Summary: This is a day that never dawned, a night that never came to be. Or is it? Long after the climb to the top of the "Akihabara tower" ends, Mata Hari comes up with an idea to help the Master relax just by going back to a quieter version provided by Rayshifting. Everyone else is just brought along for the ride. And maybe there's some matchmaking and bonding.

Note: Apparently running to the lab after clocking out to pick up a specimen that didn't exist because it was bone marrow aspirate the lab already had one day just makes the writing sense go haywire.

And, well. When coping with sweat and exhaustion, fluff is the best medicine. I happily blame Ted/Teddog for this. :)

The theme songs for this "Lost Day" are split: (1) Seize the Day by Azaka, the second opening for Laid-Back Camp; (2) Taiyou no Rakuen ~Promised Land~ by the late Miyuki Kanbe, the first opening for Mermaid Melody; and (3) the English cover of My Sweet Heart from Tokyo Mew Mew by AmaLee.

Oh, and before I forget. The lyrics mentioned in this chapter come from the translated versions of K-On's Fuwa Fuwa Time and Tenshi ni Fureta Yo; as well as Bocchi the Rock's Guitar, Loneliness, and Blue Planet.

Time for the fluff to commence. All inspired by my own weekly dates with my real life Robin.

Lost Day 6: Akihabara Group Date

"How does a group date sound to you all?"

Mata Hari was prepared for almost any reaction when it came to posing such a large question. Because when it came to social gatherings, Chaldea's roster usually was split into two categories — those that were all for it, and those who didn't want any part of it.

At least Vy's questioning little Muu noise was a happy surprise. Because the half-bemused, half-conflicted faces of the others at her table in the Dining Hall was something to take in.

"Group…" Vy swallows her mouthful of fruit smoothie (courtesy of Archer EMIYA, the man was still such a mother hen, it seemed) to stare up at Mata Hari with surprised stars starting to shine in her eyes. "Group date?"

"…I'm sorry to ask this right after you suggested it, but how would we have a 'group date,' Margaretha?" Sanson speaks up plainly first, offering Vy a napkin once she starts carefully drinking the smoothie again through a straw with Robin patting her back. "The simulator?"

"Unless," Achilles rested his chin in his palm, closing one eye, "the Akihabara Singularity that Galatea was a part of is still around?"

There it was — an opening. So Mata Hari beamed. "It is!"

Robin immediately threw a look at his Grailed Rider counterpart over Vy's head, and in response, Achilles raised both hands in the air. "…I swear I was joking. Seriously." Marie's small swat to his arm was taken in stride, though.

All the while, Vy quietly sipped at her smoothie straw, Sanson's offered napkin from before now folded in-between her fingers as she leaned into Robin's side. Considering how it was just breakfast, Mata Hari could already safely assume she was low on energy, but still willing to offer her ears and listen. It was good enough of a sign to continue.

"Considering it's the closest to the modern times Vy grew up in," Mata Hari makes sure to wiggle one pointer finger in the air for emphasis, just to get Vy's attention, "we could take the chance to get more supplies and relax along the way. So, it's the perfect spot for a group date!"

"That… that sounds lovely!" And as expected, Marie happily agreed, clapping her hands together from genuine excitement. Vy glanced at her in surprise as Marie hummed, "A good outing would certainly be fun, and I've been wanting to partake in a 'group date' for a while now!"

"M-Maria…" Sanson said softly, almost whining if not for Mata Hari knowing better. "Conflicted" would be a better descriptor for the look on his face.

"From the sounds of it," Robin cut in with a faint undertone of fondness seeping into his usual drawl, "I'm right in assuming you want me and the little sparrow to participate, Sis?"

"Of course!" Mata Hari nodded, wiggling her pointer finger again. "You and our honey, Robin—!" Vy blinked at the nickname, raising her head from her smoothie straw. "Me and Charles," Sanson looked up from his own plate with a growing pink flush on his face, and Mata Hari beamed brighter. "And Achilles and Marie! That's enough of a group for a group date!"

