Summary: Just because there's no "traditional" mages left in Chaldea, it doesn't mean the last Chaldean Master has to be one. Dr. Roman does his best to pass on that lesson, even in the limited time he knows he has.

Note: This was inspired by the official English translation of Nakatani's Chaldea Scrapbook that I was able to get from Barnes and Noble back in August 2023 (after almost nine months to a whole YEAR of waiting, it was originally scheduled to release back in December 2022, but NOPE) and the fan-translations of Nakatani's other FGO related manga, From/Lostbelt. Because let it be said there's something about seeing Dr. Roman in his time before meeting the protagonist that struck me.

The theme for this chapter is Kakawari by TrySail, the original opening for the mobile game version of Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Magia Record. The translated lyrics matched the mood I wanted to write when going back to Part 1. For those of you looking for an alternative, I'll point you to two more songs: (1) Shouri no Uta, or Song of Victory from Dandelion, the opening to Rockman Exe Beast; and (2) Oath Sign by LiSA, the first opening to Fate/Zero. Because when revisiting Part 1, I have to revisit some of the childhood classics too, right?

Small content warning for mentioned racism and a specific slur from my heritage being born to immigrant Vietnamese parents by the way. You've been forewarned.

Otherwise — here we go.

Day 70: Old Advice

"She's sleeping soundly?"

Diarmuid ua Duibhne merely bowed his head, a gesture that made sweat start to bead at the back of Romani's neck as he stared down at the kneeling Lancer. "As quietly as a young baby, Director. I made sure she was asleep before ending my shift and coming here — the Archer known as 'Robin Hood' should be on duty to watch her today."

"Good, but uh. Y-You don't have to call me 'Director,' Lancer, I'm just a stand-in! 'Dr. Roman' is just fine!" Romani immediately tries to clear his throat of the high-pitched screech that left his mouth from the words, doing his best to ignore the questioning look Diarmuid is giving him with a cough. "A-As long as Vy is resting, then that's all I wanted to know! I just wanted to make sure!"

From the raised brow Diarmuid is giving him, though, Romani knows that he's been found out. "…Yet from your stance, Dr. Roman, it appears you have more questions than answers from my brief report."

Even in the seat left behind by Director Olga-Marie and her father Marisbury Animusphere before her in Chaldea's Central Command Room, Romani feels small underneath the Lancer's gaze as a melancholic sigh left his lips. This was one of those "human" troubles King Solomon never knew, huh. "…You're quick to notice." The smile on his face feels forced, not helped by the glimmer of sympathy emerging in Diarmuid's yellow eyes as Romani laughs softly. "I actually wanted to ask you something else, Lancer."

Diarmuid blinked slowly. "What is it?"

The sweat on the back of Romani's neck wasn't going away — if anything, it was making his skin feel clammy and plain gross to match the dryness of the words on his tongue as he spoke. "Before Vy's nap, there was a confrontation between her and one of the other Servants in one of the hallways, wasn't there?"

The look on Diarmuid's face immediately transformed into something foreboding and tense, yellow eyes flashing with what looked like a mix of anger and pain all at once as he nodded. "It… it was actually from the new Assassin," he relented, bowing his head almost in regret towards Romani as he exhaled. "EMIYA was his True Name, and… and I don't know the exact details, but he had said something that had set Vy off. Nearly crying and actively… actively slapping the man." The look of his posture proved to Romani that there was more to the story and he felt himself gulp. "Something about… about saving the world."

That's not good.

"Lancer, do you…" Romani got up from his chair to kneel to Lancer's own kneeling height, placing a hand on the other man's shoulder. "Do you by chance know what exactly he said?" It didn't feel right asking, Did you know the man before, because even without the power of the Grand Caster seat, Romani could tell Diarmuid had history with EMIYA Assassin (and so many other Servants) from past summonings. Why else would he latch onto Vy when he found out she wasn't affected by his Love Spot, even before Medea repelled his curse? Why wouldn't Diarmuid want to protect a Master like Vy when she looked at him through fearful tears and sincerely called him "Lancer" without any false pretenses?

It still made Romani's heart sink when Diarmuid raised his head, met his gaze once, then turned away to look elsewhere with pursed lips. "…I sincerely wish I didn't because they are words that dishonor a knight's pride." Even when not meeting his eyes, Romani could tell Diarmuid was gritting his teeth enough to make his jaw crack from the strain. "Please do not ask me to utter them, Director. Merely thinking of them is enough to dry out my mouth from the disgust."

The change in title is enough to make Romani drop it. Instead, he smiles and pats Lancer's shoulder. "I wasn't going to ask you to, if that helps. Instead, could you help me with something else?"

