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Pale skin and hair whiter than snow. It was enough to make her look vastly different from the average person. Even more so if you lived in a world that judged everything based on material wealth, physique, and appearance. If your heart wavered, it would be so easy for others to bully you.
Her "unusual" genes made Ritz constantly worried about her life. Being harassed or shunned was her greatest fear. Fortunately, with her tough personality and the ability to hide her "true self" for over a decade, she managed to survive. In fact, she had become a symbol of strength among her friends.
"Hey, Ritz, what are you doing?"
Shara's voice snapped Ritz out of her reverie. Looking at the Viera, she noticed her best friend seemed troubled for a moment.
"I'm out of hair dye. Could you buy me some?"
"Sorry, Ritz, but I have to leave for a mission immediately. The train to Cyril is coming soon." Shara straightened her Galmia Set, then glanced at a disappointed-looking Ritz. "Do you want me to ask Marche to get it? Littlevilli and the others won't be back until next week. Right now, only the men are staying behind," Shara said, trying to cheer her up.
"It's fine. I'll buy it myself later. You're leaving now, right? Be careful on the road and during your mission."
Shara smiled. "Yeah, even though I'm just escorting a merchant caravan. See you later, Ritz."
"Yeah, see you."
Now she was alone in the room again. Ritz let her eyes wander across the space—rows of beds, wooden wardrobes, and a small vanity. If Shara and the other girls of Clan Nutsy were there, it wouldn't be this quiet.
Ritz stood up and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her long hair had turned completely white. Combined with her pale skin, she thought she looked ghastly.
"Littlevilli gave me a hat before, I wonder where I put it?"
Since she couldn't rely on anyone else to buy her dye, she had to do it herself. Marche? She didn't want anyone but the girls to see the side of her she had hidden for so long.
"Ah, here it is!"
Ritz quickly coiled her long hair and put on a knit hat that covered all of her white locks. Once she was confident in her appearance, she stepped out. Despite hiding her "self," she was still reluctant to meet other members of Clan Nutsy. Especially—
"Hey, Ritz, where are you going?"
Marche.
Unfortunately, the person she wanted to avoid most had appeared.
"To the market. What are you doing here? I thought everyone went to the pub with Nono."
"Yeah, that was the plan. But... I forgot something. So I came back."
"Oh, I see."
Silence followed. Marche stood still, while Ritz waited for him to move and leave her alone.
"You said you're going to the market, want me to come along?" Marche offered.
"No need," Ritz refused firmly.
Marche smiled. "Oh, alright then." He began to walk away. "Be careful out there; I heard bandits from Jarg Dorsa are causing trouble around here."
"Don't worry, I can handle myself."
Along the way, Ritz grumbled about Marche. Bandits causing trouble? Baguba Port was as peaceful as ever. Marche was being dramatic. Still, she didn't hate him. His soft nature and constant worry for others were admittedly annoying, but she didn't hate it. For some reason, she actually felt comfortable with that side of him.
"Oh, welcome, Miss from Clan Nutsy," a middle-aged woman greeted her as she opened the shop door. "Need something?"
"Yes. I'd like to buy hair dye," she replied.
"The usual color?" the woman confirmed. Ritz was a regular customer.
"Yes, the usual. I want five bottles."
"Alright. I'll check the stock first. Feel free to look around at the other items."
While waiting, Ritz looked at the shop's wares—antique furniture and unique trinkets. She felt a spark of interest when she caught sight of a small mirror with a unique and attractive frame.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Miss. The dye you usually order is out of stock. It should arrive in three days. Would you like another color?"
Ah, what a truly unlucky day.
"No, that's fine. I'll just wait. In three days, right?" Ritz smiled, hiding her disappointment.
"Yes. My apologies."
Three days... there was no way she could keep hiding her hair for that long. And she didn't know where else in Baguba Port sold hair dye. If she were in Cyril, it would be easy.
"Maybe I shouldn't go back to the Nutsy base?"
It just so happened the base would be quiet for the next week due to missions. Renting a room at an inn until she got the dye wasn't a bad idea. After all, the remaining members spent most of their time at Nono's place.
Ritz walked aimlessly through small alleys to kill time. Without realizing it, she had entered the slums of Baguba Port.
"P-please forgive me. Let me go."
"Hehehe, you're begging us to let you go after what you did to our Leader, you Nu Mou?"
Ritz accidentally overheard a group of people. She peeked from the corner of an alley. Six people—three humans, two Bangaa, and a Viera—were intimidating a young Nu Mou. The Nu Mou looked terrified.
"Bullying?" Ritz whispered.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it, really."
"It'ssss so easy to sssay sssorry," a Bangaa provoked.
