Summary: Just because a kouhai can't be Grailed, it doesn't mean a kouhai can't be celebrated. The planning is the hard part.

Note: This February 15th, in 2023, marks 4 years since I started playing FGO. Four years since I started the story, four years since I got immersed, and well.

It marks four years of being with Mash Kyrielight. And even if not everyone is a fan of her, I still adore her and what she's done for me as a person with her life story in the game.

So this chapter is for her. A kouhai who deserves better than a torture chamber of a story in later Lostbelts if JP can just take one fucking hint. The chapter is mostly unedited outside of what I was able to review, mind, but it's still something.

The theme for this chapter is Fude Ben Boru Pen, or Calligraphy Pen, Ballpoint Pen from K-On. The lyrics really convey my feelings for Mash and how I write Vy's relationship with her (and the translated lyrics are used in the chapter proper, taken from Anime Lyrics dot Com for those curious). For an alternative, I'll also point out Fuwa Fuwa Time, also from K-On.

Please enjoy!

Day 57: Kouhai-versary

The scent of chocolate was in the air again. And of course it would be, what with Valentine's Day approaching. Not even the Grail Lounge was exempt from its sweetness, as the kitchenette inside was warm from the single Chaldean Master bustling around with baking tins in hand.

"Chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, sea salt ice cream, pound cake, blueberry muffins, banana-nut muffins, tiramisu, granola bites, what else…?" Vy continued to list off recipe names under her breath, cutting off a sheet of baking paper with the nearby box's provided razor as a strand of brown hair fell out of her ponytail. "Maybe I should add in cheesecake?"

"Or, and hear me out on this, Princess," Achilles interjected loudly from his place standing over the pool table, "You could take a break?"

The pointed question was enough to make Vy pause in her busywork, brown eyes widening behind her glasses as they slid down the bridge of her nose awkwardly. "Um," she started slowly, lowering the baking sheet in her hands to the nearby counter, "I will in a bit?"

"Define 'a bit,' Princess," Achilles said flatly, lowering his own cue stick to make a face. "Because that sounds like you weren't thinking about it."

Vy proceeded to make a soft Muu noise, running over to the fridge in the kitchenette to pull out a plate of previously baked cookies. It didn't take long for Vy to take one and toss it in Achilles' general direction, which he caught with his teeth almost immediately. "I-I admit I wasn't thinking about taking a break—"

"Uh-huh," Achilles muttered around his new mouthful of frisbee cookie, taking a large bite and lightening the mood as his yellow eyes shined from liking the taste. "And?"

Vy did her best not to stutter, shutting her eyes to blurt out the rest. "But this is important! It's Valentine's Day!"

With some cookie crumbs falling onto the pool table, Achilles raised a hand to catch the half-eaten cookie between his fingers, giving Vy a raised brow all the while. "Which I know, Princess," he said mildly while taking another bite of cookie, "but I don't think any of us would like it if you collapsed on Valentine's Day. Especially if it was from you trying to bake something for everyone here." Wiping some chocolate smears off the corner of his lips with a thumb, Achilles sighed. "The others can still wait, Vy. There's no pressure."

To the Rider's surprise, Vy vigorously shook her head, keeping her stance in the kitchenette while grabbing another cookie. Keeping her arm back, it looked like Vy was taking careful aim with the pastry. "I-I know that, but I still want to do something! W-Within reasonable limits, but still something! It's for Mash, Achi!"

The mention of the Shielder's name was enough to give Achilles pause, as he blinked owlishly around the last few bites of cookie in his hand. "For Mash, Princess?" His yellow eyes softened. "…You were worried, huh."

"A-Aye." Almost all the strength in Vy's voice evaporated at Achilles' not-question, her shoulders slumping even through her apron as she nodded her head. "I-I should've done more for her after what happened in Olympus, I know that, I know, and yet I—!"

