Fate series and characters belong to Nasu and TypeMoon


Fuyuki Singularity: Prologue pt.2

Inside the elevator going downwards, the Fujimaru siblings looked at the exterior in awe.

Ritsuko's eyes sparkled in amazement, while Ritsuka's mouth gaped in surprise.

The large globe and holographic technology used were far different from their daily lives.

But, what amazed them was that there was Chaldea staff levitating and moving objects without physical energy.

Watching them as they reacted and chatted the other with bright smiles, Lev chuckled and called to their attention. "Before we head in, is there anything else you want to know?"

At that question, the pair turned and pondered. But, Ritsuka already had a question he's been wondering, asked, "Why is Mash calling us Senpai?"

"Now you mentioned, she's been calling you that. And, me as well!" Ritsuko remembered on being referred as 'Senpai' when she bumped into Mash and her brother.

The said culprit remained silence, looking at them with a blank expression. Despite that, there was a faint embarrassed blush on her cheeks. Lev stepped in and assured, "Oh, don't worry about it. To her, every human your age is her senpai.

"But it's unusual to hear her actually call someone that. This might be the first time. Actually, I'm intrigued," Lev turned his head to her and asked, "Say, Mash, why do you call them Senpai?"

"The reason?" Lowered her head, Mash paused for a moment before replying. "Ritsuka-senpai and Ritsuko-senpai are the most human-like person I've ever met."

A surprised reaction shared among Lev and Fujimaru siblings. Lev prodded with more curiosity, "Hmm. Which means?"

Mash glanced at the pair and corrected with a smile, "I don't feel threatened. So, there's no reason for me to be hostile."

"I see, that is important!" Lev gave a nod of understanding and laughed. "People at Chaldea are all a piece of work! I agree with you, Mash. I think you three will get along just fine!"

With a glance at each other, Ritsuko laughed and added, "So, that's the reason! The only thing to be hostile is when Ritsuka is on his 100% bookworm mode. He could spend 2 nights without sleeping just to read and do his research on historical figures lore."

"Please. I'm not the one who not only skip classes and spend the nights away for an MMO PVP match. It's a miracle you could still pass in those major semester," Ritsuko folded his arms and rolled his eyes.

"You jerk!"

"But, you still love me, sis." Ritsuka winked in amusement at his sister's outburst.

As they continued their teasing, Lev laughed to himself at the siblings. Mash, who was in deep thought, spoke, "If you like Senpais Dr. Lev, the Director will probably hate Senpais."

"Huh?" Ritsuka and Ritsuko stopped their teasings to focused their attention on the bespectacled girl.

Mash turned to them and suggested with a tilt of her head. "Well, why don't we hide in the restroom to boycott the orientation, then?"

"B-Boycott?!" Ritsuka shook in astonishment, worry also confusion rose within his mind.

Lev gave positive and an assured grin, as he responded, "That will only make the Director's more upset. We're going to have to leave it to fate."

Faced towards the siblings, the smile had hinted now with playfulness in his mood. "Shall we jump into the lions' den, Ritsuka-kun, Ritsuko-kun? Hey, once you get used to her, she can be a pretty sweet person."

"Ah… Hah…" Ritsuko exhaled a breath, with one of her eyes twitching. Oh boy, the first day of employment and troubles loomed before it started.

-0-

Inside the place, there was a stage with rows of seats filled up with recruited Master candidates. On the stage, a silvery-haired woman standing and waiting for the last two vacant spots to fill finished.

"Your number, Senpais," As they arrived, Mash gave a swift glimpse and turned to them. "Single digit, both of you are in the front row. Take an empty seat in the front row."

With a nod, the siblings mouthed a 'thanks' and headed to their seats. But as they were to go, Another dizzy spell strike Ritsuka and faltered before being held up by his sister.

"Ritsuka?!" Ritsuko panicked at her brother's abrupt change of his condition.

Mash approached him and recognized it too, "Ritsuka-senpai? You're looking a bit pale…"

Ritsuka shook his head to clear of vertigo, but it merely became worse by his action. "Sorry, I'm starting to space out again…"

"It's an aftereffect of the simulator."

At Ritsuko's furrowed eyebrows, Mash explained to her, "It'd be best to bring him to the infirmary…"

Before Ritsuka could persuade them, he felt something jabbed at his back. His blue orbs moved to catch the silvery-haired woman standing on the stage was giving them an annoyed glare.

