Though it was only the fourth time meeting her, Ritsuka was still taken back by how differently Fu Hua was looking at him. The previous affectionate gaze she held was replaced by a more reserved one—there was no other explanation for such a distinct difference other than this was far earlier in her life.

"You called me that again," she suddenly stated, bringing Ritsuka back to reality. "It's just Hua."

'Huh? Oh, right…' Ritsuka recalled her mentioning before that her name was slightly different depending on time; guess this was what Fu Hua meant. "Sorry, I'm still getting used to this."

"To what?" Hua asked, raising an eyebrow at him before shaking her head. "Never mind. I don't want to sound rude but can you leave? I want to be alone with my thoughts." Ritsuka figured she was still unaware of the true nature of their meetings; he could tell her but knew it was better for her to figure it out on her own. However, what she said afterwards was no good.

While he might be overstepping a bit, he could not stop himself from asking, "What's bothering you?"

"You do know nobody likes a busybody." Hua rolled her eyes with a huff. "Isn't there anyone else here you talk to? I've never seen you with another person besides me."

'Uh…' "I only talk to people I like," Ritsuka came up with an excuse on the spot.

Hua's expression was unreadable as she stared at him. "...If that's your idea of flirting, I have to tell you you stink at it."

"Huh?! Wait, no—! I don't mean—" Ritsuka sputtered out and felt his face heating up as Hua snickered at him under her breath. "I'm just trying to be friendly, okay? You look like you need one."

His second excuse made her scoff this time. "I'm not here to make friends. I'm a soldier first and foremost."

'A soldier?' Ritsuka had to do a double-take at her declaration. While she did have the dignity and stiff demeanor one might expect of a soldier, her appearance gave Ritsuka some doubt. The uniform she had wasn't any sort of uniform he recognized so it's likely this place was a private military company or something similar. Also— "Aren't you a bit too young to be a soldier?"

While he didn't know her exact age, Ritsuka believed Fu Hua to be pretty close to his (just a lot more mature). Hua, meanwhile, was ever so slightly shorter and didn't carry the same feeling of sage wisdom Fu Hua had during their first two meetings. Besides, she also said he had known for a long time so this had to be years before.

Hua, however, only glared at him for his unfiltered comment. "My age doesn't matter. I can and am willing to fight for humanity."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you," Ritsuka wholeheartedly apologized. Then again, he had little standing too since he wasn't even of legal age in several parts of the world.

"...Why are you bothering me? Don't you have anywhere else to be?"

Maybe, but Ritsuka didn't think he had a choice in the matter. "I just want to help you with your problem. You looked concerned about something."

The young soldier remained silent and didn't even glance at him. Ritsuka briefly thought about dropping the topic before she quietly confessed, "You're not the only one judging me for my age, you know?"

"...People are just worried," Ritsuka tried to say but he knew that might not be the case.

"They could also see me as extra weight," she replied with a frown. "I'll admit I'm still green in this place but all they've given me are cleanup duties and evacuations. I'm not saying those aren't important but... I want to do more to help."

"...Then just keep doing your best." Ritsuka knew that advice was incredibly generic but he truly believed that was what she should do. "I can't say for everyone, but others here should share the same thought— to do the best they could with what they could do. That's what I hope anyway. All you can do is try to match them and hope others will see it."

"Has anyone told you you're naive?" Scoffed Hua at his op.

Her first comment made Ritsuka chuckle. "Maybe I am but I'd rather that than being cynical and gloomy."

Hua fell silent again before finally giving in. "I'll try doing it your way then. Short of demanding the higher-ups, what else could I do?"

"Don't worry, I know you can do it." Ritsuka gave her a reassuring smile. "No matter what, I believe in you."

"...You really are a weirdo, aren't you?" A small laugh broke through her moody expression which made Ritsuka smile wider.

"Hua, are you here?" Unfortunately, the moment between them ended with a female voice suddenly calling from the other end of the hallway. Both of them looked up but as Ritsuka blinked, he found himself back in the middle of Chaldea's hall.

"...Just like that, huh?" He sighed before shaking his head. Guess that was something he'd have to get used to; he just hoped Hua would actually take his advice.

For now though, his stomach was grumbling…

The mission into the Second Singularity started well.