A quiet whoosh was all that echoed in the room. The cue stick Achilles was using proceeded to fall to the floor with a louder clatter, contrasting the soft hand patting Vy's hair in that very moment. The Chaldean Master raised her head just in time for the Rider to drop a lazy smeck of a kiss to her forehead with a fond sigh. "You workaholic Master," he said, interrupting Vy's flustered attempts at explaining herself with another pat to the girl's head. "Olympus was just as hard on you as it was towards everyone else, ya know? Not to mention Heian-kyo and that douchebag of an Alter Ego clown. Heck, even when back home, Passionlip gave you more trouble, Princess. You shouldn't have to care for everyone when you're still hurt, even if it's for Mash and how much you love her." With a tiny smile pressed into Vy's skin via one more pointed smeck, Achilles chuckled while taking the one cookie out of Vy's hands. "So hey. Whatever you do for her this year, I know your kouhai will love it. And love you too, Princess. So don't stress over it."

"Achi…" left Vy's lips in a weaker whisper. "But…"

"No 'buts,' Princess." Achilles stepped back to pretend to roll his eyes, moving the cookie to his mouth to take another exaggerated bite. "Unless you want me to call Archer and Saber back in here? They could convince you better than me!"

"W-Wah! You don't have to, Achiiiiiiii!"

Heh, Achilles thought to himself, closing one eye while keeping the other carefully trained on his little Master who started to blush and puff her cheeks, stomping her feet in embarrassment. That's more like it. Be more human, Princess. Don't let anyone take that away from you.

"Besides, Princess," Achilles ducked the incoming flailing hands as Vy stuttered over her protests, "baking isn't the only way to convey affection. Why not sing for Mash?"

"…Wait. That was an option?"

Pffft. The gobsmacked face Vy gave him in that moment was worth more than gold.

"You need help performing a song for Mash?" Billy drummed his fingers against the table he found in one of the many break rooms in Novum Chaldea, giving Vy a searching look through his bangs. "Just like what you did for Robin back in Luluhawa, Master?"

It didn't take long for Vy's cheeks to start resembling a cherry from across the table and Billy had to take a few extra seconds to hide the incoming chuckle once Vy threw her hands up in the air. "I-I-I-I mean, y-yeah, I wanna sing for my beloved kouhai just like I did for Robin, but why did you bring th-that up?!"

"You're blushing just like back then," Billy pointed out with a smirk, tipping his hat once Vy made an embarrassed train-like noise in the back of her throat. "And you wouldn't come to me unless you needed someone for the keyboard, right?"

"Not to mention," Geronimo put in quietly, taking a quiet sip of coffee all the while, "you have a habit of looking elsewhere when you're not sure about asking something, Vy." Not even his smile could be hidden past the rim of his paper cup as he sipped at it calmly, contrasting Vy turning a brighter, hotter red. "It is not a bad thing, merely something we noticed. There is no shame in it."

"Still, it feels kinda embarrassing…" Vy ducked her head, pressing her hands into the lap of her skirt while fidgeting in place. The cup of tea in front of her was letting off steam, matching the growing redness of her ears. "I'm too used to making gifts on my own, but this feels different…"

Billy and Geronimo shared a look while a passing-by Holmes merely chuckled over his own freshly-brewed mug of coffee. "Nothing wrong with 'different' here, Master," Billy whistled, crossing his arms behind his head while leaning back in his chair. "Just means you're growing a bit more in the right and healthy direction, and healthy growth is good. So." Billy leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table while looking into Vy's brown eyes with a smile. "What did ya have in mind?"

The flush started to fade from Vy's cheeks as she considered. "Um, you on the keyboard, Billy," Vy raised a hand to slowly count off fingers. "Geronimo on the saxophone, Achi on the guitar, Shirou on the drums, me on the vocals, so all that's left is…" Some pink still sat squarely on the bridge of Vy's nose as she flushed again. "S-Someone on the bass?"

Billy couldn't stop himself from whistling in surprise as Geronimo put down his cup. "You require a full band, Master?"