Noticed this, Lev approached them and told, "No more small talk. See, the orientation's already begun."

Without an alternative, Ritsuko aided her brother to their seat while the other two headed to the back.

A glance to examine every seat was occupied, the silvery-haired woman talked, "Well, that wasn't on time, but looks like we're all here now. Welcome to Special Organization, Chaldea. I'm the director, Olga Marie Animusphere.

"You have been selected or discovered from each nation for the rare talent you possess.

"By talent, I mean the potential to do a Spiriton Dive.

"You possess magical circuits and the qualifications to become a Master.

"That being said, it's a special talent, but you yourselves are not special people. Make yourselves aware that you are no more than tools whose sole purpose is to protect humankind's history."

With no less than a second, gossips chatter among the recruits.

"Geez…"

"Tools?"

"What does that mean?"

The siblings were no exemption as Ritsuko grumbled. "Gee, talk about a bitchy supervisor to have on your first day of duty."

"She's apparently the ones who… Are harsh and stubborn on the outside… But," Another silent yawn escaped Ritsuka's lips. "Also… The ones who are more bitchy and miserable in… The… Inside…"

Turned over, Ritsuko's eyes widened at looking at her brother's head ready to nod away to dreamland. She rocked his shoulder and warned, "O-Oi, Ritsuka! W-We're still in the orientation!"

"I… Know…" Ritsuka nodded. But, the response he came back had him nodding his head off. He leaned back on the seat and shook his head, "I'm awake? Awake and most attention!"

"Okay then…" She reluctantly gave a nod before shifting back to the front. Though as predicted, Ritsuka found his eyes heavy and ready to shut closed.

In less than a second, Ritsuka's vision turned black and the voices surrounding drowned into nothingness.

-0-

"Oh dear, Master. This is a disturbing situation now."

"What on earth?!" Ritsuka awakened with confusion and surveyed his present location. Instead of the command room, he met the familiar view from his dream.

The tall tower stood big in the heart of the flower field. Bright and sunny blue sky in opposition to the gray clouds and snowstorm before he entered Chaldea. With a stride forward, he thought to himself, "Where am I…?"

"A place that your spirits wander freely with comfort, Ritsuka-kun." The refreshing voice uttered then.

Spun around, there was an obscure male figure wearing a white garment and black-colored pants sitting on top of a boulder. In his grip, there was what showed to be a magic staff leaning against his shoulder.

Ritsuka leaned his head to view the face, but he had worn up his hood the only showed tuff of white-colored hair and his tranquil smile. With a gulp swallowed, he approached the figure and asked, "How did you know my name? And, who are you?"

"I've observed you and your sister from the beginning of the universe to the very edge, Ritsuka-kun. If I claim I'm a god, where do you see this place is?" The cloaked figure smiled at him.

Ritsuka narrowed his eyes with doubt and said, "Then you'd be deceiving if you claim yourself a god. Ones who announce themselves that are the Devil in legend–!"

Flinched upon realization, he exclaimed in panic, "I-I-I'm in Hell, no wait, at Hell's entrance?! I'm absolutely dead?!"

"And, at a rather young age, indeed. You have died in your slumber while the Director was making her speech… Quite a rebellious and naughty soul, we have." The hooded figure smiled care freely at his distress.

"H-Hah?! You had to be joking!"

"I don't make a joke at all, Ritsuka-kun. It's tragic frankly, your sister bawled in tears and refused to leave your side when she knew." The hooded figure smiled wider at his outburst.

"No way," Ritsuka slumped down onto his knees. His hands scratched at the ground as he weakly muttered. "I died… And, Ritsuko was left behind there all alone. Because I died and left her alone…"

"…. Hehehe… Hahaha!"

"What?" Swung his head over, the hooded figure before him laughed out loud while one of his fist gripping his gut.

The laughed soon faded as he grinned at him, "I was jesting as you asserted, Ritsuka-kun. You're not dead, but rather, you are inside your dream. I spoke of before we would meet again, wouldn't we?"

Realization dawned on him he was being deceived, Ritsuka stood up and scowled at him. "Thus, that would clarify that you recognized from the start I was sleepwalking earlier, didn't you? Who are you and where precisely is this place?"

The hooded figure rose up and strolled to the side. "To your initial question, I observe everything from the visions of past, present, and future in this world of the island of the farthest islands you're in.

