Author's notes
This is the last chapter of the 2nd arc... However, this chapter also has a BGM!
I highly recommend reading with music! Just click on the video above!
START THE SONG AND ENJOY!
Fate/Grand Order: Where All Miracles Begin, SCHALE
A Visitor from Beyond (6/6)
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Time passed in the blink of an eye.
Ever since the day Abigail arrived in this world, seven days had flown by as though carried on the breeze of laughter and joy.
Yet, as with every tale, the end had to come.
And now, on her last day in Kivotos,
The time had arrived for a celebration—
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A heartfelt farewell party.
"Welcome, hacker onee-sans!"
Abigail chirped with a beaming smile as she ran to greet the newly arrived guests.
The Veritas trio—Kotama, Hare, and Maki—stepped into the vibrant atmosphere of the transformed SCHALE office.
"Hey, Abigail-chan! We're here!" Maki waved cheerfully.
"Whoa, this place looks amazing," Kotama said, looking around at the decorated windows, colorful balloons, and streamers hanging from the ceiling. From a neatly furnished office, it now turned into such a lively yet cozy place.
"Waa... you really went all out for this party, huh?" Hare said, eyeing the festive scene with approval.
Abigail chuckled proudly, the girl and her master had spent the entire evening getting the place ready for the guests. To be precise, it weren't only her and Ritsuka's doing— Yuuka and Noa helped them a lot.
"Hmm? Hare-san, you bring snacks?" Tilting her head cutely, the little girl asked as she noticed a convenience store bag in her hands.
"Yes, I brought a lot of energy drinks and also—"
"...?" Noticing a short pause, Abigail looked up at Hare's face who was exchanging glances with her friends.
"—We also brought you a little present!" Kotama said, holding out a neatly wrapped box.
Abigail gasped, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she accepted the gift. "Thank you so much! What is it?"
"Open it!" Maki urged.
Abigail carefully unwrapped the box, revealing a sleek camera. "Wow! It's a camera!"
"It's not just any camera," Kotama said with a hint of pride in her voice. "It's one that can instantly print photos. Consider it a token of apology... for, you know,last time."
Abigail giggled, hugging the camera tightly. That was indeed a very Kotama-style present. After the last incident, they'd made up— as the girl had learnt her lesson, Abigail had no lingering suspicion no longer.
"I love it! Thank you so much! I'll use it today—I'm going to take so many pictures of everyone! That way, I'll have lots to look at when I miss you all!"
The Veritas girls chuckled at the little's girl innocence. However, one thing stood out to them. It was something she was also hugging beside the newly gifted camera.
Hare pointed at the plush doll in Abigail's arms.
"Hey, isn't that the same doll Kotama-senpai... uh... hid a camera in?"
Abigail nodded, grinning. "Yes! Sensei fixed it for me. I really like it now. It's cute, isn't it?"
Kotama scratched the back of her head awkwardly while Maki stifled a laugh. "Well, I guess it all worked out in the end..."
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out from across the room.Abigail, can you come here for a moment? We need a little help in the kitchen!
Abigail turned toward the sound. "Coming, Noa-san!" She excused herself, clutching the camera and dolls as she hurried off to the kitchen.
"Wow..."
"She's sure busy today."
The Veritas trio stood by the entrance, taking in the lively scene. SCHALE's usual professional atmosphere was nowhere to be found. Walls and Windows were all decorated, even new colorful carpets were laid on the normally, boring floor. The desks had been cleared of monitors and paperwork, replaced by tables laden with steaming hot dishes, fast food, and snacks that filled the air with delicious aromas.
To their left, the kitchen bustled with activity. Abigail had joined Noa and a girl from Trinity as they carefully took trays of freshly baked cookies out of the oven. The cheerful chatter and clinking of utensils added to the party's warmth.
To their right, a group of students from different schools gathered around a gaming setup, their laughter echoing as they competed in what looked like a chaotic multiplayer match. Others stood or sat in small groups, chatting and enjoying the food and drinks.
"It's nice to see Abigail-chan has made so many friends." Hare remarked, smiling softly.
"Yeah." Maki agreed. "I see Aris-chan's club, the Engineering club... And look—they're students from different schools too. She's got Abydos and even Trinity students here."
"Looks like she left quite an impression," Kotama added with a giggle. "Not that I'm surprised. She's been all over Kivotos this past week."
