Summary: Even if Vy doesn't know everything about her fellow Master, if there's one thing she absolutely does know, it's that she's not going to leave Ayako alone. Large god presence or not, friends don't abandon each other.

Note: This "chapter" came about as a combo of two Tumblr stories I originally gave to Pan, Ayako's creator, back on April 25th and December 4th of this year, actually. And considering it's almost time for the holidays as I write this new note (12/21/2021), I thought about posting it all here (along with an added scene) so you all could enjoy this extra universe again.

The songs I was listening to when originally writing all this include: (1) Animenz Piano Sheets' cover of To The Beginning from Kalafina, the second opening of Fate/Zero; (2) Friend by Jeff and Casey Lee Williams from RWBY Volume 8; and (3) the track simply titled Yasashii Megu-nee Arigatou, or "To the kind Megu-nee, thank you" from School Live. Feel free to listen to them if you so choose.

Otherwise, please enjoy!

Extra Day 7: Staying Close By

"You are making something for Ayako again, Master?"

Arturia's voice was solemn as always, even when used in a whisper over Vy's shoulder as Vy poured green tea into the two mugs in front of her. The Dining Hall wasn't crowded for once thanks to it being early morning, so Arturia, Archer EMIYA, and Boudica were the only Servants in the area.

Even then, Vy didn't turn her head away from her task in response to Arturia's question, merely putting the teapot down onto the counter while grabbing the nearest jar of honey to twist the cap open. "At this point, it's kinda a habit now, Art-san," she supplied as an explanation, ignoring the urge to brush a stray strand of hair out of her face. Her ponytail still tickled the back of her neck as she slowly scooped a spoonful of honey out of the jar, letting it trickle into the first tea mug. "And tea is a good alternative to coffee."

"I understand that, Princess," Arturia still sighed as her hand reached up to touch the small of Vy's back through the black jacket of the Mages' Association uniform Chaldea had provided. "But there's only so much one can do for someone else before limits are reached. Even if it's in the name of friendship."

The road to hell is paved with good intentions, huh? Was that how the saying went?

Instead of voicing that, Vy glanced past her shoulder to smile wryly at the Saber Servant, feeling heat start to pool into her cheeks as she outwardly said, "You're worried?"

"You've given me plenty of reasons to be worried," Arturia replied, her emerald green eyes flashing with concern. "You can be as stubborn as the red Archer, Vy."

"The sudden jab at me aside," Archer EMIYA interrupted over the chopping of green onions at a nearby counter, "I agree with Saber."

"You still need to get breakfast yourself, Vy," Boudica finished with a shrug of her shoulders, passing behind all of them with a pile of cleaned plates in her arms. "I haven't seen you eat anything since you came in here and started boiling the water."

That was definitely 20 minutes ago. Vy felt a weak giggle leave her lips just as honey was placed into both mugs, spoons left in the steaming beverages for stirring later. "I'll eat after I make this tea delivery, Boudica-san. I'm not going to forget." To Arturia and EMIYA, she said in a smaller voice, "I'm trying to not work myself as hard, if that helps?"

Arturia's hand still rubbed her back as her eyes narrowed in Vy's direction. "As long as you hold yourself up to that," she said. "We cannot have both of our Masters out of commission."

"Agreed," EMIYA added flatly, accentuated by one loud chop of the knife in his hand against the cutting board. "The world would end if something happened to you two."

The world, or your world? Vy thought. Still, Vy felt herself smile as she turned back to the mugs in front of her, loading them onto a tray. "I know. Thankie, Art-san, Boudica, Shirou."

Where would I be without you all to help me remember me, anyways?

"Of course." Arturia then shifted, her hand leaving Vy's back to instead softly graze Vy's forearm as a smile tugged at the edges of her lips. "Do you need our help with anything pertaining to this 'tea delivery,' Princess?"

"I-If you or someone here could get me a few lemon slices, I think that'd be good. Other than that, the tea's about ready." Honey-lemon tea wouldn't be honey-lemon tea without the lemon, after all.

"Just don't forget a cup of coffee for Avenger." Archer EMIYA let out a noise that sounded like a scoff under his breath as he turned back to his task of preparing ingredients for breakfast. "Not everyone likes tea, Vy."

Vy glanced at Boudica, and the two shared a giggle. "I know. Thankie for the reminder."

It took a while for Vy to notice the number of mugs on her tray increased from two to four after Archer EMIYA finished the coffee brew.