"As an observer with one of my many visions, we would meet in the future far later that has been set by fate. Hence, it was how I learned your name, Ritsuka-kun. Before the simulation, you showed up last night.

"Your spirit must've wandered unconsciously to you here, which shaped both present and future of your fate."

With an acknowledgment as he understood, he made another glance before inquiring, "But, why here?"

"Hmm," The hooded figure lifted his finger and set on his chin. "Perhaps, it's still related to what I had foreseen. The fact your sister discovered that pamphlet bringing you here are tasks I'm to act."

"And that's…?"

Turned to face Ritsuka, the hooded figure said in a mysterious tone, "Your paths and mine are not yet to cross, for now, Ritsuka-kun. But perhaps something within you led you here."

"So, if this fate you did alter the future of our meeting… Then," He laughed at Ritsuka's surprise reaction when he appeared behind him. "From this period forth, you're my pupil and Master, Ritsuka-kun."

At the stretched-out hand from him, Ritsuka stared at it while thinking, "Apprentice… Master…. Fate… Soul…. Meeting…. Dream…."

"Eh… EHHH?!" When he eventually realized what the words meant, Ritsuka instinctively yelled into the sky. He sputtered in his words as he asked, "H-Hold on, why me?! First, you mentioned something led me here, no? What on earth is it and why?!"

The hooded figure chuckled again at his outburst, "Your own subconscious will, Ritsuka-kun.

"That will must have several times, stimulated your magic circuits and led you here. A special magic circuit that supported you from the magical energy here from being dead too."

"My wish brought me here? What about my sister?" Ritsuka asked. But, he still unable to fathom of here of all places. Yet, he's not protesting at the serene environment that soothed his mind.

The hooded figure responded, "Your sister has her own particular magic circuits, Ritsuka-kun.

"But, her magical energy isn't like yours which isn't strong to reach here subconsciously."

"I understand now…" Ritsuka nodded.

With another enigmatic grin, the hooded figure told Ritsuka, "You don't have to decide now, Ritsuka.

"Both of your fates are only a beginning, perhaps at the next slumber, an answer would have arrived at you."

"How do I know you're not a villain seeking to get me or my sister?" Ritsuka doubted with his blue orbs narrowed.

"I like the world of humans very much, Ritsuka-kun," The hooded figured smiled with an answer. But, he raised his finger up and revised in a light-hearted manner. "But when it comes to each of them individually, I'm relatively, look, well, yeah! Okay, I suddenly feel that some things are better left unsaid!"

"Suspicious…" The sole comment Ritsuka gave in his mind at his declaration.

Approached him, the hooded figure laughed, "How about this? Why don't I give you two homework to work on as your guide before our next encounter, Ritsuka-kun?"

"O-Oi! I didn't approve that you're my guide, whoever you are!"

"Now, now, it's not a difficult task for someone as bright as you," With a wave of his wand, a cool breeze blew against them. The hooded figure revealed, "But, it's still challenging for your first exercise, so I shall present you a hint."

Cleared his throat, the hooded figure same cryptic yet stern tone, "In the turning events, a terrible catastrophe before on you and the world.

"The tragedy is inevitable, true faces exposed in a sinister light, and a path to a remarkable adventure will arrive before you.

"In that adventure, sorrow with grief and tragic ends will inevitably be there. Yet, as long as you don't lose sight of the path you've determined. The path you've walked will be the most extraordinary adventure of your life.

"In the subsequent hours, you and your sister will enter into a contract to turn into a Master, after which you will come back here at the end of the anomality. Until again," As he spun to Ritsuka, the hooded figure waved his hand to him. "I shall be expecting, Ritsuka-kun.

When he looked at the hooded figure leaving, Ritsuka tried to follow him, "Wait! I understand nothing of it! Please wait–!"

BAM!

At that sudden force, Ritsuka found himself being shoved back into the darkness again.

-0-

"Ritsuka! Can you hear me, Ritsuka?!" A familiar, worried voice crying out to him.

Another familiar emotionless voice called to him, "Are you all right, Senpai?"

With a sweeping glance from his eyes, Ritsuka noted he had come back to reality with Mash and Ritsuko before him. This wasn't the Command Room with the Orientation. He was lying on the ground of passageway. Also, there was a fresh stinging pain of a red handprint on his right cheek.