As the three watched Abigail laughing with Noa and the others in the kitchen, they couldn't help but feel a bittersweet warmth.
"Let's make sure to get a group photo later." Hare suggested. "For Abigail-chan to take back with her—and for us to remember her by."
Maki nodded. "Yeah, let's do that. Let's go say hi to Sensei, shall we?"
"Mhm, but— oh well..." Hare answered, followed by a slight pause after her eyes saw the man mentioned. "Looks like we'll have to wait."
"Ahh— I swear he's always occupied, even at a party."
As they chatted, the lively party carried on.
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"Sensei!" A girl voice rang out sharply, drawing the man's attention. "Why?! Why would you put Abigail in Millennium instead of Abydos?!"
"Nn!"
In the middle of the lively party, Sensei found himself cornered by two familiar faces. Approaching him was a petite cat-eared girl with navy blue hair tied into long, twin ponytails that cascaded down to her legs. Bright cyan ribbons adorned her hair, matching the sharp glint of determination in her teal eyes. Her twitching ears betrayed her annoyance. Beside her stood a wolf girl, calm yet intimidating with flowing silver shoulder-length hair, her posture giving off a composed yet quiet authority.
It was Serika and Shiroko, two of Abydos High School's most prominent members, and from the looks of it— they were about to corner him with grievances...
Ritsuka blinked, his mind scrambling for an explanation.
"It was Shiroko senpai who found Abigail, wasn't it? And you, you—!" Serika pressed on.
"Nn, nn!" Shiroko, always the quiet one, added her affirmation
"Well..." Ritsuka hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.In truth, Wasn't it Abigail who found Shiroko?!But before he could even form a response, the frustrating cat continued, throwing her paws.
"Wealwaysneed more students! You know that better than anyone, and yet you—!"
"Nn, nn, nn!" Shiroko added, nodding thrice as though backing up Serika's every word.
Ritsuka scratched his cheek nervously. "Uh, well, you see, it was just that... that day, the Millennium Council members happened to be there, so I—uh—asked them to help..."
Serika wasn't having it. "That's it?! That's your excuse? Sensei, weren't us also Abydos's council?!"
͟͟͞͞(ᗜ‧̣̥̇) The teacher stayed silent, he had no more talkable excuse. To be fair, in all honesty, Millennium was far better equipped than Abydos. As a father—no, a master— no, a teacher— He thought it would be best for her.I'm sorry Serika, Shiroko...
Serika pouted, crossing her arms. "And another thing! Why didn't youtellus?! The next thing we know, Abigail's on her last day, and there's a whole farewell party planned!"
"Well, I was... busy?" Ritsuka offered weakly.
Serika narrowed her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "Busy? That's your excuse?!"
"Nn!" Shiroko nodded again, her arms crossed this time, as if silently echoing her comrade's discontent.
Ritsuka opened his mouth to reply but was saved by an angelic intervention.
"Sensei! Can you come here for a moment?"
A sweet voice called from across the room. Turning toward the source, Ritsuka spotted a girl with twintails standing by a nearby table, holding what seemed to receipts and a calculator in her hands. She waved him over.
"Yes! Yes, I'll be right there!" Ritsuka stammered in relief, quickly excusing himself from Serika and Shiroko's interrogation. "Well—Serika, Shiroko, I'll be back in a bit, okay?"
"What is it, Yuukaaa?"
The cat-eared girl huffed, glaring after him as he escaped.
"Hmph. (ꐦㅍ _ㅍ)"
Serika turned to Shiroko, her cat ears flicking with irritation. "That girl... Yuuka, wasn't it? I think I had seen her before though."
Shiroko remained silent, her piercing gaze locked onto Yuuka and Ritsuka.
"Ahh, she's the one we bumped into at the aquarium, right? The one who took a group photo for us?"
Shiroko nodded in response.
"Wait, Shiroko-senpai!— isn't she the rumored girl who's been going in and out of SCHALE all the time? Some people even said she mightlivehere!" Serika whispered conspiratorially. "I even heard shenagsSensei in public! What kind of relationship do you think they have?"
Shiroko didn't respond, but her cold, stern gaze darkened slightly. There had been a rumor about Sensei having a secret wife lately. In the wolf girl's mind, she wondered what relationship they have— for a student to nag her teacher. Importantly, they looked very close, their conversation was audible from where they were standing too.