Thankfully, his attempt at diverting the subject is enough to bring the light back into Lancer's eyes and Diarmuid blinks when turning his head. "What can I do to assist?"

Romani grins. "Could you reach out to the Archer version of EMIYA for me? There's something I'd like him to cook and have ready before Vy's nap is finished."

It's reassuring to see Lancer smile back at him. "Of course."

Even from the doorway, the piercing gleam of Robin Hood's green eye is obvious past his hair and the fall of his hood, the minute slouch of his stance at the one chair near Vy's bedside being all the sign Romani had of the tension leaving the room. "Hey, Doc," the Archer said, turning in his seat slightly to nod in acknowledgement, yet tellingly not tearing his gaze away from Vy's sleeping face. His right hand bumps her curled-up left one past the blankets as the girl murmurs something unintelligible, a hint of a smile tugging at his mouth before Robin sighs, shaking his head. "Before you ask, she's been sleeping alright. Tossed and turned every so often, but no signs of nightmares."

Romani felt his shoulders fall as he took the courage to walk in and let the door close behind him. "That's… that's good! That's one thing off my checklist!"

And whoops, Archer's giving him that suspicious side-eye again. Uh-oh. "One thing?" he echoed, voice going lower from suspicion. "Was there more you needed to look for?"

Well, fuck. Romani could feel the sweat build up at the back of his neck all over again. With someone as perceptive as Robin Hood, there was no beating around the proverbial bush, but add in how he was the first Servant Vy ever chose to Grail? Romani had to pick his words carefully.

I'm worried? Vy's been sleeping more in fits lately before this? How can I spin it without sounding suspicious?

In the end, Romani lets himself sigh and be honest. "…I heard from Diarmuid that EMIYA Assassin had said some… choice words to Vy before her nap. I wanted to check in with her once she woke up to see if she was alright."

The suspicious gleam in Robin's eyes faded almost immediately, a glint of sympathy being quick to take its place. "…Ah," he said, glancing back at Vy before extending his hand. "No wonder." As if acting instinctively, the sleeping Master uncurled her own hand to grasp Robin's, squeezing lightly as the furrow in her brows slowly relaxed. "That feeling I can understand. She works too much."

"Oh…" Romani did his best to gulp down the growing lump in his throat. There was so much weight to Robin's words, but so much left unsaid with them as well. And why wouldn't there be? This was a Heroic Spirit that, for all Romani knew, Vy loved enough to Grail. Someone that Vy chose to trust with a Holy Grail in the name of "love." And this was coming from a workaholic, too kind for her own good Master, who always tried her best to treat everyone equally. Even if it was at her own expense.

To choose one Servant, just one, to Grail beyond the limits of Chaldea's Summoning System and to see that care returned without hesitation…

Even if I disappear, she won't be alone…

It was why Romani found himself doing nothing but slowly walking over to sit at the foot of Vy's bed, pressing a hand against the covers to not disturb her while trying to ignore the holes Robin's curious gaze was burning into his lab coat with a hopelessly fond smile. "…You don't have to leave the room when I start the conversation, Archer," leaves his lips in a quiet huff, the weight on his shoulders all the heavier as his gaze unintentionally lingers on Vy's sleeping face. The faintest marks of stress lines, sparkles of dried tears hanging to the lashes, and the smallest trail of drool barely hanging from her lips — it was all signs of a human who was pushing herself way too hard. It's why Romani can't find it in himself to conceal the note of vulnerability in his voice when he adds, "It might be better if you're here for Vy."

Archer blinked at him once, then twice. A wry grin of his own went on to tug at his mouth once Romani steadily met his gaze. "I dunno, Doc, it looks like you have a lot going on when it comes to—" Just then, Robin cuts himself off as quickly as he might've done to a piece of rope on a forest trap once there's minute shuffling, and once the blankets move, Romani finds himself lurching back too.

"Muu… whassup with the talk 'm hearing…" True to form as a Master — or maybe just one too-sensitive-for-her-own-good human? — Vy is rubbing her eyes with her free hand while slowly rising up from her bed, still unconsciously holding onto Robin's own with her other hand as she yawned. "Big… Big Robin?"

Romani immediately had to swallow the incoming laugh that threatened to burst out of his throat as Archer turned to give him the closest to an offended or — heck, even a wounded look he had ever seen. Because of course Vy would come up with such an interesting nickname for her first Grailed Servant, even when it could easily be taken as something more inappropriate to the wrong people. But even then — when was the last time Robin looked human like that, glaring at him?

"Shut it, Doc," the Servant hissed under his breath, ignoring the confused sleepy look his Master was giving him past her hair before inhaling and resting his eyes against the palm of his free hand. "Whatever you're thinking of right now, it's not that."

