It was another quiet day at Chaldea, and Ritsuka Fujimaru found themselves in yet another unusual situation. Jeanne d'Arc, the pure-hearted saint, had approached them earlier that morning with a brilliant idea: a beach day. It wasn't that Ritsuka didn't enjoy the occasional day of relaxation—far from it. But Jeanne's true goal was a little more ambitious than just enjoying the sun and sand.

She wanted to spend time bonding with none other than Jeanne d'Arc Alter, the fiery, rebellious Berserker who shared her name and, in some ways, her essence. Jeanne Alter, or "Jalter," as she was often called, was not exactly known for her fondness for such peaceful outings, especially not with her "goody-two-shoes" counterpart.

Now, standing on the sandy shores of the Chaldea simulation beach, Ritsuka watched the two Jeannes interact with a mix of amusement and nervousness. The sun was high in the sky, the waves lapping gently against the shore, and the cool breeze carried the scent of the ocean. Jeanne, clad in a modest but elegant white swimsuit with golden accents, seemed positively radiant. Beside her, Jalter stood with her arms crossed, scowling at the peaceful surroundings. She wore a black swimsuit that contrasted sharply with her white hair, and her expression made it clear she was not happy about being there.

"Master! Isn't this wonderful?" Jeanne exclaimed, turning to Ritsuka with a bright smile. "The perfect day to enjoy the beach and strengthen the bond between us three!"

Ritsuka smiled awkwardly, rubbing the back of their head. "It's... really nice, Jeanne. I'm glad you invited us, but... uh, are you sure Jalter's okay with this?"

Jeanne looked over at her counterpart, her smile never faltering. "Of course she is! Right, Alter?"

Jalter's eyes narrowed as she glared at Jeanne. "You dragged me out here against my will. How does that equal me being 'okay' with this?"

Jeanne's smile only grew, and she clasped her hands together. "Oh, don't be so grumpy! We're sisters, after all, and I thought it would be wonderful to spend some time together. Just think of it as a bonding experience!"

Jalter groaned, rolling her eyes. "We're not sisters. We're barely acquaintances, and this whole 'bonding' thing is infuriating. What do you think we are, kids playing in the sand?"

Jeanne blinked, clearly not understanding Jalter's irritation. "But playing in the sand is fun! We could build a sandcastle, swim in the ocean, or play volleyball! Come on, Alter, relax a little."

"Relax?" Jalter scoffed. "You think I can relax in a place like this? Sun, sand, and—ugh—water everywhere. This is torture, not relaxation!"

Ritsuka, sensing the rising tension, quickly stepped in between them. "How about we start with something simple? No need to jump into anything crazy right away. We could just... sit in the shade and talk, maybe?"

Jalter shot Ritsuka a look of mild approval. "Yeah, that sounds better than whatever she has in mind." She jerked her thumb toward Jeanne.

Jeanne, however, wasn't giving up so easily. "Talking is fine, but I still think we should have some fun activities together. Oh, I know! How about we collect seashells? That's always calming, and we can do it at our own pace."

Ritsuka smiled, feeling that this might be a good compromise. "That sounds nice, actually. What do you think, Jalter? We can just take a walk down the beach, no pressure."

Jalter glared at the both of them for a long moment, her crimson eyes flickering with frustration. Finally, she let out a long, exasperated sigh. "Fine. But if either of you tries to get me to splash around in the ocean, I'm going home."

Jeanne clapped her hands together in delight. "Wonderful! Let's go, Master, Alter!"

The three of them began walking down the beach, with Jeanne leading the way. She seemed to find joy in the smallest things—the sound of the waves, the warmth of the sun, and the occasional seagull that flew overhead. Jalter, on the other hand, walked a few steps behind, looking as though she were being marched to her execution. Ritsuka stayed in the middle, trying to keep the peace.

As they walked, Jeanne would occasionally stop to point out interesting seashells, holding them up for Jalter's inspection. "Look at this one! It's so perfectly shaped, like a little spiral. Doesn't it remind you of something beautiful?"

Jalter barely glanced at the shell. "It reminds me of how much I don't care."

Undeterred, Jeanne continued collecting shells, placing them in a small bag she had brought along. Ritsuka, trying to make conversation, turned to Jalter. "So, uh... what do you usually do on your days off? When you're not being dragged to the beach, I mean."

Jalter raised an eyebrow at Ritsuka. "What do I usually do? I fight. I burn things. I plot vengeance against my enemies. You know, the usual."

Jeanne, overhearing, giggled softly. "Oh, Alter, you're always so dramatic. You don't have to be so edgy all the time, you know. It's okay to enjoy the little things in life."

Jalter shot her a venomous glare. "Edgy? I'm not being edgy. I'm just being real, unlike you, with your constant sunshine-and-rainbows attitude."

"I think it's good to have a positive outlook!" Jeanne said cheerfully. "It helps keep us motivated, especially in tough times."

Jalter's eye twitched. "Positive outlook? That's your answer to everything, isn't it? Sometimes life isn't all sunshine, Jeanne. Sometimes it's... it's dark, and cruel, and—"

"And that's exactly why we need to hold onto the light!" Jeanne interrupted, her voice soft but firm. "Because if we don't, who will?"

Ritsuka, sensing another argument brewing, quickly picked up a seashell and held it out to Jalter. "Look at this one! It's... uh, really black, like... your aesthetic?"

Jalter blinked, momentarily thrown off by the sudden change in topic. She stared at the shell in Ritsuka's hand. It was indeed dark, with a sleek, glossy surface.

"Hmph. I guess it's not terrible," Jalter muttered, snatching the shell from Ritsuka's hand. She inspected it closely, as though she were looking for something deeper in its smooth surface. "It's still stupid, though."

Jeanne beamed. "See? You're already enjoying yourself, even if just a little!"

Jalter groaned. "Don't push it, idiot."

The walk continued, and though Jalter grumbled and complained, Ritsuka noticed that her scowl had softened just a bit. There were even moments when she seemed to forget her annoyance, like when they passed a small tide pool filled with colorful fish. Jeanne, of course, was delighted, crouching down to admire the tiny creatures. Jalter stayed back, pretending not to care, but Ritsuka could see the faintest glimmer of interest in her eyes.

Eventually, they found themselves back at their starting point, the bag full of seashells and the sun starting to dip lower in the sky. Jeanne smiled, satisfied with the day's events. "Thank you both for spending time with me. I had such a wonderful day, and I hope you did too."

Jalter crossed her arms. "Yeah, well, it wasn't the worst. But next time, we do something I want to do."

Jeanne's smile softened. "Of course, Jeanne Alter. I'll follow wherever you lead."

Ritsuka chuckled, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "I think we made some progress today. Maybe next time won't be so bad."

Jalter smirked, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh, trust me, next time will be very different. I'll make sure of it."

Jeanne simply smiled at her counterpart, as radiant and unshakable as ever. "I look forward to it."