To no one's surprise but their own, the named Riders glanced at each other before uncharacteristically flushing themselves and turning away.

Ooooh.

"S-So we basically have a full team lineup in case some assholes decide to attack mid-outing then," Achilles coughed, clearing his throat as best as he could once Vy tossed a concerned look his way. "Because from the sounds of things, the Singularity is still around from time slowly resolving itself, and we're just stopping by for the laughs?"

"Essentially!" Even if it was for making her point clear, snapping her fingers felt like a bit much. Mata Hari made sure to hide her discomfort with another smile, enjoying the sparkles gradually starting to waft off of Vy's figure all the while. "And all this fighting can really get our spirits down, so why not go out shopping? We need a break!"

"Knew it would go that way," Robin decided, glancing at his flustered Grailed Rider counterpart and Marie (who had apparently put both hands to her own cheeks to hide a lingering blush, hm) before shrugging. "If our little sparrow is all for it, I'm down. Can't keep the fight up forever without some sunshine, compared to some other Grailed I can name."

"Oi, Archer, what's that supposed to me—?!"

Achilles cut himself off once mana started to seep into the air, distinctly warmer and not artificial like the stores from the Wandering Sea, just as Vy carefully opened her mouth. "…Are there any bookstores in the Akihabara tower?" Her voice came out wispy but filled to the brim with barely concealed wonder, a burst of matching energy coloring her pale cheeks a brighter pink as her fingers curled around her smoothie glass. "Hobby shops and, and um, maybe some jewelry stores too? If we were going to go, I-I was thinking of going gift shopping…"

For what an unknown person could possibly call a "selfish" request without any context, Vy's careful phrasing made it sound more like an idea she was expecting everyone to say "no" to. And for the person Mata Hari was before as Lady MacLeod, that hurt more than anything. Especially when it was coming from the young woman who let them all be together in the first place. It was why Mata Hari glanced at Charles and Robin both before getting up from her seat to walk over and gently wrap her arms around their shared Master for a long-deserved hug. "…Of course there is, hun. We can go to all of those places. Marie and I can show you some dresses along the way."

Vy's shy giggle against her ear was almost like a healing salve to her tightening heart as she let go of her smoothie and hugged back. "…Okay. Okay. I-I've never been on a group date, but I'm looking forward to it, Margaretha."

"As you should~!"

"…The more I look up at it, the more the architecture doesn't stand up from a physics point of view." For his place forgoing his usual cravat and jacket in favor of more casual modern clothes (a combo of a casual white button-up, gray vest, and blue jeans was unsurprisingly handsome on him), Charles had a rather displeased look on his face when craning his neck towards the large Akihabara tower. "Even in Proper Human History, a building doesn't usually go up to 100 straight floors. Past the cloud line too."

With a little sheepish giggle, Vy shouldered her backpack against the back of her pink blouse, matching white skirt fluttering against her knees as she rocked back and forth on her sneakers. "In the Singularity's defense, at least there's rest stations on every floor? Not to mention functioning elevators." A little relief leaked into her voice when pointing that small tidbit out, just as the lotus ribbon clip Robin gave her shined a soft pink hue from its rightful place sitting against her ponytail from the incoming sunlight. "And from my time in the US with my parents, there have been some buildings that bragged about having more than 100 floors, Charles. So a Singularity magically making a 100-floor shopping mall is much better than fighting zombies in rainbow lingerie."

Sanson glanced at their shared Master before closing his eyes and placing a palm to his forehead. "…Point taken. But Master?"

"Muu?"

"What is it with you and zombie content? Dancing ribbon zombies was one thing, but…" Sanson choked a little while dragging his palm down against his face, peeking at Vy through his fingers. Mata Hari had to hide a chuckle in response. "Rainbow lingerie? Why rainbow lingerie?"

Maaaaybe Margaretha would have to try a pair of the things one day. Just to see how Charles would react. Because this was amusing.

"Dreams are weird," Vy answered, oblivious to Mata Hari's less-than-innocent thought process. "High school-related dreams, especially."