Sensei! Didn't you go way overboard with this party's expenses? Look at how much you spent! And all this food?! What about the leftovers?
Well, uh, Yuuka— We've never had parties before, so—
Sensei! This is too much! Even if it's for Abigail, it's too much! You do remember this is coming out of your salary, right? You can't refund this from SCHALE's budget!
"..."
"..."
Serika and Shiroko exchanged wide-eyed glances.
"She... she oversees his finances?" Serika muttered, her voice tinged with disbelief. Moreover, from what she heard, they weren't just SCHALE's— His personal finance too!
"Is she... asserting dominance?"
Shiroko didn't answer the shocked Serika. From outsider's perspective, she may seemed stoic and expressionless, however, from inside— it was a different story. The air around her grew colder as her inner thoughts howled. Deep down in her jewel-liked eyes, there burnt a cold flame of determination.
A rival... a formidable rival exists in Millennium.
Seemed like her 'Oops, Sensei, we meet again.' at every street corner was too soft, the wolf girl knew she had to up her game to keep up.
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After Yuuka finally wrapped up her tirade, the teacher felt like he had just survived a grueling trial. With a tired yet relieved sigh, he made his way to the middle table, his throat parched and energy drained. Even though it was Yuuka doing the complaining, it felt as though he had taken the brunt of it.
The man's goal? Very simple— to replenish his energy as well as to share them with Yuuka, it had become a routine for him to make up with her after long naggings.
"Ara... Sensei."
Just as he reached for a snack, a sweet, cheerful voice called out beside him.
Turning, he saw Noa, her amethyst eyes glowing softly as she approached with a tray of freshly baked cookies, their aroma wafting temptingly into the air. "Wow, that smells nice."
"Sensei, would you like some cookies? They just came out of the oven," Noa offered, her tone gentle and warm.
Ritsuka gave her a grateful smile. "Don't mind if I do. Thank you, Noa." He picked one up, savoring the soft texture and sweetness.
Before he could say more, another voice joined in, this one dripping with sweetness and carrying a subtle, seductive undertone.
"Sensei~ , would you also like somemilkto go with that?"
Ritsuka froze. He didn't need to look to recognize that voice. Beside Noa stood Hanako, her long, wavy pink hair cascading over her shoulders, framing her alluring smile. Her half-lidded eyes sparkled mischievously as she gazed at him.
The teacher's internal monologue instantly kicked in:Why does she always do this? Can't she behave like a normal student?
"No, thank you, Hanako," he replied as firmly as possible, choosing a soft drink instead.
"Oh, Sensei." Hanako teased, her smile growing sly. "You don't know what you're missing ."
Before Ritsuka could respond, another soft, sweet voice interjected.
"Sensei, please make sure to drink enough fluids. Dehydration isn't good for you." A blonde girl said kindly as she placed down another tray of breads and buns.
"Thanks, Nonomi." Ritsuka replied, relieved by the shift in tone.
As he stood there with cookies in hand, he glanced at the trio.
Noa, Hanako, and Nonomi— It was a group he didn't expect. Still, their dynamics was undeniable. Noa's calmness and thoughtfulness, Nonomi's considerateness and cheerfulness, and Hanako's... Well, if he ignored Hanako's dirty jokes, perhaps their shared sweet personalities were the reason they got along so well.
Nonetheless— for some unknown reasons, he felt somewhat afraid of the trio.
"By the way, isn't Abigail with you all?" Ritsuka asked.
Noa, the unofficial mother figure to Abigail, pointed to the far corner of the room. "She's over there—" she said with a smile. "You can probably hear them from here."
Jajaaaan! I won again!"
Wait, how?! Is this really your first time playing?! And you even did it with your eyes closed?!
Waaaaa, Ichika-san is amazing!
Following Noa's gesture, Ritsuka's gaze fell on a lively group of students gathered around a game in progress. Abigail stood among them, smiling brightly, her hands raised in victory— fully absorbed in the game as she cheered for others. The little girl also talked to Aris, her good friend from the Game Development Department— maybe it was their similar mental game so they got along. In addition, Hifumi and Azusa discussed plushies with Abigail, their eyes lighting up with enthusiasm especially when it came to Peroro-sama.
