The room buzzed with a mix of conversations and activities as the diverse group of Servants made themselves at home in Ritsuka Fujimaru's room. Artoria Alter, in her Shinjuku outfit, indulged in a feast of burgers from her magical burger bag, seemingly oblivious to the annoyed glares from Jeanne Alter, who also sported the Shinjuku attire.
Jeanne d'Arc, appearing concerned, observed the brewing tension between the two alter egos, perhaps anticipating a clash. Nero Claudius, for some mysterious reason, gloated triumphantly, further irking Oda Nobukatsu, who wished for the company of his elder sister instead.
Meanwhile, Baobhan Sith focused on filing her nails, her thoughts drifting to the possibility of their master summoning a new Servant. She harbored a specific desire for her beloved mother to be the one called forth, rather than a random female Servant.
Amidst the commotion, Mysterious Heroine X was absent, on a quest within Chaldea, actively seeking out more Sabers to confront.
"I hope this isn't a waste of my time," Baobhan Sith, expressed her skepticism, a hint of boredom in her voice as she took a momentary break from her nail care routine. With a critical gaze at her freshly polished nails, she pondered the worthiness of the current situation, silently questioning whether the events unfolding around their master were truly worthwhile.
Jeanne d'Arc shifted her attention to the Fairy Knight, offering a reassuring smile in response. "Don't worry, Baobhan. I'm sure Master is on the way. He might be running a little late, but it could be him showing the new Servant around Chaldea," Jeanne explained, providing a plausible reason for Ritsuka Fujimaru's delay.
Baobhan Sith responded with apparent disinterest, uttering a nonchalant "Uh, huh..." She dismissed Jeanne's reassurance. She returned her focus to her manicure, choosing to ignore the Ruler.
"I hope it's not another YOU!" Jeanne Alter, not one to hold back, took a jab at her rival, expressing her displeasure at the possibility of another version of Artoria being summoned. The burger-loving Artoria Alter shot her a glare in response, clearly irritated by the comment. "One of YOU is already bad enough," Jeanne Alter added, emphasizing her frustration with the abundance of different versions of Artoria.
Artoria Alter, not one to be insulted without retaliation, spat back at Jeanne Alter, firing off a sharp retort, "Watch it, you dumb witch." Jeanne Alter's eye twitched violently in response to the insult, indicating a rising level of tension between the two formidable Servants in the room.
"What the hell did you just say?!" the Avenger responded with a growl, clearly agitated by the Saber's retort.
Jeanne d'Arc sighed, seemingly weary of the ongoing conflict between the two Alters. "Please you two, no fighting in Master's room," she requested, her tone reflecting a desire for harmony among the Servants. Then she added she added with a touch of exasperation, "We don't need to fix Master's room...again."
"I don't even know why I'm here," Oda Nobukatsu expressed his discontent. "I just want to be with my elder sister." Frustration in his tone hinted at a longing for the company of his sibling rather than being caught up in the conflicts and dynamics among the other Servants.
Baobhan Sith responded to Oda Nobukatsu's discontent with a snort, drawing a sharp glare from the younger brother of Oda Nobunaga. Unfazed, she taunted him with a smirk, suggesting a reason for his presence. "Maybe that explains why you're here. She grew tired of your clinging ass," the Fairy Knight provocatively stated, adding a touch of mockery to her words.
"You better watch your tongue, witch!" Nobukatsu issued a warning, urging Baobhan Sith to watch her words. However, his caution was met with a mock chuckle from the Fairy Knight. Baobhan Sith, seemingly unimpressed, taunted him further.
"Please, little boy, you wouldn't dare touch me if you tried," she taunted, exuding confidence and dismissing any threat from Nobukatsu.
"I hope Master summons another ME," Nero, breaking the ongoing tension, expressed her hope for their Master to summon another version of herself. "I wouldn't mind, umu!" Her remark was met with a collective response of groans and insults from the other Servants in the room.
Whoosh
The Servants' attention was abruptly redirected towards the door. A loud whooshing sound echoed through the room, signaling the entrance of someone. It was revealed to be none other than Ritsuka Fujimaru, their Master.