"…Let's not bring Highschool of the Dead into this." Robin interjected with a very light air chop to Vy's head (much to the girl's shocked reaction of a Phwah!), the worry lines on his face showing past even his green hoodie. "Because Zom 100 had the rainbow blood and lingerie that apparently inspired the last bad dream. Highschool is worse because it had gun jiggle physics."

Sanson immediately turned to Robin with a face. "How do you know this, Archer?"

Without hesitation, Robin pointed a thumb over his shoulder. "Blame Rider. He got curious."

When all attention went towards Achilles in particular, he was surprisingly not paying attention to the previous conversation. Instead, with his casual orange T-shirt and black sweatpants, he was actively engaged in talking with Marie, who had donned a modest long pink dress to match Vy and giggling at whatever joke he was making.

"Well!" Mata Hari made sure to clap her hands together to get the group's attention. Her old Salem dress was enough to draw eyes to the yard already, but it was better to redeem the memories behind the fabric if the rekindling, growing sparkle in Vy's brown irises was any indication. "There's nothing to be done if we just stand around here, is there? So let's go in!" It was a better diversion than her attempts at trying not to blush when Charles subsequently gave her a look through hooded eyes when Vy's attention went to her beloved green Archer. Because if Achilles and Marie were hitting it off—

Charles-Henri Sanson was giving Vy's front-line Riders a literal "run" for their money with the emotion swirling in his eyes when reflecting Margaretha's image.

Despite it being a group date, there was still one thing all the Servants internally agreed upon before setting out.

If anything catches Vy's attention, make sure someone's there by her side to sit through it.

Because even if there was supposed to be fun, Vy the Chaldean Master seemed to almost not know the definition of such a concept. Perhaps it was from the hardworking tendencies that had been instilled in her since before Chaldea — when she was just Vy the human girl trying to help her family while finding herself — or it was the massive amount of responsibility she had been saddled with since accepting Dr. Roman's original mission to save Proper Human History. No matter the reasoning, it wasn't everyday Vy the human put in an opinion, so if this was to be a group date, she had to have as much of a say as the others.

(Elizabeth Bathory, BB, Kiyohime, Passionlip, both Shuten and Ibaraki-Douji, and especially Jacques de Molay were all examples of Servants who had an active record of infringing on Vy's kindness and willingness to help. Even if Elizabeth, Passionlip, and Kiyohime all had wizened up through experience and force, that didn't mean the others would. Mata Hari already found herself disliking the idea that more potential allies could even force their will onto someone like Vy. Someone who already sacrificed so much and for so little in return.)

It was why Mata Hari did her best to school her surprise at finding Vy's gaze drawn to the first hobby shop that Akihabara had to offer. Compared to the other shops in the first hallway of the tenth floor, this particular shop's sign had a… what modern people called a decorative "Gundam" head? That was what it was. And the display windows had more of the "Gundam" plastic models held up by tinier stands to pull off some very specific heroic poses in front of a large TV screen playing some matching footage of an animated show of the same figures.

"Exia…"

It was natural the others would stop once Vy uttered that strange name under her breath, and Mata Hari carefully hid her growing concern while walking closer to their shared Master. Robin, the good man, had already reached out to squeeze one of Vy's hands, his casual slouching posture barely betraying the worry in his eyes as he said, "…Something about the swords-wielding mech right there catching your eye, little sparrow?"

Mata Hari's eyes trailed over to the "mech" that had ensnared Vy's attention, noting the white-blue paints of the robot and the many swords attached to its hips and arms — would Musashi and Muramasa like this sort of thing? — before focusing back on Vy. The young woman had flushed an embarrassed pink in the time it took Mata Hari to look at the small Gundam, her free hand coming up to scratch at her cheek sheepishly. "K-Kinda. That mech — its name is 'Exia', and in the show I knew it from, Gundam 00, it was piloted by someone that was younger than… well, younger than me when I got to Chaldea." It didn't take long for her gaze to drift back to the "Exia," a sad sort of smile forming on her face. Her glasses fogged up slightly just to match the smoke cloud that had erupted on the display TV screen behind the glass as she said, "It… it's kinda funny to think about, when looking back. The main character — the pilot for Exia — was 14 when joining an organization that was for changing the world, and I ended up in a place to save the world at 18." Her subsequent laugh sounded self-deprecating even to Margaretha's ears. "I guess… I guess the apple doesn't fall that far from the tree, huh?"

