Fate series and characters belong to Nasu and TypeMoon
Definitely not a good chapter, because I planned two scenes inside for flashback in here. One is an alternate short POV in the Command Room explosion, the other is the first meeting between Fujimaru Siblings. And also, mainly a development for Ritsuko to grow less cowardly and now to make her move now to fight for humanity... Which hence it took me very long and probably in the not very well conveyed how she develop from this.
Lastly... My Dad passed away last year September, so my mind had a mental breakdown in processing emotions which make my mom worry. Of course work life being shit and overwhelming workload didn't help too.
However, this chapter will have Trigger Words of post family abuse aftermath result in it for safety. Because I'm not even sure it's triggering or offending people on the topic of post-family abuse situation. I'll be clear that my writing may not reflect realistically on what happen in actual real life abuse.
But if you do have friends or yourself in a violent family abuse situation that really needs help, Wikipedia is unfortunately not the best answer as I needed a list of worldwide hotlines for every countries here: wikipedia wiki / List _ of _ domestic _ violence _ hotlines
Cowardly fools are more blessed than others
"Feel the heat as the source of your mana…," Ritsuko muttered to herself alone inside the dimly lit training room.
Her hands hovering above a small lit-up glass lamp brighten than natural by her mana for today's training lesson.
The ongoing transmitted magical energy continuously illuminated more, diminished their shadow until there was nothing.
A small smile twisted on her lips, thinking to herself in delight. "Alright! Just like this and—!"
KLANG!
"Ah!" Ritsuko raised both arms to shield herself from the shattering glass lamp. Once the burst of light flashed again from her overcharged lamp faded…. She gawked at the remains and let out a frustrated groan. "Oh, come on! And I was close too!"
The broken lamp before her joined her mountain of failures on her left. 20 lamps she requested from Sadakuni, only 4 charged and illuminated the initial dark training room. 15 or now 16 lamps broken set aside, the orange-haired Master sighed. "I don't think Sadakuni-san will spare me any more lamps. There won't be enough if a sudden blackout happens."
Switched her attention to mama charged lamp, Ritsuko picked one of them to inspect with a frown. "I can't be running on sheer luck at this point! If I can't be consistent in channeling my mana, everybody will—Wah!"
The dimly lit room burst with light after being switched on. Ritsuko whirled her head to the entrance, finding a familiar pair of stunned and concerned Mash. And behind her, the Archer Servant Emiya's expression where a brief surprise at her Master's whereabouts.
Breathed a relief sigh, the orange-haired Master greeted. "It's just you two, Mash-chan, Emiya-san. Did they call us to support any sort of help?"
"Yes, Ritsuko-senpai.
"Emiya-senpai and I were looking for you to discuss with Duston-san on inspecting maintenance duty shift—!"
The Demi-Servant's answer was cut short when her purple eyes widened at what she saw.
She rushed towards the orange-haired Master, lifting the latter's bleeding fingers and palms as her face paled at the sight. "Your hand is bleeding, Senpai!"
"What?" Ritsuko's initial confusion transformed into realization upon following Mash's gaze.
"O-Oh, this is from the strengthening magecraft! I suppose the last exploded lamp was a bit too much than I guessed!"
The flustered laughter from Ritsuko only intensified the Demi-Servant's worries. Before she could interject, the tan-skinned and white-haired Archer spoke up behind her. "I'll fetch the first aid kit. Please stay to tend Master, Mash."
Watched the Archer Servant spun and vanished into his Spirit firm, Mash peered behind her with a thankful nod. "Thank you, Emiya-senpai."
-0-
"Fou fou?" Fou sat down a distance behind the two girls, his head examining the broken glass of a lamp.
Before he prodded it with one of his front paws, a broom swept away the glass, accompanied by Emiya's warning. "Try not to come too close, Fou."
"Fou!" The white furry creature acknowledged with a squeak, observing the Archer Servant cleaning the training room.
Meanwhile, Ritsuko seated with the Demi-Servant where the latter tending her injured palm.
After cleaning and ensuring the bleeding ceased, Mash carefully dipped a gauze cloth covered with anesthetic ointment on the wound.
Winced at the stinging pain a few times from the medication, Ritsuko breathed out a whisper. "Thanks for the help, Mash-chan."
Mash shook her head while remaining attentive with a faint beam on her face. "It's not a problem, Ritsuko-senpai."
More than an angel, Ritsuko thought to herself after seeing her in a closer view. Her violet eyes carried a soft and warm emotion. The delicate lips curved a smile as though to admire the hands as she fastened the bandages closed.
Though as much as the orange-haired Master wished to admire longer, her curiosity got the better and pressed with a slightly teasing mood. "Is there something on my hand you're smiling about?"
"W-What? N-No, nothing at all, Senpai." Mash's cheeks burned red on recognizing how embarrassing she must've appeared before her Master. She promptly returned with a bashful grin and admitted. "I remembered back when the control room exploded, and I became trapped under the debris. Senpai held my hands with her own until Ritsuka-senpai came for us."
The bespectacled Demi-Servant's admission caused her Master's jaw to drop. A groan escaped, and Ritsuko nearly slumped down in a humiliated face. "O-Oh, that, huh?! That was embarrassing. Please don't bring it up again! Just thinking about it makes me want to crawl into the closet and never come out again…."