"K-Kinda! The original songs were from a high school pop music club, so…" Vy pressed the pads of her fingers together as she hunched over her cup of tea, the wafting steam fogging up her glasses. "I just… I don't want this to be any other song I sing for my loved ones. I just want to give Mash a memory she wouldn't be able to forget — something she can look back on with joy. Especially after what we've seen with the Lostbelts."

The atmosphere dropped some with the mention of the current crisis, and Geronimo gave Vy a sympathetic look after sharing a glance with Billy. No one in Novum Chaldea could forget the look on Vy's face when she came back from Olympus, after all. "…If that's how you feel, Master, we'll be more than happy to help."

"As long as ya work with us within your limits, of course," Billy chirped, raising a hand as if to wave off whatever heaviness was left in the air from Vy's words. "So what'll ya need aside from a bass player? Because I do have an idea as to who can fill in that spot…"

"Y-You do?"

Billy grinned wider. "How about we find your boyfriend?"

The long look Robin directed at the motley group they made up a few moments later was enough to make Vy fidget from her place standing behind Billy and Geronimo. "So," he said past a raised brow, "you need a bass player?"

"Ayup! Per your little sparrow's wishes, Big Robin~!" Billy waggled a finger in Robin's face, enough to make his nose wrinkle. "We already got everyone else on board!"

Instead of replying to that remark, Robin tossed a look in Geronimo's direction, which the Caster merely waved off with a shrug. "It was Billy's idea," Geronimo put in a quiet voice, moving his arm some to expose Vy behind him as she blushed. "Our Master merely was nervous about asking you."

"G-Geronimo, don't call me out on that…!" Vy couldn't help but cover her face once she could feel curiosity nipping at her mind from Robin's direction, her heart pounding in her chest. "But, um… I…" Nothing was forming on her tongue. "I…"

Why can't I say it? "I need help" is just one simple sentence! It's Big Robin! So why— why can't I—?!

Past the cracks of her fingers, she could see familiar brown boots approach. "But what, little sparrow?" A hand was gently reaching out to tug at her fingers, the calloused grip warm and firm as her palms were pulled away from her face. There was no other direction left Vy could look into but up into Robin's green eye as he smiled wryly, the corners of his brow crinkling to match. "What are you getting all shy for?"

Heat flooded Vy's face as a pout slowly started to form on her lips. "…Getting all close like that is unfair, Big Robin," she mumbled, shutting her eyes and ducking her head once her ears caught wind of the fond chuckle leaving Robin's lips. She knew she couldn't turn her head around, not when it meant looking at Billy and Geronimo too, who were definitely grinning. "But it's just… the songs I have in mind are a little embarrassing. It… it feels weird asking you because it feels like you won't like them."

"But you still chose them for Mash, didn't you?" One of Robin's thumbs was rubbing the back of her knuckles. Did he read her thoughts? Or was it that easy to tell from the look on her face? "That has to mean something. And I did say I wanted to be there for you, little sparrow, music choices and all." With another tiny tug, Vy opened her eyes just in time to see Robin shoot her another smile, his breath fanning her lips from the closeness. "So just ask. I promise I won't laugh."

Vy looked into his eye with a bigger pout. "If I do ask you to be a bass player, you really promise you won't laugh? The song choices are really, really cheesy."

One more chuckle was all Vy got as an answer before a kiss was pressed to the corner of her lips. "Promise. Now let's go listen to what you have in mind and then I'll decide whether to get a bass from the younger Da Vinci."

Once Billy and Geronimo started to laugh from joy, Vy blushed again, averting her eyes. "Muuuuu… I'm happy you're okay with it, but you just wanted to kiss me along the way, Big Robin, didn't you?"

The new apparent sparkle in Robin's own eye grew in intensity as he leaned in to peck her squarely and firmly on the lips this time. "Consider it an advance payment for the music training."

"Muu. What did I get all embarrassed for, then?"

"Still adorable all the same."

"Muuuuuuu!"

The demonstration was meant to be short. Yet one long beat of two songs later, all the Servants who signed up for the motley band crew shared a mutual, contemplative silence in their places at a break room table they found earlier. Vy fidgeted in place from her seat in the center, holding the mobile music player that belted out the examples with shaky hands.