…As well as it could, probably. Either way, after all the beginning chaos, the team found themselves as guests of honour in Rome itself thanks to allying themselves with Nero. That naturally included being given the best bed chambers to stay in for the duration of their stay. Still, Ritsuka found himself sighing deeply as he sat on the bed. Once again, he had barely gotten out of a dangerous scenario by relying on someone else's help. This time, the Roman Emperor… who was a girl despite being recorded as a man. How did that happen again?

Well, whatever. But what got him thinking was how she was able to fight on par with Servants and magical beings despite being a living human. "Maybe the people of the past are just built different," he quietly mused to himself before shaking his head and wiping his forehead clear of sweat. "Damn this heat… I should sleep, I have a long day tomorrow."

With a sigh, Ritsuka laid down on the bed and flipped onto his side… only to come face to face with a sleeping Fu Hua. "Huh?!" Ritsuka nearly shouted but managed to keep his mouth shut. She looked so peaceful and was softly snoring as she dozed away. Ritsuka instinctually looked down to take in her appearance again but quickly realized something: she was only wearing a slightly oversized blue shirt as far as he could tell.

He had partially expected her to show up but not like this!

"...tsuka…" she muttered before moving closer and wrapping her arms around his neck; Ritsuka flinched as he felt her rest her head under his chin and nuzzle into his chest. His heart beat faster as he tried to process what was going on. He could also feel his face warming up from the affectionate gesture.

'Calm down, deep breaths.' Ritsuka tried his best to follow what he was telling himself but found it incredibly difficult. He had elected to only wear some lightwear kindly provided by Nero due to the heat but that meant he could now feel Fu Hua's bare thighs brushing against his. 'What have I done to deserve this torture?!'

Oh well… it could have been wors— "Mhmm?!"

…Never mind, it got worse. "Don't. Don't. Don't. Don't," he chanted in his mind as he fought against his body's reaction to Fu Hua's closeness. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do; the only way things could get worse now was if she woke— "...Ritsuka? Oh, again huh?"

'I should stop thinking.'

"Hey…" Ritsuka coughed out with his face replicating a tomato. He hoped Fu Hua would realize how close she was and let go… but she didn't— in fact, she did the opposite. She only snuggled closer to him. The bright side was that he could tell now that she was wearing something down there. The downside though was Fu Hua could also feel his body's reaction to hers.

"That excited to see me, huh?" An admittedly cute laugh escaped her lips. "It's been a while since the last time— for me, anyway." Ritsuka did not know if she meant it had been a while since they last met or… something else. "Where are we this time?"

"Uh… Rome."

"Mmm… Rome, huh? I barely remember when I last visited... Wait, Rome?" Her eyes snapped open in realization. Her reaction was immediate: she let out a small yelp as she basically jumped back… and straight off the bed, crashing loudly on the floor. In another second, she shot to her feet with her face redder than his. "Sorry! I didn't— I should've asked first— Sorry!"

"Don't worry, it's fine." Ritsuka tried to calm her down before noticing something. "…How did you get that shirt?" He didn't see at first but now the design on the shirt was unmistakable; the blue Arts was the exact same as the one in his wardrobe in Chaldea.

Fu Hua only glanced down at "her" shirt before looking back at him. "I… found it."

Uh-huh… Well, Ritsuka's previous suspicions of their relationship's nature was confirmed now. There was no way she'd be acting like that if they weren't… He'd need to take a moment to process that information.

"But it is early days for you, right?" Fu Hua hesitantly asked to which Ritsuka slowly nodded in confirmation. For a few seconds, she stayed silent— BANG! —until she slammed her fist into the nearby wall, cracking it. "...Sorry, I'm a little frustrated."

"I got that." Whatever he felt, she probably had it worse.

However, her superpowered punch was likely felt by those in the rooms next to his. "Senpai?! Did something happen?!" He heard Mash's panicked voice through the walls before hearing heavy and rapid footsteps.

"Sorry, I have to leave you to deal with this," Fu Hua quietly apologized before his door swung open.

"Senpai! Are you okay?!"

Technically, Fu Hua did what she usually did as his mind was far away from what was bothering him earlier. Only now he has to deal with calming Mash down as she inspected the cracked wall left behind…