But, for Mash, she laughed warmly despite the protest. "To me, however, it wasn't Senpai. Because…"
-0-
Darkness was Ritsuko's companion before her team's turn to reyshift into Fuyuki. It would be a stretch to say it wasn't nerve-wracking. There were few others aside from her gagged and fainting before they started the mission.
The orange-haired girl remembered the irritated, high-pitched shriek from Olga Marie.
Even a distance away from her, Ritsuko heard her yelling to Lev, ordering him to have the Head Doctor show up to tend the weak Team B. All the moments where she was—!
"…. Senpai!" A familiar voice cried out to her from the darkness urgently.
"E… Eh?"
Next, another familiar squeaking noise cried to rouse her from the darkness. "Kyu…. Kyu, fou!"
"Fou-kun…?" The orange-haired Master recognized the noise once her brain processed the awareness for Fou and…
Mash's worried and panicked voice shouted for her once more. "Ritsuko-senpai, please wake up!"
Black transformed from white to a blazing fiery orange surrounding them. Small broken debris on her body and the smell of smoke nearly overwhelmed her lungs… Ritsuko weakly choked while struggling to fixate her vision.
"Mash-chan…?" The orange-haired Master's eyes landed on the bespectacled violet-haired girl and the white squirrel-like creature.
"Fou-kun…?"
"Fou fou!"
While Fou squeaked a few times to respond in joy, Mash let out her own shaky relief breath she held the whole time. "Thank goodness you're alright, Senpai."
"What do you mean—?" The orange-haired girl's own question was solved by the alarm's noise. A horrified gasp escaped upon seeing the sight before her. Flames continued to spread and scorched everything it stood. Broken coffins with unconscious participants in or dropped out of the capsules…
And there were the Chaldeas instead of brilliant shining blue…. A dark ash gray reinforced their impending catastrophe and death. Ritsuko then muttered once her orange eyes settled on the globe. "What… What happen?"
"To be honest, I don't have any clue. Just when I was to return to my coffin before the reyshift, an explosion happened." Mash shook her dejectedly, hints of frustration as she went on at how clueless she was. "Everyone in the A-Team was badly injured…. Along with the rest of the candidates, Senpai. Only you are the one who's alright and."
"This is horrible…," Ritsuko muttered. If the cold sweat didn't chill down her spine at their plight, later, the sense of dread doomed in her heart to what Mash explained. "An explosion… Then, Ritsuka…!"
"Senpai, wait!" The bespectacled violet-haired girl yelling fell deaf onto Ritsuko. She at once hopped out of her coffin and sprinted towards the exit.
Fou's cries and Mash's shouting muffled by the blazing fire and the collapsing Command room. The noises of Ritsuko's own heart hammering and frantic running fueled the panic in her head. "Of all days, it had to be the first day of our job to have a disaster! Would anywhere else be attacked?"
Even her own lungs demanded a respite against the vast smoke. The orange-haired girl shook her head and pressed on. "No, Ritsuka should be fine. There's no way it would reach there. But, he could still be sleeping thanks to simulation…."
She shook her head repeatedly. Her heart pounded as harsh as how her leg muscle ached from the fatigue of running. "No, no, the explosion here definitely reached him. Someone would wake him for sure! He's going to be alright! Ritsuka is—!"
"Above you, Senpai!" The last scream from Mash towards the orange-haired girl. Where the former shoved the latter forward roughly...
Then a mighty rumbling roar and deafening thud engulfed the area with dust and smoke. Ritsuko coughed against the sand, blew towards her. "Mash… Chan?"
Upon her sight, when the smoke cleared, Ritsuko became frozen, rigid with terror. Her skin paled matched with Mash's unconscious face except for the blood dripping from her head. Her spectacles broke from the impact of the large rubble above her…
As blood slowly dyed her clothes in red, Fou cried out anxiously for his owner. "Fooou! foou! Fou! Fooooooou!"
"Mash-chan!" Stumbled in horror, Ritsuko hurried and kneeled to her side. One hand grabbed hold of Mash's own. The other moved to her face and tapped a few times lightly. "C-Can you hear me, Mash-chan?! Please answer me! Mash-chan!"
A weak groan and eyes gradually opened from Mash. She blinked a few times and acknowledged. "S…. Senpai….?"
Ritsuko breathed out a shaky relief sigh. A few tears fell from her eyes. She shook her head and pleaded. "P-Please stay with me….! I will get this off you, so hang on—!"
"No… You must leave…." Mash mustered as much ounce of strength against the crushing injury of her ribs to lift her arm. She raised her hand above the orange-haired girl's own hand to stop and urged her to leave. "Ritsuka-senpai must be…. Worried about you, Senpai. Hurry or else—!"
"I'm not leaving you here!" Ritsuko interrupted while grabbing Mash's raised hand with both of her hands. "I'll bring us both out of here! Ritsuka may be glad to see me safe if I went ahead…."
Tears returned to overflow around her orange eyes, Ritsuko declared with a resolute voice loudly. "But I won't ever forgive myself for letting you die if I came out alive! Because you're my friend, Mash-chan, that's why I want to save you too!"
Despite how courageous and assuring she wished to sound, Mash noticed the trembling in her hand and how deeply the orange-haired girl felt for her. A single thought formed inside the Demi-Servant's own mind...
"At that time as you say such words, whether to put a strong front for me or yourself… I'll never forget the warmth of your trembling hands is the reason why I never hesitated to accept the condition from the Servant given inside me."
