Chaldea is a strange place where heroic spirits from all across history gather to protect the world. Master Ritsuka Fujimaru wakes up one morning to find their pillow missing, the cafeteria transformed into a battlefield, and Dr. Roman cheerfully announcing that there's absolutely nothing scheduled for the day.
A free day. Finally.
Except it really, really isn't.
Artoria Pendragon shows up with a deadly serious expression to request that Ritsuka 'guard the cake.' Emiya starts cooking lunch fo
A Lively Day at Chaldea - Sorry, Ritsuka—Lunch, an apology, and the resolve of the final runner
The wall was cold.
The edge of the training ground—the simulation room on the basement first floor—Ritsuka sat there, unable to move. Knees drawn up, the program sheet scattered on the floor. Elbows and knees throbbed. The injury wasn't serious. But somewhere deeper, something kept hurting.
(Whether I'm here or not, it doesn't matter.)
In the center of the training ground, the Servants were preparing for the relay. Altria was shouting, "Fairly, with honor and integrity!" Scathach had her arms crossed, saying "Running has sufficient training value." Gilgamesh sat on that sofa, muttering "For me to run..."
No one was looking for Ritsuka.
Footsteps sounded.
Quiet, unhesitating footsteps. Without the energy to turn around, Ritsuka stayed still. The footsteps stopped right beside them.
Something was placed on the floor.
A soft clink.
Ritsuka looked up.
A bento box. A square bento box wrapped in white cloth. And beside it stood Emiya. Black hair tied back, arms crossed, looking up at the training ground ceiling. Not looking at Ritsuka.
"...One can't fight on an empty stomach, can they"
"Huh?"
"Open it."
He said it while looking away.
Ritsuka picked up the bento box. Undid the cloth. Opened the lid.
—Fried chicken. Rolled egg. Spinach with sesame. Cherry tomatoes. White rice.
All of it was Ritsuka's favorite.
"...How did you know what I like?"
Silence. Emiya's ears turned slightly red.
"...A cook has a good memory. You don't need to thank me."
When told not to thank him, Ritsuka suddenly wanted to thank him very much. But they kept it to themselves and picked up a piece of fried chicken.
Put it in their mouth.
It was delicious.
Really, really delicious.
"....."
They couldn't say anything. Just chewed silently. Emiya kept looking away, but didn't leave.
After a while.
More footsteps came. Multiple this time.
It was Altria. With a solemn expression, standing straight like a knight, she came before Ritsuka. Her long golden hair swayed. Her clear blue eyes were serious.
"Master. As a knight, I must tell you something."
Ritsuka looked up while chewing the fried chicken.
"In today's mounted battle. Due to my carelessness, I put you in danger. That is shameful for a knight."
She bowed. A perfect ninety-degree angle.
"No, but you protected me, didn't you?"
"That is one thing, this is another. To apologize fairly is the proper way."
Ritsuka froze, chopsticks holding the rolled egg.
(Apologize fairly...? What does that even mean...?)
It made no sense. But Altria's face was serious. More serious than anything.
"...Thank you, very much."
"With honor and integrity."
Satisfied, she stepped back.
Next came Jeanne. With flax-colored long hair swaying, she hurried over. Her blue eyes were already glistening.
A bad feeling.
"Master... I always thought, as long as everyone was happy... But I wasn't thinking about you at all. You were the one who had it hardest..."
A tear spilled.
"Please don't cry!"
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Master..."
She started crying harder. Her shoulders shook. Really crying. All her good intentions pouring out as tears.
"It's okay, really, please don't cry..."
"It's not okay! You were carrying everything alone—!"
"Ugh, seriously, please don't cry...!"
Emiya muttered beside them, "...Can't be helped." and quietly offered a handkerchief. He didn't say who it was for. Jeanne took it and blew her nose loudly.
At that moment, a figure leaning against the wall slowly moved.
It was Scathach. With deep reddish-purple hair tied back, arms crossed, she stepped away from the wall. Looking at Ritsuka with no expression.