Robin immediately wrapped an arm around Vy's shoulders, pulling her close for a hug while Achilles and Marie both extended hands for Vy to reach out and squeeze. Not even Charles was exempt from the moment, patting her head while peeking at the hobby shop display over their little group. "…Influence can go places," he says after a moment, his palm lingering against Vy's hair as he continued peering past the display and into the hobby shop itself. "But it is what we decide to do with it that ultimately determines the apple's path. And in my honest opinion, maître, you are doing just fine."

"…You just had to steal my line, huh," Robin muttered with no heat, keeping Vy nestled into his side with a sigh. "But Charles has a point, little sparrow. Things happen. What matters is how we go forward from here."

Once she got a good grip on one of Vy's hands, Marie nodded vigorously to match. Achilles' determined expression above her head couldn't be best either.

"And," Mata Hari forced herself into saying something, reaching past Charles, Achilles, and Marie to press a finger to Vy's cheek. The eyes staring holes into her head from Charles was already bad enough for her heart. For someone like Vy to forget what it was like to have fun— "That means no overthinking about bad things on this outing, hun! This is supposed to be a group date, remember?"

It thankfully doesn't take long for a lighter, happier laugh to leave Vy's lips (and was that Achilles' hand sneaking off and attempting to tickle Vy's sides as the culprit?), her head lulling against Robin's shoulder as she smiled. "Y-Yeah, it is. I'm sorry for overthinking, Margaretha. I'll try to do better." Even when her gaze turned back to the Exia figure in the window, the growing stars in her eyes spoke of wonder as she went on with a smaller, "…Just, um… do you think Melt-san would like an Exia Entry Grade, High Grade, or a Master Grade?"

Everyone but Vy and Robin blinked.

"Um… mon petit chou?" Marie tried, raising her hand in the air.

"Aye?"

"What is the difference between an Entry Grade, a High Grade, and a Master Grade?"

The sparkle shower that erupted off of Vy's form in that exact moment made Mata Hari suddenly wish she had sunglasses on hand.

"So a USA-colored RX-78 Entry Grade for Melt-san, a hair tie for d'Eon, a new cooking ladle for Shirou, tea for Holmes and both Da Vinky and Lily, another wooden sword for Mii-chan and Art-san, and then what else…? Maybe a bookmark or a reading light for Mash…?" Despite carrying a single backpack, it had expanded to almost twice its original size on Vy's back, almost bulging if not for how carefully the young woman managed its contents. The sight of the large bag was enough to warrant bemused looks from passerby, but once Vy had found another store that caught her attention — a bookstore this time from the looks of it, Mata Hari knew something had to be done.

Unsurprisingly, it was Robin and Achilles both — her chosen Grailed — who had the right idea, placing a palm on Vy's hand and the top of her head respectively. "Little sparrow," Robin started gently, worry undercutting his words, "before we go in there, have you bought anything for yourself in the last few stores?"

"Eh?" Vy said succinctly, blinking rapidly.

"It's not a bad thing if you haven't, by the way," Achilles interjects, apparently doing his best to ignore Marie hovering behind him with a rough clearing of his throat. He still pats Vy's head before leaning forward to rest his arm against her hair like a makeshift armrest. "But Archer and I noticed you buying stuff for almost everyone else, Princess."

A pout slowly formed on Vy's face in response. "N-Note, just note, by the way, that I did ask for a chance to go on a gift shopping session back in Novum Chaldea, guys. And not everyone was able to visit Akihabara back when we first explored the Singularity too." Crossing her arms over her chest with a tiny Muu that lightened the air of the floor, she went on with a tinier, "Souvenirs are cool. I just… I just haven't thought of much for myself in the meantime. Never been on a group date, so I went into default friend-shopping mode..."