-0-
Mash wore a nostalgic smile with her eyes closed while recalling and concluding. "That's why whenever I'm down or in fear, Senpai's quivering hand, you and Ritsuka-senpai, who stood by my side…. They will ever be the source of my strength."
"Mash-chan…."
No matter how awed and gratefully Ritsuko's soul swelled at the Demi-Servant's sincerity, her head sank down sadly at what she recalled otherwise.
"But aren't I just coward?"
"Senpai…?"
"Thinking back to what happened in Fuyuki, I doubted if that brave part of me was even there. At the sight of enemies and dangerous Servant, I hide and rely on Ritsuka's aid to save me. I'm sure Ritsuka is also afraid, but yet I can't tell if he is or not. Then again…."
The orange-haired Master showed a deprecated smile to Mash's uncertain look and laughed. "That's why I admire Ritsuka the most. Even when his thinking can be skewed a little, he'll always be a cool head to get us out of trouble. If I were like him, I wouldn't drag all of us down in Fuyuki."
Not only the Demi-Servant, but Fou also went towards Ritsuko. Both of his front paws planted on her lap as though seeking to comfort her. "Fou…"
A severe difference between the Fujimaru siblings, Ritsuko often recalled and reproached herself.
Even when Ritsuka held his anger towards Lev, he remained calm and shielded her before the professor attacked them.
Even up against Medusa and the two other Servants, she realized she's the most significant burden for her passiveness by her cowardice.
Mash wouldn't have been in a perilous position on forcing herself to invoke a Noble Phantasm if she hadn't fallen for Caster Cu Chulainn's self-proclaimed training trap….
"What you said is correct, Master." Emiya's voice agreed with the conclusions she bemoaned to herself as he approached. The two girls whipped their heads over to face him while he continued. "I'm sure you understand that sort of behavior will kill you two if it wasn't likewise for Mash's quick-thinking to save you all. The hesitancy that occurs would've been a handicap to drag the mission further."
"Emiya-senpai?"
Cool black orbs from the Archer assuredly to the Demi-Servant's concern about his chiding. He shifted back to the orange-haired Master, who bore a bewildered face. "That would've been my lecture if you're an experienced Mage. You're a new Master. No, a new Mage. I know how you feel.
"You must be frustrated with how powerless by your own fears of what you've been through, but right now, let's keep looking forward. Isn't that right, Ritsuko? Will you stay petrified with fear? Or would you move forward to strive for your goal?"
"Isn't that obvious…?" Ritsuko's reply trailed away once her gaze settled on what her white-haired Servant handed to her in his grip. The familiar unlit lamp was yet used because of the welcome intrusion of the two Servants.
Emiya's subsequent admittance answered the purpose of the lamp he handed over to her. "Whether it was fate that I'm summoned by you or not…. I'm clear it was no mistake you have your own strength and capacities as a Master to lead us with your brother, Master."
Accepted the lamp into her hold while the orange-haired Master's eyes fixated on the object. Her thoughts were elsewhere. This wasn't the time to punish herself by comparing Ritsuka and her own person!
Twins were alike for their names only when she boasted with pride and joked to her elementary school friends. But, they would always be their own person, no matter whoever sought to compare the two.
Ritsuka's mature intellect with athletic capabilities was himself and why he was elected as Student Council President.
And she…
"Fou fooou fou!" Fou squeaked, seemingly agreeing again to the orange-haired Master's conclusions and judgment.
"Right!" Ritsuko closed her eyes after letting out a sigh from her lips. If her Servant wanted to see her worth as his Master, then the answer was the steadily glowing charged lamp.
While it flickered from time to time by traces of worry and hesitancy, Mash noted as she observed. Fou let out another expected squeak. "Foou…"
The light continued to illuminate further and better by her resolve or the energy of her mana.
Unwavering and headstrong optimism to illuminate out the gloom as it ended.
After exhaling her own breath, Ritsuko opened her eyes and widened at the full charge glowing lamp. "I… I did it?"
"Fou fou kyu fooou!" Fou squeaked and hopped around the orange-haired Master to congratulate her for the success.
Even the violet-haired Demi-Servant's face lit up with a soft red blush and commended. "Amazing! You did it, Senpai. A fully charged mana lamp with no backlash!"
"Y-Yeah! I couldn't charge it without a bit of the painful spark that caused overcharging. But now it just lit up with no issue!" Ritsuko picked up her charged lamp to study again in incredulity. No hints of sudden outbursts or even diffusions happened when she rotated the lamp around.
It was the brightest and stable lamp among the four other lamps.
Or, to be exact, this was the correct potential of her growing magical powers, Emiya noted mentally before presenting his acknowledgment of approval.
"Before a Master, both of you are ordinary people foremost.
"Emotions such as your fears and doubts are factors to never run away from but to carry forward with your head held high. That's why it's normal to get anxious at first, but…. It seems my concerns on the effect of my words weren't necessary."
"Emiya-san…." Ritsuko muttered to the concerns he harbored at first. Yet, by the faint relief emotions from the Archer's words, he accepted her worth as his Master. A brilliant smile curled on her lips, and she shook her head gratefully. "It should be I who is sorry to you and Mash-chan for worrying you guys. Thank you for the encouragement to wake me up, Emiya-san!"
