Note: A birthday sequel to the previous chapter for that same Usagi-san. The piano song played here is Connect, from Madoka Magica. I recommend marasy's cover. :)

Sparkle 13: Two Masters, Two Servants, One Song

The piano keys were comforting to the touch as the music flowed out as always. The quiet chatter of Nagareboshi Cafe around me signified yet another day at work, and I kept my eyes closed to focus on the specific memory needed for today's performance.

It seemed normal.

It only took a gentle voice speaking in my head for my concentration to falter slightly. Milady?

There was no way I wouldn't recognize Saber's voice. She had that distinct regality befitting of her time as King Arthur, but since being summoned and becoming a part of my life, the slightest inflection of affection when calling for me conveyed everything else. And hey. It wasn't everyday that she prompted a telepathic conversation, especially on a work day.

The song was thankfully close to finished, so I carefully opened my eyes to glance over the black and white keys under my fingers absently. What is it, Saber?

My apologies for interrupting your thoughts, but I wished to inform you that there are a pair of customers coming your way to the piano soon. A pause followed before what felt like surprised amusement passed through our link. They claim to be friends of yours.

It's not Kei or Hayate or any other member of Team Minato?

No, Saber said, and the bit of joy leaking into her mental voice was hard to miss. An old comrade of mine.

Hm?

Before I could think on it anymore, a chair was being pulled up next to me, and I finished the last chord before folding my hands into my lap and carefully turning around.

Ashen-gold eyes were staring back at me in incredulous amazement.

I believe you called him 'Dia', Tomoko, Saber finished fondly.

Green armor. Two lances, one red, one yellow, strapped to his back, albeit wrapped in dark violet bindings to not expose their handles. And the slightest indication of the mole under his right eye…

Could it—

"Tomoko," he breathed, and his shoulders were tense while staring at me. "I finally found you."

"Diarmuid?" left me first, before I shook my head and politely turned away. It sounded like him. It looked like him. Hell, from gut things, it felt like him. But that was impossible. We had only met in dreams. How was he here? Dimension hopping? Black hole? Out of some kind of desire to confirm reality, or to defy unconscious suspicions that were ingrained in me by my ninja family, I turned back to him and opened my mouth. "Before anything, please answer this for me? Move onward, not there yet?"

If it was really the Diarmuid Ua Duibhne I had gotten to know as a friend, he would know the follow-up to those words.

The man blinked those same ash gold eyes at me in shock before his gaze softened. "Let's Just Live."

He remembered the song. It was him. I didn't even know how he got here, but he was here. In real life. Sitting right in front of me. "Hi, Dia," I said breathlessly. "Looks like you found me in real life this time."

"Indeed I have," he said, smile working itself back on his face as he reached over to take one of my hands in his. "It is good to meet you in the flesh, my lady." He raised my hand to brush a kiss against my knuckles, and I tried to fight back the blush. Still so Knight-ly, even in real life. "After everything you have done for me, I had to come and find you."

"W-Was the kiss really necessary, Dia?" I protested instead, reaching over with my other hand to lightly poke his nose. "I told you before. Boop for every 'lady' calling."

He laughed loudly, happily as he put my hand down after one last warm squeeze. "Apologies, it is a habit. There is not much I can do to show my gratitude considering my brutish heart."

"Brutish, gentlemanly, bah," I waved off with a frown, poking his forehead now. The long black curl going over his nose was just as real too. Soft. "You're still my friend, brute or not, Dia. Quit putting yourself down."

He bowed his head teasingly. "As you wish, Tomoko."

I held back the urge to roll my eyes and looked to the side. And, wait a minute.

There was a girl lurking behind my Lancer friend. White jacket with black fasteners, black skirt, and… oh. Red Command Seals on her hand. The light pink covering her cheeks when glancing at Diarmuid only completed the picture.

I couldn't even find it in me to question the folded-back wolf ears and tail swishing behind her. Instead, I smiled and waved her over. "Hi there. Are you Dia's Master?"

"Oh," Diarmuid said with a swivel of his head, shooting the girl an apologetic smile as she approached before turning back to me. "My apologies, Tomoko, for not introducing her. She is Lady Usako, the one who…" Dia lowered his head, face already flushing a light pink. "The one who saved me and my heart."

Awwwww. Now I feel like a mother-in-law. Or… is it a sister-in-law?

Either title is fitting for you, milady.

Saaaaaaber.

Hehehe.

"D-Diarmuid!" The girl jolted, her tail on end and all from the embarrassment before she nodded in my direction, a more relaxed smile replacing her original tense expression. The red on her face was obvious, but I politely decided not to mention it. "But yeah. I-I'm Usako. You might know me as 'Usagi' from the white rose. And you're Tomoko?"

"The one and only." I gestured to the empty side of my piano bench. "And it's alright, Usako-san, there's enough room for the two of you to sit next to me."

Usako paused, her gray wolf tail swinging back and forth behind her. "Are you sure?"

"Why, Usako-san, I believe it is yours and Diarmuid's first time here, isn't it?" I stood up from my bench to gently curtsey to them both. "I am Hoshino Tomoko, your pianist today at Nagareboshi Cafe in Konohagakure. And in honor of your visit to the Village Hidden in the Leaves and my meeting both you lovely people for the first time, you more than deserve a concert now, don't you?"

"E-Eh?" Usako was turning pink again. "B-But, this is too much, Tomoko-san, we just met you!"

Diarmuid, on the other hand, had gone silent as his jaw dropped slightly.

I sat back down on my bench to gesture to the seat again. "And? It is my personal work policy to give new customers a performance. I am the Civilian Pianist, after all. And," I couldn't help but wink at them. "For a new couple, it is all the more motivation to play something in honor of the new bond that is present."

Huh. Saber was rubbing off on me after all, because Usako let out a small, "Eep," at my words while taking a seat. Diarmuid on the other hand, flushed a light pink, poking my nose hard. "Tomoko." If not for his own blush, I would've taken his voice to be completely unamused. Right now? It was embarrassed deadpan. Hah. "You do not have to mimic my mannerisms to make your point."

I pretended to think on it. "Well, naaaaah," I concluded, smiling at him nonetheless while reaching over to poke him back. "You and Saber both are Knights, I love you both very much platonically, so of course I'd take things from you two. So, boop!"

…Master.

Saber, it's the truth, so I hope you will get used to that.

What sounded like a fond sigh passed through the mental link. I love you too, milady.

Love you too, Saber~!

The Lancer simply rolled his eyes with a sigh while reaching over to wrap an arm around Usako's shoulders. She squeaked in embarrassment, but leaned into him nonetheless. "I take it that means you will not back down from playing for us?"

"Damn straight." I turned back to the piano with one last wink. "After all, for the newest happy couple, it's better to Connect now, right?"

Usako spoke up with a raised wolf ear. "Tomoko…"

I gave her a smile. "As thanks for making Dia happy, Usako-san. Please accept this humble offering."

Puns aside, all I had left was music. These two gave me companionship, even through dimensions and dreams. And Usako in turn made my Lancer friend into the happiest Knight he could be. The least I could do, in exchange for that white rose sitting in a vase atop the piano, was play them the best concert I could do.

I closed my eyes and simply let my hands fly across the keys.

Just for a fellow Master who shared my sentiments in trying to make their Servants happy.

Congratulations on your new bond, Usako, Dia!

I wish you both a lifetime of happiness and love. May you both support and love each other until the end of your days.

If these two could keep smiling in the face of any future battles, after my song, it would be enough. For now, I would keep sharing my music, hoping. Believing.

The shared joy in their eyes when I finished gave me hope to do it all.