"Sure, sure," Romani hummed. "Whatever you say, Big Robin."

Past his palm, Archer made a frustrated noise, shaking his head enough for his hood to fall away its place covering his head. "Don't say it like that, seriously. It's only good when she uses it."

"Sure, sure~!" With all this teasing, Romani would probably have to check his coffee machine for poison later. Totally worth it, though.

"Use… bwhat?" Oblivious to it all, Vy blinked at them both blearily, still obviously sleepy as she rubbed at her eyes again. Even the mere action of sitting up straight against the headboard of her bed took a few moments longer than usual as she murmured, "Did I… did I miss something…?"

To Romani's surprise, the frustration on Archer's face seemed to melt away almost immediately as he turned his attention back to his Master, a soft, "Nah," marking what looked like only the beginning of the change. Whatever stress lines had formed on Archer's brow faded too as he lowered his hand to reach over and pat Vy's shoulder, making her fully turn her gaze to him. Once the sleepy Chaldean Master tilted her head at him in curiosity, Robin smiled and raised his arm to pat her hair instead. "You're doing fine — the Doc just wanted to talk to you, little sparrow. I was mainly here to make sure you got your full nap's worth before then."

Romani found himself lurching back. Little sparrow? Big Robin? Whatever he was witnessing, it was starting to become really cute. Maybe he'd have to talk to Magi-Mari or Leonardo about this…

Vy made a soft Muu noise at the headpats, yet seemed to relax under the touch as she leaned into his palm. "Talk… huh?" Rubbing at her mouth when Robin wordlessly pointed at the corner of her lip that was still damp from drool, Vy glanced around, blinking before focusing on Romani and squinting her eyes at him. "…Talk about what… Dad?"

It was now Robin's turn to hold back what looked like a growing urge to laugh, and a second was all it took for Romani to realize his face was turning red. Damn. Was this what Leonardo liked cooing about when it came to Vy? "V-Vy, it's Dr. Roman, not Dad, okay? I don't want to replace your actual dad, plus I'm not old enough to be a father yet! I'm only 30!" And his time as a father while bearing the name of King Solomon was one memory he knew he would take to the grave if he could. Some of his actions had… certainly not aged well if Goetia's continued plans for the Incineration of Humanity was any indication. Repeating the experience just sounded… odd. Even if he could be human this time.

Vy still tilted her head, blinking slowly. "But my mom had my brother when she was 28 and me a year later at 29, not to mention my grandparents got married before turning 20, Doctor…" A tiny shake of her head preceded the smaller, cat-like yawn that left her mouth, barely covered up by her free hand as she stared at him through the cracks of her fingers. "I think you could be a 'dad' at 30 too… only if you feel up for it, anyway…"

Yep. Romani's heart was going to explode at this rate. All the resolve he had before entering the room was dissipating fast and that had to be taken care of. Besides, what was with Vy's family before they let her come to Chaldea as a volunteer Master? She was being cute and she didn't even know it. "A-Anyway!" Romani ignores the teasing glance Robin gives him as he coughs into his fist in an attempt to clear his throat. "Enough about me being a 'dad' — I wanted to check on you, Vy!"

"Check…?" Awareness seemed to come back to Vy's brown eyes as she rubbed at them again, slowly letting go of Robin's hand as he patted her head. "Check on what, Doctor…? Zombie dreams didn't visit me this time…"

Um. That wasn't what he was aiming for. Definitely not. Pumpkin dreams, maybe, with Halloween coming up, but zombies? Romani could see Robin shake his head quietly at him from the side of his eye, and Romani wisely decided to ask later. "Not that kind of check, Vy-chan." The honorific feels a bit odd in his mouth knowing the girl in front of him is barely close to hitting her 20s, but he still scoots a bit closer to pat her other shoulder. "I heard through the grapevine that you talked to one of the other Servants before your nap and got upset." He tries to phrase it carefully, gently, because there's no mistaking the growing shock and awareness coming into those big brown eyes of hers. "I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"…Oh." It takes all of Romani's self control to not break out into another sweat once he sees the growing dampness to Vy's eyes, and it doesn't help how Vy ducks her head and reaches over to grab Robin's hand. Her voice comes out weaker and wispy past her hair compared to before, enough of a sign to make Archer tense as she said, "…That's a loaded question, Doctor. And there's a long story behind it." A weak, sarcastic laugh leaves her lips as she added, "I-I might ramble. Or cry. Either or. It'll be messy."

Are you okay with that?

It's why Romani pours as much sincerity and care he can in his next words when he replies, "I don't mind, Vy. Besides, before being the stand-in Director, I'm still the head of Chaldea's Medical Division." He even makes sure to reach over and follow Robin's previous example in patting the girl's head, his voice naturally going softer as he adds, "And as a doctor, I believe I have every right to look after the well-being of my staff."