While the white-haired Archer returned with a terse nod, Mash returned with her own reassuring smile. "There's no need to thank us, Ritsuko-senpai. Ritsuka-senpai, Caster, and all of us would be more than willing to cheer you up!"
After Ritsuko showed an enthusiastic grin to the Demi-Servant, a strange thought produced in her mind.
Her head whipped to face her Archer Servant again. "Hey, Emiya-san…"
"Hm?"
"You and that Caster met before, right? What's your beef with him? Is he that terrible as a Servant to have?" Or what else explained to Ritsuko on hers and her brother's needs to split them like earlier before they ravaged the training room.
And it was because Emiya provoked Caster Cu Chulainn's incompetence to harden his staff to a spear for his longing to be a Lancer-class.
While Caster countered by begging to differ, at least he wasn't suffering an inferiority complex from his previous experiences.
"Ah…. That huh…," Emiya sighed upon reminding the earlier event. "In terms of our view and ideals, we just don't get along. But when our mission begins, I promise to aid you and Ritsuka to the fullest. Even it means compromising with the unpleasantness of working with him again."
"Well, please do to ease our incoming headaches," Ritsuko acknowledged.
At least her Servant was more agreeable in obeying his Master's wish. That's one worry settled in her heart.
Mash lifted a hand to her chin thoughtfully and wondered. "Senpai, are you bothered about Ritsuka-senpai since the last training?"
"What? N-No!"
Despite her initial denial, the orange-haired Master confessed with sighed at how adorably concerned her Demi-Servant's face presented.
"Alright, maybe a little…. I trust he won't turn around and start attacking us in the back for his 'training.' It's just that I'm glad Ritsuka is opening up and having fun to looking forward to meeting the historical characters he worships."
"And Senpai is concerned because…?"
The Demi-Servant prodded again with confusion.
The orange-haired Master's face colored with nervousness and reluctance to explain her reason. However, the furrowed brows on Mash, along with Emiya's own under his impassive mask, resigned her fate. "This is only between us three, okay? Well, Ritsuka wasn't like this in the past. Or, at least when I first met him…."
-0-
"When I first heard from my Mom, I'm going to have a new older brother from remarrying my stepdad, I was so excited on meeting him.
"I always hear stories how my friends talked about having a sibling to play with. Though even when they sounded annoyed, there's so much love they have for them so I can't wait to meet him."
A young orange-haired girl swinging her legs happily on a chair inside a private room of a high-class restaurant. Her hair was tied in a single loose ponytail with a yellow and white flora pattern.
Ritsuko's cheek painted red with a sunny smile, hoping her favorite orange-colored sundress impressed her new brother.
From the noise of footsteps coming into the room a few minutes afterward, Ritsuko perked up to the older orange-haired woman resembling her. She hopped off from her seat and rushed to where she was. "Are they here yet, Okaa-san?!"
"They will be soon, Ritsuko-chan." Her mom responded, dropping her body slightly and patting her daughter's head. "Try to be a bit more patient, alright."
"Hehe!" Ritsuko giggled as her mother's chiding had no bite. The latter understood how restless she was when she first learned about having a new brother. The 10 years of raising her daughter by herself may have made her lonesome when she's working in the office.
But, with a new father and brother, she only hoped Ritsuko's solitude softened a little.
The young girl spotted the smile on her mom's face transformed into a gloomy expression.
She kneeled down on both knees to look into her daughter's eyes. "Ritsuko-chan, there's something you must know before we meet them…."
"What is it? Is that man Okaa-san marrying being mean…?" Ritsuko asked. Her heart pounded with panic at the possibility of her new father was an evil person. And he forced her mom to do things she didn't like.
"No, it's nothing like that," The orange-haired girl saw her mom laugh assuredly.
She held both of her daughter's hands in a delicate grasp and explained. "It's your new brother, Ritsuko-chan. Six months ago, Charles couldn't contact and find him for months after his mommy disappeared with him on their visit to her family. And when Charles finally found them, Ritsuka… He has been through a lot of bad things by his mommy and nearly died."
Whatever temporary relief Ritsuko had for her mom took over with horrified fear at what her new brother went through. Her orange eyes grew big, her hands holding her mother's own stiffened as she demanded. "W…. Why would Ritsuka's mommy do such a thing to him, Okaa-san…? What did she do to him?!"
"I'm sorry, Ritsuko-chan. I can't tell you yet. You're too young to understand…," Ritsuko's mother shook her head in sadness. "But Charles was glad that he was alright after bringing him back to life from his supposed death. From that day forward, Charles took your brother with him after the divorce and ensured his ex-wife won't see him again."
"But, Okaa-san…! What happened—?!"
Ritsuko's mom interjected once more and requested with a painstaking tone. "I will explain to you when you're older. But please take care of each other, okay…?"
"… Yes, Okaa-san…," Ritsuko accepted with reluctance.
Even as her mother stood and patted her head apologetic and assuredly, the curiosity, worries and fears etched in her heart remained.
"I wanted to ask more, but I know my mom will just give back the same answer. 'I was too young understand', she said. Telling me Ritsuka's mom did something really bad to him so Dad ensured his mom will never come close to meet Ritsuka again."
At the next minute, the door clicked opened got their attention. A tall, dark-haired man in a white coat and black shirt entered while carrying a child in his hold and closed the door behind them. Spun around, the man showed his face in his early 30s.
