Doubts of Strength
2017
An hour later
It took Ritsuka's all, to not just fall asleep right then and there in the conference room. They needed to go through with the debriefing, and it would be highly disrespectful to everyone, even if they understood as to why. He took another sip of coffee, downing the last of its contents, keeping him awake for just a little while longer. Fortunately, he had already relayed his part within the Singularity, now electing to stay quiet while his fellow Masters had their turn.
"…and that concludes my report, of the Singularity." Koleen said, finishing with a sigh.
"I don't understand why we don't just write the reports." Ayako commented, almost sinking into her chair.
The Doctor gave a short glance to the Director, whose eyes narrowed onto him suspiciously. "Well, I guess I'm just trying to lower the amount of paperwork." He laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head.
Olga Marie's glare seemed to make the older man wither, much to the amusement of the Casters and Elizabeth. "You're the head of Medical, Romani. Paperwork goes hand in hand with it." She said, completely unamused.
"I'll gladly return to them once you're back taking the helm, Director." He said with a hopeful look on his face.
Her glare persisted for the next few seconds of silence, before she sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Let us move on then."
"Any news on the next Singularity, Doctor?" Mash asked the acting Director.
"A vague location; somewhere within Western and Southern Europe." He answered. "We still need to zero in on the location and date."
"Make sure that you do." Olga Marie said with a nod, before she slowly turned to the Masters. "And what of you three?"
"What about us?" Ritsuka asked back.
"Your own supplies." She elaborated. "Fujimaru, I assume you'll be continuing your lessons with Medea?" he nodded. "Aozaki and Bertrand, however, are running low on resources, from what Romani has told me."
Both female Masters sighed, the Puppeteer in particular pulling something out of her pockets, placing them on the table. Four distinct runestones.
"These are all that's left of my runestones." She said, getting a pained whistle from the Druid. "And I still don't have the materials for another body."
"I'd need to stock up on more potions myself." Koleen said, leaning her shoulder on the table. "It proves that, even if we only bring what we need, we still need a hefty surplus for the next Singularity."
The Director nodded. "And how are the rest of our supplies?" she asked, turning back to the Doctor.
"A few months, at best." He answered, looking through the contents of his tablet. "We've had enough to last years, but we lost them from the sabotage."
Her eyes watered at the reminder, visible to everyone in the room, before she shook herself. "How about amenities? And nonperishables?"
"That is a bit of a problem." He told her. "We'd need to rayshift into a more, recent time period."
"You mean, like Fuyuki?" Ritsuka asked.
"Precisely." He said with a smile. "Who knows? We might find an anomaly that's closer to 2017."
"Good, see to it." Her eyes then trailed around the room, eyeing the Servants that were with them, barring the Renaissance genius who was still holed up in her workshop. "Now, on to our final agenda."
As if understanding what she had meant, everyone in the room turned to the one Servant that had followed them along, sitting along with the Masters. Specifically, Ayako, as they had come to realize. Doctor Roman then scoured the data he had, scrolling through the pages and folders on Chaldea. When he arrived at the page he was looking for, he scratched his head, bewildered.
"She's, contracted to Chaldea…" he said to the room. "I don't know how, but she's listed as among our own."
The newly minted Berserker giggled. "I told you, I can find my own way."
The Druid visibly shivered, taking a step back from her. "I say we lock her up. You have more rooms to spare, don't you?"
Kiyohime scoffed, facing away from him. "How rude. I just wanted to be closer to Anchin-sama." She said, as she wrapped her arms around Ayako's.
The familiar, yet unwanted shiver crawled up Ayako's spine, but she refrained and kept calm. Her eyes scanned the room, landing on Ritsuka briefly. The both of them shared a knowing laugh.
"Excuse me, for not being Japanese. But, who's Anchinsama?" Koleen asked, her curiosity piqued.
"A Buddhist monk, who captured Kiyohime's heart." The Doctor answered, his eyes still on his tablet. "He didn't reciprocate, so he lied and ran away. Unfortunately, she didn't take kindly to the lie, so she burnt him alive."
"It would have been better if he said he didn't love me back." The Berserker said, and almost wistful smile on her face. "It would have been better if he killed me. Instead, he lied to me…" she sniffled as a ghost of a tear trailed down her face.
Elizabeth slammed her fist into her open palm, as if she had come to a revelation. "She's a Berserker! So of course she's a bit crazy."