In spite of expecting it, Vy still felt her heart fall a bit when finding Ayako with the Count of Monte Cristo at one of Chaldea's many large windows. The window sills themselves made up benches in their own right with their large size and vast view out into the cold blizzard down below, and with how small Ayako looked in the shadow of the Count's cape, it was obvious Ayako wasn't in the best of mental places again.

The raging snowstorm outside almost seemed like it was reflecting whatever turmoil Ayako was sorting through this time.

Vy glanced at the Count once, just once, and the Count simply leveled curious yellow eyes at her.

Don't worry, Vy mouthed to him, holding the tray in her hands tighter, I come in peace, Count.

Dantes scoffed softly, something along the lines of a "Kuhah!" before nudging Ayako through the hand he had over her shoulders. "Accomplice," he said, "Vy is here."

Ayako slowly raised her head from her knees, thus letting her legs dangle over the window sill "seat" she was taking up, and Vy did her best to hide the panic bubbling up in her veins at the sight of tears in Ayako's green eyes. "…Vy?"

"Hi, Aya-san," Vy whispered, taking a few careful steps closer to bring the tray of tea and coffee into Ayako's field of vision. "I brought morning wake-ups for you and the Count if you'd like it."

Ayako's green eyes slowly drifted over each steaming mug, lingering specifically on the tea Vy had brewed, before she croaked, "Tea?"

"With two spoons of honey and some lemon juice," Vy answered, taking one hand off the tray to take one of the mugs and offer it to her. "It's still warm."

Ayako blinked blearily at the offered mug for a second or two, opening her mouth. "It's…"

"It's not poisoned," Vy filled in for white space, carefully offering the mug again. "I tasted the brew before serving it, if it helps."

Ayako stared for a moment longer before gently taking the mug off Vy's hands, Vy doing her best to politely look away from Ayako's trembling fingers along the way. At the same time, Dantes let out another scoff-like noise (something like an "Oho") before reaching past Vy's shoulder to take one of the steaming coffee mugs from her tray to almost exaggeratedly sip at it. To get Ayako to smile, perhaps? "Hm," he said after an adequate pause, yellow eyes flashing with surprised joy, "a strong black. You didn't put any creamer in?"

"Shirou made the coffee in your case, Count," Vy answered with a little laugh, her heart feeling much lighter once she noticed Ayako sipping at her tea out of the corner of her eye. "So you should be fine. He's memorized everyone's tastes at this point, I think."

The Avenger gave her a small smile over the mug's rims. "Thank you, little flower," he started with a tilt of his head, "but shouldn't you sit with us, too? I do not recall you having breakfast in the Dining Hall today."

Ayako startled a little over her tea, blinking at her mug before raising her head and leveling a tired gaze in Vy's direction. "Don't tell me you didn't eat anything yet, Vy," she accused.

Vy smiled wryly. Even when stuck in a negative spiral, friends never lost sight of the people close to them, huh? "After a bit of time with you and the Count, I'll eat," she said placatingly, taking Dantes' earlier offer to sit down at Ayako's other side, leaving her tray to sit balanced in her lap. "Right now, I'd like to be with friends first." It was the original plan, after all.

Even in her Anniversary Blonde Mystic Code, Ayako seemed a bit smaller than usual, her head ducked towards her tea once Vy leaned in a little to peer up at her face. "Vy…" Ayako said.

Vy smiled. "I'll be okay," she said in the same soft voice, ignoring the urge to hug Ayako with all her might. What mattered right now was handling Ayako's comfort, not indulging in Vy's own desires. "I just want to make sure you're okay, too, Aya-san."

I don't wanna leave you. Not now, not ever.

Vy couldn't miss the soft smile Dantes was sending her over Ayako's head. Still, she couldn't look away from Ayako, who was still staring down at her tea and not meeting her eyes as a couple more tears fell down onto her blue skirt. "Vy…"

Vy allowed herself a single hand to go up and pat Ayako's shoulder. "I'm not going anywhere," Vy whispered, "and you're not alone, Aya-san. Me and Count, and everyone else in Chaldea, we're here with you."

More wet droplets stained Ayako's skirt, barely missing the tea mug cupped in her hands as she slowly, shakily, nodded her head.

Vy smiled again, letting her hand linger on Ayako's shoulder. At this point, it didn't feel like anything else had to be said. She instead rested her head against the hand still on Ayako's shoulder, the closest she felt she could get without making Ayako feel weird, letting the remaining mugs on her tray slowly cool.

I love you, Aya-san. You are one of the greatest friends I could ever have right now, and I really wish I could tell you that. You deserve better.