Go ahead.

Despite it all, Vy still hesitated, barely leaning into his palm but not rejecting the pats either. Instead, she turns her head towards Robin, her shoulders stiffening as she lets go of his hand to tug on one edge of the No Face May King. And, if Romani's guess was right, the look the Archer was giving Vy in return was undoubtedly—

It's okay. I'm not going to leave. I'm right here.

Romani still felt relief rush through his veins when Vy eventually turned back to him with a small smile, brown eyes damp but unmistakably warm as she relented with a muted, "Okay. O-Okay then. I'll talk if… if Big Robin can stay with me? And what I say doesn't leave this room?" Her voice resembles that of a child when she goes on with a smaller, "I… I don't wanna cry, but I know I might and I'm scared of doing it if Robin isn't here."

It's almost funny how Robin has to hide a soft smile with the collar of his mantle over Vy's hair. Without her realizing it either.

It's why Romani smiles as brightly as he can as he pats her head again. The soft sensation of her hair falling through his fingers is comforting enough for Romani to at least get a semblance of understanding why Archer and the other Servants liked doing the gesture. Vy's hair was really silky and nice to pat. "Of course. Take your time, Vy-chan."

"Th…Thankie." Vy takes a breath, in and out twice, before shaking her head and reaching up with her free hand to poke the one Romani had on her scalp. "Just…" There's a soft Uuu noise. "Doctor, what makes a good Master to you?"

The first intelligent response out of his throat in regards to Vy's line of thought is a strangled noise of shock. And, in his defense, Romani wasn't expecting that question. So Robin's offended glance in his direction could be directed elsewhere, please. Just this once. "A… A good Master? Vy, what do you mean by that? Did something happen?"

Vy flinched back — actually, legitimately, flinched back — shrinking into herself enough for her grip on Robin's mantle to weaken. To… to even let go. And it was bad enough when it was Vy letting Robin go. This was…

She's breaking apart at the seams. She's cracking and I'm only just seeing it now. Why am I just seeing it now?

"It's just…" her voice cracks as some of her hair falls past her neck to cover up the growing heat of her cheeks. "EMIYA — n-not Shirou, Doctor, th-the Assassin EMIYA — said some things. About how... how saving the world means giving up the fairy tales. A-Any naive dreams I might have and all the 'pretty words' I spout off about friendship and f-family, because he didn't care about it. H-he didn't seem to want to care. How… how in his eyes and e-everyone else's, I'm not a true Mage by sticking to ideals and, and true Mages shouldn't see him and everyone else as human. And… and I…" there's a sniffle. "I hate it and it hurts."

Romani felt his chest tighten before he realized he was scooting closer to the shaking Master, lowering his hand from her head so that he could squeeze one of her own hands instead. "What makes you hate it?" His voice is remarkably steady in spite of the emotion starting to swell up in his ribcage, not even wavering when Vy tries to shrink away from the touch. "Because from what I can see, there's nothing wrong with feeling hate and hurt, Vy-chan."

It was why Romani knew he would fight Goetia with all of his might. Because he'd be a hypocrite to say what he just did and then go on to discourage his own odd feelings towards the Demon God Pillars that King Solomon once called "his disciples." Because for all he knew, no matter how he looked at it, Goetia was wrong in Incinerating Proper Human History and there was no argument booking otherwise.

The last thing he expected was for Vy to raise her head then and weakly glare at him. Stars — darkened, weakened, but still brilliant stars glimmered in those big brown eyes as she hissed, "Th-The hate still just feels wrong, Doctor. Especially when hate can breed the same actions th-that led to my family being forced to leave home from the Communist takeover with e-everything after the Vietnam War. Wh-When people can look at my cousins and me and yell, 'G-Go back to the boats and wherever the fuck you came from, you fobs! This isn't y-your country!'"

The blood in Romani's veins was suddenly feeling cold. Fob. Fresh off the boat. Vy had been called something like that? From a cursory glance, Robin was feeling the same horror as Romani, an extended arm towards his Master being all the sign Romani could see before Archer hesitated — just as his fingers hovered over Vy's shoulder.

"Little sparrow—" Robin starts softly.

"I-I'm sorry," and there's definitely the beginnings of a sob punctuating the words this time. Oh no. "I'm not making sense, huh?" Vy pulls away from both of them then, ducking her head and tucking her arms against her chest. A hand shakily wipes at her face, her tiny frame trembling against the headboard of the bed to match. "H-Hate feels weird. I feel weird. And, and just… all the books I've read in the library about Servants and the Summoning System kept saying how everyone isn't human. How, even if they look human, they're still just familiars. Tools. Nothing but ghosts made to fight for the people. And…" Romani felt his heart creak once another sob creeped up in Vy's voice. "I-I don't like it. I've already been relegated to nothing but a 'smart and clueless Asian girl' by other people as is. Mistaken as 'Chinese' too as a kid, when the Chinese were a big historical part of subjugating my parents' home. I-I don't wanna start putting everyone here in the same category. E-Even if that other EMIYA says I should."