Three seconds of silence.
"...Sorry."
She said it quietly.
"I meant to train you, but I was pushing you too far."
That was all. Nothing more. But that brevity was Scathach. How long did it take for the Queen of the Shadow Country and master of martial arts to squeeze out that many words?
(For Scathach, that's an incredibly long apology.)
Ritsuka thought that while eating the sesame spinach.
Then.
A golden sofa slowly approached from the edge of the training ground. Gilgamesh sat on it, arms crossed, legs crossed, in complete royal posture.
"I will not apologize."
"...Of course not."
Ritsuka started to smile wryly, when—
Gilgamesh continued.
"But."
A pause.
"You will be the final runner, mongrel. That is a king's command."
"Huh, all of a sudden?"
"Not sudden. I decided this from the beginning."
He looked away. Sharp red eyes glanced at Ritsuka for a moment, then shifted.
Everyone present said nothing.
Only Jeanne's eyes lit up.
"Gilgamesh, that's kindness, isn't it!?"
"Silence."
Instant response.
Emiya made a small snort. Altria looked at the ceiling. Scathach remained expressionless. But no one pointed it out.
Ritsuka ate the last cherry tomato from the bento box.
Then the communication terminal vibrated.
Ritsuka checked the screen. Romani Archaman's name.
They answered.
"Ritsuka. I have something to say too."
Even through the communication, that warm voice was unmistakable.
"You are Chaldea's only Master. Without you, the Servants are just... a gathering of very strong people."
Ritsuka held the bento box on their lap, motionless.
"Because you're here, we become a team."
The communication ended.
Ritsuka looked down for a moment.
Something welled up in their eyes.
They wiped it roughly with their sleeve.
Gilgamesh muttered quietly.
"...The Doctor said what I wanted to say before I did."
Emiya replied equally quietly.
"You couldn't have said it anyway."
"Silence."
Ritsuka laughed. Could laugh.
They wrapped the bento box in cloth and stood up.
"Got it. I'll be the final runner."
Everyone looked at them.
"But I'm slow, okay? Don't blame me if I trip!"
Altria answered with a straight face.
"We will support you fairly regardless."
---
The full relay began.
The training ground transformed into a battlefield in an instant.
The moment Altria, the first runner, shouted "Fairly!" and took off, the ground groaned. When she turned the corner, cracks spider-webbed across the wall from the wind pressure. They spread, splintering further.
"The wall's... cracking!!"
The baton was passed.
Scathach ran out. The woman who was fast even in hallways was faster still in the training ground. That was fine. The problem was her right hand unconsciously reaching toward her waist as she ran.
"Don't reach for your spear!"
Jeanne shouted while running. Scathach answered while running, "Instinct." The two argued while running, but their speed never dropped. If anything, it increased.
Screams and cheers erupted from the Chaldea staff in the stands. Only Emiya held a camera, recording with the happiest expression on his face.
The baton was passed.
Jeanne took it. Ran at full power. Ritsuka thought—when a mass of good intentions runs at full speed, it's this fast? She turned the corner. This time she made it. The wall was fine.
The baton was passed.
The baton was offered to Gilgamesh.
A moment of silence.
"...For me to run"
"Just run!!"
"...Very well. It is special."
He took the baton.
He ran.
More dignified than anyone. Regardless of speed, his running had the bearing of a king. Gold and red hair streamed in the wind. Sharp red eyes looked straight ahead. The stands fell silent for a moment.
And the baton came—to just before Ritsuka.
Gilgamesh ran the final straight and extended his arm.
In that moment, everyone in the training ground turned to look at Ritsuka.
Altria. Scathach. Jeanne. Emiya lowering his camera. Gilgamesh glancing sideways while running. The staff.
All their gazes gathered on Ritsuka alone.
Ritsuka received every single one.
They extended both hands.
The baton settled in their palms.
It was warm. Warmed by everyone's run, the white baton.
Ritsuka looked forward. A hundred meters to the goal. Their feet were slow. They might trip. But still.
They ran.
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