At the same time, Ichika sat smugly in her seat, victorious in her first attempt at the game, while Momoi and Midori looked at her in disbelief. The girl was always good at everything she got her hands on, so good that the gamer girls recruited her for their competitive scrim. Nearby, even the Veritas girls and members of the Engineering Club mingled with Abydos students, chatting, laughing, and making connections.
Ritsuka's faint smile grew as he observed the scene. Despite coming from different schools, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. The room was filled with warmth and camaraderie.
As the party continued, the festivities turned into a series of lively games. Some were competitive, likeWerewolf, where students lied, bluffed, and pledged, growing closer through the shared chaos. Others, like theWhisper Game, tested how much of the original message survived the chain of whispers.
Snap!
The sound of a camera echoed in the room. Ritsuka lowered his phone after snapping a candid photo of the students.
"Yayyy! I won!" Abigail's cheerful voice rang out, drawing everyone's attention.
"Haaa... how?! You're so small, but—" Yuuka trailed off, her frustration evident as she looked at Abigail, who was celebrating her victory in a game of musical chairs.
Despite her own loss, Yuuka had managed to reach second place. Her thick thighs had proven to be formidable opponents, pushing others off chairs with surprising force, but Abigail's quick reflexes and nimble movements had ultimately won the day.
The room erupted in laughter as Abigail held her prize high, her smile lighting up the entire party.
But not all games were competitions. For example,Who Knows Abigail the Bestquiz. Unsurprisingly, Noa won flawlessly, having lived with Abigail and memorized every tiny detail about her habits and preferences. Yuuka, despite spending plenty of time with Abigail, couldn't compare to Noa's level of meticulous observation.
Even in the midst of the chaos, Abigail remained the main character of the party, her bright laughter and radiant energy making everyone smile.
"And the winner is... Noa-san!" Ayane declared with enthusiasm, clapping. In her hands, still holding were small flashcards fromWho Knows Abigail the Bestquiz.
The room erupted into cheers and applause as Noa stepped forward with her usual composed smile. Abigail hopped up to meet her, holding the winner's prize—a soft black cat pillow plush, the perfect size for hugging while sleeping.
"Noa-san! Congratulations!" Abigail beamed, handing over the plush.
"Thank you, Abigail-chan," Noa replied warmly, accepting the prize and hugging it gently.
Yuuka, watching the cute exchange, immediately thought of capturing the moment. The treasurer reached into her pocket for her phone, but Abigail noticed her movement and quickly dashed over, camera in hand.
"Yuuka-san! Use this one!" Abigail said, thrusting her newly gifted camera into Yuuka's hands.
Yuuka blinked in surprise but smiled, realizing Abigail must be thrilled to use her new gift. "Alright, alright. Say cheese!"
Abigail rushed back to Noa's side, and the two posed with the black cat plush.
Snap!
With the two people in the frames and their postures readied, Yuuka snapped the photo. After a few seconds, the camera instantly printed a small, glossy photo of the smiling pair.
"Perfect!" The girl admired as she captured the lovely duo.
"Hmm? Wow, that comes out really good." A man's voice rang beside her. It was just then, she noticed Ritsuka was also there, holding his phone up to take a picture as well.
"Sensei! Make sure you take lots of photos, okay? I'll get those from you later!" Yuuka said with a playful smile.
"Of course." Ritsuka replied warmly as he continued snapping photos of the party. It was Abigail who asked him to take all these pictures. She wanted everyone else to focus on having fun while she could keep these memories to look back on later. As a result, no student even raised their phone— it was only him, doing the deed.
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As hours passed, the party was winding down as the night grew later.
Plates of food were now mostly empty, and the last of the games had been played. Students were chatting in small groups, sharing laughs and exchanging contacts as the evening drew to a close.
Ritsuka clapped his hands together, gaining the room's attention. "Thank you, everyone, for coming to Abigail's farewell party." he said sincerely, his voice carrying warmth and gratitude.
The students responded with cheers and applause, some calling out.
"Abigail-chan, are you really leaving?" Nonomi asked.
"When will you come back again?" Hifumi further added with hope in her eyes.
The Millennium students, specifically the Veritas members and Seminar members, exchanged glances.
Hearing the questions, Abigail's cheerful smile faltered for a brief second, turning solemn. But when she looked up again, her radiant smile returned.