Seconds afterward, he groaned as he realized upon wincing at the red mark from his hand, "Uh-oh…"

"And that's how you ruin your initial image on the first day 101," Ritsuko sighed exasperatedly at her brother.

Mash nodded and revealed to the awakened candidate, "It seemed like you were in REM sleep… Anyway, the Director's slap seemed to wake you up completely. Thank goodness."

"Now I'm fully awakened, could it be possible to charge her for physical abuse of employees?" Winced again at the pain when he touched it, Ritsuka grumbled. "For someone who grew up wealthy, she clearly doesn't know how to wake someone up like an ordinary person."

"I'm pretty confident it would fail on us considering how rich they are. Pieces of evidence we presented would be lies for falsely implicating the director like on TV shows." Ritsuko mentioned with a shook of her head.

At a sigh heaved to himself, Ritsuka wondered in his head. "Looks like whatever homework given from him, I need to finish before I can pull any answers out of him. There are a lot of questions I need to know of him, us, and this job we're working at."

The raven-haired candidate turned to Mash and, "How did the Orientation go, Ritsuko?"

"You've been left out of the first mission, Senpai. Ritsuko-senpai and I planned to take you back to your room," With a smile, she saluted the way with her hand, "Let's go, Ritsuka-senpai."

-0-

At a room's entrance in the passageway, Mash walked ahead to bring the Fujimaru siblings to their destination. Once reached, she turned around and announced, "We've reached our destination. This is your room, Ritsuka-senpai."

"Thanks for coming all this way, Mash," Ritsuka smiled and bowed at her.

As Mash shook her head she acknowledged with a smile, "It's fine. If you ask me, Senpais, I wouldn't mind even if it's treating both of you to lunch."

As the siblings grinned at her, Ritsuko spun back to him and urged once more, "Ritsuka, are you sure you'll be fine? I can elect myself out too, you know. I'm worried if something cropped up to you if I'm on a mission…"

"It's fine, Ritsuko," Ritsuka laughed and rubbed his sister's head. "If anything, it's going to be the slap that Director gave swelled up when I wake up from a nap."

"Gee, you're exaggerating too much!" Ritsuko laughed at her brother's cynical antics, a relief his sister had cheered up a little. She moved to Mash and turned to him, "Then I'll be leaving, okay!"

"Take care!" Ritsuka replied, he turned to Mash and bowed. "I'll leave my sister in your care then, Mash."

"Understood, Ritsuka-senpai." Mash replied. The pair turned to leave as Ritsuka entered the room.

-0-

"Ritsuko-senpai, do you have questions before we moved to the mission?" Mash asked as she turned to her while going down the corridor.

Closed her eyes for a moment to contemplate, Ritsuko turned to her and replied, "The Director had pointed out about this magic circuit earlier… What is it, really?"

"A simple question, thank you. A magic circuit is a pseudo-nervous system that spreads itself through the human body. This magic circuit is what qualifies a person to be a mage and Master."

Mash nodded to herself, she went on. "The normal functions are to act as paths that convert Life Force into magical energy, to learn how to control it and use it to perform Magecraft."

"I see," Ritsuko nodded as she understood her answer. But, she paused in her tracks which made Mash curious upon why. She grasped hold of Mash's shoulders and shouted, "Ritsuka and I are capable to perform magic? We're just ordinary people, how could we be Mages?!"

"Yes, Ritsuko-senpai. In the world of Magecraft, an ability is a given, but lineage says a lot as well." Mash was unfazed by the astonished reaction of the candidate and went on. "The Director is the head of the Animuspheres, a distinguished family of Mages.

"She indeed has a strong predilection for bloodlines.

"Many potential Masters were needed after moving the Rayshift's experimental stage to practical use.

"But only a handful of Mages had that potential."

"So that's why ordinary people like us were so aggressively recruited," Ritsuko nodded again to herself. But, the distasteful memory of what she told caused her shudder in fear.

Mash's head bowed down a little, she asked in a quiet tone, "Will you and Ritsuka-senpai leave Chaldea? Because of what Director did…?"

"Eh?" She fluttered her hands fervently as she reassured. "No, no! Well, nothing has decided for sure yet. If it's Ritsuka, that guy doesn't take it to heart despite his remarks. She may have gone too far there… But Ritsuka, he isn't one to give up just because of this.

