Remaining Days: 4
When I open my eyes in the morning, Saber is clinging tightly to me yet again. Rin, on the other hand, faces away from us, having put as much distance between us as this bed allows. Which is enough space to fit one, maybe two other people. She does seem to have a bit of a rough time after last evening, when she came back.
"Rin? We need to talk," I said, knowing this one sentence woke the biggest fear in anyone. Especially when it came from someone you really cared about.
"Okay," she said, seemingly insecure. Well, it could be anything that I was about to say. From telling her that she has crumbles on her face up to sending her out of this room for forever. "What's up?" I really did not want to keep her unknowing for too long. It would be mean, and cruel. Almost as cruel as not really avoiding advances of my best friend in front of my girlfriend. I was really indebted to Saber for not freaking out much more, or breaking up.
"I… I know you like me," I started. It was a hard and awkward thing to say. Usually a crush would not tell their admirer about their very own crush. Rin's cheeks flushed. "But… I love Saber. From the bottom of my heart." Rin took approximately two seconds to take this in.
"I know," said Rin finally. "I know, but… I can't help it." She was on the verge of crying, exactly what I feared would happen. I was more than sorry to break her heart like this, but there is no helping it.
"I know it is hard, but this cannot go on… I do not want to be afraid of Saber killing you any second I am not there to stop a fight, or you provoking her." I felt like I was sounding a bit too harsh, but maybe this was the only real approach to not leave any doubts. "Saber is right to be angry at you… You crossed a line a friend should not cross so, please, just get back behind this line. I do not want to lose you as a friend."
This talk was so hard for me, I could not possibly imagine how hard it must have been for Rin, who was now wiping off the tears with her sweater. "I promise I'll stop. Just… give me some time," she said.
And I knew what she meant, even though I was too dense for way too long—I was supposed to keep a bit of distance towards her now. Hard when we all were sharing a room (and a bed), but it had to work out. Rin needed time to sort out her feelings, get accustomated to my rejection and move on, hopefully soon.
Because it was me who broke her heart it is also me, as her only friend, who cannot really be by her side to help her get over this.
I wake Saber, surprised it works silently and I get dressed, trying to not make a noise. Rin seems to still be sleeping and she asked me to give her space, so it would be the easiest to leave before she wakes up. I have to press my palm on Saber's mouth to keep her groaning and complaints down, though. She is just such a morning grouch.
Thankfully, materialising her red, light armour makes absolutely no noise, and within a few minutes we are out of our room.
"Can't believe we're being sent out of our own room," Saber complains. It really is off and should just not be a thing, but after yesterday's rejection I would feel like a real jerk if I sent Rin away on top of that just so she does not have to face me. "You're way too kind, Master." Her compliment makes me smile, even though it is not meant as such.
"I know. Sorry, but please deal with this for now, okay? We will find a solution," I promise. And while I do not expect too much from myself—I have absolutely no idea how to deal with this, how did I even get into this situation?!—I am sure Rin will find a way to avoid me while still not coming off as selfish or a burden. Another thing she and Saber have in common—they hate doing anything that would hurt their pride, and being a burden would be part of that "anything".
"So, what now?" That is indeed a good question. We could go to the Arena, but I feel like this would tire us out and we would have to call it a day much too soon.
"We could go to the church, for an Alteration of the Soul," I suggest. Not much speaks against that, there is probably nothing more that either of us would want or need to hide from the other, after all. So, it is decided—we make our way to the chapel.
"You're back? Good to see you're still alive and kicking," greets Aoko to us. Touko just glances up from some kind of book she is reading, nodding at us. That greeting works, too. I am sure neither of them has expected us to be back anymore, which is understandable. We definitely cannot be a team one would have any expectations of, and yet, here we are.
"Yes, we would like another Alteration," I say. Aoko agrees gladly, but not before asking another question.
"What about your weird penalties? Seems like they got lifted," she notices as she runs a check on us. I have not noticed it before, but she probably has been doing this before any Alteration of the Soul. Probably just routine.
