Chapter 16


The conflict has been resolved, and even though the Grail has been acquired, the minute Singularity still hasn't gone away fully.

Santa Island is still present, and its not a bad thing, since Nightingale did say she wanted to plan and execute an amazing Christmas party.

Even though she was supposed to be the one verifying her Master's existence while he was on the Singularity, Da Vinci told her to go and be part of the festivities.

"But who's going to take my place?" Mash asked, and Da Vinci simply smiled. "I can do that while Gordy takes my place!" she said.

Goredolf, who was going to exit the Command Room in stealthy fashion, stopped in his tracks, sighed and went to cover for Da Vinci's post. "Y-Yes I suppose I can do that. You can go and ahead, Ms. Kyrielight: you and Ritsuka have done and experienced a lot, so being able to spend some time together and rest is indeed ideal, and likewise important." He then told her, and Mash simply gave the two of them a huge smile.

"Thank you!" she spoke, as she went and prepared to be Rayshifted.

Da Vinci then looked at the Director, looking smug. "Well, well, I thought we should all be prepared and ready to engage once we continue on with our missions to the Lostbelts?" she asked. Goredolf cleared his throat. "That is still on top priority, of course! But what kind of Director am I if I don't let my subordinates get the rest they need?" he replied.

Da Vinci simply giggled. "But of course~" she simply replied.


Strangely enough, I still feel a bit cold, even if my Mystic Code had some pretty amazing warming properties.

All in the form of simple winter clothes. Da Vinci truly is a genius through and through. The cold wasn't that much of a bother, but seeing how I can easily sneeze at the cold, it may become a problem.

As I helped the other Servants in preparing for the said party, I can't help but look around and admire how festive the entire place. The name "Santa Island", while definitely sounding ridiculous is rather fitting since, amidst all this snow are houses filled with gifts and Christmas-y treats, and Santa hats!

This year's Santa, Nightingale, is somewhere in the Island, preparing stuff on her own end. She definitely seems happy about all this, and as her Master, I am proud to be a part of this party she's organizing.

"Senpai!" I then heard a familiar voice call. I immediately turned around and saw a cute girl wearing a jacket seemingly bigger than her.

"Mash!" I called her, as she ran up to me and jumped towards me, hugging me dearly as we fell on the snow.

Ah, now it's definitely cold.

"Ah I'm sorry Senpai! I got carried away, that's all…" she then apologized, as she quickly got off me and helped me up.

"I thought you were helping Da Vinci out." I then said, and she smiled brightly. "She told me I could go here." She replied, and I gently cupped her cheeks. "Well, glad to have you here!" I told her.

I noticed her cheeks going red. At first, I thought she suddenly had a fever because of the cold, but then again, she's still technically a Servant, and knowing her, she wouldn't be ill in that quick manner.

So it may be something else…

She then looked away for a while, fixed her glasses and then smiled back at me. "Weren't you in the middle of something, Senpai? Let me help you!" she then told me, and I nodded at her. "Right, let's go!" I simply replied.


'This is it.' Thought Mash, as she walked side by side with her Master to admire the sights that Santa Island has to offer.

Although the festivities would all be over soon, she couldn't help but have her eyes focus on the person walking beside her. While her Master was astonished at how beautiful it all looked, she couldn't help but admire him like this.

'This is it!' she repeated in her mind. She was about to stop in her tracks and face Ritsuka until he held her hand.

Mash blushed, and she was wondering what was her Master thinking.

"We're…linked, right? Master and Servant…I can hear your thoughts, sorry…" Ritsuka then told her, and Mash further went red.

Before she could speak however, Ritsuka faced her and held both her hands. "I've heard you, and I've noticed it, too. I know, Mash." He told her, and Mash saw on her Master's face an expression exuding both gentleness…and understanding.

"I know I've been…with the other female Servants, but I know of your own feelings, because I kind of…felt them. We've been through a lot of things together, so it does…make sense for your own feelings to be cultivated into something more." Ritsuka continued.

Mash wanted to cry, but she held onto it. She was feeling lots of things, but she knew deep down they were all good emotions.

"I'm really, really sorry if I kept on putting your feelings on the side, Mash. You may not have told me, but I can hear it all the same." He told her, bowing, while Mash couldn't fight the tears anymore. She was crying, yet smiling all the same.

He kissed her forehead, and looked at her, smiling too. Ritsuka was on the verge of tears as well.

"Mash, I—" before he was about to tell her of what he feels as well, Mash cut him off with a kiss on the lips.

Ritsuka was surprised for a while, but accepted immediately. They broke away for a while, both giggling while he wiped away Mash's tears.

"I really love you too…Ritsuka." She softly spoke, and the two of them kissed again. Ritsuka held her close, holding her waist from inside the jacket she was wearing, wanting to feel warmer.


"Is this really okay for you, Santa?" Saber Alter asked, as she was eating a candy cane. Santa Nightingale simply smiled. "What makes Master happy makes me happy all the same." She answered, and Alter smiled, satisfied at the answer given…or perhaps it was the candy cane.

Jeanne Alter Santa Lily, on the other hand, was covering her eyes. "H-How indecent! Why did Reindeer have to kiss her out here where everyone can see?!" she complained.

"Technically we are on the roof of a gingerbread house, but I agree: the cold would get to them easily." Altera Santa commented, stroking her fake white mustache.

"Si! They could've gotten warmer and more passionate inside, yes!" Quetzalcoatl (Samba/Santa) added.

"…why am I stuck with these losers up here?" Jeanne Alter muttered, as she belligerently listened in on whatever the Santa Servants still had to say while avoiding looking at her Master kissing the Shielder.

"A Merry Christmas indeed!" Amaku— Santa Island Mask then said.


Happy Holidays to everyone! Short chapter, I know. A (possibly) longer Mash chapter will be done once the festivities are over, or when I get really productive. Either works.

- The Void Sprinter