As the sun set, the vast Ganges River was dyed in a vivid orange-red. From afar came the clear sound of cowbells—it was Asha's father herding the cattle home.
Smoke rose quietly, carrying the comforting scent of daily life.
The picnic was drawing to a close. While Mash and Sion cleaned up the dishes, Raikou pulled the Kiyohime aside to discuss the dinner menu. Pepe, who had come to the Indian Lostbelt just to watch the commotion, was arguing with Akuta Hinako over which was more delicious: curry or mapo tofu.
In this peaceful atmosphere, there was only one person who felt slightly out of place.
Ritsuka sat alone on a bench by the river, hugging her knees as she gazed blankly at the sparkling water.
She had smiled happily when saying goodbye, but once the excitement faded, the melancholy she had been suppressing quietly welled up inside her.
"…What's wrong? Are you still thinking about that sandwich from earlier?"
A familiar voice came from beside her. Immediately after, a slightly warm coat was gently draped over her shoulders.
Ritsuka snapped out of her daze and turned around. Steve stood there holding two cans of hot drinks, wearing his usual gentle smile that seemed to say he could overcome anything.
"Steve…"
Ritsuka accepted the warm drink. The heat transmitted to her fingertips brought a faint sense of relief.
"Thank you."
"Um… it's just…"
"You were thinking about Wodime, right?"
Steve sat down beside her, but instead of looking at her, he gazed steadily at the distant sunset. His tone was as calm as if he were talking about tomorrow's weather.
Ritsuka paused for a moment, then gave a bitter smile and nodded.
"Steve really can't hide anything from you, huh."
She gripped the can tightly and lowered her voice. "Back then… when I saw Captain Wodime on the Shadow Border, I… was scared."
"I had heard Kadoc and the others talk about the Captain's strength before, but facing him directly gave me a completely different impression."
Ritsuka's voice trembled slightly. "That aura, that gaze… it was like looking at a being from another dimension."
"He's too perfect… and too dazzling."
Compared to him, I'm… just an ordinary human with no special skills at all.
"Really… can I actually defeat someone like that? Do I really have the right to carry everyone's future on my shoulders?"
She was afraid of worrying Mash, so she didn't have the courage to say these words to her. She was also afraid of lowering morale, so she couldn't bring herself to tell Director Goredolf either.
Only in front of this man—who always created miracles and accepted all her weaknesses—could she find the courage to reveal even a little of her true feelings.
Steve listened quietly without interrupting her or rushing to impart some profound truth.
After she finished speaking and fell silent, he let out a soft sigh, reached out, and gently ruffled Ritsuka's hair.
"Ritsuka."
He turned to face her. His black eyes reflected the girl's anxious expression.
"Hey, you know? Even when I was alive, there were times I felt scared."
"Huh?" Ritsuka looked up in surprise. "Even Steve… gets scared?"
"Of course. I'm neither a god nor a perfect hero."
Steve shrugged. "It's only natural to feel fear when facing the unknown or an enemy stronger than yourself."
"This isn't something to be ashamed of. Rather, it's proof that you're alive."
He gazed at Ritsuka, his eyes becoming incredibly gentle and serious.
"Wodime is indeed very strong."
"He's a genius from a prestigious family—someone born to stand at the pinnacle."
"But… so what?"
"He has his ideals, and you have your bonds."
Steve reached out and gently took Ritsuka's slightly trembling hand.
"You don't need to become him, nor do you need to imitate so-called perfection."
"Just be yourself—the ordinary Fujimaru Ritsuka who fights for everyone's smiles, rushes around solving the Servants' worries, and rejoices like a child when drawing a new card."
"It is precisely this ordinariness and imperfection that allows you to understand others' suffering and build bonds with so many heroic spirits."
"This is a power that the arrogant and mighty Wodime can never possess."
"And…"
A confident smile appeared at the corner of Steve's mouth as he gripped Ritsuka's hand a little tighter.
"Have you forgotten? I made a promise to that Captain."
"The next destination is Olympus. I will go there myself."