The man's blue eyes spotted the mother-daughter pair, next greeted with an apologetic bow of his head.
"Kaoru-san, I'm sorry to keep you waiting….
"I had to take another direction after the traffic intersection would not move for an hour."
"No, we weren't waiting that long. As I have brought up, this is my daughter, Ritsuko." Kaoru grinned assuredly, moving one hand placing it behind her daughter's back.
On cue, Ritsuko presented the most gracious bow she practiced to them. She didn't want her mom's boss to judge them negatively, recalling they came from a somewhat wealthy or something family. "Pleased to meet you!"
Though Charles acknowledged with a modest, gentle smile, the orange-haired girl's attention was elsewhere. To be specific, it was the young black-haired boy in his hold. His head rested against his father's shoulder, facing away from them.
Sensed by the interest from Ritsuko, Charles beamed and introduced. "This is your older brother, Ritsuka-san, Ritsuko-san. Though he's older than you by a year, he will study in the same grade as you. I hope the two of you will get along with each other.
"I see…." Ritsuko murmured while studying her new older sibling being set down gingerly. A plain white T-shirt and dark-colored shorts were worn that would have fit the dark-haired child's size...
"Even that shirt and shorts was about his size, it was 10 times bigger by how visible his bones were. The blue eyes have no single light inside him, staring at nothing except the abyss…."
In plain view, Ritsuka's skinny arms, legs, and body were all skin and bones by how the shapes of the bones stuck out. Maybe it was because of that. Charles forgone without the shoes for his son and carried him in. His face facing downwards was near spectral at how pale he appeared and his sunken cheeks.
Charles next kneeled on one knee by his son's side, putting one hand on his head gently and introducing. "Ritsuka-san, this is your new mom and little sister. It's alright. They are nice people to be a family, especially your sister."
Yet, Ritsuka did no movement or sound to answer his father's words.
His head remained bent downward, gazing at nothing in silence.
The dark-haired man's eyebrows furrowed in worry at his sullen behavior.
Even Kaoru, furrowed with worries at her new stepson, but... Ritsuko moved to stand before him. She grasped both of his frail hands and threw her brilliant grin. "Nice to meet you, Ritsuka! My name is Ritsuko. I'll be your new little sister from today onwards. So, I hope to be in your care!"
Her introduction caught Ritsuka's attention to shift his head and look at her. She giggled as a cheer to herself. Her idea was achieved successfully. After all, the orange-haired girl just needed to show her new brother that she and her mom accepted him into the family.
"Ritsuko-chan, where are your manners to your big brother?!"
Ritsuko whipped her head over to where her mom was. Her cheeks puffed and formed a miffed pout. "But, Okaa-san! Since he's going to be in the same grade as me, and both of us sharing about the same name, we could be like twins!"
Kaoru raised one hand on her temple and shook her head exasperatedly. "Honestly, I'm glad to recognize the first thing is you both look nothing alike to be twins."
"It's alright, Kaoru-san," But the dark-haired man begged to differ with an affectionate chuckle and grinned at Kaoru.
"Both Ritsuka-san and I are pleased to welcome such a cheerful girl into the family."
A cheerful grin curved on the orange-haired girl's lips at her new step-father's approval. She suddenly felt a faint movement and returned to face her brother. Ritsuka's vacant blue eyes now meet back at their held hands.
It seemed he sought to reciprocate her gesture with a weak grip of his bony hands, later a faint nod to acknowledge her. Taking a few minutes to process her new older step-brother struggling to convey, Ritsuko smiled with her eyes crinkled in delight. "Hehe! Please take care of me, Onii-chan!"
"While I'm glad Mom was happy with her new husband…. It wasn't an easy job to get Ritsuka to reply in his own way being quiet all the time. He'd be always somewhere in the house sitting down with a book staring motionlessly. And in school, he'd drift from class to class, often getting scolded by teachers for not answering in class.
"Beating up people who talk bad about Ritsuka was easy, I had practice when boys and girls make fun of me for not having a father when my mom raised me all by herself. Even so, he's still my Onii-chan who is willing to play with me when our parents are working."
After school hours inside an elementary school classroom, Ritsuko shoved the classroom sliding door open.
Her head darted around, then onto the notable raven-colored short-haired boy.
"Ah, sorry to keep you waiting, Ritsuka—!"
Amid the classroom, a recognizable raven-haired boy was seated at his desk, reading a thick book in his grip.
Unlike his frail former appearance, no bones were evident in the orange-haired girl's view after opening up and joining in during meal times.
She stopped beside Ritsuka to peep at the front cover of the book he was reading. "Hmm…. 'Hans Christian Andersen: The Life of a Storyteller'… You really like these books about big famous people, huh…."
As expected, the raven-haired boy never responded to her remark. His still lifeless blue eyes still staring at the currently open page he's concentrating on.
"At least no teacher is complaining to Okaa-san again…," Ritsuko murmured to herself with an exhausted sigh.
Today's school was thankful without trouble for being called by teachers about her brother's attitude.
It seemed they more or less accepted or turned apathetic to the new transfer pupil character.
Still, it's troubling for the orange-haired girl if Ritsuka didn't show signs of recovery.
Still, while thinking about what other topics to make her brother talk to her, Ritsuko recalled with a brightened face. "Speaking of Hans Christian, there's an old movie called The World of Hans Christian Andersen!"