Mata Hari wasn't surprised to see Charles put a hand to his forehead from out of the corner of her eye. Hell, Achilles letting out an exaggerated sigh of a groan before resting his chin on his elbow where it sat on top of Vy's head was expected enough to deepen the pout on Vy's face, much to Robin's protesting yet deadpan swat of his hand in the Rider's direction. "Princess…" Achilles muttered, pressing his elbow on Vy's hair a little harder. "You're way too selfless, y'know that?"

"W-Would you have me any other way?" Vy squeaked, sounding put off by being used as an armrest but not actively pushing Achilles off either. "I was thinking of getting something for everyone here too…"

Mata Hari felt herself internally melt at the same time Marie squealed, squeezing herself between Vy and her Grailed to wrap her arms around Vy's shoulders in a tight hug. "I'm positive none of us would want you to change how you are, mon petit chou," she cooed, voicing all of Mata Hari's thoughts in a single hum while snuggling the young woman past Achilles and Robin's shared grip. "But you need to have fun for you too! So after we go into this bookstore, I have an idea that should fix that problem!"

"Marie…" Vy mumbled childishly, ears starting to turn pink. Robin took one look at the sight before chuckling. "An idea like what…?"

"Maria…?" Charles said softly past his fingers just as Mata Hari felt herself blink. "By chance, are you thinking of—?"

Marie hummed again, winking at Mata Hari specifically before voicing in a happier voice from her place pressing her cheek into Vy's shoulder, "Why don't we all find a karaoke bar?"

"When I look at you, my heart always goes doki-doki~!"

Once Marie started singing into the nearest microphone (it was definitely that one pop song — Fuwa Fuwa Time — from the time Vy put on a concert for Mash), Mata Hari wasn't surprised to find Charles trying to browse the bar's menu in an attempt to school his growing blush. Despite his best efforts, she knew he still had a lingering affection for his Queen, and she couldn't blame him for it even if she herself had mixed feelings about it. Karaoke could have anything happen, after all.

Thankfully her executioner of a partner was trying to be considerate, and judging by the rest of their party, they weren't going to notice for a while. Vy was visibly pondering over a menu of her own while holding it up to let Robin look over her shoulder (and hug her close past the questionably bulging backpack), and Achilles—

Well. Judging by the light pink dusting his cheeks and the fond smile on his face when unashamedly looking towards the singing Marie, he was just fine.

"…Would a drink work here?" Charles' latest attempt at a stage whisper to Margaretha alone had her heart skip a beat, the hesitance almost literally brushing her ear as he leaned towards her. "I can order something non-alcoholic if you would like, Margaretha."

"Some fruit punch or lemonade would be nice, Charles," Mata Hari hums, joy starting to spread out through her chest at the unexpected burst of attention. Even if Charles claimed his hands were "dirty" thanks to his legend as an executioner, she knew she wouldn't mind anyway. It was why she said with no shame, "Perhaps you should get some water for Master too?"

"…That may be a good idea," Charles acquiesced after a moment, glancing past his menu just to see Vy now visibly pondering the song menu from the nearest tablet the bar had provided their group for their group date. Her eyebrows were furrowed enough against her forehead from the concentration for Robin to glance at them from past Vy's head, gesturing with his eyes, Help. Mata Hari couldn't help but shoot him a smile in return once Charles said, "Maria's song should be ending soon for us to get some food."

And sure enough, Marie was humming by the time the big-screen TV in front of them was showing a big smiley face to match the "95/100" score she had just achieved thanks to singing Fuwa Fuwa Time. What made the karaoke machine decide its scores must've been from how much the singer was on-key and keeping up with the song rhythm, so for Marie to get a near perfect 100, well. It was no wonder she was an outgoing Queen of France with that kind of skill.