"I'm going to a very far, far place. The same place Sensei is from! I don't know when I'll return... but I promise I'll tell you when I do!"
The students nodded and smiled, accepting her answer.
Out of nowhere, Noa and Yuuka approached Abigail. In her Noa's hand, she held a neatly wrapped bag with the Millennium logo printed on the front.
"Abigail-chan, this is for you."
To receive a parting gift, especially from those two who had always been with her— providing everything from shelter and food, it was surely unexpected to receive more for them.
The little girl blinked in surprise, taking the bag carefully. Inside, she found a new Millennium uniform—more mature and tailored for a high school student. It included a neatly folded white suit jacket and a new outer oversized jacket.
"Since we don't know when you'll return, we thought this would be a nice gift." Noa explained with her signature warm smile. "This way, you'll always remember that you're part of Millennium. And if it takes longer than expected, you'll already have your high school uniform ready."
"Noa-san...?"
Enjoying Abigail's cute reaction, Yuuka added with a playful grin, "We also chose this design because, well... you're always so close to Noa. So yeah..."
Abigail's eyes sparkled with joy as she hugged both Noa and Yuuka tightly. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"
"Awww, that's so cute..."
The bystanders smiled fondly at the heartwarming scene. Abigail and Noa looked more like mother and daughter than just friends or schoolmates.
In the background, Serika muttered in shock, impressed by what she see. "Is this how big schools win over students? I have to take notes..."
"Abby, you gift isn't finished yet."
"Eh? Master-san...?"
Drawing the attention of the hugging group, Abigail tilted her head curiously as she stepped back to look at her master. Ritsuka approached the trio with a warm smile, holding something wrapped in simple yet elegant paper.
He knelt slightly to her level, presenting the item to her. As she unwrapped it carefully, her eyes widened. "A... photo album?"
He nodded, chuckling softly. "Yes. Even though it was quickly put together, Noa, Yuuka, and I worked on it. We used the pictures you took with your new camera and compiled them into this album. We thought it'd be something nice for you to take back."
Her hands trembled slightly as she carefully opened the album.
The first page revealed a photo of her first day in her Millennium uniform, standing proudly next to Noa and Yuuka. The next pages were filled with various moments—her sleeping face on a desk, scribbles on Noa's notebook, laughing with her classmates, playing games with other students, and even some of tonight's farewell party.
As she turned the pages, her eyes turned misty— droplets of water formed as her eyes glistened with tears.
"Master-san... everyone..." Abigail's voice cracked as tears began to flow down her cheeks.
The room grew quiet, but it wasn't an awkward silence—it was one of warmth and understanding. Everyone watched with soft smiles as the little girl sobbed, overwhelmed with joy.
Next to the little girl, Noa knelt beside her, gently petting her head. Everyone here all had the same thought, they were all happy to had been a part of her memories here.
Ritsuka stood back, watching the scene unfold. The sight of Abigail's tears, not from sadness but from pure gratitude and love, warmed his heart deeply.
Suddenly, Abigail wiped her tears and looked toward the balcony. Without a word, she walked over to it, her gaze fixed on the star-filled night sky. The others exchanged glances before following her quietly.
Ritsuka stepped beside her, gently placing a hand on her head. "Abby?"
The little girl didn't look away from the stars, but she leaned into his touch. "It's so beautiful, Master-san... It feels like the stars are wishing me a safe journey."
Ritsuka smiled faintly. "You know, Abby, everyone here is going to miss you." He turned back to the group of students gathered behind them. "But for now, it's getting late. Let's call it a night."
The students nodded, though the atmosphere was bittersweet.
Ritsuka added teasingly, "Still, it's all your fault, everyone. Look, she's crying because you overwhelmed her with too much love!"
The students laughed at his playful tone.
Hifumi, ever warm-hearted, stepped forward and wrapped Abigail in a gentle hug. "We'll miss you, Abigail-chan. Make sure to text us as soon as you return, okay?"
Hanako was next, pulling Abigail into an overly dramatic embrace. "Don't forget me, okay? And don't forget to bring back something cute from wherever you're going!"
Aris approached with a quiet smile and joined the growing hug pile. "Take care of yourself. We'll be waiting for you."