Vy closed her eyes and kept her mouth shut. Ayako didn't need to hear anything else. It inevitably took everything in her to hold in the instinctual squeal of delight once Ayako finally raised her arms to carefully sip at her tea again.

In the end, after their little moment, Dantes had taken Ayako elsewhere, probably to get a proper meal once their mug contents had all but disappeared. Vy would've wanted to join them, more so with the bandages still covering Ayako's hands, but instead found herself stuck at the windowsill seat. Social energy was sputtering in and out of coherency again, leaving Vy to absently watch the steam waft off the remaining two mugs on her tray.

One with green tea, one with black coffee.

With the cold window glass against her back and no one around to listen, Vy felt herself whisper freely, "…Did I do enough this time?"

Silence greeted her for the next few seconds. Then, out of nowhere, a green-gloved hand appeared in the corner of her vision, dropping a plate of toasted croissant on her tray in exchange for taking the black coffee mug. Vy raised her head just to find Robin Hood standing in front of her, green cloak and all, carefully sipping at the mug while raising an eyebrow at her.

Oh. "…Did Shirou send you, Big Robin?" Vy said in the same whispered voice.

Robin Hood merely shook his head over his coffee, a glint of something warm in his visible green eye as he met her gaze. "You think I'd listen to the red guy who doesn't know how to be an Archer?"

Vy shrugged with a small laugh. Sarcastic as ever. "That's Shirou you're talking about, Big Robin. But…" her heart swelled in her chest as she said, "thankie for coming anyway. I-I kinda forgot I was—" A sudden GROWL noise proceeded to cut off Vy's current line of thought, making her blink before glancing away with shame. The stomach just had to give her away, huh. How long was she with Ayako and Dantes? She wasn't sure anymore. "—hungry. Yeah."

Robin rolled his visible eye, pushing some of the fringe out of his face from clear exasperation. In spite of the gesture, he still sat down at Vy's left side, reaching over with his free hand to grab one of hers. She tried not to blush at the thumb absently brushing her knuckles. "You push yourself too hard, little sparrow," Robin said in a softer voice, and with one tug at her hand, Vy was pulled along enough for her head to fall against his shoulder. "Just eat your food and drink your tea. Then we can do whatever you feel like doing today."

Vy glanced at the croissant on her tray before leaning into Robin's shoulder a bit more, inhaling the woody, smokey scent that came with the Archer. "…Then, if it's okay, could I get a hug later, Big Robin? Just a big, snuggly, carry hug?"

"…Not gonna say no," he said after a moment of consideration.

Vy simply smiled, turning her head to rest her cheek against his shoulder through the No Face May King. "Thankie. Love you too."

Even in another mutual silence, even with the cold glass still pressing against her back, the presence of someone at her side made Vy feel all the more warm.

Maybe I did do something good today.

Vy wasn't unfamiliar with the occasional odd dream. After all, becoming a Master to so many Servants in Chaldea meant dreams inevitably became another place of waking rather than a place of rest.

Still, finding herself floating in what appeared to be the endless cosmos of space later that night with nothing but a white dress on hand and a green ribbon in her hair wasn't exactly calming. Nevertheless, she endeavored to find a place to stand, and once balance was regained, she could vaguely see a hint of black and blue amongst the stars.

"What are you?" suddenly echoed above Vy's head, and looking up revealed someone about the same size as Kingprotea, towering over her like a giant with narrowed green-yellow eyes as silvery-white hair billowed past the person's (or could they be called "god"?) shoulders. The black and blue dress must've been what Vy saw earlier. The other presence still loomed ominously above her in spite of her observations, a large black-gloved hand pressed against their forehead to barely conceal the red jewel headdress sitting against their (or was it "her"?) temple in clear discontent. "To have the misfortune of coming here alone…"

In spite of their appearance, in spite of their massive presence, in spite of the possible threat, all Vy felt was a dull sense of recognition ringing through her brain as she carefully opened her mouth. "Aya… Aya-san? Is that you?"

Even with longer hair and eyes that were quickly turning more yellow than green, the recognition seemed to be shared with the being because they stared at her in baffled silence, jaw left hanging open in the air for a moment. "Why… why do you call me that? I have…" The apparent god proceeded to turn their head away, crossing their arms over their chest as Vy continued to look up at them. "I am not…"

It probably would've been okay to be scared. To be terrified of such a presence in front of her. After all, the being in front of her barely resembled the Ayako she remembered from Chaldea with their long silvery hair and shrouded (almost dark) appearance. But all Vy could feel towards them was sympathy and concern, and she carefully took a few steps forward, bare feet and all, to approach the larger being, resting a tiny hand against their black heel.

