"What is the meaning of this, you two?"
"Coming over holding hands, what are you trying to do?"
Inside the office of Chaldea, Olga Marie was sizing up Ian and Fujimaru Ritsuka, who had arrived together, with a suspicious gaze.
Or rather...
She was sizing up their joined hands.
No matter how you looked at it, they looked like a couple, right?
"Oh~"
Fujimaru Ritsuka raised the hand she was holding with Ian, as if displaying a trophy.
"I just feel a sense of security like this!"
"That is not an excuse!"
Olga Marie slammed the table and stood up.
"This is Chaldea. If you Masters act so recklessly, it will have a bad influence!"
"Eh, will it?"
"I feel like the Director's reaction is a bit strange."
"It is not!"
Olga Marie turned her face away.
"Anyway, just don't do this! It will cause trouble for other staff members."
"Alright~"
Fujimaru Ritsuka put on a regretful look.
"Then I'll just hold hands in private!"
"You..."
Olga Marie wanted to kick Fujimaru Ritsuka out immediately.
This guy, why is she still as happy-go-lucky as before!
Eh, before...
She had excessively given her a slap...
Seeing the guilt that suddenly appeared in Olga Marie's eyes, Ian thought for a moment, then leaned close to Fujimaru Ritsuka's ear and whispered softly.
"Oh, oh, I get it."
"Director!" The young girl shouted cheerfully directly.
"Wh-What is it?" Olga Marie felt somewhat guilty, and her voice became much quieter.
"Are you wanting to apologize to me for that slap from before?!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka clapped her hands together and grinned.
"Hehe, I'm not that petty of a person!"
"Eh?"
Olga Marie froze for a moment.
She immediately realized that this was certainly not something Fujimaru Ritsuka had understood on her own.
It was him, right—
Looking at the man who was smiling at her and Fujimaru Ritsuka, Olga Marie felt more and more in her heart that something she didn't know about had definitely involved him.
Otherwise, how could a man so considerate of her...
"No, I must apologize."
Olga Marie adjusted her mood, then bowed very seriously towards Fujimaru Ritsuka.
"I am sorry."
"Back then, I was too focused on the Spiritron Transfer, which is why I did such a thing."
"I don't expect you to forgive me, but at least... I want you to know my apology."
"This..."
Fujimaru Ritsuka looked at the man beside her who had just given her advice, her eyes looking somewhat lost.
Ian patted her shoulder.
"If you have anything you want to say, say it now. The Director will definitely listen."
"Then—"
Fujimaru Ritsuka bit her lip.
"Director, I think I have to ask for your forgiveness too... Back then, I just came to Chaldea with the mindset of playing around casually."
"But, it won't be like that in the future."
"Since I survived, I absolutely cannot fail this luck. Director... please believe in me just as you believe in Ian!"
"Ritsuka, you..."
Olga Marie seemed to have completely not expected Fujimaru Ritsuka to express her resolve like this.
Her gaze also secretly shifted to him.
This guy, exactly how many things has he done behind my back...
"Mn, I believe you."
"It feels much better to say what's in your heart, right?"
Ian inserted himself into their conversation at the right moment.
"However, Director, what you wanted to say shouldn't just be an apology, right—otherwise, there was no need for me to come, was there?"
"Indeed."
Olga Marie did not deny Ian's words.
"Um, you might have to set off again immediately."
"So soon?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka was very surprised, her small mouth forming an 'O' shape.
"Mn—"
"Singularities are originally incorrect times and spaces. If allowed to remain in human history for too long, who knows what will happen."
"Although Ian avoided massive casualties from Lev's explosion,"
"The Masters who were supposed to go to the Singularity with you were still affected. They are currently sleeping in the 'Coffins', and it is estimated they won't be able to wake up for a long time."
"So now—"
"Only you guys are left to set off."
Although he had prepared himself mentally, Ian still felt his shoulders sink when he truly arrived at this point in time for the first time and accepted that heavy fate.
This was no longer just a world line to save Olga Marie's life, but...
All of human history!
This was a path that could make one suffocate just thinking about it.
"Ian!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka suddenly shouted.
"Did you hear that?"
"I am now a Master on equal footing with you!"
Ian looked at Fujimaru Ritsuka in front of him, suddenly feeling that she, still a high school girl, might be a bit too strong.
"What, want to rebel?"
"No·way—"
Fujimaru Ritsuka threw a wink.
"I just want to tell you, I will work very hard! I will definitely become someone who doesn't lose to you!"
"That really is a grand ideal."
"Hehe~ Super cool, right! Don't fall in love with me because of this, oh!"
Watching Ian and Fujimaru Ritsuka chiming in with each other, Olga Marie found herself feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
But...
This isn't right.
The two are just talking very normally.
But why does my mouth feel so sour, as if I ate a lemon? I wish I could assign him and her to different posts right now so they never interact again!
"Director, what's wrong with you?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka's voice extinguished Olga Marie's thought that had just ignited.
"You've been shaking all over since just now, are you uncomfortable?"
"No, absolutely not!"
Olga Marie shook her head and denied Fujimaru Ritsuka's words.
"That's just your illusion!"
"By the way, regarding the 'Coffins' and such, you don't need to worry—I have found a candidate here who can help restore them, there will absolutely be no more problems!"
"That's good."
Fujimaru Ritsuka did not pursue it further.
"If the Director feels uncomfortable anywhere, you must say it!"
"We are—"
"Good friends now!"
"Uh, I will."
"Then, I'll go back and comprehend Magecraft first!"
Having said this, without waiting for Olga Marie to answer, Fujimaru Ritsuka had already left the room.
It could be seen that she wasn't just saying it for fun—
Wanting to become someone who could match him.
Wanting to take this luck of surviving seriously.
Wanting to save this world on the brink of destruction.
Fujimaru Ritsuka felt full of motivation, completely failing to notice that Ian behind her was stopped by Olga Marie.
"Director, what is it?"
"N-Nothing..."
Olga Marie lowered her voice while carefully observing the outside.
"Just asking you for a favor."
"Tonight after twelve o'clock—"
"Come find me."
"Help me..." Olga Marie covered her legs.
"Help me desensitize."
________________________________________
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