Her heart surged with satisfaction when Ritsuka turned his head to face her.
His dull blue eyes revealed brief interest and curiosity at the famous historical man she suggested.
Ritsuko grinned at her older brother to affirm. "I found the movie DVD inside the fiction corner on our last trip to Namekawa Shiritsu Kodomo Library. If you'd like, let's ask Okaa-san and Otou-san to bring us there this weekend!"
As though trying to process her idea for a few seconds….
Ritsuka came back with a nod to acknowledge and accept his younger stepsister's idea.
Ritsuko's orange eyes sparkled while giving one last sparkling and biggest smile. She rushed towards her seat to pack her school bag hurriedly. Once done, she zoomed to the exit while her legs bounced vigorously on the spot. "Come on, we got to hurry home for dinner, Ritsuka!"
Her older brother nodded, bookmarking and placing away the book in his bag. He picked up his school bag and accompanied his sister, making their way close to the school gate.
Though Ritsuka was her silent companion, the orange-haired girl appreciated that he constantly listened to her chatting about their days in class.
Or, even when she grumbled about their teachers providing them surprise quiz out of nowhere.
The small nods and shakes of his head were proof to Ritsuko. Her step-brother was gradually opening up to her.
Ritsuko grinned when he nodded about their Japanese teacher had handed out less homework to play more on the weekends. "And we simply need to create three sentences based on the ten different Kanjis learned for the entire week! This should be easy—!"
"Look who do we have here! If it isn't Class 4-C Fujimaru Ritsuko and her freaky brother!"
Whirled her head to the origin of the nasty voice, Ritsuko's orange eyes narrowed angrily at the familiar three different colored size boys. She strode towards them and folded her arms with a glare. "And, if it isn't the three Senpais from Class 6-B that I've kicked your backsides weeping to your mommy. Are you here again because you haven't gotten enough?"
The large-sized boy's cheek was aflame, embarrassed at the shame of getting pummeled by a younger girl like Ritsuko. "Why you! We're only happy to offer to help your brother talk again. It must be a pain to have such a big brother who clings to his sister like a zombie."
"Ritsuka isn't a pain! We're together because that's how siblings should be between an older one and a younger one." The orange-haired girl exclaimed furiously. Her orange eyes blazed with fury at the insults hurled to her step older brother, who didn't budge or react at his spot.
Her proclamation didn't react a bit to the three bullies, only to the average-sized boy to jeer at her. "Oh yeah? Then maybe he doesn't talk because of your weird family. I bet he doesn't even like you or your mom, ever!"
"He does!" Stepping another foot forward closer to the bullies, Ritsuko stood firm with her trembling hand clenched tightly. "Ri… Ritsuka definitely loves us! He loves my mommy just as much as his real mommy. Ritsuka might not show it, but I'm sure he does!"
Because indeed, when Ritsuka constantly hesitated and didn't allow his stepmother to come close to give physical affection... The orange-haired girl understood he didn't despise them at all. His slight nod responded and replied, 'thank you for caring for him.' And in his own way, Ritsuka helped do household errands without their mom learning of his act.
Ultimately, the last shorter boy among the trio snorted his insult to her. "Hah! That's why his mommy doesn't want him or his old man anymore. Even being top in class, his mommy must've hated him for being a weirdo—!"
Offended by his abusive comments, Ritsuko charged forward to knock the more petite bully down, straddling on top of his body to throw her punches into his face. "You take that back! How dare you say awful things about Ritsuka's real mommy! I'm sure Ritsuka's real mommy didn't give up on him for no reason. And because he loves his real mommy the most, you take back those mean words to Onii-chan now!"
Threw one last blow to the more petite boy, the latter rose with both palms up to shove Ritsuko off him roughly. "Get off me!"
"Kyah—! Ow!" Ritsuko yelped after falling to the ground, afterward wincing in pain as her side ponytail-haired was yanked up by the large-sized bully.
Powerless to free herself by the tight grip through her attempts, the orange-haired girl didn't notice the bullies approaching to surround her for payback. While punching his fist into his hand all the moment, the giant-sized bully declared in a grunt. "We'll make you pay this time, you little—!"
THUMP!
Ritsuko directed her head up at the noise, seeing the familiar black-colored bag slammed into the bully's face.
She found herself pulled behind, and an unexpected voice filled with rage…
"Get your hands off her!"
At that moment, Ritsuko couldn't breathe as her orange eyes widened in disbelief. The sight of the raven-haired boy standing in front of her, instead of the dull, impassive expression…. Blue eyes flickered with life and anger, and he delivered a punch across the giant boy's face.
"At that moment, it was the first time… I finally heard my own Onii-chan's voice after half a year of his silent replies and acknowledgements."
Watched their comrade knock back Ritsuka's punch. The remaining two bullies charged ahead.
Ritsuka whipped his head and ducked down, directly nudging the smaller bully's gut. Then he rose to deliver his fist against the average-sized bully.
As the bully balked in pain, he dashed to Ritsuka once more with his fist raised. "Damn it! I'll beat you up this time—!"
"I said…," Upon coming to his range, the black-haired boy caught the bully's shoulder. And the former smashed his forehead with an intense smacking noise onto the other. "Stay away from my little sister!"