"Even if you're a God," Vy whispered, "you still feel like my friend to me. Aya-san or not."

The being proceeded to turn back to look down at her, and Vy did her best not to flinch once they slowly hunched over, offering their open palms to her. Vy blinked at the black-gloved hands, stared back up at the being in return for a moment, and the being tilted their head back at her in silence.

"…I will not crush you," they said after a careful moment, voice solemn enough to make Vy wonder what they were thinking. "Feel free to come closer if you so choose to do so. I do not offer this to anyone."

Am I the exception then?

Vy didn't even need to think long about her answer. She just carefully climbed her way into those large gloved palms, sitting on the hems of her white dress once she settled comfortably in the center, legs left folded underneath herself and all. "Thankie," was all she had to say in response to the being's previous offer.

The being then moved their arms, bringing her up to their eye level enough for Vy to see the galaxy move behind their irises, exposing hints of a familiar green. "So you chose to come closer to me," they whispered. "How odd of a human being you are."

"Aye aye, I'll take the 'odd' as a compliment. And hey. Even if you're not the Aya-san I know," Vy said with a small smile once the being was meeting her eyes, gently pressing a hand against one of the palms holding her up, "you still feel like Aya-san to me."

Whether or not the being was truly another Ayako, Vy didn't know. All she had was her gut feelings — all of which were screaming that this being was lonely and needed comfort. And even then, the being never looked away from her, lips drawn into a thin line as the fingers holding Vy up curled in on themselves a little, creating a small shade of a hand-canopy as cold air brushed Vy's entire being from the being's breath.

"What a foolish being you are," they said after a careful moment of eye contact, slowly blinking at Vy as they exhaled a long, long sigh. "Carelessly trusting me and coming into my grasp even when I could easily end your existence here…"

"But you're not doing that now, right?" Vy offered with the same soft voice.

"How could I?"

Vy giggled. What a very straightforward answer. Close enough to sound offended at the idea, even. It was very much like Ayako, even if it wasn't entirely her. "Even if you're not my Aya-san," Vy said honestly, gently pressing her other hand into the palms keeping her up, "you're still a very pretty Aya-san."

The remark, while childish, was enough to spark a wry smile from the being, and they brought Vy up close to them — enough for Vy to reach out with one arm to touch their cheek. It was cold yet smooth to the touch with no blemishes in sight.

"What a foolish being you are," they repeated, closing their eyes to Vy as they leaned into her tiny hand, hair barely brushing the area where Vy sat. "What a foolishly kind being you are."

The next thing Vy knew, she could hear beeping. Alarm. Her wristband communicator. Did she forget to turn it off? With a groan, she reached out of her blanket huddle and over to the bedside table, absently reaching for it to turn off the darn thing.

A cold hand was covering hers once she successfully silenced it, and Vy opened bleary eyes to look up into bright, glowing yellow ones.

"You should sleep for a while longer, little flower," the Count of Monte Cristo said quietly, the wisps of darkness wafting off his figure obvious even through Vy's nearsightedness as his hand squeezed hers. "It is not time to wake up yet."

Her throat felt dry enough to make Vy cough a little, making her feel how much her blue pajamas were sticking to her from the sweat, but she still endeavored to return the Count's hand with a squeeze of her own. The other being's image lingered in her mind as she opened her mouth. "What about… what about Aya-san, Count?" eventually left her in a tiny high-pitched croak. "You've got her, right…?"

In spite of her lack of glasses, Vy could see Dantes smile.

"You do not have to worry about my leaving my Accomplice's side, little flower," he said, sounding uncharacteristically soft for a demonic Avenger-class Servant like himself as he slowly lowered her hand back to its original place in Vy's bed, squeezing one last time. "Now rest well. Be assured that there will be no darkness plaguing your dreams."

All Vy could remember past that was the scent of black coffee and a pale hand reaching up to cover her eyes.

Later on in their shared lives, with one certain day in the Wandering Sea, Vy wasn't sure of when "Merry Christmas!" started becoming a phrase laden with anxiety instead of the cheer it was supposed to bring. Maybe it was the many events that came with the holidays, and how the Servants would get antsy one way or another. In spite of the work it inevitably brought, Vy still found herself in the kitchen again, waiting on something to finish as the apron on her front felt heavy.