Romani raises a hand, feeling his heart creak again. "Vy—"

"I-I just don't get it!" The sentence is loud, a fierce protest against what felt like the actual cracks of reality as Vy vigorously shook her head, another sob punctuating the end of the words. "Why should I see all the Servants as 'familiars'? Wh-Why should I be a 'true Mage' in just using them as 'tools' to discard in the end? Th-That doesn't account for their feelings! That doesn't account for our shared memories! That just—" This time, there was a soft choking noise, Vy attempting to swallow but finding a cough bubbling up in her throat instead as she shook her head again. "That just means seeing Medea, d'Eon, Dia, Shirou, Marie, Mata Hari, Achi, Art-san, Mash, and, and B-Big Robin as 'objects' and not people. A-And I just don't wanna do that. N-Not after all this."

Not when you all mean something to me. Not when you all saved me.

Romani didn't have to be a Servant to hear that unspoken sentiment.

"Vy…" Robin whispered.

It was why Romani found the inside of his mouth suddenly dry. Because, back when he was still Solomon, back when Marisbury was his Master, had the elder Animusphere mage ever said something like that in regards to their Master-Servant relationship? Had Solomon ever looked at Marisbury the same way Robin was right now, trying to reach out to the crying Vy with his mantle to coax her to meet his eyes?

Marisbury let me live as Romani Archaman, but never gave his own daughter Olga the time of day. He left Chaldea behind for us all to run, but—

"Doctor, I just, I just dunno what to d-do." Vy raises her head then to look at him, the lack of glasses making the growing redness around her eyes and the glistening tear tracks on her face all the more painfully clear past her blankets and pajamas. "W-We're still not done solving all seven Singularities, there's not enough materials to go around, a-and at this point, a-after hearing what EMIYA Assassin had to say, I dunno what's right as a Master anymore." Pulling her knees up to her chin doesn't stop Robin from eventually reaching her and wiping at her cheeks with his mantle, a whimper being all Vy has left once she says, "I know I'm not a 'real Master.' D-Director Olga said as much back in Fuyuki. But I-I'm still here and I don't want to start doing something like regretting meeting you, Mash, or Big Robin. S-So what should I do?"

She's asking for help.

It's why Romani could find nothing but sadness and regret underlining his voice when he whispered, "…Just breathe and be you, Vy."

Don't be like Olga or Marisbury. That's not who you really are. Not when I couldn't help or understand them to the very end. When you aren't them. When you shouldn't want to be like them. But you—

At least I can understand you. I can help you.

The little "Huh?" she gives in response is barely muffled by Robin's dabbing of her cheeks with his mantle, a quiet Muu being all of the protest she apparently can muster in response to Archer's attention. Romani turns his gaze towards the May King, and Robin doesn't even give him the time of day beyond a simple nod, pulling Vy close to his chest with a sigh. "Big…" Vy whimpers again once her cheek rests against his shoulder. "Big Robin?"

You agree with the Doctor?

"Fuck mages," Robin muttered, the gentle thumb he was using to wipe away at the dampness of the girl's eyes a serious contrast to the poisonous venom lacing his words. "Just fuck them to hell and back. Why do you want to be one, little sparrow? You don't have to be."

There's another muffled sob, and Vy weakly leans into his touch, closing her eyes. "But I… I thought that I had to. D-Director O-Olga said as much. Just to help you and Mash and—!"

"Just because Olga said you weren't the first Master Chaldea would've chosen to save the world doesn't mean you have to be like everyone else." Romani interjected, shaking his head while scooting closer to rest a hand on one of Vy's knees. This should've been said sooner. This should've been addressed sooner. "Archer is still right in how you don't have to be a Mage to be a Master. But Vy, do you know why we've been able to resolve six singularities so far?"

Another watery sniffle echoed in the room. "B-Because of Big Robin, Art-san, Achi, Mash, Dia, d'Eon, Medea, Mata Hari, Marie, Shirou, Art-san, Da Vinci, all the other Servants and, and you helping me, Doctor?"

Sure, that's one part, but… Romani smiled as he shook his head. He didn't have to see Robin's face to know Archer felt the same as he was. "Not entirely. Sure, all of us working together has helped in repelling the Incineration so far. But in my opinion, I'd say we succeeded so far because of you."