"You're being rude as well!" Kiyohime cried, hugging Ayako's arm tighter.
"I concur." Medea said, ruffling the Lancer's pink hair. "Please be mindful of your words dear."
"Regardless, this is a boon." Kagiso said, taking a sip of his own coffee. "More Servants is always a good thing, especially with Chaldea's current state."
"I agree." Olga Marie said, massaging her temples as a migraine threatened to take over. "To think, we planned to tackle these Singularities with teams of 8." She then turned to the Shaman to her right. "How far along is my recovery?"
He was midway through another sip, before he turned to the Director. "You're asking me?"
"Of course." She answered. "You are my acting physician." She then turned back the Doctor, causing him to nervously chuckle under her glare.
Kagiso finished his cup before he gave his answer. "Sanson can support me on this, but you are physically healthy. All that is left is the physical therapy we have scheduled in the coming days."
"Good. Good." She nodded, her fingers tapping on the table, the anxiety quite clear to even Ritsuka. "Very well, if there is nothing else that needs to be said, then we are dismissed."
He stood outside the room, stretching his tired limbs as he saw the shrinking forms of Kagiso, pushing the Director with his one arm. It was admirable, how the African Shaman never once let the loss of a limb bothered him. Ritsuka looked down to his own appendages, seeing the Command Spells slowly regenerating, wondering if he himself could continue on as if nothing else had happened.
"Ritsuka."
He looked back up, seeing Medea floating before him, her hood down to show her face.
"Medea-san. Are we going to have another lesson?"
"No." she shook her head at his question. "In fact, I was thinking of holding off on our lessons for the next couple of days."
"What? Why?" he asked her, worry rising within him.
"You need to rest, after that strenuous Singularity." She told him, placing a hand to calm the young man. "Everyone else is taking this time to recuperate. Even Mash."
His eyes trailed down the other end of the corridor, seeing Mash engaged in a conversation with Ayako and Koleen, oblivious of the uncertainty in his eyes. His gaze returned to the Caster Class Servant, seeing her look at him in understanding.
"Relax." She said with a soothing smile. "If you don't, then you'll only wear yourself out."
He sighed, shoulders deflating as he relented himself. "Alright."
"Good." She nodded, lifting her hand as she floated backwards. "Get some rest." She said, before turning down the corridor.
"Senpai?"
He turned back, seeing Mash and the other Masters approaching him.
"What's wrong, Ritsu-chan?" Ayako asked him, leaning on the blonde's shoulder.
"I'm tired." He said with a tired laugh. He then combed his fingers through his black hair. "And I think I need to get a haircut."
"Yes, this whole experience was tiring." Koleen said in agreement. "Was it like this when you three tackled Fuyuki?"
"I passed out immediately after that." He said, chuckling at the memory. "I woke up in my room."
"It definitely wasn't like Orléans. I can't imagine what the future would hold for us." Ayako said, as she covered her mouth, yawning tiredly. "Well, I'm gonna quickly get back, before I drop dead."
"Yes, I think we all need to rest after that." Mash said with a tired nod.
"Great, so with that said, I'll see you guys tomorrow." The Puppeteer said, already making her way back to her own room, before they all dispersed, eager to let the exhaustion fully take them.
2017
The next day, 08:16
It says a lot, to how tired he was, that after reaching his room yesterday he fell asleep on his bed almost immediately, only waking up just half an hour ago. He got to his room at around 2 in the afternoon. He didn't even have time to shower. It was why he's taking his time, simply letting the warm water flow down his aching body, feeling its soothing effect on his muscles, lacking as they may be compared to some people. It wouldn't be for another ten minutes until he finally left the bathroom, dressed in his undergarments with a fresh change of clothes on his bed.
Sitting on his desk now with his uniform top unbuttoned, he looked over the desktop, going over his itinerary. There wasn't really much on it, he mostly used it to schedule his classes with Medea, as flexible as she was with their scheduling. He also had 2 hours in the gym, but considering the state his body was in, that would most likely do more harm than good. He sighed, closing the window and shutting the PC off, slowly standing up to stretch his legs. He, didn't know what to do with his time. He could hang out with Mash, but he didn't want to come off as overbearing. So, buttoning up his shirt, he left his room, and just started walking. Breakfast seemed like a good start.
Within the cafeteria, he kept it simple. A standard English breakfast that he's come to enjoy in his tenure within Chaldea. And the cafeteria itself was relatively empty, although there weren't that many people left to begin with. It meant that he could enjoy his breakfast in a comfortable silence.
