She generally didn't have much difficulty falling asleep. That didn't mean she could just get in bed and drift off, but Fu Hua was not the type to be kept all night with her thoughts recently. Of course, that naturally changed the previous night with Ritsuka's arrival and it was worse now that he was sleeping down the hallway from her. He was so close yet so distant at the same time. Not even taking one of her most sacred possessions out of her personal safe was enough to calm her. "…I'll just check up on him," she decided, hoping that would calm her raging thoughts.

She silently exited her room and glided down the hallway to the sitting room where she poked her head in first. Sure enough, Ritsuka was already fast asleep on the couch. Fu Hua stared at him for a few more seconds before slipping into the room and kneeling down next to Ritsuka. "How could you look so peaceful at a time like this…?" she mused to herself, unable to help but brush aside his bangs. Even if he didn't know exactly what was coming, she assumed the thought would keep him up too—the calm and tranquil face he had said otherwise. "I suppose it's impossible to blame you. Everyone trusts you'd get through it." On the other hand, she was worried about the mental toll that might befall Ritsuka.

He'd get through it physically fine, but...

"Fu Hua? What are you doing here?" She stood up immediately at the sudden but gentle voice behind her.

"Oh, Mash…" Fu Hua muttered upon turning around and seeing the purple-haired Demi-Servant in the doorway. "I was… I wanted to check up on Ritsuka," she decided to be honest with Mash.

"I... can see that," Mash timidly replied as she silently stepped into the room. "Fu Hua, I don't mean this to come out the wrong way but what about Senpai attracts you so?"

"Ritsuka…" The question was something that she hadn't asked herself in a long time. Being asked so directly hadn't been something she expected to happen ever. "...He's always been someone I can open my heart and mind to—someone I don't need to keep my walls up around."

"I understand what you mean. Senpai… he's someone always willing to lend an ear," Mash agreed with her sentiment as she sat down in one of the chairs to continue the conversation. Fu Hua meanwhile sat down on the couch by Ritsuka's feet.

"It's not just that. He was always by my side, even during the times when we disagreed on matters." It was exceedingly rare for such an instance to happen, but it has—back when she held a tenet he wholeheartedly opposed. Even though they didn't see eye to eye back then, he was still willing to sit by her and let her air everything out. Admittedly, she had mixed feelings over him being unclear on how he truly felt during that time, but everything worked out in the end.

Even though she learnt the consequences of her steadfast belief the extremely hard way.

"...What about you, Mash?"

"Huh?"

"What do you think about Ritsuka?" Fu Hua asked more bluntly. "If I remember right, you've been working with him for a few months now. What do you think of him?"

"Um… The same as you," the Shielder answered after a moment, clearly drawing a blank as to how she should answer. "I don't think I could add anything that you haven't already said. Senpai is simple in that way."

"I can't disagree... But that doesn't make him a simple person," Fu Hua hummed as she glanced back at Ritsuka's sleeping face. Despite his normal origin, she knew that he would be far from a normal person before he's seen the end of this Grand Order. "It's quite absurd, isn't it? Everything about my and Ritsuka's relationship." Mash stayed quiet at that; Fu Hua assumed she did not want to say anything that might offend her. "You're free to speak your mind. I promise I won't be upset."

"...Yes, every detail I've learnt about you and Senpai sounds unbelievable to a normal person." But no one here was a normal person—Fu Hua knew that was what Mash was going to say next. A soft laugh escaped the ancient soldier before Mash could continue.

"Thank you for being honest, Mash. It's a nice change of pace to talk to someone who actually knows Ritsuka." As good an ear as Holmes could be, there was something different with Mash. Speaking of—"What did Holmes tell you about me?"

"Oh, that… I was... curious about you," Mash admitted with an embarrassed blush. "I'm sorry for prying but seeing as we all just met, I couldn't help but want to learn more about you."

"Is that so? I'm afraid there is not much about myself I can tell you about," Fu Hua apologised. To be more specific, there was not much of her past she was willing to speak about, but Fu Hua believed Mash and the others already knew that; it was why they sought Holmes for answers instead. "Knowing him, he only told you what he theorised my past is, correct?"

Mash only replied with a curt nod.

"That's typical of him. I suppose I am the ultimate mystery for a mind like his," she chuckled under her breath. "...Are you upset?"

"Upset at what?" Mash tried her best to sound confused but she was not fooling anyone, least of all Fu Hua. "...I don't think I have the right to be upset. That would be unfair to you or Senpai." It was not hard to understand why she felt that way, but Fu Hua had to disagree that she should feel bad for being upset.

"It's perfectly fair for you to feel that way, Mash. After all, I came out of nowhere and claimed Ritsuka to be my husband." She'd feel the same way if someone did the same thing... Actually, she was sure there were several Servants in Chaldea (or there will be) who'd claimed Ritsuka to be their beloved too. She had never given that too much thought though; they were completely loyal to each other. But back to the topic—"Mash, nothing will change despite what you all learnt here. Ritsuka will always treat you as someone dear to him no matter what happens." It was Fu Hua's turn to hope the other woman would take what she said the wrong way. She was never that great at wording things right.

"...I know, and that's the worst part," Mash softly admitted as her gaze turned downwards. "Senpai's happy with how our relationship is, and that's the worst part." Ah… Fu Hua didn't think about it that way, but it made it even more natural for Mash to feel hurt by her presence. Unfortunately, Mash was already standing up before she could say anything to comfort her. "I apologise, Fu Hua, but I think it's better I take my leave now."

"Wait—" She tried to say but the Demi Servant had already left the room. "…I'm really the worst, aren't I?" Fu sighed to herself, feeling even worse than she had before. The first time she was actually interacting with Ritsuka's closest companions and she had only pushed Mash to the verge of breaking down over their relationship. She had to make it right somehow but chasing after her now would not be the best idea. Her gaze wandered back towards Ritsuka's sleeping face, completely undisturbed over what just transpired. 'How would you handle this…?'

He didn't answer for obvious reasons, making Fu Hua sigh yet again. "I should go too," she muttered to herself. Right… she should go… She tried to stand up but found her body refusing her commands. Instead, her eyes drifted towards his draped arm… 'No, bad idea.' Fu Hua scolded herself but before she knew it, she was lying down and resting on her side facing him. She felt her face heat up as Ritsuka's was only a couple of inches away from hers.

…When was the last time she slept in his arms? Fu Hua found herself asking. It only took a second for a memory from decades back—nearly a whole century—to flash through her mind. That long ago since she last had a moment like this with him. A part of her felt the temptation to push things further but what little common sense managed to bury that thought (unlike her other urges). Still, she should leave before it was too late. Before… it was… too… late…

A/N: Well, finally got around to this in between working on main story and finally getting around to watch Gundam for the RITSUKA/Flamechaser sidestory. In any case, I wanted there to be a scene with Fu Hua and Mash and uh… unfortunately, I could not stop the angst from leaking. Angst for Angst God ehe. Not much else to say so see you all next time~