesn't know about this yet?"

Waver denies, "She had some suspicions herself when she informed us, but we have not told her the full extent of our brief investigation."

"If only we still had that Detective," Goredolf mumbles before coughing to clear his throat. "Very well, I will bring this up with Miss Hoshino later. Her cooperation may determine whether or not that there's an unknown assailant after their family or if it's a series of unfortunate events."

"I did briefly talk about a protection service for her family," Waver agrees, cracking out his lighter for another smoke. He chuckles ruefully. "Either way, there's no shortage of people who want to protect them."

"That's the bigger problem," Goredolf groans, kneading his weary forehead. "It's the aftermath of having to clean up after them."

Jealousy.

Ai is no stranger to being the main subject of envy. As an idol, she could not understand what there was to be jealous of.

She didn't start out with a silver spoon in her mouth like many believed. She had to work just as hard as everyone else did to get as far. If anything, she was woefully behind in many matters that people considered as common sense.

Despite working together for so long, even her own idol group could never truly understand her.

She could always feel their resentment towards her, baffling her on why they didn't spend that energy on improving themselves. If they could only see her as the perfect idol, then that only means her facade was perfect.

If they saw her as their unattainable ideal, then she could only continue to mirror that for them.

Only a few people could truly see who she is — and after she enters this Novum Chaldea, Ai finally begins to grasp why people became jealous.

It is fear.

Fear of being irrelevant.

Fear of being replaced.

Fear of being forgotten.

For four years when she and Ritsuka have been apart, he has been with Chaldea — with Mashu Kyrielight — longer than he has been with her. And it's not even just her — there are many others here, each with their own story with him.

She was just a mere chapter in his book after all.

Ai had thought she would be happier just hearing more about him, but the heavy, murkier feeling within inside grows stronger instead.

"So that's how it feels like," she murmurs to herself; her hand clutches the front of her chest as if it could lift up the weight dragging her very heart and soul down.

It is as if Ai is the foreigner here, intruding into this sacred place that he had protected — like she didn't belong or fit in here.

Where is the place for her to be next to him? How could she compare with people that are smarter, more worldly, and even more attractive than she is?

"You okay, Mama?" Ruby asks as her fingers wrap around Ai's hand. Small as they are, but the warmth from them gives Ai the strength to rise against the dark thoughts prevailing in her mind.

Ai gazes back down at her children, noticing their worried looks. Even Aqua shows his rare concern through his widened eyes. They always seem to know how she's feeling, but perhaps they're also feeling the same way.

Ai sighs but smiles all the same. She kneels down to their level and hugs both of them. "Mama is fine, Ruby. Just feeling a bit out of place here."

"Then don't. Either be proud of who you are and stand firm, or drown in your insecurities." A deep, bold voice chastises hers.

Ai turns her head, only to find someone who isn't that much taller than Aqua, but their demeanor and voice is definitely unlike any other child she had heard before. "And you are?"

"Just a writer, nothing more," he grumbles, not even bothering to look up from his tablet as he scribbles on it rapidly.

"What a rude kid."

While Ruby glares at the stranger, Aqua is more contemplative as he taps his chin. "He must be another one of these Heroic people they're talking about."

He sighed but it didn't slow down his writing. "Not many Servants can choose the age or form they can manifest in."

"So essentially, you're an adult in a child's body. Like Conan Edogawa." Aqua quipped.

Ruby gapes, "You're from an anime?"

"Moving aside from that absurd observation," he finally lowers the tablet down, lifts his head so his furrowed, blue eyes pierces right through Ai. "I rather prefer to do something else with my time than to listen to the gripings of forlorn maidens — especially ones who don't seem to know anything about themselves. But even so, the story of yours and his is not — and will not be a tragedy."

Ai's heart palpitates with his words. "My story with Ritsuka?"

"You seem to be the smartest one," he points to Aqua. "Ever heard of the thought experiment of 'if a tree falls in a forest, but if no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound'?"

Ruby scratches her head in confusion. "Isn't it obvious it'll be yes? Just because no one is there doesn't mean it didn't happen."

Aqua shakes his head to refute her. "Not necessarily. If we're looking through it scientifically, then the answer is yes. The conundrum is that even if a tree did fall, if no one was there to hear it, does the sound even exist if no one can acknowledge it?"

While Ruby is still trying to grasp her head around Aqua's words, Ai feels a slight resonance, and the sinking feeling grows again inside her.

The Servant nodded. "Now let's put this into another perspective: If a hero saves the world, but no one else in the world knows what he did, is he still considered a hero?"

It is a rare instance where Aqua is left dumbfounded, "No, what are you trying to imply?"

"To be a hero, they must have great deeds that the world acknowledges. Let's say I was this 'Conan Edogawa' — he's a fictional hero, but his detective skills to solve crime are very known and acknowledged to be part of his strengths — his legend, if you can say.

But if someone did great deeds, but the world cannot confirm it, does that mean he wasn't a hero?"

"That's stupid though!" Ruby exclaims. "Just because no one knows what he did, it doesn't mean he isn't a hero."

"In an ideal world, yes, that would be true," the Servant shifts his eyes away from the family. "But this world is rarely that kind. Let us take another example of a great Celtish Hero, Scathach. She overcame so many trials, killed many monsters, and even slayed Gods. But these deeds were her own undoing — no mere human can do such actions — and therefore the world deemed it so: the hero Scathach is not a human being."

He turns his eyes back to Ai once again; this time Ai can see the profound sorrow within them. "So is it any wonder, what fate would befall the Last Master of Humanity? He who saved this world from various calamities — yet no one can acknowledge his legend because no one knows who he is or what he did.

"Who and what is Ritsuka Fujimaru?"