"You're looking a bit melancholic there, Ritsuka." His eyes trailed upwards, seeing the tall Shaman with his own tray.
He chuckled, scratching his head nervously. "Yeah, I'm just confused."
"About?" he asked as he sat down himself.
"I don't know what to do."
"With your free time?" Ritsuka nodded. "Didn't you have any hobbies before?"
He took another bite of his breakfast before he answered. "I do… but, I don't know if they have the things I need."
"Then what do you need?" Kagiso asked.
"Well, Photoshop would be nice. Spent a good amount of time just drawing. Or a guitar." He told him.
Kagiso nodded, tapping his spoon on the tray. "I don't know about a guitar, but you can ask Helix and his crew."
"You'd think he'd know?"
"He's a software technician. Most of his crew came to Chaldea with at least two computers. Some of them might share an interest with you." He said, his one warm extended to pat Ritsuka on his shoulder.
"Yeah, I think I'll do that." Ritsuka felt assured, having something to do later. "How about the Director? When does her PT start?"
"In half an hour." The Shaman answered. "If things go as smoothly as it has like in the past couple of days, then she'll be up and running in no time."
"That's good to hear." There was still a worry within him, after what happened in Fuyuki. But, he'd hope things would be fine. "How about you, Kagiso-san? Are you planning on joining the ground team again?"
"Yes, I do." He answered with a confident smile. "Though, I'm not sure whether I'd wait for a new arm or not. Especially with Ayako more focused on her backup."
"Well…" Ritsuka smiled, eager at the prospect of having more Masters on board. "then we can't wait for you to join us."
He should've asked where the software technicians, or any of technicians for that matter, were located. Chaldea wasn't small, so the idea of just walking down the halls, looking for a single room, was a mind numbing thought. He at least had an idea on what to do; to go to Da Vinci's workshop, since the Servant was still the head of their department. Hopefully she would know where they were.
He knocked on the door when he arrived, waiting outside to be let in. His brows furrowed when he heard some kind of commotion inside. He didn't give it much further thought though, as the moment the doors slid open, he walked in.
"All I'm asking is for just some direction for us, boss." Maybe he should've given it more thought, as he saw the bespectacled man he was looking for, apparently in the middle of an argument with the Servant.
"And I'm saying, that everything you're doing, all of you, is fine for now." She answered with a calm smile. "You're software technicians, there's not much for you to do, unless you're called for. You've been doing all you could, and then some."
"But, we could do more…" Helix said with a sigh.
Her smile turned proud, as her gloved hand rose, patting the man's cheek. "It's good to see you all so eager to help save humanity." A popup alert resounded in the workshop, briefly pulling away Da Vinci's attention. "You're in luck. Send a couple of people to the control room, I'll send the details to you."
"Finally." Helix said, pulling out his tablet to look over the information that he had gotten.
The Servant, seeing the situation dealt with, turned to her newest guest. "Ritsuka-kun! What brings you to my humble abode?"
"Uh, actually, I was looking for Helix-san." The Japanese Master admitted.
The technician looked up from his tablet upon hearing his name. "Huh? Me?"
"What? Not little old me?" the Servant batted her eyes exaggeratedly, wiping away an imaginary tear. "To not even glance at Da Vinci-chan, how cruel."
"Why are you using chan?" Helix asked her with furrowed brows. "You're not Japanese."
"Because it's cute." She answered unapologetically. "Don't you think so, Ritsuka-kun?"
"Uhm… no comment." His answer caused Da Vinci to pout.
"Damn Da Vinci, you're weird." Helix said, before finally giving Ritsuka his full attention. "Let's get outta here before she gets weirder."
"Eccentricity is the sign of a genius!" they heard her shouted before the door closed behind them, already walking away from the workshop.
The technician sighed as he sent the orders to his crew, setting the tablet aside as he turned to the Master. "So, you're looking for me?"
"Yeah, I was wondering if… you, or anyone in your crew, have Photoshop? Or something similar." Ritsuka said, sounding a bit hopeful, if unsure.
"Photoshop? One of ours does like spending her time in it when she's not clocked in. Don't know if she brought the installer though." Helix said, rubbing his chin in thought. "We can check it out, if you want."
"Yeah, that sounds good."
"Alright, well then let's get to it." the technician led Ritsuka through the winding hallways of Chaldea, going through paths that he's never been through before.