"Right now, we want to do what we can here. I brought him into this mess here, so he and I would prefer to stick it to the end."

At her grin, Mash returned a smile back, "I understand, then I'm glad, Ritsuko-senpai."

Unknown to the bespectacled girl, Ritsuko stared at for a minute before muttering aloud, "Cute…"

"Eh?"

Realized what she murmured, Ritsuko's cheek tainted with red and corrected, "S-Sorry! T-That was a slip of my tongue, Mash-chan."

"Mash-chan…?" Mash tilted her head curiously.

"Eh? A-Ah sorry, since you helped my brother and I… And," With a nervous gulp, she scratched her cheek nervously with a slight hue of red blush. "It makes us friends, right? If you don't like the suffix, I could always–!"

"No, Ritsuko-senpai." Mash shook her head, gave her a bright smile. "I'm glad that a Senpai like you would look at me a friend. So, please call me that if you like, Ritsuko-senpai."

A grin brimmed with delight, Ritsuko grabbed her hand and replied, "Thank you, Mash-chan!"

Before Mash was to add anything, she spun to her right and muttered in surprise. "Oh!"

"Fou!" The white squirrel creature dashing towards them.

As it leaped, Ritsuko shouted at the bespectacled girl, "Watch out!"

Fou landed right on her face. Unlike the shocked reaction, Mash had an emotionless face as she reassured, "No, no, this is normal. No problem at all!"

"O… Kay…" Ritsuko mumbled, viewing the squirrel creature crawled to Mash's shoulders.

Mash gave a peek to make sure Fou was fully-settled on her shoulders and turned to Ritsuko. "Fou-san likes to attack my face, slide around my back, and settle on my shoulder."

"So, you're used to that, huh?"

"Yes, this squirrel-like beast is Fou-san." Mash introduced it to Ritsuko, she lifted one of her fingers and rubbed its cheek. "It's been a year Fou-san came to live here."

"Fou," Fou squeaked. It shifted to Ritsuko and hopped on her shoulders and squeaked. "Kuuu, Fou! Fou!"

"Hehe, how cute~" Ritsuko giggled and raised one of her fingers to rub its chin too.

As seeing her creature companion enjoyed her touches, Mash smiled at them and said, "Hmm, hmm. Apparently, Fou-san embraced you as one of his own too, Ritsuko-senpai. Congratulations, you've become Fou-san's third caretaker in Chaldea."

"I'm guessing Ritsuka was the second one, huh?" Ritsuko laughed. She stopped scratching Fou and shifted to Mash, "Oh yeah, are you the one who named him?"

Despite the abrupt query, Mash beamed and nodded. "That's right. No special reason, the word 'Fou' is the first thing that popped into my mind. I'm impressed you knew, Ritsuko-senpai. I see you're quite perceptive yourself."

"Uh-uh," Ritsuko shook her head, stared at the squirrel creature went to Mash. "I'm not that intuitive, Mash-chan. I couldn't help but notice Fou-kun showing deep affection to you earlier with that jump. So, I was thinking if you are his owner… Looks like I'm half-correct."

"Fou. Kuuu, Fou! Fou!" Fou squeaked.

At her words, Mash reflected in her mind before inquiring, "Senpai."

"Hmm?"

"Fou-san has taken a liking to you and treat you as one of his own. But can a squirrel who sees humans as rivals exist in this world?" Mash asked with her head tilted to her left.

Ritsuko sweatdropped at her blunt manner and countered, "Don't look at me, I have no idea, Mash-chan."

"Well, knowing Fou-san as I do, I'm sure he'll forget it by tomorrow," Mash described.

"What?! How mean!" Ritsuko complained, receiving a smile from Mash.

As they continued walking, Ritsuko and Mash talked on insignificant matters in mission matters and others. One of it being, Ritsuko learning that Mash was on the elite A-Team, while she was on B-Team for their mission.

End of Fuyuki Prologue part 2


Hey there, here's part 2 for the prologue.
Again, I'm trying to flesh out more of the protagonist of both Ritsuko and Ritsuka.
I do have a rough idea of how they are in my head, so only problem is to translate them to words here
Those who are wondering of the certain person identity...
I know in the latest release of that chapter in NA they appeared there.

There's an original twist since it's meant partly for the protagonist for future events.
Hope you guys like it? Please let me know if they went way too OOC
Certain reactions or snark I made are a big twist instead of their original personality in game.