"That felt good!" She beamed, putting her microphone back onto its stand before skipping over to the open seat Achilles left her between him and Vy, reaching out with both hands to hug Vy past her tablet after giving her fellow Rider a pat to his arm. "We all should try to sing something while we have this area for the next hour or so!"

"Th-That's true, it's just trying to find a song, Marie," Vy squeaked out past Marie's grip, blushing just as Robin successfully slipped her backpack off her shoulders. The bag made an almost comedic whump noise once he deposited it onto the floor below, contrasting Vy's quieter (yet foreboding) quip of, "All the songs I keep thinking of are just depressing…"

"Depressing? How depressing—" Whatever Marie sees with Robin over Vy's shoulder when they both peek at the open tablet screen in her hands immediately makes her frown. It was not even surprising to see Robin flick Vy's forehead just as Marie pinches one of Vy's cheeks mid-hug. "Vy!"

"Ny'ow!" is the best approximation of the noise that leaves Vy's lips, but Mata Hari finds herself hiding a giggle as Charles coughs. "Wh-What did I do this time? I-I'm — bwah — trying not to overthink!"

"Karaoke is still supposed to be fun, little sparrow," Robin snarked, making sure to press a light kiss to Vy's forehead to ease the potential sting. "I think a self-reflective song isn't supposed to be a part of that."

"Um…" Vy did her best to raise one pointer finger up in the air, glancing at Charles and Mata Hari specifically for help before adding, "If it helps, Mirror Mirror has a Part 2 version that's not as depressing?"

Robin tosses a glance at Achilles in response, who helped in pulling Marie back by a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Which is a fine idea in any other circumstance, Princess," he said mildly, patting Marie's head before reaching out to do the same to Vy's head. "But when you're supposed to be on a break, venting mid-song sounds like we should've brought Saber and Sensei with us for damage control. Or," and Achilles grinned mischievously over Marie's head, "I could get the sad feelings out with the next tickle session in about, oh, five minutes."

"Achilles," Marie said half-amused, half-scoldingly, turning around to lightly smack his arm. "No tickling mon petit chou before she chooses a song!"

"Eh?" Vy said dully. "I'm still choosing one?"

"Of course you are!"

"Please, Rider, just tickle the Princess." Robin urged, grinning too over Vy's head. "Tickles help everybody."

"Robin!" Marie said, sounding scandalized if not for the growing smile on her face. "Not you too!"

A conflicted noise left Vy's lips, something along the lines of an Uuu to match her attempting to scoot away from her two Grailed, and while hiding another giggle, Mata Hari glanced at Charles. The good executioner was already putting the phone receiver for the room down, the lingering echo of, "one water, one fruit punch, and four lemonades," wafting through the room as he turned to their shared Master. "…Maître," he started softly, interrupting the moment with prompt gentleness, "there's nothing wrong with feeling conflicted about having a break. Song choices can reflect that too, and it's not a bad thing. I am just guessing here, but you've never really given yourself a break, even in your life before Chaldea, have you?"

A colder air brushed through the whole group then as all attention went to Vy. To Mata Hari's growing dread, a darker pink flush of what looked like shame colored Vy's cheeks past the bridge frame of her glasses as she slowly, hesitantly nodded. "…B-Back home," she said in a quieter voice, "mom and dad would be the ones going to karaoke more than me. Singing just… I never tried it for others. Just family and me... plus there was too much studying and work to do. All the songs I found felt… felt too embarrassing, anyway. Couldn't tell mom and dad about them since, um, since they weren't Vietnamese. So I never really tried until… until Camelot and the second trip to Luluhawa, to be honest." She leans into Robin's chest then, the pink on her face starting to change into red as she exhales shakily. "C-Carryover from the me I was before becoming a Master, I guess. Still working on the confidence part."

"Honey…" Mata Hari said softly, half-tempted to reach over the karaoke table. Because what was it with low self-esteem? It was honestly a curse that seemed to plague everyone. Thankfully, Robin immediately wraps both arms around Vy to hug her in response. At least he could do something Mata Hari couldn't thanks to the large table cutting off her trajectory of movement.