Vy blinks, fast enough to disrupt the next set of growing tears in her eyes as those big brown irises blurred. The dark stars originally shining there were gone, leaving the irises worryingly blank as she repeated, "Huh?"

"Vy." Romani patted her knee, feeling his smile grow in spite of the strain it put on his face and heart. "Who was the one to ask about Mash's well-being the first time she collapsed after coming back with you from America?"

"M-Me…"

"And who was the one to run after Rushd and his mother when Gawain would've cut them down in Camelot, giving Archer his orders to attack from the shadows? Who was the one who tried to reach out for Director Olga when Lev was floating her away?"

The tears were stalling on Vy's face. "M-Me…"

Romani closed his eyes and forced his smile into the most reassuring, brightest grin he could muster in spite of the tightness of the ring on his middle finger underneath his glove. "And who was the one to hold Mash's hand before what she thought was the end in that crumbling Command Room?"

Vy inhaled shakily, tilting her head at him as light started to emerge in her irises again. "M-Me."

"Who else would it be?" Romani let the pride fill his voice, pure adoration highlighting his words as he patted her knee again. "At almost every turn we've seen since Fuyuki, you've been the one working the hardest to bring everyone together to fight for humanity, Vy. Me, Leonardo, Mash, the remaining Chaldea staff — heck, even Archer and the other Servants — we all work together because of you."

And it was that simple, wasn't it? Marisbury Animusphere may have been the founder of Chaldea, bringing together Team A, Seraphix, the other staff members, and even himself to help with "saving Humanity." But he never truly explained what that goal meant, all the way up to his death, and King Solomon couldn't see beyond that point with his Servant version of Clairvoyance either. Hell — the number of times Marisbury smiled and said nothing when someone asked him something was staggering enough to Romani's memory.

Not with Vy. Never with Vy. Even when she was supposed to be a volunteer who fell for Marisbury's trick of "career experience" during the search for Master candidates, she always smiled honestly, didn't she? Finding it hard to lie to others' faces and constantly seeing the good in people, even when discovering Romani in her assigned room, slacking off with cake on her first day of the job.

At this point, he could never forget how she looked back then. Even when he was wrapped up in what would be her blankets and pillow, the bright glimmers of stars in her eyes matched the sound of her giggles as she reached into her backpack to offer him a local cream puff from her hometown. "It's a bit odd to have a snack outside the break room, don't you think?" she had said. "But hey! It's still totally valid!"

Maybe I never knew Marisbury. Both as a Servant and as a human because he was the true emotionless king. But you, Vy—

You're still human.

"Doctor…" The bright stars from back then were shining past the dampness of those big brown eyes, and Romani smiled again while reaching up with one hand. The growing sensation of wetness spreading across his glove didn't matter now — what was truly important now was wiping those darned tears away. "So then…" Vy choked a little mid-sentence, shaking her head, "it's okay? To just be me?"

Romani didn't even have to meet Archer's eye to know his answer. "We're all trying to reach a happy ending at this point, and I can proudly say it's thanks to the life you live that let us survive this far, Vy. It's because of you being our Master that we've done so much. It's thanks to your heart that you were able to save Mash at the start," he whispered, pride swelling up in his voice once he caught a glimpse of Archer's grip carefully tightening against Vy's shoulder. "I think the romantic in me can believe your soul can save the world too."

Because in spite of everything, it's still you. And I'm glad it's you.

In the end, the crying had to stop sometime. It's why Romani's not surprised to find Leonardo waiting outside Vy's door once all's said and done. The little Master was someone that made the Eternal Genius coo on a near daily basis, so of course she would be one of the first to greet Vy when they all left her room together.

It didn't stop Romani from flinching at seeing who Leonardo had dragged behind her with one arm. It certainly made for one bombastic greeting, that was for sure.

"Soooooo." Leonardo was humming in spite of the thrashing Assassin trying his best to escape her tight grip, tossing Vy and Romani in particular a suspicious wink. "I heard through the grapevine that a specific new Servant had mouthed off to mia bella before her scheduled nap, so I decided to drag him here!" She stuck her tongue out at Robin once he gave her a look, shaking her head while tightening her grip on EMIYA Assassin's arm. "Can't leave everything out on the cutting board!"