"…Fuwa fuwa time?" EMIYA began first, his eyebrow twitching. "Fuzzy and fluffy?"

"Just go to sleep?" Billy echoed, a curious gleam in his eye as he put a hand to his chin thoughtfully. "Never knew that could be part of a song's lyrics 'till now…"

"Calligraphy pen, ballpoint pen," Geronimo added in a soft voice caught between disbelief and deadpan, blinking. "Not that it's bad, Master, it all has a nice beat to it, although…"

Despite blushing himself to coincidentally match the bright pink covering the face of their shared Master, Robin gave Vy a look as she shrank in her chair, dodging an incoming cuff to the back of his head from Achilles. "What old man Geronimo is trying to say is — quit it with the hits, Rider — won't you overheat singing all that, little sparrow?"

"N-No!" Another beat of silence. "M-Maybe later! Not sure!" When the men all stared at her in disbelief, Vy's figure shrank enough in her seat for her shoulders to be barely visible past the table. "D-Don't ask me that, please! I was trying not to think about it!"

Still looking like he was heroically ignoring the urge to lock an arm around Robin's neck for a chiding chokehold, Achilles gave Vy a wry grin. "Still wanna do it, Princess?"

This time, the answer was delivered with no hesitation, making them all jump in time with Vy straightening up in her seat. "Aye aye, Achi! Please! It's for Mash!" Pleading sparkles emerged in Vy's brown eyes past her glasses as she raised both hands up in their direction like she was giving a prayer. "…Pretty pretty please? With sugar cookies on top?"

All the men shared a look before simultaneously sighing.

"D-Da Vinci, where are you taking me?" Despite the tight grip the Caster had on Mash's hand, Mash knew that Da Vinci had no intention of hurting her, resigning herself to no answer as they walked together to who knows where. It was Da Vinci-chan, after all, the third Heroic Spirit originally summoned to Chaldea, and one of the closest Mash knew as family. Even if she was dragging Mash to wherever she had in mind for the first time in what felt like a long time. "I-I thought we were done with all meetings today…"

Approaching a large door, Mash was then surprised by Da Vinci turning her head to favor Mash with what she could only call a fond look. "This isn't exactly a meeting, Mash," Da Vinci hummed, squeezing Mash's hand. "But consider it a 'party' instead!" Her other hand went on to press against the nearby door switch, making the entrance give way with a loud hiss. "C'mon, Mash, in you go!"

"W-Wait, Da Vinci-chan, you don't have to push me—" Mash instinctively shut her eyes once the Caster's hands pressed against her shoulders to push, but it was still a touch she appreciated nonetheless.

It made the sensation of her heart falling through her chest all the more surprising once she blinked and found herself looking up at what was formerly another break room in Novum Chaldea.

The hanging streamers were bright against the white walls, almost glowing to match the new show-like lighting that seemed to have been installed in the time Mash wasn't looking. Add in the slightly raised stage that just wasn't there before in the center of the room, along with the various instruments, amplifiers, and mic stands set up, what really had Mash's jaw drop wasn't the formally-dressed group of Servants standing in front of her. EMIYA, Billy the Kid, and Geronimo being at the drums, keyboard, and saxophone respectively wasn't surprising since Mash had seen the performance they had done together in Luluhawa for one sunset party (the suits were an interesting touch, though). Achilles with the guitar wasn't all that shocking either, since she knew he was practicing in his free time, not to mention Robin Hood on the bass.

All it took was meeting the brown eyes of a familiar glasses-wearing brunette standing smack-dab in the middle of them all for the breath to be taken from Mash's lungs.

"Se…Senpai?"

Mash couldn't even hear Da Vinci giggle behind her as the door closed with a loud whoosh, matching Vy's sheepish smile in her glitter-decorated yellow dress and matching flats. Her lotus Command Seals shone brightly to go along with the pink flower-shaped ring on her left middle finger as she raised her palm up to the nearest mic, adjusting it to her level as the Servants behind her prepared themselves with their instruments of choice.