"Ugh, Leader, you smell awful!" complained a Viera wearing a White Mage set.
"Jussst finish him, Leader!" another Bangaa chimed in.
"Hm, good idea. Let's chop up this Nu Mou and turn him into monster feed in—"
"Hey, you, move aside."
The six thugs and the Nu Mou turned at once. A human girl stood in the middle of the narrow alley.
"You're blocking my path. Please move."
The girl—Ritz—glanced at the poor Nu Mou. Fear was etched onto his round face, as if he were screaming for help.
"You! How dare you speak like that. Don't you know who we are?" the Viera White Mage stepped forward and stood right in front of Ritz.
Ritz remained silent. Looking at the thugs' gear, their strength seemed average. With a few strikes, they'd all be "down." Moreover, seeing the Nu Mou being bullied brought back memories of her previous world.
"Don't be so rude, Diana," the Leader in Fighter armor said, releasing his grip on the Nu Mou and approaching Ritz. "Hello, pretty lady, forgive my member's behavior. What's your name?"
Ritz stayed silent, observing his movements. The Leader observed her back.
"You're quite cute, Miss. Would you like to be my wife?"
"H-hey, Boss. Seriously?!"
"You're joking, right? Hahaha."
The Leader smiled. "I'm serious. I really like this lady; she's my type."
"You should probably clean yourself up before proposing to a girl," Ritz said.
The Fighter Leader winced. "I like girls like her."
"Unfortunately, you're not my type. So, sorry, I decline... and all of you, get out of my way."
The thugs chuckled. But today was not their lucky day. Ritz looked like an ordinary girl when not on a mission—small stature with a stern expression that looked cute, until she—
Swoosh!
—acted to take down her enemies.
The Leader's body was suddenly thrown back. His face was filled with shock.
"Leader!"
A Bangaa and a human rushed to help their leader up. The others took their combat stances.
"What did you do to the Leader?" the Viera barked.
"You dare challenge us?"
The thugs no longer cared about the Nu Mou.
"Interesting! For a girl like you, you're quite strong," the Leader said, struggling to stand.
"M-miss, you shouldn't fight them. They're bandits from Jarg Dorsa!" the Nu Mou said, his body trembling.
"Oh, so what Marche said was true," Ritz turned her head. "Don't worry about me. You should leave quickly. Facing the six of them should be enough to practice my new fighting techniques. Go!"
The Nu Mou obeyed. "I-I'll get help!" he said before disappearing.
Ritz smirked. "No need, thanks."
"You're quite confident, Miss. But unfortunately, we aren't ordinary bandits. We've killed over a hundred Ivalice monsters," the Leader smirked. "Also, there aren't just six of us. There's one more member who has already locked your movements."
Ritz realized she couldn't move. Her movements were pinned by a Viera Assassin who had appeared out of nowhere, holding a katana to Ritz's neck.
"If I were you, I'd stay still," the Assassin's low voice made Ritz shiver slightly. She knew how strong an Assassin could be.
"So, what do you want?" Ritz tried to suppress her frustration.
"I want you to take responsibility for letting that fat Nu Mou escape," the Leader said.
"Just kill her, Boss!" the White Mage smirked.
But Ritz didn't flinch.
"No. It would be a waste if she died. With a face as cute as that, she'd fetch a high price as a slave in Jarg Dorsa. Besides, she refused to be my wife."
The Leader approached her, staring into her sharp green eyes. "Furthermore, I'm curious. Why are you hiding your hair, Miss?"
Ritz was speechless as the Fighter pulled off her knit hat. Her "hidden self"—her solid white hair—spilled out. The bandits immediately recoiled with looks of disgust. The Viera Assassin jumped back as well.
"A—you..."
"M-monssster!" a Bangaa shrieked.
Again, Ritz thought. Everyone who saw her white hair either screamed in fear or disgust. What was wrong with having different genes? She was still human.
"Tch, so you're of impure blood. I was deceived!" the Leader cursed.
"What's with that hair? Hideous!"
Hearing them mock her appearance made Ritz want to look in a mirror. Was she really that horrifying? Back when she first got trapped in Ivalice, she thought her physical differences wouldn't matter anymore. But reality in this fantasy world was the same.
"Capture her! But don't kill her," the Leader ordered.
"Yes, Boss!"
A relentless barrage of attacks targeted Ritz. Ritz could only dodge, unable to find an opening to counter. But she wouldn't be Ritz if she couldn't fight back.
"You're the bandits from Jarg Dorsa, right?"
"That's right. Are you scared, Miss?"
Ritz took a deep breath. "Good. I can beat you all up without holding back."
Ritz jumped back, maintaining distance. She pulled out a knife hidden in her boot.