They eventually found themselves in front of a room that was closer to the hangar. "Our original breakroom caved in, so we took the next best thing." Helix told him, as they entered the room.
"Whoa…" the room itself, though rather large, was completely crowded, almost filled to the brim with boxes and boxes. All filled, with even larger objects merely placed beside them.
"Yeah, we've been clearing the rooms of the rest of our crew." Helix said, scratching the back of his head. "From 26, to four. Can you believe that?" he sighed, his hand tracing a nearby box. "Well, we didn't want to fill up more of Chaldea's rooms, so we took 'em all here."
"Wow…" Ritsuka's eyes explored what he could, seeing the belongings of those that have perished.
With the Japanese Master occupied, Helix took a few more steps inside the room. "Mei, you in here?! Mei!"
A figure woke up from a blanket covered sofa, showing a rather small and thin looking Asian woman. She rubbed the sleep off her eyes, before she met Helix's bespectacled gaze. "Yes?"
"Do you have an installer for Photoshop? Ritsuka here would like it." He said, pointing with a thumb to the young man behind him.
"Really?" she perked up at the mention, before sliding off the sofa as she began searching. "Yes, I have it. Hold on, I'll go get it."
The de facto leader of the section smiled. "Well, looks like you got it, Ritsuka." He said, turning around to face the Master, and found him staring at a guitar bag, stacked along with the rest of the mess in the breakroom.
"Whose is that?" Ritsuka asked, his eyes still on the guitar.
"It belonged to one of ours, that's for sure." Helix answered, as he began approaching Ritsuka. "He's dead though."
"Oh…" the Master grimaced, feeling as if he stepped on a land mine.
"Yeah, it was horrible." The female technician returned, carrying with her a small flash drive. "I found him dead on the ground, a large chunk of Chaldea crushed most of his upper body." Despite the macabre image, the woman didn't seem too fazed by it. She held her hand out to him. "Here. There's a serial key in it, for a full copy. You can keep the flash drive."
"Thanks." Ritsuka said gratefully, pocketing the flash drive.
"Do you want the guitar?" Helix suddenly asked.
"What? No, I can't, it belonged to one of you guys." He said, trying to decline.
"None of us can play it." Mei said, putting most of her weight on one leg. "If you can, then it's better in your hands, rather than sitting there gathering dust."
"Yeah, I'm sure he's fine with it in more capable hands." Helix said in support, already reaching for the bag. He unzipped it briefly, checking its contents, before nodding to himself and zipping it back up. He brought it along, handing it to Ritsuka.
Although still with wavering hesitance, Ritsuka took the offered instrument. He held the bag, feeling the familiar weight that he didn't know he was missing. He didn't notice the smile that formed on his face. "Thanks for this." He told the technicians, his genuine gratitude even bringing a smile to their faces.
The flash drive that was given to him was plugged into the desktop, the installation process taking a while for him to wait. With that time, he used it to tune the guitar he was given. He was rusty, but tuning an instrument was something everyone learned when they picked it up. So, it wasn't long until he got what he wanted; an in tune guitar. He let out a chuckle, pleased with the results, before he began thinking of what to play.
For some reason or another, his thoughts went to a videogame he played when he was younger, at thirteen years of age. He didn't know why he all of a sudden began thinking about it, as critically acclaimed as it was. He just did.
So, he began playing. The main theme of the game, coming to the forefront of his memories, allowing his fingers to pluck the strings with its somber tone. Playing through that game in its entirety, opened his eyes to a way of expression he had never seen before. To fully make use of something, and bring it out, through its strengths and limitations. It was why he started learning how to play the guitar in the first place. It was why he started drawing. It was why he said yes, when that recruiter gave him this chance, as overbearing as they might have been.
"Damn. Didn't know you played Last of Us."
He almost jumped in his seat, startled by the sudden voice coming from the door. He turned to face it, seeing the Puppeteer leaning on the doorframe, an amused smile plastered on her face.
"Well, it was a good game." He said with a cough.
"I know, but our people are known to favor other games." She responded, tapping the wall with her knuckles.
"And yet, you played it too." He said in minor confusion.
"Yeah, but I've already been living in London when that game was released." She answered with a smile.
"So you have…" he coughed again, straightening himself in his seat. "Is there something you want, Ayako-san?"