More students followed, joining in the heartfelt moment. Abigail, surrounded by the warmth of her new friends, wiped her tears and nodded, smiling brightly through her sniffles.
"Thank you... everyone..."
Abigail turned her back to the crowd, her small shoulders trembling. She hugged the plushies tightly against her chest, her voice breaking the atmosphere.
"...I should've visited you quietly. Maybe it would've been better if I hadn't gotten to know any of you..."
Ritsuka froze, recognizing the pain in her words. Taking a step forward, he gently called out to her. "Abby..."
His voice was calm but carried the weight of someone who had seen too many farewells. "Parting is a sorrowful thing. Believe me, I know."
Abigail remained still, her head lowered.
Ritsuka continued, his voice steady but filled with deep emotion. "When you lose someone, you'll think—if only I hadn't met them, if only I hadn't gotten close—then it wouldn't hurt so much. But that's wrong, Abby." He stepped closer, his eyes filled with understanding.
After going through numbers of singularities and lostbelts, he understood it more than anyone. However—
"What matters most is the time you spent with them, the memories you made together. Those memories... they don't disappear. They stay with you, forever."
Learning the meaning behind his words, Abigail nodded slowly, her back still facing them— refusing to show her face to anyone else.
"Master-san, I've made my choice."
"—?"
Paying no attention to Ritsuka, the little girl's voice reached the students.
"Even though I've only known everyone for a short time, this past week was the most fun I've ever had." Her voice cracked, but she pressed on, her words spilling out like a confession. "I got to experience things I never thought I could—school life, going to class, living in a dorm, playing with everyone..."
"Thank you, Noa-san. Thank you, Yuuka-san, for giving me this opportunity."
Clutching the plushies tighter, she added with a bittersweet smile. "All these gifts I received... I'll treasure them forever."
The Veritas and Make-Up Work Club girls exchanged glances, smiling faintly as Abigail mentioned the Peroro doll and the problematic teddy bear, yet there was a strange unease in the air —a sense that this farewell was more final than it seemed.
Noa stepped forward. "Even if we don't know when you'll come back, it's not like we'll forget about you, silly girl."
Abigail's shoulders shook, and though she smiled faintly.
"Abby..." Ritsuka muttered.
The little girl finally turned to face him, she confessed. "Master-san, last night... I had a bad dream."
"..."
Abigail hesitated before speaking, her voice trembling. "At first, I thought it was just a bad dream. But no—it wasn't. It was a warning... or maybe... a glimpse of the future."
"Alaya showed me a vision. Next to Alaya, I saw... something else. The mastermind—the true cause of this singularity..."
"I'm sorry, Master-san." she said softly, her voice almost a whisper.
"I should've told you earlier and more, but... now that I've visited you, it's time for me to return. Everyone in Chaldea misses you—"
"—But this ordeal is something you have to face alone. I shouldn't interfere... much less mess up with your ongoing trial..."
"And so do the students..."
"To protect them from the unforeseeable harm, this is the only solution."
"Abby, what do you mean—"
"To erase my mistake... and to prevent that future becoming true..."
Her gaze softened as she looked at him. Her lips curled into a playful, mischievous smile. The little girl had made her mind.
"Master-san, I'm going to be a bad child."
"Abigail-chan?" Noa's voice trembled as she stepped forward.
"Don't tell me... Abby, you—" Ritsuka started, but Abigail interrupted him.
"Master-san." she said sweetly with a hint of playfulness.
"I'll be rooting for your success ( ᵕ )"
Abigail turned away, stepping into the moonlight spilling onto the balcony. Her small frame seemed almost ethereal as the glow illuminated her figure. Her student uniform transformed into a black dress, shimmering as if woven from starlight itself. Her blonde hair caught the light, the delicate ribbons fluttering softly in the night breeze.
She turned back one last time, her blue eyes glistening with dried tears yet sparkling with determination. She had made her decision. With a genuine smile, the naughty girl sweetly looked at everyone.
With hope and promise—
To see them again.
"Onee-sans... One day, we'll meet again."
The students gasped, frozen by the sight before them. Golden orbs of light began to swirl around the little girl, dancing like fireflies in the moonlight. The light grew brighter, almost divine, casting a warm glow over everyone. With a warm and gentle voice like lullaby, she continued.
"And until that day comes..."
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"Please... forget about me."
Noa instinctively rushed forward. "Abigail-chan—!"