"Leonardo…" Romani did his best to keep the grimace off his face once a very familiar hand pulled at his sleeve. Looking out from the side of his eye revealed Vy as the culprit behind the tugging, using one hand to hide behind his lab coat as her other hand clung to Robin's mantle, much to the Archer's surprised staring. "Just because I agree with the idea that some things can't be left alone, it doesn't mean they have to be addressed immediately…"

The Eternal Genius still beamed at him, looking as proud as a cat who had caught a mouse for its owner as a trophy with the hooded EMIYA Assassin still squirming in her grip behind her as the metaphorical "mouse" in the situation. "Still better to handle it now, Romani!" Heck, even the answer was very characteristic of Chaldea's third Heroic Spirit. It didn't stop Leonardo from visibly softening once Vy hid further into Robin and Romani's combined shadows, her brown hair and the black skirt and stockings of her Chaldean Standard Mystic Code uniform being all that kept her away from blending in with the white walls behind her. "…Only if mia bella is alright with it, of course."

"It doesn't look like she is," Archer EMIYA says suddenly, the teddy-bear-patterned apron hanging around his neck a strong visible contrast to the blank look on his face — a poker face? — as he tossed his head towards Romani and Robin. The May King nodded, but all Romani felt was a chill. Was Archer EMIYA… looking for something? Or was it regarding the squirming but eerily silent Assassin Servant that Leonardo still had in her grip? "But the food you requested is ready, Director."

…Oookay. Never mind.

Romani decided to wipe the back of his neck later. Because now he felt just silly. Why would Archer EMIYA be anything but loyal when it came to tasks assigned just for supporting his Master's health? Especially when he had the special title of being Vy's first gold-tinged Archer? "Good work, EMIYA," he said instead. It was the least he could do. The small nod he got in response from the red Archer was nice.

And, sure enough, the mere mention of food is enough to make Vy loosen the grip she had on Romani's sleeve, her footsteps light and cautious as she slowly stepped out to be in the light (and questionably closer to Robin too). "Food…?" Her voice was wispy but hopeful when repeating the word, her gaze darting between everyone in the vicinity with growing surprise. "Like, like pho…?"

Archer EMIYA turned to her almost immediately and Romani felt himself unconsciously swallow as the red-donning man bent his knees slightly (just to meet Vy's shorter height in eye contact, it seemed) and smiled. A true, fond smile. "Phở bò viên," he answered in a softer voice, nodding his head in spite of the foreign language he just spoke. "Lancer and the Director asked me to make a pot for dinner and there's plenty of bean sprouts and mint to go around. Whenever you're ready to go, Be Vy."

Be Vy? Baby? Romani didn't have the time to ponder the meaning behind that nickname before he turned his head and saw it.

Bright, warm, and happy stars were glittering in Vy's eyes, her glasses not even blocking their glow as she smiled. They looked just like the same stars from their first meeting, or — no. These new stars were something more brilliant than what he remembered. The remnants of tears sticking to her lashes even accentuated their light, joy filling her voice to match as she murmured, "Aye aye, Shirou."

Robin doesn't even need to push Vy from behind for her to rush forward to take Archer EMIYA's hand, and the red Archer merely smiles wider at her as his arm wraps around her shaky shoulders. "C'mon then, Be. We don't want the soup to go cold and Lancer can only stand guard against oni Berserkers for so long."

Romani could've taken that statement as a happy ending to finish the day if not for a single cold voice.

"…I'm not going to apologize."

The chill was back, prickly and so, so cold as the words floated through Romani's ears, and all attention turned to EMIYA Assassin in almost slow motion as the Servant stopped resisting Leonardo's tugging. Vy turned too, the stars in her eyes dimming to match as she opened her mouth (was she about to say Assassin's human name like she did with Archer's?) and closed it.

"Even if this is a fight to save Humanity, there's no point in fighting on a bloody battlefield with nothing but dreams in your mind." EMIYA Assassin wasn't looking at anyone, the fall of his hood and the bandages covering his face betraying nothing beyond the resignation and disgust in his voice. Even Romani could feel the growing mana signatures in the room from EMIYA Archer, Robin, and hell, Leonardo as the one clock in the hallway ticked above their heads rather mockingly. Were they all getting… angry? "If you're going to save the world, you have to drop the romantic, naive notions you have of us being human, Master. It'll hurt you otherwise when we're still tools who can forget you just as much as anyone else can."

Silence reigned for a moment. Romani wanted to voice something, anything, but a lump had surfaced in his throat with no sign it wanted to let go. Instead—

"...Okay. Maybe you don't like being slapped. Alright then. I don't know much about you in the end, but what's really wrong with dreams when they inevitably help someone walk through hell, Kiritsugu-san?"

Romani blinked, the oxygen returning to his lungs as quickly as it evaporated. Vy was stepping out of Archer EMIYA and Robin's shared shadows, striding over to where Leonardo was keeping EMIYA Assassin in place, and — and raising her hand.

The slap that followed couldn't really be constituted as "a slap," no thanks to how Vy had gently cupped the Assassin's cheek past his bandages and hood, but it didn't stop her from curling two fingers and pinching half a second later either.