"To cut your hair." She said, showing a pair of scissors in her hands, ones that were actually meant to cut hair to his surprise. "You said you wanted one yesterday, remember?"
"I did…" he combed through his hair again, remembering the thought. "but you don't have to."
"Come on, let a friend be a friend." She said, snapping the scissors.
Their eyes were locked together, staring at one another, before those of blue closed. "You're very persuasive, Ayako-san."
"I've been told that." She said as she finally entered the room, letting it close behind her.
A few minutes later, with the guitar on the bed and the computer still installing, Ritsuka sat in front of his desk, with Ayako behind him. Through the mirror, he could see most of what she's doing.
"So, any styles in particular? I could try something to help you catch Mash's attention." She asked coyly with a smirk on her face.
"Uh, just cutting the frays, and tidying it all up. And, I don't need help." He told her with a gulp.
"Oho? So you don't need my help, huh? Confident to catch a maiden's heart on your own? I see, I see." He groaned, mostly to himself for still falling for her teasing. He was thankful that she'd keep this topic away from Mash's ears.
As the Puppeteer began cutting his hair, they settled on a comfortable silence for the both of them, with Ritsuka in particular amazed at the skill she was displaying. He'd never thought a person could be adept in so many, not at least in this modern age. Once again he contemplated his worth, before he forced himself to ignore it. Both Ayako and Koleen have told him to not compare himself to them. They lived a life that necessitated their skills, while he was thrust into them.
Even so, there was still that nagging thought. And so, with a nervous gulp, he took the plunge. "Ayako-san."
"Yyyeesss?" she drawled out, her focus still on his hair.
"Shitsumon shite mo īdesu ka?" he asked, returning to their native Japanese.
There was a pause, with Ayako not expecting the sudden turn. "Hai, dōzo."
"Ie ga koishīdesu ka?" he asked, more so to better understand her.
"Omae ga ie de nani o imi suru ka ni izon shimasu." She answered, her fingers moving the scissors through his hair again.
"E?" he was about to turn his head to face her, when her hands held him in place.
She chuckled, seeing him squirm for a moment. "Atashi wa omae no kami o kitteimasu, oboeteimasu ka?" he settled back down. "Ugokanaide."
"Hai." He stilled himself, settling with seeing her reflection.
"Ritsu-chan, ie wa nanidesu ka?" she asked, though he could tell she meant it rhetorically. "Atashi nitotte, ie wa Atashi no kazoku ga iru bashodesu."
"Hontōni?"
"Un." She nodded, while cutting his hair uninterrupted. "Atashi no haha, atashi no oba. Karera ga mawari ni iru kagiri, atashi wa ie ni imasu."
An involuntary smile found its way on his face. "Anata wa hontōni anata no kazoku o aishiteimasuyone?"
"Sono tōri." She said with a bright smile, one that contrasted her usually mature expression.
They continued on their conversation in their mother tongue, as they both delved deeper into their lives. And with it, Ritsuka came to better understand the person that is Aozaki Ayako. How there was more to it than just a confident Puppeteer who always had something new up her sleeve. He might not be able to match her, or Koleen for that matter, in talent and skill. But, he hoped that he could be the kind of person she is.
"So when do you think we should head back out for a supply run?" Koleen asked, taking another bite of the carbonara they were having.
"When we're all topped up." The Puppeteer said, covering a yawn with the back of her hand, her body already tired during this midnight dinner they were all having.
"And when would that be?" Ritsuka asked, resting his head on his hand, taking care to not fall asleep on Mash.
"Fou." The small beast nibbled on the food in Mash's plate, the lavender haired girl smiling as she fed the creature.
"When we're no longer fucking exhausted." Ayako reiterated, plunging her fork into her plate.
"I think that will take a while." Kagiso said, with his plate already empty. He then met Ayako's eyes. "How's our newest Servant settling in? Kiyohime?"
"All things considered, pretty well." She answered as she turned her gaze to the cafeteria's entrance.
Everyone at the table turned to where she was looking, seeing the Berserker obscured by darkness, her golden eyes peering through it almost creepily. Some might say that it wasn't "almost" at all, just straight up creepy. Ritsuka was glad that he was not the target of the Berserker's fixations, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck rise.
"Is she going to be a problem?" Koleen asked, concerned for the wellbeing of their friend.
Ayako nodded, not as concerned herself. "As long as I don't lie to her, we're okay."
