That was a rather heavy claim they just heard. The young man… Ritsuka's son… Mash couldn't make heads or tails about it. He certainly looked like the missing Master, but she needed more, not just for her own sake, but also the others that would demand proof. That led to them bringing him to the medical bay to run a blood test. Kousei, as he was so named, complied without a complaint.

Well, more so he wasn't saying anything due to understanding the weight of the situation. Mash thought he simply had no idea what to say; though she herself and the others are no better on that front. Silence filled the infirmary as they waited for the results and…

BEEP!

Sion was quick to check the computer, taking only a moment to read the results. "…There is no doubt about it, what he said was the truth," she glanced towards Kousei, who was sitting on one of the beds. "He is Ritsuka's son, or at the very least an immediate relative."

"So that means…" Mash muttered, already realising what was going on. "Senpai has been trapped in that other timeline for…"

"A little over 20 years," Kousei confirmed with a short nod. "He… told me stories about his time here while I was growing up. Dad always believed that you guys would never stop trying to find him after he got stranded. I suppose he was right… but I didn't think any of us expected this would end up happening."

Mash wished Kousei didn't say that— it just made her feel worse for taking so long. Sure, they can hardly be blamed for failing to consider that time would run differently on the other side but… "20 years…" It didn't stop her from feeling they had failed Ritsuka in a way.

"...How old are you, if I may ask?" Da Vinci asked after processing what Kousei said to which he answered he was turning 17 in a couple of months. "So about 3 years after Ritsuka got stuck in that… your timeline?"

"Hmm… thereabout," shrugged Kousei who was not one hundred percent sure of how long it's been. "From what he and mom told me, they met right when he arrived in her timeline. They only got married shortly before having me."

"Your… mother?" Right as she settled down from the previous shock, another detail finally caught up to her. Ritsuka had found love after getting stuck in that other timeline… and had a son… They had taken so long to save him that Ritsuka settled down and lived his life as a normal person. Mash could only silently apologise to him as she had been doing for the past three weeks. "…What's her name?"

"Fu Hua," Kousei answered with a soft smile, letting out a small laugh as he thought of his mother. "She helped dad out of a jam when he got stuck in her world and they've been nearly inseparable since. That's what the others told me anyway."

"I… see…" muttered Mash. A part of her was naturally upset and confused at this turn of events but at the same time… she was happy for Ritsuka. He was always doubtful of being able to return to a normal life, even after settling the crisis, so she was glad he was able to take this chance at happiness. On the other hand, she was also scared of the impending chaos from a few (dozen) Servants; not only did they fail to bring Ritsuka back, but they ended up pulling his son.

Evidently, the others realised that too if the slight tense look in their faces were of any indication. Da Vinci then interjected with a question of her own: "Others?"

"Hmm? Oh I mean some family friends," Kousei explained before listing off some names while counting his fingers. "Aunt Teri, Gruncle Welt, Aunt Bronya, Aunt Mei, Uncle Adam though they didn't meet until years after. There's also Aunt Griseo and—"

"Okay, okay, we get it. No need to mention all of them." Da Vinci sighed, feeling a headache coming along as she thought of how she'd do damage control for the incoming uproar. She wondered if Kousei would agree to being locked up in the holding cell for his own safety. She shuddered to think what one of the more… possessive Servants might do to him, let alone the down right unhinged ones. "So Ritsuka got stuck there, made friends, settled down, and had you. That's the gist of it, right?"

"Well… it wasn't just me but yes."

Kousei's confession only caused confusion for a second before they realised what he meant. "You have siblings?"

"A few, yes. I'm the oldest but not by much," he elaborated with a small nod. "Hikari is a couple months younger than me."

A couple of months? How is that pos…sible… Damn it, Ritsuka. "Really?" Da Vinci gave an incredulous look as she realised what that means. Unless pregnancies happen faster there, that could only mean Hikari had a different mother than Kousei.

"Ah, right. I should have mentioned that too," Kousei sheepishly chuckled as the topic slipped his mind. "I also have an aunt that's… well, closer to dad than one would assume. She's sort of mom's twin… It's a long story. Oddly enough, Hikari takes after my mom more than she does hers."

…Guess even in another world, some things just don't change. That'll complicate matters more…

A/N: No AN for this so uh... yeah.