EMIYA merely tapped his drumsticks together once, twice, then thrice. And did… did he mutter, "One, two, three"? Mash wasn't sure.

All she could see was Vy lifting her head to meet Mash's gaze, before closing her eyes and singing.

"My calligraphy pen, FUFU~

Is trembling, FUFU~

As I'm writing my first ever GREETING CARD to you,

My throbbing PASSION,

And overflowing ACTION,

Might just spurt out!"

It was an open secret that the single Chaldean Master had a penchant for singing, but Japanese singing was still rare considering Vy's Vietnamese background and mixed education in both English and Vietnamese. Mash could count on one hand the number of times Vy had sung in Japanese thanks to her hobbies from before Chaldea, so seeing her proudly look into Mash's eyes alone while doing such a feat made her heart tremble.

"I imagine your smile

And I want to show you my good points!

I grasp my passion,

I gotta make you notice me!"

EMIYA was definitely leading the beat of the song with his place at the drums, supported by the others in their places (Geronimo pointedly blowing at his saxophone with all his might), but all Mash could see was Vy, looking brighter than she could ever remember her being with the warm rosiness of her cheeks and the white teeth in her smile. The realization of the lyrics being directed at Mash and Mash alone had her clutching at her tie before she realized she was doing it, her jaw left hanging in the air.

"All right, I'm gonna write smoothly with all my love!

So that me and you can be connected by happiness when you've received it~

I'm showing you my dreams as my characters dance around!

Hang in there, calligraphy pen, you've made it this far—

I'm totally serious!"

Briefly, Mash could register Da Vinci's warm laughter as the doors hissed from opening and closing, and more voices were brushing her ears. Holmes, Da Vinci Lily, Nemo, the other Grailed, their informal lieutenants in Saber Musashi, Marie Antoinette, Sieg, Enkidu, even Arjuna Alter — everyone was rushing into the room at the sound of Vy's voice.

"To my calligraphy pen, FUFU,

I might be being overdoing it, FUFU,

It seems I might be crushing it, but

My handwriting's on a MISSION!

Red-hot TENSION!

Normal print is so boring!"

There was more laughter ringing in Mash's ears thanks to the silliness of the lyrics, making Vy blush more, but Vy was still singing. Heck, her gaze was still squarely on Mash and just Mash alone as she raised her other hand to hold the mic stand closer to her lips, her head bobbing with the beat EMIYA was setting with the drums as the others continued to play their instruments.

"At the point where I close, the point where I stop,

This heart-throbbing is most definitely love!

'Please treat me well from here on out.'

I add that single phrase!"

From where Vy stood in the center of the stage, flanked by Robin and Achilles strumming the strings of their respective instruments (and were they exchanging wry smiles?), she looked so small but so, so radiant when singing. Mash could even hear Nero and Elizabeth cheering somewhere in the back of her mind as clapping in time with the drums' beat started up throughout the room.

"My cheerful lettering is so shiny, look how well polished it is!

It'd be wonderful if they could go straight into your heart.

The running lines shine until they dry~

You'll have to wait, calligraphy pen, sorry, ballpoint pen~

You'll have to rest.

I'm totally serious~!"

Why wouldn't you be serious, Senpai? Mash thought quietly through the lull of the song's bridge, her fingers digging into the cloth of her tie from Dr. Roman as her cheeks started to ache from smiling back. You've always been.

Vy's smile widened once she noticed Mash's grin, her eyes sparkling past her glasses as the skirt of her dress swayed with the strumming of Achilles' guitar, her voice coming out more confident.

"I imagine your smile

And I want to show you my good points!

I grasp my passion,

I gotta make you notice me!"

Mash felt a shaky breath leave her throat as she stared up into Vy's brown eyes, doing her best to memorize the shape and light of those big irises. There's no way I wouldn't notice you, Senpai.

"All right, I'm gonna write smoothly with all my love~!

So that me and you can be connected by happiness when you've received it!

I'm showing you my dreams as my characters dance around!