The impact knocked the average-sized bully out cold, tumbling onto the ground unconscious. Ritsuka stomped with one foot onto the body, whirled his head to where the two bullies remained with a chilling glare.
Trembled at their overwhelming adversary, the two bullies panicked, hastily collecting their knocked-out friend and retreated for their lives.
"L-Let's get out of here!"
He…. He finally spoke out his first words, which were to protect her.
And Ritsuko wasn't daydreaming about the light in Ritsuka's blue eyes.
They were real. Ritsuka finally spoke with life in his eyes.
But, when the orange-haired girl was about to ask, Ritsuka jerked back to his little sister and yelled. "Idiot, what were you thinking?!"
His sharp yelling caused the orange-haired girl to cower from his words. Ritsuka went back to stand in front and scolded. "Going up against three bullies bigger than you? Are you crazy?! Did you know how worried I would be if anything bad happened to you?!"
Even when Ritsuka's cheeks burned red from his anger, his younger sister still gawked at him with an astonished look on her face. He gritted his teeth and demanded angrily. "Well?! Don't just keep quiet, answer—! R… Ritsuko…?"
"… Hic…. Uuu…." Large and fat tears formed around Ritsuko's eyes when he yelled at her. Shortly enough, streams of tears ran down her face, sobbing loudly before her step-brother. "WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
Fear and regret stained Ritsuka's face for going too severe with his scolding. He quickly tried to console her, likewise examining if there were any bruises by the bullies. "R-Ritsuko, I-I'm sorry! I… I'm not angry with you. D-Don't cry, hey! I'm sorry, I'm only just worried about you! But, I'm—!"
"Waaaaah!" The attempts to comfort the orange-haired girl had little to no effect. It got worse in front of him as she cried louder and harder. Her two fists lifted to wipe her tears that wouldn't stop.
While still unsure what other ways to stop her tears, Ritsuka immediately hugged his younger sister in confusion. "T-There… T-There… I'm here? Nii-chan is alright. Nothing bad happened, see. Um, Ritsuko…? Please…?"
"Despite how hard Ritsuka tried to cheer me up, I kept on crying and crying… Until Ritsuka piggyback me all the way to our home, when I fell asleep from all the tears I cried out. However, we both got scolded from our Mom for getting involved in a fight by those bullies. But, the scolding didn't last long when she too got shocked on hearing Ritsuka calling her 'Okaa-san' and speaking for the first time."
-0-
Back in the present at Chaldea's training room, Ritsuko chuckled to herself at the memories. "But really, if you asked why I cried… I don't remember at all. I'm not even clear if I cried because of the bullies, Ritsuka's scolding, or the happiness of seeing that bit of life return in Ritsuka's eyes. I even thought it would be impossible by what they claimed to get closer to him."
"You must love Ritsuka-senpai a lot, don't you?" Mash smiled fondly at the cheerful smile on the orange-haired Master. The Demi-Servant looked back at how her face lit up at happy moments and expressed fears for her brother in her voice.
"Oh yes, I sure do," Though Ritsuko agreed with her Servant's words, she rolled her eyes and made a frustrated huff. "He may as well be my second mom by his nagging now and then. The one time I just got a perfect 'D' to pass my literature class, it was him demanding I read Macbeth once every four hours to get a good idea!"
Fou squeaked at her grievances from the spot where he sat. "Fou Fou!"
"Hehe, annoying, isn't it, Fou-kun?" Stood up from the ground, Ritsuko dusted herself and assured the two Servants.
"Anyhow, I'm assuming too much of that Caster. If it's Ritsuka, I'm positive he could control him too.
"He isn't our student council President, being able to go up against both our own and neighborhood school intimidating gangster to settle on their smoking habits."
As Mash picked her furry companion into her arms to follow her Master, the latter twisted her head behind when she arrived at the exit. "I'll head back to my room for a quick shower before finding Duston-san for the duty shift. After that, we'll settle down for—!"
Unknowingly to Ritsuko, the door behind her opened before she pressed the button. She bumped into the enormous figure in front of her when she stepped forward. "Ah!"
"Careful," Emiya popped up behind his Master in time to hold her up before she fell.
However, the individual in front wasn't lucky as they fell back down with a loud 'thump' and sounds of items scattered onto the ground. "Oof!"
"Are you alright, Ritsuko-senpai?" The Demi-Servant jogged over at the commotion. She did a brief glimpse to assess that no physical injuries occurred for her Master when she peered over…. Her left violet eye widened in surprise. "Ah!"
While delivering a glance behind to the Archer to murmur 'thank you,' Ritsuko reverted to the front and widened her eyes too in shock, "S-Sadakuni-san?!"
Groans of 'ow' and pained cries escaped the Section Chief's lips, kneading the back of his hips that required Romani to examine if needed.
The two recognizable exclamations from the young girls made Sadakuni move his head over to express his own surprise face to the three.
"Mash-kun, Ritsuko-kun, what are you two still doing here?!"
"Well, I was sort of having my own additional training in the strengthening class today. So, Mash-chan and Emiya-san came by to see for me when I didn't report to Duston-san on which duty shift I preferred." Ritsuko offered her hand out to the Section Chief, pulling him up carefully.
Mash pointed out while kneeling down to help pick the large cloth and ink-written talisman. "It's as Ritsuko-senpai said. 16 lamps broken leaving 4 lamps lit up and charged after her practice while injuring her hand."