"Such an interesting legend." Kagiso said, his own eyes still observing the Servant. "I've read up a bit about her. Nowhere was it recorded of her ever being able to turn into a dragon, yet thanks to that story, its ingrained within her being."
"That's how Servants work, after all." Mash said, her brows furrowed in frustration. "I myself haven't been able to gather anything about the Servant I'm bonded with."
"I'm sure you'll find something soon Mash." Ritsuka said, hoping to cheer her up.
She smiled at his gesture. "Thank you, Senpai."
"What do you guys think of us, taking all the Servants along for the next supply run?"
They all turned back to Ayako, seeing her eyes map the ceiling in thought.
"Is this just so we can have more hands?" Ritsuka found himself asking.
"Yeah. We all need things. More eyes, more heads, more bags to bring back." She said, elaborating her thought.
"We might be stretched thin, in regards to sustaining them." Koleen said, giving the idea some thought. "But, it might lessen the number of supply runs we need to, well, run."
"Probably not the next one." Kagiso said, leaning a bit closer on the table. "Gather more materials to summon another Servant, and then we can enact your plan."
"Yeah, that sounds better." She said, nodding along. She took one final bite of her meal, before she stood up, stretching her body. "Well, I'm done for the night guys."
"So am I." Koleen said as she too stood up.
"Whose turn was it, to wash the dishes?" Kagiso asked the group, pushing himself off the table.
"That would be me." Ritsuka said, gathering the plates onto his. "Good night everyone! Don't forget you're next, Ayako-san!"
"Don't worry, I'll be there." She said, the first to leave the cafeteria. "Nighty night!"
Mash approached him with Fou in her arms, a look of guilt prominent on her face. "I'd like to help, Senpai, but…"
"Go and rest, Mash." He said with a comforting smile. "You have to sustain a Servant. You need the rest more than us."
"Okay…" she still sounded torn, but gave in to his words. "Good night, Senpai."
"See you all tomorrow." The Shaman said as he turned in for the day.
With the stack of plates, Ritsuka made his way into the kitchen, almost not realizing that someone else was following him. "Koleen-san?" he said as he placed the plates in the sink.
"I figured a little bit of help would speed things along." The Witch said with a noncommittal shrug.
"Thanks." The both of them went ahead with washing the plates, the sound of running water being the only thing that they could hear in this midnight hour.
"Koleen-san, do you know how to play an instrument?" he asked on a whim.
"Uhm…" her eyes squinted ever so slightly as she gathered her answer. "The piano, a little bit. I wasn't classically trained though. Why?" she asked back.
"No reason." He replied with a knowing smirk forming on his face, invisible to her in the dim light. He'd hope, sometime in the future, that it wouldn't be too hard to convince her to play along.
Just to help lighten the air that is Chaldea.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
dudes, you have no idea how long i've been waiting for an opportunity, for Ayako and Ritsuka to have a moment just speaking Japanese with one another.
so, i think i'm making it official for post-Singularity chapters to be all fully from another character's PoV. last time we had Koleen, now we got Ritsuka who knows who will be next.
also, fleshed out a bit of his backstory as well. most of Ritsuka's canon personality came from the game, which was mostly nothing until about the later parts of Part 1, and through EoR and the Lostbelts. but, there's nothing about they're past, which comes with the territory of a self-insert. so, i took the chance on giving him a few things: can play a guitar; quite adept with digital artworks; and maybe more in the future (i at least have an idea as to how his family's like now).
for what he was playing with the guitar, just search Last of Us fingerstyle guitar on youtube, the video by Eddie van der Meer is what he's playing.
and the great part about this is that we got to see other people in Chaldea. so that was nice.
and a new Servant will be summoned next chapter. so keep your eyes peeled for that!
let's get to the translations!
"Can i ask you a question?"
"sure, go ahead."
"do you miss home?"
"depends on what you mean by home."
"huh?"
"i'm cutting your hair, remember? hold still."
"okay"
"Ritsu-chan, What is home?"
"To me, home is where my family is."
"really?"
"mhm. my mom, my aunt. as long as they're around, i'm home."
"you really love your family, don't you?"
"absolutely"
now, on to the reviews!
King0fP0wers: without a backup body, Ayako wasn't taking any chances, so she went for broke. at least, that's what she was thinking.
Dragon God xxx: thanks man! we'll see if i can summon Jack or Kama in the future.
with that out of the way, thank you very much!
hope you drop a review, and i'll see you all next time!