But the short distance seemed impossibly far. The light grew so bright that even the moon seemed dim in comparison.
Abigail's childish voice echoed one last time. "Noa-san, thank you for taking care of me."
"Goodbye—, Onee-sans."
The light engulfed the room, blinding everyone momentarily. In just a span of moment, shadows vanished, and so as the little girl's silhouette.
When it faded, she was gone.
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The students lay peacefully on the ground, as if lulled to sleep by the warmth of the light. Only Ritsuka remained standing, staring silently at the starry sky above.
The only thing missing was the presence of a naughty little girl.
The man revealed a faint smile as the bright stars in the sky flickered as if answering his response.
"So that's your decision, Abby."
To prevent her friends from risks and harms, she decided to remain a stranger to them. The little girl must have struggled to make that choice. Though he didn't fully understand everything, he trusted Abigail. If she believed it was for the best, then so did he.
If Abigail didn't explain it to him, that could only mean he was not supposed to know— may be not yet or not through her.
Nonetheless, to think that Alaya even directly intervene to ask Abigail out of the stage, this matter surely shouldn't involve any of his student.
The wind rustled softly, carrying with it the faintest echo of her laughter.
In the quiet of the night, a man's whisper echoed with a gentle breeze.
"Goodbye, Abby."
"—Until we meet again."
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The sun rose gently over the city, its golden rays streaming through the windows of SCHALE, casting a warm glow across the room. Birds chirped softly in the distance, their melodies harmonizing with the rustle of the morning breeze. Inside, the remnants of last night's festivities lay scattered—a testament to the laughter and joy that had filled the air just hours ago.
One by one, the students began to stir, their groggy murmurs breaking the morning silence. Blankets shifted, arms stretched, and sleepy eyes blinked against the sunlight. They found themselves sprawled out on the floor, surrounded by friends from different schools.
Did we really party this hard?
Why were we even having a party?
One after another student mumbled, scratching their heads in confusion.
The murmurs grew, but amidst the chatter, one thing became apparent—no one mentioned a name. No one asked whose farewell they had gathered to celebrate. The name of the little girl, so central to the past week, had vanished from their lips, as though it had been gently plucked from their memories.
Even those who had been closest to her—the ones who had laughed, played, and shared moments with her—did not speak her name. It was as if the events of the past seven days had dissolved into an ephemeral dream, leaving behind only a vague sense of warmth and melancholy.
Yuuka was the last to wake, her face buried stubbornly in a pillow as she grumbled. The man swore that no matter how often he saw it, Yuuka's ability to sleep through anything would always surprise him. He couldn't fathom how she managed to show up on time for her duties at all.
In contrast, Noa had already woken up. She sat up gracefully, her violet eyes glancing down at her arms, where she noticed a soft plushie tucked snugly against her chest.
"Hmm?" Noa tilted her head, holding up the plushie. "Why do I have this?"
The teacher paused mid-step, his expression flickering for a moment before he answered. "It's yourreward, youwonit." he said with a faint, warm smile.
Noa's gaze lingered on the plushie, a small smile curling at her lips.
And so, the morning carried on. The students shook off the remnants of sleep, chatting about trivial matters and laughing about the mess they'd made during the party. They joked about snacks, games, and Yuuka's epic defeat in musical chairs.
But not a single word was spoken about the little girl. Not a single memory of her surfaced.
The past week, with all its joy and chaos, had faded like a fleeting dream, leaving behind no trace but a subtle, unexplainable warmth in their hearts.
Life has a way of pressing forward, even when the heart lingers in the past. The students of Kivotos returned to their routines. Classes resumed, clubs carried on, and the bustling energy of their daily lives left little room for lingering questions. The warmth they had felt, though fleeting and unexplainable, became just another part of the city's vibrant heartbeat.
Every day became normal once again.
.
.
.
.
.
The night was quiet in the Millennium girls' dorms. A soft breeze drifted through the open window of Noa's room, ruffling the curtains. The faint glow of the city outside filtered in, casting shadows on the walls.
Noa sat at her desk, staring at her neatly organized papers. Despite the late hour, she wasn't sleepy. It was strange—she had spent countless late nights as Millennium's diligent secretary, yet tonight felt different. The silence of the room, the stillness of the air, it all felt... too empty.