"You want to defeat us with a knife? Don't play around!"
"Shut up and watch."
In the next few seconds, one by one, the bandits fell. Only the Leader remained, staring in disbelief.
"Just surrender; I'll call the security forces," Ritz said, turning to leave.
"M-monster!"
Ritz stopped. "What did you do to my men?"
Ritz looked at him. "I just put them to sleep."
The Fighter Leader went silent, then laughed hysterically. "You've really impressed me, Miss."
For a second, he vanished, only to suddenly aim his Sun Blade at the back of Ritz's neck. "I regret proposing to you earlier. But thankfully—Blitz!"
Missed.
Ritz dodged easily. "Good, because I already like another coward."
The Fighter was caught off guard. "Checkmate."
The girl stood still. There was no satisfaction on her face. A normal girl shouldn't be like this, she thought with a hollow gaze.
"H-hey," the Fighter tried to rise. "Don't tell me... you're Ritz from Clan Nutsy."
Ritz didn't answer.
"The only female human fighter... is Ritz. But I never thought you were—"
His words were cut off as a shadow appeared. A blonde young man emerged. His back was turned to the bandit, shielding Ritz.
"Marche—"
Ritz was equally shocked. Marche's gaze was hollow, filled with sadness. He took off his scarf and wrapped it around Ritz's hair.
"Let's go! The guards will be here soon," Marche said.
Marche grabbed Ritz's hand and they ran, leaving the unconscious bandits behind.
Ritz snapped out of it when she felt Marche's grip tighten. Finally, he stopped, still holding her hand. Both were out of breath.
Ritz closed her eyes, trying to relax. She opened them when Marche suddenly chuckled.
"Why?" she asked, a bit sharply.
"I thought because your skin is so pale, your hands would be cold. But when I held them, they felt so warm."
Ritz's green eyes widened. Marche's silly answer left her speechless. He let go of her hand.
"Sorry, I followed you. I'm going back to the base. I'll wait for you." Marche turned to leave. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone—about your hair."
"I—" Ritz said suddenly. Marche stopped. "I've been so happy since I came to Ivalice. I thought I didn't have to hide anymore. I was happy because there are many Viera with hair like mine. Finally, I looked normal. But when I traveled and met other humans... it was the same."
Ritz bit her lip. "It's just like St. Ivalice. Why must we live in a world that judges people by their appearance? Hey, Marche," tears began to flow, "Do I look horrifying? Everyone hates me just because of this hair."
Ritz removed the scarf. Her white locks swayed in the breeze.
Marche turned to face her. He walked toward her until only inches separated them. "Good. If everyone in this world hates you like this, then I don't have to worry about anyone else taking you away."
Marche reached out and touched a strand of her hair. Softly. "It's okay if everyone hates your hair. But if I like it, that's okay, right?"
Ritz trembled. "You don't have to comfort me like that. If you're disgusted, just say it!"
"But, I—"
"You're always like this! Being kind to everyone, smiling at everyone," Ritz broke down, tears streaming. "Do you even know how I feel? Because you're like that, I've ended up depending on you."
Marche smiled. He gently stroked her head. "In their eyes, maybe you look scary. But you don't know how I see you, do you?"
Marche took Ritz's hand and placed it on his chest, right over his heart.
"—It's truly beautiful. So much that it makes my heart beat like this."
That evening, a group of men—a Moogle, two humans, and two Bangaa—were walking toward their base. One of the Bangaa, Pallanza, was very drunk.
"Montblanc, tell Nono... sssend more sssake," he mumbled.
"If the Leader were back, he'd carry Pallanza himself," Arthur grumbled.
"Hey, isssn't that Marche?" Pallanza hiccuped.
The five stopped. They saw a blonde youth holding an unfamiliar girl's hand.
"L-leader? It really is him! But who is that white-haired girl? Ah, he can actually stand being near her. Terrifying!" Arthur said.
"Hahaha, that'sss jussst Marche and Ritz!" Pallanza said.
Yuri smiled. "Yes. She does look like Ms. Ritz."
"Impossible. Ritz doesn't have white hair. Besides, if anyone dared to hold Ritz's hand like that, they'd be dead," Arthur shuddered.
"Goodness, Marche is hugging her!" a Bangaa exclaimed.
"Tch, go for it, Leader!" Arthur cheered.
"Hey, let's go back, kupo. It's not good to meddle, kupo," Montblanc said.
"Wait, I want to see if he'll kiss her!"
"No, kupo. I'll tell Ritz you guys spilled her hair dye the day before yesterday, kupo."
"Eh? No, please, Montblanc!"
The small group from Clan Nutsy continued their way.
"This will be great gossip to tell Shara."