"Check with a toothpick to make sure it comes out clean…" Vy awkwardly found herself shuffling her feet nonetheless, glancing between the cookbook sitting near the oven's countertop and the oven timer blinking its count away, the electronic numbers glowing against its black LED screen. "Make sure to loosen the cake from the pan's rim after it cools, what else…"

A hand was reaching over her shoulder before Vy noticed it, startling only when a warm palm was covering the back of her own, covering up her Command Seals. "Maybe make sure to rest after you clean up the kitchen, Princess?"

"A-Achi!" Vy breathed sharply, feeling her heart skip a beat from the sheer surprise as she whipped her head around to look up into bright yellow eyes. Even past the small fringe of green hair covering his face, Achilles still smiled brightly at her, squeezing her hand. "When did you—"

"Walked right in once you started muttering to yourself," Rider hummed, letting her hand go to reach up and pat her head instead, smoothing some stray hairs back into her ponytail along the way. "What's going on, Princess?"

"I-I mean," Vy fumbled, nervously smoothing out a wrinkle in her apron as she avoided Achilles' gaze, "I was baking for Aya-san and the Count, actually, Achi. I'm just, um…" Darn the apparent lack of saliva when it came to new conversations.

Achilles thankfully made an understanding noise from the back of his throat at her words, nodding as he kept his hand on top of her head. "Nervous?" he filled in. "Anxious?"

"All that and then some," Vy admitted quietly after a moment, pitching her voice downwards into a whisper to hide her shame. "W-With all the Lostbelts and the material missions we've been tackling lately, I wasn't able to make a proper Christmas gift in time for them. So…" with a tiny shrug of her shoulders, Vy raised her head up to give Achilles her best attempt at a smile. "I thought a cheesecake would be okay with them. Unless, uh, if you wanted to say something?"

"Nope! As long as you're not pushing yourself, Princess, I'm sure they wouldn't mind the wait." Achilles' yellow eyes fondly crinkled around the edges as he met her gaze, an approving and understanding grin tugging at his mouth as his fingers absently drummed themselves against the crown of her head. "Ayako and the Count have been with us since this whole Saving Humanity business started, so I don't think they'd be angry about waiting for a gift from you, Vy."

"Which I get and it's a nice thought," Vy agreed, lowering her head to stare at a bit of Achilles' usual gold armor in an attempt to gather her thoughts. "But I can't help but wonder if a cheesecake is too plain of a gift, Achi. It's a recipe my parents liked, but it is a little rich in cheese content…"

"Which, by the way, considering Ayako's nonexistent eating habits per Dr. Roman's old notes," Achilles added with a wry tone to his voice, "would probably be good for her, Princess. Not to mention you're the one who baked it."

"Muuu" instinctively left Vy's lips, sounding almost defensive on Ayako's part before she reconsidered. "…What about strawberries as a topping, then?" Vy eventually offered, leaning back into Achilles' chest for comfort more than anything else. "Do you think she'll like those?"

"They go well with coffee," Achilles pointed out with a face, opting to move his hand so that he could rest his elbow on the top of Vy's hair instead, his chin gently bonking the crown of her hair as he pulled her close in a half-hug. "And they're healthy for any human, Ayako and you included, Princess."

"Strawberries it is," Vy decided, glancing back at the oven while absently glancing at the hand dangling in front of her face from Achilles making her head his newest perch. "Do you wanna help, Achi? I could use the extra hands."

"Why would I say no?"

Knocking on the door leading to Ayako's studio wasn't any less nerve wracking, even if it was something Vy had done multiple times before. As much as Ayako was a fellow Master and friend, there was something about her days being holed up in her art studio that made Vy a little more anxious than probably needed. After all, Ayako working on her art meant that she was stressed, and with the Lostbelts, she'd be in there enough to be grumpy. Still, Vy swallowed her nerves to raise her hand past the cake dish in her arms towards the door in question.

Knock, knock.

"Aya-san? Count?"

No answer. Vy could vaguely hear shuffling from behind the door, but still knocked again.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Aya-san? Count? It's Vy! I bring cake!"

The statement, while childish, was enough to spark a visible reaction this time, because the door slid open somewhat to reveal a darkened yellow eye pointed at her past the darkness, narrow enough for Vy to recognize who it was.

"Hi, Count," Vy whispered, pitching her voice downwards out of respect while she retracted her knocking hand. "Is Aya-san with you?"