"Th-There's no need to tell him that part, Mash-chan!"
The orange-haired Master's face turned red with embarrassment and let out a mortified exclamation, yanking her hand back once Sadakuni stood up.
"You drop this," Emiya handed a talisman slip into the Section Chief's hand after fetching it from the ground.
When Mash passed him his belongings, Sadakuni checked to see none of his stuff was missing and revealed a broad, grateful grin. "Oh, thanks a lot, Mister Emiya! And you girls as well."
Returned him with her own smile, Ritsuko examined the items in the Section Chief's hold, noticing a few familiar objects, and inquired.
"Sadakuni-san is an Onmyodo practitioner?"
"Half-correct, Ritsuko-kun.
"While the Agano family possesses a deep history of Onmyojis, the magecraft we use differs from the ones you've known of."
Sadakuni's answer only made the orange-haired Master confused, allowing Mash to offer a further specific explanation.
"The Agano family uses their Onmyodo magecraft in style with Nine Hand Seals, known famously both as Kuji-in and similarly Mudras.
"Under the mantra incantation, they called forth their spell."
Sadakuni nodded, directed his head back to the Master, and continued.
"Like what Mash-kun mentioned, our forefather was exceptionally well-versed because of his discipline as a Ninja.
"But for reasons or another, our ancestors hid our lineage from the Mages Association.
"Now realizing about it, I think most Magus households in Japan are not in contact with them once before, until recently, by the Animusphere family—!"
"In that case… Please train me how to use your Onmyodo, Sadakuni-san!"
Ritsuko's sudden request with an earnest tone startled the three individuals and Fou.
Sadakuni was the first to break out from being taken aback. "W-What did you say…?!
"Ritsuko…?" Even Emiya's face painted with his slight surprise at what his Master wanted.
His black-colored eyes stared at Ritsuko, trying to understand what the orange-haired Master desired from learning the magecraft.
Biting her inner cheek, Ritsuko strode a foot forward to plead again to the Section Chief. "I realize this is both sudden and too much that I'm suggesting, but please—!"
"H-Hold on a second!" Sadakuni held out a palm to stop her. Then, his hand drifted to rest on his waist, his face expressing reluctance and uncertainty while clarifying to the young Master. "Wait here, Ritsuko-kun…. It's true. I notice you both have pursued to learn the various magecraft located in the libraries. However, I've discussed before Chaldea's solitude away from Mages Association. It will not have enough materials for me to cover what you need if you plan to go onto this road."
"I know that, Sadakuni-san. But, I…," Clenched both her hands to ball them into fists, Ritsuko admitted with anguish in her voice. "I'm tired of running from the fear when engaging a monster or Servant show up in the Singularity for our next mission. Ritsuka now studying up his own magecraft he found, while I'm stuck here in the basics. And, I want no more of that! No more running behind my brother's back to stay and cower in fear."
With now an intense look on Ritsuko's face, she proclaimed aloud. "This time around, I want to stand by my promise to Emiya-san and Mash-chan. I'm one of two of Humanity's last Masters to restore our home. Together with my brother and everyone… I want to walk and work together by Ritsuka's side to protect those we love. So please, Sadakuni-san…!"
To fulfill her promise with her brother, also, for Ritsuko….
To prove to Lev and herself that humans deserved to continue to mark their history, no matter how insignificant they were.
The said Section Chief was silent, listening in with mouth opened slightly. Emiya seized this chance to step beside his Master to vouch for the inner unrest he sensed.
"Whatever doubt remains in your mind; they are unnecessary to be worried about.
"Ritsuko's conviction and actions she took in from Fuyuki would've been more than enough to take her as your student, Sadakuni."
"I think so too," Mash nodded in agreement.
"Ritsuko-senpai's commitments and efforts prove her enthusiasm to undertake any challenges to become a proper Master."
"Yeah, I think so too," Sadakuni surrendered with a short laugh, thus nodded. "The Servants you and your brother had summoned put comfort in our hearts to know all of us can count on you two to restore our history."
Orange-colored eyes widened in shock.
Ritsuko murmured for confirmation, "Does that mean…?"
"Yes, Senpai." Mash grinned with Fou's own squeak to affirm what she interpreted of the Section Chief's words. "Sadakuni-san recognizes you to be his pupil!"
"But do not expect me to go easy on you," Sadakuni informed with a slight smirk. "If you're prepared to experience yourself the balance between the blessings and curses of a Magus, I'll coach you all I know of, Ritsuko-kun."
"Of course not!" Ritsuko countered with a sharp and welcoming grin of her own. "Give me your best shot, and I'll absorb them all!"
Because… This was merely the first step Ritsuko finally discovered to take off her life adventure she would never forget as one of two Chaldea Master.
End of Issue #5
And not the best chapter title too! But some of you got your dose of GudaMash in this chapter. For those who have read the bio and now looking at Ritsuko's magecraft, yep she will learn it except I won't put their magecraft here in this arc. Both Gudas siblings magecraft will be shown in the next arc which is better to show even at the cost of not a single chapter of them training it
Lastly, my favorite scene while it took long to write, it was both Gudas childhood first meeting flashback. Gudako aka Ritsuko's own intiative to welcome her brother into the family and even able to open him up is why I wanted to write both protagonist inside. We're down with another two chapters (wait I thought you say there's was two previously?) before we finally close this arc once and for all!