"Ah, that… I sort of disabled the last penalty in the last round, so we should be fine now," I say. Aoko seems surprised, if not shocked, and even Touko seems like she can hardly believe her ears.
"You ? Impossible," Touko states. This would be offensive if I would not be thinking the very same. "It's more of a miracle than this monkey not having killed anyone this time around." She must be referring to Aoko.
"I know, but seems like I pulled it off after all… Thankfully," I say. There is not really much more to it. Aoko grabs my shoulders.
"My bet's on you, then!" She practically beams at me. This is a great encouragement, even though she is just an NPC. And, without further ado, we start the Alteration of the Soul, and I find myself in Saber's mind, more specifically her memories again.
I feel like I am in the deep sea. Uncomfortable and suffocating, and I cannot tell how fast time passes. It feels like I am waiting for something, for someone. Suddenly, my heart throbs. Then, there is another heartbeat but my own, going fast. Way too fast to be healthy anymore.
"You have been called upon by a Master candidate. Will you answer their summon?"
My mind is set on yes, without questions or conditions. A light is shining down on my form, blinding me as I stare into it. While I pass through, I hear glass shattering and a lot of weight on my body is lifted as I rise up, through the light and find myself in a room reminiscent of a colourful chapel. I turn back to face an orange haired girl, lying on the ground helplessly, obviously hurt.
"So, I guess, you are my Master?" I say, as I walk closer to her and hold my hand towards her, offering my help to support her stance.
"Yes," she says weakly, and I immediately get the feeling that I want to protect this girl, from everything, for forever. She takes my hand and I pull her up to her feet.
"Quiet type? Not that I mind," I hear myself saying. My hand feels warm just from holding hers.
Suddenly, I came back to the chapel. Saber's and my gaze meet.
"You went through all that?" She asks me in disbelief. I am right—we both have seen our first meeting, and the moments leading to it. I nod.
"How long have you been waiting to be called?" I really wonder, because I could not tell.
"I dunno. I can't remember much of that, but usually we Servants only gain some sorta consciousness soon before we get summoned." So, it was probably since the effigy tailed me, back then. I smile to myself.
"I knew that effigy was not just a puppet." Well, in fact it was, but it also woke Saber up, so she could answer my summoning and my resolve. "And it is nice to see that you took a liking to me right away," I tease.
Saber blushes madly. "Shut up, Master."
"Aww, cute little lovebirds," comments Aoko, which embarrasses me as well. This is just so unexpected. "You were gone for half the day, though. Both of you passed out for some reason."
"It's probably because the Alteration of the Soul is not meant to show memories from here, and it did so for you for the second time already. It puts a strain on your cyberframe, I suggest to rest," advises Touko, who does not even look up from her book.
"We will take our leave then. Thanks, as always," I say, as Saber and I leave the chapel. In front of it, we see a girl. She looks oddly familiar. Lilac hair. Darker skin. Wait a second . This is the girl who blew herself up, the one I saved Rin from!
"R-Rani..?!" I call out in shock. This cannot be her, right? Maybe she has a twin or it is a trick.
"Surprised to see me? I would be, too," she says nonchalantly. Well, I am surprised. "I am sorry about the error. But to tell you now, we will be facing each other this week." Oh. Oh. Of course, how could I not have expected this.
"P-Pleased to meet you," I say, though I am not sure about that. Even if I can beat her, what would stop her from blowing up the two of us?
"You are the other one, after all. The similarity is fascinating," Rani says, as she takes a closer look at me. I do not dare to move, but I can feel Saber's glare on us, ready to jump at her any moment it gets dangerous for me. "But the differences are, too. I am really looking forward to the result."
And with that, she takes her leave. Just like that.
"W-Wait, what the hell were you—" But before Saber can even finish the question she was shouting after Rani, our opposing Master is gone. Completely, gone. Nothing left, we did not even see her leave, at one point she just vanished.
"I am not exactly lucky with my opponents, am I?" I mutter. I think I would almost rather face another Ronnie.
"Not really. Sorry, Master," says Saber.