Hang in there, calligraphy pen, you've made it this far—

I'm totally serious!"

A few more seconds of combined music was all that followed Vy's last verse before the song officially ended, the other Servants' cheering falling with it. Robin and Achilles gave Mash wry smiles of their own as Billy stretched his arms up in the air, cracking his fingers just in time for Vy to adjust the mic stand once more.

"…Hey, kouhai?" Her voice was breathy and elated even through the ambience of the microphone in front of her, matching the redness of her cheeks and the drop of sweat rolling down the side of her neck. "Do you know what today is?"

Mash blinked, taking a few seconds too long to cup her hands around her mouth to say something back. "Th-The day after Valentine's Day?"

"Not just that!" With a tilt of her head, Vy's smile widened. "Today, February 15th, marks four years since I met you back in the original Chaldea!"

Mash's heart skipped a beat.

"Hehehe… I guess this was a bit much, huh?" There was no denying the joy in Vy's laughter at that moment, even if a bit of sheepishness leaked into the sound. In the center of the stage, with the other Servants surrounding her and the crowd with Mash down below at ground level, Vy could've been an idol if not for how honest the sparkle in her eye was. How that sparkle was directed at one person in the room. "I still hope this was a good surprise for you, Mash. Because I meant all of it. You've stuck around with a very emotionally driven Senpai like me for so long, I wanted to give you something in return. To show you how much you mean to me. To thank you for letting me meet everyone else who's here with us in Chaldea now." That bright, bright sparkle in Vy's eye was nothing but loving as she inhaled and exhaled a deep breath over the mic. "Thank you for choosing me to be your Senpai, my beloved kouhai, Mash Kyrielight. My only kouhai. Happy belated Valentine's Day again, and this time, happy kouhai-versary!" Vy took one more breath. "I love you!"

"S-Senpai…"

It takes Mash another few moments too long to realize her vision is blurring past her own glasses, and the Servants around her are suddenly murmuring. Taking off her glasses doesn't spare her the sight of Musashi, Marie and some of the Marines dashing out of the room, screaming something about "tissues, TISSUES!" as both Da Vincis come close to offer comforting hands. Even past the droplets starting to come into her vision, Mash can see Holmes approach with a party hat and a confetti streamer, obvious concern breaking his previously quiet and happy demeanor as a gloved finger caught the first tear to fall from her face.

Even Vy's voice sounds concerned over the mic next, as the panicked "Kouhai?" echoes loudly in the air before the unexpected happens.

Music starts ringing through the speakers and amplifiers, making everyone turn to see Billy pressing keys against the keyboard with a bright grin on his face. Unlike the previous song, the beat he was carrying this time was more upbeat and energetic, bringing the fallen atmosphere back with a vengeance once EMIYA got the idea and started playing the drums to match. Vy glances at them both in surprise from what Mash could see past the blurriness before the strings of the bass joined in, followed not long afterwards with the signature riffs of an electric guitar. Robin and Achilles must've gotten the message, because once Geronimo brings the group back together with one loud blow to his saxophone, Vy turns back to the mic to shoot Mash another dazzling smile. Not even the few stray strands of long brown hair sticking to her neck from the sweat seemed to bother her anymore.

"Well, it looks like we're not done yet! Try to dry your eyes, kouhai, and keep 'em all on me! We all need some fluffy, fuzzy time for once!"

Mash could only mouth the "I love you too" lingering on her tongue once Vy starts the first verse of the next song over the emotional lump surfacing in her throat. Because fluffy, fuzzy time seemed to only be around when Vy was the one leading it.

And on the dawn of her first "kouhai-versary," Mash cried tears of joy.

Author's Note: The "Luluhawa" references are all to the story Carim/GlyphArchive wrote titled Movements and Melodies, originally on AO3 and covering an aborted idea I had for the Summer 3 rerun. It felt nice incorporating it here with the Sunset Jam CE from that event that I still love. Feel free to give that a read too — I highly recommend it, especially for those wanting more content.

For everyone else? I'll see you all in the next chapter. :)