"Sorry, I'm late, you guys!" he apologized, scratching his head sheepishly. However, his tardiness didn't go unnoticed, especially by Jeanne Alter, who immediately frowned, crossed her arms, and glared at him.
"What took you so long, dumbass?" Jeanne Alter spat out, expressing her dissatisfaction with his tardiness.
Ritsuka flinched at Jeanne Alter's tone but swiftly explained the reason for his delay. "Sorry, Saber got hungry after being summoned, so we spent some time at the cafeteria. I didn't realize Saber had such a big appetite, or else we would've been here sooner."
"Oh, so it's Saber," Jeanne d'Arc responded with a smile, seemingly understanding the situation. However, this revelation led to a groan from Baobhan Sith, disappointed that her dreams of reuniting with Morgan were once again shattered.
Artoria Alter, while snacking on her last burger, expressed her hope for more. "I hope you brought more burgers," she remarked. However, Ritsuka's response didn't align with her expectations.
"Uhh, sorry I didn't," the Master responded, a sweatdrop forming as he acknowledged the oversight.
Artoria Alter expressed her disappointment with a disapproving look directed at her Master. "Bad Master..." she uttered, conveying a sense of playful reproach for not fulfilling her burger expectations.
Nobukatsu, growing impatient with the distractions unfolding in the room, expressed his desire to meet the new Saber. "Can we just meet the new Saber already?" he voiced, his patience wearing thin.
"Uhh, sure," As Ritsuka nodded in agreement, he stepped aside, allowing the Servants to direct their attention to the new arrival standing behind him at the doorway.
The new Servant shared noticeable similarities with Artoria Pendragon, featuring similar facial features and distinctive hair, including bushy forelocks and sidelocks with a single "antenna" sticking into the air. Their hair gradually faded from black to white near the end, forming a long, narrow braid that fell down their back or over their shoulder. The attire of the new Servant reflected a traditional East Asian style, consisting of a long white tunic paired with baggy black trousers and sandals. Notable accessories included two pairs of bracelets, one set with a green stone, a wide metal choker, and a beaded rosary around their neck.
Yamato Takeru, the new Saber, stood nervously under the intense scrutiny of the other Servants. The collective gaze fixed on them made them uncomfortable, unsure of how to respond to the attention. It became evident that the new Saber preferred a more private interaction with just their Master, rather than being the center of attention in a room filled with curious and judgmental eyes.
Nero, ever bold and curious, didn't hesitate to approach Takeru, studying the new Servant from head to toe and even around them for some reason. Nero's scrutiny was thorough, and she leaned in close to Takeru's face, invading their personal space. A small bead of sweat ran down the side of Takeru's face, indicating their discomfort with the close examination.
Nero, after finishing her thorough examination of Yamato Takeru, stepped back with closed eyes, thoughtfully crossing her arms. The other Servants watched her with curiosity, wondering what her final verdict would be regarding the new Servant. After a moment of contemplation, Nero reopened her eyes and unexpectedly burst into laughter, assuming a proud pose.
"You may not be another me, but you have my approval of being Master's new Saber, umu!" Nero declared, bestowing her approval on Yamato Takeru.
"Oh, uh, thank you, umu!" Takeru's grateful response caught Nero's attention, and she immediately rushed over, grasping Takeru's shoulders with both hands.
Nero's voice turned stern as she questioned, "Did you just say 'umu'?"
"Y-Yes...?" Takeru responded uncertainly, admitting to saying "umu." Nero's eyes narrowed, and her lips twisted into a deep frown in response to Takeru's admission.
"We don't need a faker here," Nero declared with a stern tone.
"W-What?" Takeru blinked in confusion, evidently taken aback by Nero's unexpected reaction.
Jeanne d'Arc, sensing the tension and jealousy emanating from Nero, sighed. She subtly communicated with her Master, prompting him to take Nero to the side, allowing her to approach Yamato Takeru. As Jeanne began to approach, Takeru's eyes slightly widened at her appearance. Jeanne looked similar to the Lancer Servant they encountered in their time. However, a subtle intuition suggested that this version of Jeanne might be different, possibly even the same one but altered in some way. Takeru couldn't help but sense the unique aura surrounding Jeanne d'Arc as she approached.