"I might not go all out so I don't steal your credit or slack off, though."
"But… as long as I'm here, I will never let you lose."
"Even if the opponent is the King of the Gods, Zeus, or the entirety of Greek mythology… I will smash that so-called Age of Gods for you and everything you hold dear."
So don't worry.
He gently squeezed Ritsuka's palm and said, "If the sky falls, this tall guy will hold it up for you."
"All you need to do… is keep smiling and move forward as always."
"Steve…"
Ritsuka stared at the man before her, her eyes gradually turning red.
The heavy burden pressing on her heart felt as if it had been gently lifted away by that warm hand.
In its place, a warm current—something called courage—surged up inside her once more.
"Got it! I understand!"
She nodded vigorously, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and showed a bright smile. "I'll do my best! I definitely… definitely won't lose to the Captain!"
"That's the spirit."
Steve nodded in satisfaction. Seeing the girl's face regain its radiance, something in his heart suddenly clicked open.
Wow, the atmosphere looks really nice, doesn't it?
Sunset, riverside, gentle breeze, and a beautiful girl whose emotional defenses are at their weakest after being comforted…
Isn't this the perfect opportunity for an attack?
"Hey… Ritsuka."
His voice suddenly became low and alluring. He leaned his body slightly toward her, his black eyes emitting a dangerous light.
"Since you seem to be in a better mood… how about giving me a little reward?"
"Eh? Reward?"
Ritsuka blinked, her cheeks quickly heating up. "Um… what would you like, Steve?"
"For example…"
Steve reached out, gently brushed the hair away from Ritsuka's ear, and lightly touched her flushed earlobe with his fingertips. "That lap pillow from before… or maybe… something more…"
The two grew increasingly intimate. Ritsuka could even feel the heat of Steve's breath.
Just as the critical moment approached and the ambiguity was about to explode—
"…And then what happens? I'd really like to hear the continuation, Steve."
A voice as cold as Siberian permafrost suddenly rang out from the bushes behind them.
"Uwah!"
Ritsuka jumped like a startled rabbit.
Steve's movements froze.
He mechanically turned his neck and saw Sion squatting in the grass, holding a very high-tech-looking recording device, smiling as if to say, "I knew you'd do this."
"Sion?!"
"My, my, I'm truly sorry for interrupting your emotional exchange."
Sion pushed up her glasses. A strange reflection flashed across the lenses. "However, according to Chaldea's current ether flow monitoring, someone's hormone levels appear to be dangerously out of control. To prevent an irreparable accident and to stop someone from secretly sneaking away, I must apply the emergency brake."
With that, she pulled out a mysterious glowing blue fiber-optic cable from behind her.
"Wait, wait! Sion! Let's talk this out! I was just doing psychological counseling! This is legitimate psychological counseling!"
Steve retreated while offering a weak explanation.
"Really? That's wonderful. Actually, I have some psychological questions regarding the spatial coordinate algorithm, so I'd love to hear more details."
Sion gave a light flick of her wrist. The mysterious fiber, stretching like a snake, shot out and wrapped precisely around Steve's waist.
"Let's head back to Chaldea."
"Looks like tonight's overtime… is going to be quite long."
"No! Ritsuka! Help! Mash! Raikou! Anyone!"
"Help! Help—!"
With Steve's pitiful cries, he was dragged away by Sion like a dead dog toward the anywhere door.
"Hehe…"
Watching the scene, Ritsuka's body—which had been tense—completely relaxed.
She covered her mouth with her hand and couldn't help bursting into loud laughter.
Steve-san is sometimes really not serious, and everyone in Chaldea is sometimes really noisy, but…
"That's a wonderful thing."
She gazed at the pink door and the figure being dragged away into the sunset, and said softly,
"As long as everyone is here… no matter what kind of hell awaits us… I believe we can overcome it."
The sun set, and night fell.
But this was not an ending—it was merely the prelude to a brighter tomorrow.
Amid the roar of the Ganges River, this day filled with laughter and warmth finally came to a perfect close.
…
…
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