Still. A hand was gently patting the small of her back, and Margaretha didn't have to turn to know it was Charles. "...In that case, maître, how about you choose a song you do feel confident in?" His voice sounds soft even when up close, almost fatherly and it makes Margaretha suddenly remember how — just like her — he had children once upon a time in life. "It doesn't matter how 'depressing' it is. This space should be safe enough for you to try singing something you want." Charles glanced at the Grailed and his Queen over Mata Hari's shoulder, and she knew. "As long as you still want to?"

"Charles is right, mon petit chou," Marie interjected softly, hugging Vy again past Robin's arms — this time tight enough for their shared Master to squeak. "There's nothing wrong with trying now. And your song for Robin back in Luluhawa was really pretty. So why not just try another song and see how you feel?"

Between all the limbs hugging her, Vy could've been a peach with how pink her face was turning again past her tablet. But the stars were starting to surface in her eyes again, bright and hopeful as she glanced at the screen. "Then, um…" The song options were reflected halfway in the lenses of Vy's glasses, letting Mata Hari make out a vague title of Guitar, Loneliness and Blue Planet — right before Vy firmly pressed the option with her pointer finger, making the TV display of the karaoke system subsequently reset.

"Little sparrow/Princess…?" Robin and Achilles said in near unison, their eyes transfixed on their shared Master as much as everyone else's as Vy slowly got up from the circle of their arms to reach for Marie's microphone. The hems of her white skirt seemed to flare out against her legs as she stood up tall and held the mic close.

"I've… I've only practiced this one a few times by myself," Vy said the words as slowly as everything else, but the pitch of her voice seemed higher than usual once she was speaking into the microphone. "But I can at least try it."

Drum beats and guitar riffs started to blare loudly through the speakers up above their heads once Vy walked towards the center "stage" of their shared rental room. Her standing up and taking a shaky breath was all the break she had (or, no, the only break she allowed herself to have) before lyrics started to appear on the screen and—

Without hesitation, Vy proudly held up the mic to her mouth and sang.

"A sudden evening shower falls—

And yeah, it figures, I don't have an umbrella...

Who cares how the sky's feeling, anyway?"

This song was in no way depressing. If anything, coming from their timid Master, it was almost jaw-dropping. Confidence leaked into every word of the Japanese as Vy continued to sing, her gaze not even lingering on the screen in front of her. From her left wrist flicking back and forth to herself to keep the beat, the steadiness of each note, it was like—

"When it's time for the seasons to change—

What are you supposed to wear? Who knows?

Spring and fall… yeah, where'd they go?"

If she can shine this bright, it's no wonder Master spoke highly of her father back in the original Chaldea, Margaretha thought, leaning into Charles once the good man wrapped an arm around her shoulders to bring her close. If he sang for his wife — Vy's mother — at their wedding ceremony with this kind of image—

"The pressure of information, suffocating.

A spiral of vertigo;

Don't know where I am

I can hear myself breathing so loud, so loud…

But why? I can't hear the sounds of the world…"

The look on her face as she sang confirmed it all.

Vy could easily inherit that proud singing skill if not more from her father.

Especially if it's for the people she loves. That's just how strong her love is.

The shared eye contact Vy was having with Robin — her chosen Archer, her hero — was more than enough to melt the apprehension in Margaretha's chest and leave pride growing in its place. Because even with the drums, guitars and bass all hitting their peak through the speakers, Vy's voice wasn't shaking. For once, with that lotus ribbon clip glowing from her ponytail—

"It's not enough, not enough—

No one knows I'm here.

I screamed when I couldn't make a scribble of a sound.

Who am I supposed to show 'just who I am' to?"

The stars in her eyes matched the confidence in her voice as she closed her eyes and sung the last verse as eloquently as she could.

"So I'm singing just like the fool I am,

Let's lay it all out to the stars!"

It was why Margaretha didn't hesitate to reach for the discarded karaoke tablet once the others started to loudly applaud their Master for her performance, taking in the growing blush on Vy's face with a warm smile. The extra bright "97/100" score on the screen was just extra motivation.