Her gaze wandered to the bed she had slept in for years. It felt unusually large, as though it lacked something—or someone. Her eyes landed on the plush doll lying beside her pillow.
The black cat doll was soft, with oversized eyes and a curious little smile. It wasn't something she would have kept for herself, not at her age. And yet, she couldn't bring herself to put it away.
Her fingers traced the fabric of the doll as her mind drifted.
Did I participate in a game? An observer like me?... When did I even get this?
The memory was foggy, as though something vital had slipped through her fingers. But the more she stared at the doll, the more it exuded a sensation—not warm and charismatic, but sweet and endearing.
That's when it struck her.
.
.
She had forgotten something. Something important.
Her heart raced as she shot up from her chair and moved to her desk. Noa's hands deftly pulled out notebooks and binders, flipping through them one by one.
Page after page, she scanned her meticulous notes—records she had made as a secretary. And there, amidst meeting schedules and student rosters, she found them...
Childlike handwriting.
Scribbles of cats.
Junior high problem sets.
Notes she hadn't written herself.
Her breath caught as the pieces clicked into place. The memories she couldn't recall were there, carefully documented in her own hand.
Her first meeting— her first day at school— the late nights spent helping with quizzes— Her secret reveal— and the farewell party.
Though her mind couldn't recall, her diligent habit of recording everything had given her back the missing pieces of her heart.
The corners of Noa's lips lifted in a soft smile as she closed the notebook.
If they wanted to keep this a secret— then she won't say a word. she'll honorherwish.
The words of her teacher echoed in her mind:
" didn't cause you trouble, did she?"
Noa laughed softly, leaning back in her chair as the blurry impressions of a little girl's playful smile surfaced in her thoughts.
"She was such a handful..." She said, her voice tinged with affection. Her gaze drifted to the plush doll on her bed, the faintest shimmer of warmth in her amethyst eyes. Her fingers brushed against the doll as she spoke her final words for the night, carried only by the quiet breeze.
"We'll see each other again, silly girl."
.
.
.
"Take care of yourself, Abigail-chan."
FIN.
Author's notes
And there it is everyone! Thank you for joining the ride, the 2nd arc is finished! (Almost 40k words!) How was it? Do you like the ending? What do you expect in the future? Feel free to comment down below! I really appreciate your supports and am very happy for chitchat!
And since an entire arc in finished, NEXT,SEE YOU IN THE NEXT SIDE STORY! Spoiler: It will be a long one, even longer than the 'Game Development Department and The Hero Party'.
Author rant time:
If you are wondering (or protesting): "GIVE US ABIGAIL BACK!" "She needs Happy ending!" "Why bittersweet ending?!"
- Well... to be honest, I want Ritsuka to be the core plot of the story, so any Chaldean servant must not disturb the power balance at all cost (at least until Vol.F). However, Chaldean servants would feature as cameos or even main charactersmainlyin side stories.
-About ending, (I would call this 'True ending') the reason I didn't go for 'Happy ending' are because I think the story still has too many knots, undiscovered lores, and is too soon to have a happy ending. Secondly, maybe I have watched too many Nasu works that I prefer bittersweet ending(?) Thirdly,THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON: If this is Blue Archive game, this arc is 'A Visitor from Beyond: Chapter 1'. So you know...THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ABIGAIL'S ARC IN THE FUTURE ⸜(ˆᗜˆ )⸝ .
Moreover, if the students know: they can be too prepared for Vol.F and that would significantly hurt me since the planned plot was to skip unnecessary stuffs like what I did in Foreclosure Task Force.
I hope the above reasons explain the bittersweet ending! Our little girl hasn't truly exited the stage yet! This was only her first visit! So stay tuned in the future! ｡٩(ˊᗜˋ )و*｡
-Why I need to skip some stories?In all honesty, repeating the same stuffs in BA stories would be super boring if they were changed, I felt they have to make A LOT of impact (meaning: if changed, it had to change A LOT or else it'd still be like "meh, what's the difference? original is better ya shouldn't have changed.") I also don't have that much time to be repeating most of the contents as I want to focus on this story's unique arc and side stories (i.e. A Visitor from Beyond is the first original arc). As the sole author and illustrator, I already have my hands full (ToT).
Thanks all, I'm thankful to have you all read my fanfiction! See you in the future update!