Shiro blinks open her eyes, the ceiling of her room gracing her blurred vision as she lets out a yawn. Her mind's sluggish as though she hadn't gotten an ounce of sleep last night.

In fact, what did happen last night?

"Awake now…?"

A voice whispered to her left ear. She turns to look, to see a pair of faded golden half-lidded eyes staring at her.

Ah…

"Lancer… Good morning."

"Good morning."

Lancer's arms are wrapped around her, her body pressed against her own, warmth spreading between the both of them.

A black semi-transparent lingerie dress fitted Lancer's body with a crevice in the middle. Her stomach and shoulders bare with skin as pale as the moonlight, her faded blonde hair once in a bun, now cascades down in a wave with a crown of spikes worn on her head.

A flash of memory speeds through Shiro's mind, of events that happened the night prior. A cacophony of moans echoes as the feeling of sweat, heat, and fluids blanket over her, a blushing sensation emerging on her face the longer she spends within that remembrance.

She… They… did it…

Her mind's turn static, her thoughts a jumbled mess of pieces.

It had to be a dream.

"Remembering what happened?"

Lancer's sultry voice slips through the static barrier, further solidifying that what happened… happened.

And that alone caused a mixture of happiness, and embarrassment to swirl within her.

For she lost her virginity for the first and last time to her servant. Her… lover?

"I… Yes."

"Heheh. Did you like it? The visions that were swirling in your head just now?"

Lancer's dandy fingers brushes against her cheeks, her gaze akin to a predator that succeeded at catching their prey with a gentle smile imprinted on her lips.

Those fingers, are the same ones that explored her body.

"M-Maybe."

Lancer laughs softly as she continues to hug her tight, refusing to let go of her grip. Their bodies interlocked, inseparable almost akin to a sheathed sword.

They stay in that position for a few moments. Hearing each other's heartbeats, one's frantic, one's calm, as Shiro tries to gather her thoughts.

The morning dawn shines through the seams of the doors and the gaps of the window. The clock ticking atop the wall signals the time for breakfast, but…

"Lancer, please let me go. I have to make breakfast."

"Hmm… Let us just lay here for a bit longer."

"Lancer…"

Caught between the grasp of her servant, Shiro has no choice but to stay in the futon.

As she gathers her thoughts, a particular memory manifests in the forefront of her mind. One that was temporarily closed off, now reopened.

Of the time prior that led up to the event itself last night. Of her mistaken judgment. Of her uselessness.

"...Lancer… Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you… decide to do it? Protect me when I have done nothing but be a burden to you?"

"...Because, I love you. Is that not obvious?"

Shiro peers into Lancer's eyes. Searching for a trace of a lie, that's nowhere to be seen. Instead, only truth exists within them.

"Is that really so…? Even after what I did, you'd still-?"

A finger shuts her lips, cutting her off. Lancer leans closer to her, her breath upon her lips.

"It does not matter what you did. You were just solely thinking of my well-being, how you wanted to save me. Despite what you say to yourself, to me, I am the same as you. Wanting to protect the people that you love, is that not the purpose of your ideal? Of your dream?"

"Yes, but… What if that ideal is never really achieved, never amounts to anything."

Shiro's gaze drops down, her hands clutching at the seams of her shirt, wanting to rip it off as she remembers the bloody stains that once were there as the blush of embarrassment from before turns to one of frustration.

"...If I were to lose hope in my ideal… would you even still be there by my side?"

"Of course. Whereas you lose hope in it, there is always a chance to rekindle that flame. As for achieving it… Am I not enough for you to consider it achieved?"

Shiro peers back up at Lancer's eyes, subtle tears building up within her lids. Lancer wipes them off with a single swipe of her finger.

"What do you mean?"

Lancer takes hold of her hands, and puts them upon her chest. Where her heart is. "Do you not remember? You saved me, where no other could. That alone must amount to something, do you think?"

"I… yeah."

"Then, you must not give up on your ideal. No matter what happens."

Lancer's voice is calm, nurturing, and… motherly. Like a charm placed upon her, as she listened to her every words as they cuddle against one another; their warmth a comfortable blanket atop their bodies.

Lancer's… right. She mustn't lose hope in her ideal, regardless of the cracks that may appear, regardless of the damages that may have been done, she mustn't give up.

And even if she does, there's always a chance to regain it, for someone to help her at her lowest.

And that someone is…

She glances at Lancer's gaze once more. The once predatory glint now replaced with a level of kindness hidden in them that she now comes to expect from her ever since the first time she met her. From a seemingly cold black dragon alighted by the moonlight at her back, to one that will act as her protector and guide no matter what.

She's glad to have her. To know her, to have met her-

To have made her first love with her. And she will not trade it for anything else in the world, not even the grail itself.

Shiro conjures up a smile.

"You're right… Thank you, Lancer."

"You are welcome, Shiro."

As they gaze into one another, while the clock ticks away, they lean towards each other. Their eyes closed with their lips slightly parted as they connect with a kiss.

It lasted for but a simple moment, and yet, it felt as though eternity was all that remains within that one connection. How their two worlds; their two souls, interconnected together. Like pieces of a puzzle being slotted into the missing layers - making them complete. Whole.

They disconnect, a slight trail of saliva bridging between their lips with both their cheeks blushed.

Shiro glances up at the clock.

"Shall I go make breakfast now?"

Lancer shakes her head.

"For now, let us enjoy each other's company for just a little longer, shall we?"

"Yeah."

And so, with a smile, they lay in the futon as they cuddle up one another, taking comfort in each other's presence.