The Ruler Servant took the initiative to apologize on behalf of Nero. "Sorry about Nero," she offered, acknowledging the overzealous nature of her comrade.
Takeru responded with a smile, saying, "No worries, umu." This seemingly calm and collected response from Takeru further infuriated Nero, who was already agitated by the use of her catchphrase.
Nero, despite being held back by Ritsuka, expressed her displeasure with a growl. "Quit using my 'umu' so casually, you faker!" she protested, attempting to break free and kicking her feet wildly in frustration.
Jeanne and Takeru exchanged glances, a small bead of sweat running down the side of their faces as they witnessed Nero's childish behavior.
As the other Servants finished their introductions and left the room, even Nero gave Takeru a sharp glare before departing, only Ritsuka and Takeru remained. Ritsuka took the opportunity to ask, "So, Saber, what do you think of your fellow Servants?"
Takeru responded hesitantly, "Well, they are certainly... different in their way." The unique personalities and dynamics among the Servants had left an impression on Takeru.
The Chaldea Master chuckled at Yamato Takeru's uncertain response. "Don't worry, you will get along with them in no time. It took them a bit while to get used to me," he encouraged, offering reassurance to his new Servant.
Yamato Takeru agreed with their Master's reassurance, saying with a smile, "I hope so too, umu." However, their next statement took an unexpected turn. "And if any of them give you a hard time, Master, I did promise to be your blade," the new Saber openly admitted.
This declaration led to a sudden misunderstanding when Jeanne Alter's angry voice echoed from the doorway. "What!" Her tone was filled with anger and jealousy. Ritsuka and Takeru turned their attention to the doorway where both Jeanne Alter and Artoria Alter were standing, observing the conversation. Artoria Alter with a new bag full of burgers, was munching on one as a spectator while the Avenger was shakily pointing her finger at Ritsuka in disbelief.
Ritsuka, addressing the two Alters, asked, "How long have you been standing there?" Artoria Alter responded with a nonchalant shrug, seemingly indifferent to the situation while Jeanne Alter growled in annoyance. It was evident that she was not pleased with Ritsuka's attempt to shift the focus away from the current conversation.
The Avenger raised her voice, accusing Ritsuka with frustration. "Don't play dumb, you idiot Master!" Her tone was sharp and accusatory, causing both Ritsuka and Takeru to flinch at the sudden intensity. Jeanne Alter went straight to the point, questioning, "Did that new Saber just confess to you?"
Ritsuka was taken aback by the sudden accusation. "W-What?! No! You have it all wrong, J-" However, his attempt to explain was abruptly interrupted by Jeanne Alter's angry outburst.
"Shut up!" she declared, her eyes narrowing in rage. "To think you two just met and already this close! Time to die now, idiot Master!"
Artoria Alter's casual handing over of Excalibur Morgan to Jeanne Alter escalated the situation dramatically. The Avenger wasted no time and began chasing Ritsuka around the room, wielding the powerful blade in an attempt to slice him down. The chaos unfolded with Artoria Alter watching in amusement as her rival pursued their Master.
Takeru, left speechless by the bizarre scene, observed the unexpected turn of events. However, the situation took an even weirder turn when Mysterious Heroine X arrived at the doorway, having overheard the news about the supposed summoning of a new Saberface by their Master.
"Where's the new Saberface at?" X demanded, her eyes searching around the room.
Artoria Alter while taking another bite from her burger, simply pointed at Takeru in response to Mysterious Heroine X's demand. X followed the gesture, her eyes fixing on Takeru for a moment. However, her reaction was less than enthusiastic. A deep frown spread across X's face as she glanced back at Artoria Alter. "Nice try, but that's not a Saberface," she declared, her remark met with a raised eyebrow from Artoria Alter.
Artoria Alter, with a disinterested tone, demanded an explanation from Mysterious Heroine X. "Oh, and what makes you think that?"
X confidently stated her reasoning, "This one has black hair." Her observation focused on the color of Takeru's hair, dismissing the possibility of them being a Saberface based on this particular characteristic.
I mean...X isn't wrong...O.o;;