"My Accomplice is here, but asleep for once, little flower," he murmured, a hint of discontent lingering underneath his voice while he kept her gaze. Nonetheless, Vy felt the nerves relax a little in the back of her throat as she continued to look up at the Avenger, and Edmond Dantes wordlessly sighed once he caught sight of the strawberry-covered cheesecake sitting in her arms. "I can see you outdid yourself again."

"Because I wanted to, Count," Vy said in the same soft voice, slowly raising the cake plate up to his line of vision for a better look. "It's Christmas, after all."

Dantes still blinked at the confection like it was something foreign, raising himself out of the darkness somewhat to better look it over. At least this time, Vy could see all of his face and some of his hair. "Is it…" he paused, seemingly struggling with the thoughts lingering behind his yellow eyes as his eyebrows furrowed at the cake, his gaze darting between it and the person carrying it. He then shifted, enough for his cape to audibly rustle between them as he took a step into the hallway and out of the studio to stand in front of Vy. "Is that for…"

"For you and Aya-san, Count, yes," Vy finished quietly for him, gently offering the cake this time to him by raising her arms slowly towards his limp ones. "As a thank you for helping us in Chaldea and then some. Strawberries and cheesecake go well with black coffee, if bố mẹ and Achi had anything to say on it." Even with heat starting to climb up the back of her spine from the inevitable embarrassment that came with using her old language to recount her family to the Servant standing in front of her, Vy still smiled and said, "Merry Christmas, Count. Beloved friend. Thankie for looking after Aya-san."

The Count of Monte Cristo visibly froze at Vy's newest moniker for him, his yellow eyes wide even past his dark fedora as he stared down at her. One second, then two. By the time a minute had ticked by in mutual silence, Vy was starting to wonder if she said the wrong thing before he closed his eyes and chuckled. It wasn't even one of his loud "Kuhah!" laughs — if anything, his laughter this time was soft and almost… well, fond, if Vy could put a finger to it. Still, Avenger favored her with a look that seemed almost human as he reached over to take the plate off of Vy's hands, his gloves gently brushing her knuckles along the way. "What a persistent flower you are," he murmured with some kind of dark delight, leaving Vy to blink owlishly up at him. "I'll be sure to have my Accomplice eat as much of this as she can possibly stomach if you continue to call me 'beloved friend.'"

"As long as neither of you get stomach aches and make sure to put the cake in a fridge if you don't eat everything in one go," Vy admonished with a bit more courage in her voice, her smile still giving her away as she beamed up at him. "And you are a beloved friend when you've been there for me like you have been for Aya-san, Count! So just take the cheesecake as 'thanks' for that too!"

"How persistent," the Count repeated, visibly holding back another snicker or two before a gloved hand reached past the cheesecake and towards her. Vy could do nothing but blink again as the very hand gently brushed the top of her hair, smoothing down a tangle that Achilles must've missed if the glint in Dantes' yellow eyes said anything. "How persistent of a kind flower you are."

"It's what I do, Count," Vy whispered back to him, leaning into his hand as he continued to pat her hair. "You and Aya-san deserve that much."

Even then, Vy could've sworn she heard a dark, "Then why were you not here when—" before the hand on her head gently lowered itself to flick her on the forehead. "Run off then, little flower," was the admonishing reply back, and Vy could do nothing but stare as the Count gave her a toothy smirk. Had she misheard earlier? "I have an Accomplice to share this cake with."

"A-Aye!"

That night, Vy dreamt again. The same galaxy, the same cosmos-like space. And of course, the being from before was there again, looking down at her with their long silvery hair and black dress and heels, making Vy feel all the more small in her white dress and green hair ribbon.

Still, Vy glanced down at her hands, finding nothing but mild surprise inside as a replica of the very same cheesecake from before lay on a plate in her hands, and Vy considered.

"You are back again," the being said quietly from their place looming up above, tilting their head at Vy once Vy tore her eyes away from the cheesecake on her person. "What… what is that?"

Vy nonetheless smiled and raised the cheesecake up in the being's general direction for better viewing. "Do you want to eat some cheesecake with me for Christmas, Aya-san? Even if you're a God, you can enjoy cheesecake, right?"

The being's surprised look was one Vy had a feeling she'd remember for a long time to come. It looked human too, just like the Count's face from before, only with green eyes instead of yellow. "Cheese… cake? Christmas?"

"Cheesecake is the perfect thing to eat when you want to celebrate Christmas with friends and loved ones. Especially when giving back to friends who've become gods." It was Vy's truth at least. "So, hey. Merry Christmas, Aya-san!"