Cold, soulless eyes reflected Vy's image in that moment, but the stars in Vy's own eyes highlighted the black irises of Assassin's as he blinked. "…Ow," he said dully. "Why are you—"

"Why wouldn't I?" Vy said hotly, pulling at his cheek harder, and Romani has to hold back the growing urge to laugh as he peeks out of the side of his eye to see Archer EMIYA, Leonardo, and even Robin covering up their own snickers. "Silly Servant. I wasn't gonna ask for an apology, Assassin. You have your own viewpoints, and as much as I absolutely hate the sound of them, all offense intended by the way," oh, there was definitely some pent up frustration mixed in there with the growing strength of Vy's normally high-pitched voice, good to know for future reference, "that doesn't mean I'm gonna shut them out when I'm still wearing these three red Command Seals and you call me 'Master.'" Another pointed, hard tug at Assassin's cheek is finished off by, "So there's that."

EMIYA Assassin blinked again. "So you're…" His blank black eyes darted between Vy's face, Leonardo's arm still holding him down, and Vy's fingers still pinching his cheek. "You're not letting me go." A single closed eye was all the visible sign that showed his growing discomfort as Vy tugged at his face. "Why—"

"Why should I? Because screw reality, I'll work hard and I'm gonna substitute the bad thoughts with my own! Even if memories don't last, that doesn't mean they were meaningless! This isn't just your life I'm working with, Kiritsugu-san, get that through your thick skull already!" With one more elongated tug at EMIYA Assassin's face, Vy let him go with a pointed huff, hands on both hips before she turned on the heel of both her boots to face the opposite end of the hallway. Just in the direction of the kitchen too. "Besides… I'm not fighting just for all of Proper Human History. That feels a bit too big at times, even for my dreams."

"...What? Then…" Assassin simply stepped back, black eyes widening enough for Leonardo to let go of him. "What are you—"

Romani could do nothing but stare at Vy's back as she carefully walked past him, Assassin EMIYA, Leonardo, and even Archer EMIYA, reaching out to — to carefully take a hold of one hem of Robin's mantle. Squeezing it seems to inspire some kind of courage, because when Vy turns her head back to smile at them all, she looks almost… almost radiant in spite of the humanity behind those somewhat pointed white teeth and slightly crooked tilt of her lips. "It's not much, Assassin. I just wanna help my family. Human and Servant." Pure confidence leaks through the words as she smiles wider. "And hey. Even if the battlefield is akin to hell, even if war will always be ugly to match, it's not gonna stop me from helping the people around me, Servant or not. Just to experience something better than that hell. Because life is all about finding the small things to look back on and enjoy. Fairy tales. Familial love. Pho on a long day." One last tug at Robin's mantle is enough for the May King to glance at her like — like one would with something precious as Vy turns back to share a look with him and him alone, giggling. Was she aware of what was going on? "Meeting a childhood hero and hoping he can be happy just like everyone else."

…Oh.

Before EMIYA Assassin can say anything more, Vy is walking away, Robin carefully leading her along as — as the blue Saber version of Arturia Pendragon waits in the distance with Diarmuid and Mash. All three are smiling from what Romani can see past the hallway lights. When did they seem so bright?

"…There you have it, Dad," is all Archer EMIYA says on the matter, barely audible but clearly meant for the stoic Assassin behind Leonardo and Romani both, just before he power-walks off in the same direction, calling Vy's name. It doesn't take long for Leonardo to follow Archer's example, leaving Romani alone with the Assassin that started all the trouble in the first place.

Drop it when there's other options beyond killing now, won't you?

It'd be nice to say aloud if not for the growing, insistent warmth in the area. It's why Romani can only look at the growing throng of Master and loving Servants up ahead with a warm smile. Assassin EMIYA would (most likely) have a white-haired homunculus Caster coming for him any moment now, if his guess was right. It would just take… maybe a minute or two? He'd have to wait and see.

For someone like Doctor Romani Archaman, though? In any other situation outside of the onlooker?

"...Guess I don't have to worry after all."

Because even with the weight on his middle finger, past his gloves and the secrets he held, he could believe (without his Clairvoyance too) that Vy Duong would be just fine. Mash and the many, many Servants around her were plenty enough.

Note (Oct. 9, 2023): To my oldest cousin, Anh Ti Anh — Vinh, who served as most of the inspiration behind Dr. Roman in this chapter and who also sadly passed away in his sleep a week before this chapter was released from late-stage, metastasized squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer — I hope you're doing well up there with Di Thuy and Ong Ngoai. I miss you. I love you.

I hope I'm making you proud by living as fully as you did, to the very end with the fiance who saw you depart.

To everyone else, I'll see you next time.