Anna was sitting next to the Red King in the main area of Homra, looking around. The boys were laughing and chatting amongst themselves, as if the looming threat in this four-day loop doesn't exist. Mikoto looked over at Izumo. "Kusanagi, Lancer asked me to tell ya he's bringin' someone to the bar."
Izumo looked up from cleaning a wine glass. "Hm? Why do I need a heads-up? Did he say who he's bringin'?"
"Didn't say. Just asked me to tell ya that is all." He glanced at Anna, who had been unusually quiet lately, like something's bothering her. "Is somethin' wrong, Anna?"
The little girl shook her head. "It's nothing." But even saying that, an air of something troubling her still hung.
'You're conflicted.'
All Anna did was blink in surprise. That was said directly in her mind. Is a Servant somehow communicating with her telepathically, despite her not being a Master. Well, she's the Lesser Grail so it might be possible. 'Who is this?'
'I didn't mean to alarm you, but I needed to talk to you.'
'You didn't answer my question.'
'I'm something that tied your destinies together for over half a century.'
Why is the Dresden Slate speaking to me? Anna wondered. 'What do you want?'
'An answer to a question I've been wanting to ask you. You know you can end the loop, but you still choose not to. Why is that? It's clear some are agitated about this event.'
It's true she can allow the loop to end, being one of the causes of it. Maybe it's because she still wants to be with Mikoto, to be with HOMRA, that she doesn't want this to end. But is she just being too selfish?
The bell of the bar's front door rang. Lancer entered, with a blushing and uncertain-looking Saber at his side. The spearman was smiling and coaxed the other knight to the counter, ignoring the shocked silence all around him.
"I see ya brought an unexpected guest, Lancer," Izumo said. Then he looked at the blond with a smile. "What would you like, madam?"
Saber was silent for a moment before quietly replying, "...Cosmopolitan."
Izumo put one hand over his chest and bowed. "Your wish is my command."
Anna was just watching without a word. This new happiness, these new relationships, is it really okay to take it all away?