If you call yourself a 'fool' while singing, honey…

A song title immediately stood out to Margaretha's eye, and while ignoring Charles' inquisitive stare as best as she could, she pressed her selection and reached out for the nearest mic stand.

I'm going to call you an 'angel.'

"But hey, we met one! A wonderful angel~!"

The Japanese was unfamiliar to her tongue in spite of the knowledge provided by the FATE summoning system, but she meant every word once attention went to her. She could sing just as well as dance, and once she met eyes with the other Servants, she knew they would be reaching for their mics soon enough. Robin and Achilles could've easily had them all beat if not for Marie being the lovely Queen she was in handing them both the nearest microphone stands before they could start scrambling. Food and drinks could be handled later — although bless the waiter's good heart for not coming in during Vy's performance.

Seeing Vy tear up from surprised joy at everyone coming together to sing, "If you say you really love us, we'll answer that we really, really love you!" — made it a clear picture-worthy moment.

Even then, fun would have to eventually end to let time move forward. Nonetheless—

"...Hobby shops, bookstores, cafes, what else is there in here?" Achilles kept glancing up at the stairs of the incoming next floor with a face, looking close to bolting if not for the careful hand Marie had on his elbow. "Movie theaters? Gyms?"

"We could catch a movie together, considering we still have the time," Charles murmured, glancing at Mata Hari, Vy, and Robin before smiling wryly. "As long as it's not zombie-related?"

"…Does that mean Godzilla and other Kaiju-related movies are off the table?" Vy interjected, oblivious to the searching look in Sanson's glance with a raised hand. Her backpack was still snugly sitting against her shoulders despite the additional weight from shopping, making her look smaller than usual against Robin's side. "Because there's some movies that kinda add zombie aspects to the mix even when they're not part of the themes in 'em?"

"...Maître," Charles said in half-amusement, half-long suffering, tugging at his vest collar to hide his wry smile, "you weren't supposed to overthink that either."

"I-I wasn't? I-I could've sworn I wasn't trying to overthink!"

Mata Hari held back a giggle. Marie hummed to cover up her own laughter.

"Here's a better question — why are we even debating horror movie tropes?" Robin deadpanned. "The more we stand around the staircase, the more people we might gather."

"What's wrong with that?" Mata Hari hummed just as Marie looked her way while still holding onto Achilles' arm, and Margaretha allowed herself a single supportive wink in the Queen of France's direction. "We still have each other, don't we?" She could verbally leave out the plans she had with Charles later that night. Those were for the bedroom, not for the mall. Besides—

Vy still smiled at them all as she reached up to hold onto Robin's arm, following Marie's example nodding her head. "Aye," she said, pure unadulterated joy flooding her voice along the way. Whether or not she noticed the fond eye Robin was giving her over her head was unclear, but she still looked happy. "And… and if we don't get to something today, let's try to do it another day and stay together?"

Hm. It was such a modest way of trying to ask, will we be together forever, but Margaretha still smiled back at the Chaldean Master that started it all.

"Of course, honey. We'll definitely stay together. Now let's get that movie!"

Even if the Mages' Association and the rest of the world wanted to say otherwise, no one was going to take this away from any of them.

And maybe tomorrow, after nighttime fun and rest was had, Margaretha could partake in tea with Marie and see how she was doing with Achilles.

Note (March 26, 2024): Originally when first starting this story, I never thought I could see Achilles and Marie together. They barely had much in canon (compared to the more famous Achilles/Atalanta pairing) outside of my putting them together in my Rider party all the time once I had them both. But once they grew on me through bond farming and the like — not to mention me remembering how the real life inspiration behind Achilles' writing in my best guy friend did have someone he loved a while back — I wanted to honor that.

Not sure if they'd be an official pairing, but eh. Fluff went places. And for those of you wondering, yes, you can blame Ted/Teddog for the Sanson/Mata Hari ship. She got me into it.

Otherwise, I need to go to sleep. I'll see you all next time.