New Chaldea · Storm Border Control Room
The cool white main lights in the control room hung steadily from the dome, illuminating the entire operation area.
Various light screens were arranged in rows, with pale blue and silver-white data streams flowing silently across them.
The low hum of the machinery contrasted with the previously orderly atmosphere, which was now gradually reaching a boiling point.
Fujimaru Ritsuka leaned against the main console, scratching the back of his head with one hand.
His face held an irrepressible look of helplessness mixed with a hint of confusion.
He raised an eyebrow as he looked around, his tone full of bewilderment: “What?
Did we just fast-forward to here?
Did you skip something?
Where’s my Miss Homeless of Christmas?”
Mash stood half a step behind him, her slim Chaldea uniform making her posture look even more upright.
She held her hands lightly in front of her, a gentle smile on her lips.
Her eyelashes were slightly lowered, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.
Her tone sounded lighthearted, yet to Ritsuka’s ears, it carried a subtle, undetectable chill.
“So that’s why the communication was cut off back then?
Dancing with Miss Jeanne Alter must have been nice, Senpai!”
Ritsuka felt a shiver down his spine and quickly straightened up.
He reached out and gently patted Mash’s arm, soothing her with a soft tone: “It was just a dance, Mash.
Don’t worry about it.
Let’s dance together another day.
How about a waltz?”
“Ahem—” A dainty yet somewhat flamboyant hum suddenly rang out.
Divine power accompanied by a light breeze brushed past everyone’s ears as the figure of the Rain God, Tenochtitlan, appeared out of thin air in the open space beside the console.
She stretched her body elegantly, reaching up to adjust the hair ornament at her temple.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and her tone carried an indisputable expectation.
“I can’t just let that go unheard!
Priest, I want to dance too…
oh.”
Fujimaru Ritsuka looked at the Servant who had suddenly appeared, his shoulders slumping in a look of resigned helplessness.
He waved his hand and repeatedly agreed: “Fine, fine, fine.
We’ll dance, everyone gets a turn, okay?”
“Eh!?
Master is going to dance and didn’t invite me, your lover?” A soft and slightly aggrieved voice followed.
Fairy Knight Lancelot—Melusine—leapt out gracefully from somewhere and landed on Ritsuka’s other side.
She clutched her skirt with both hands, her eyes slightly red as if she were about to cry.
But then her expression shifted, and she raised her face, puffing out her chest in a show of strength.
Her voice carried a hint of tsundere charm, “But since I am the strongest dragon, I won’t cry.”
As soon as those words fell, three figures in the shadows of the control room corner moved.
The Rock-Swim Trio could no longer hold back and walked straight out from the darkness.
Kiyohime stepped forward, her eyes filled with sharp reproach as she stared intently at Melusine.
Her tone was full of defiance: “I say, you little homewrecker dragon, who are you calling your lover!
Besides, the one who should be dancing with Master is me!”
Beside her, Hassan of Serenity’s form swayed slightly.
Her eyes beneath the hood shimmered with a soft light, and her voice was thin but exceptionally clear, carrying a hint of cautious hope: “I want to dance with Master too.”
“Everyone, stop!” A stern shout suddenly rang out.
Minamoto no Raikou stepped out slowly, her elaborate clothing emphasizing her powerful aura.
Her brow was furrowed, her eyes sharp as blades, and her face was filled with righteous indignation.
Her voice was resonant and forceful.
“This is behavior that severely affects public morals!
How shameless!
As the Public Morals Committee Chair of the Chaldea Shadows, I cannot sit idly by!”
But as soon as she finished speaking, her tense expression softened.
A hint of bashfulness appeared in her eyes as she shifted her steps closer to Ritsuka.
Her tone also softened, carrying a gentle yet firm quality: “Besides, for something like dancing, let Mother teach you, Master.”
“That’s right, let Mother teach you how to dance, Ritsuka.” A gentle and inclusive voice sounded as Tiamat’s figure slowly emerged.
Although her form carried the majesty of a Primordial Mother Goddess, her eyes were full of doting affection.
Her gaze was fixed firmly on Fujimaru Ritsuka, and her tone was so soft it could practically melt, truly taking on the role of the head of the Chaldea household.
“Eh?
Is this guy really that popular?” Fairy Knight Tristan—Baobhan Sith—stood to the side with her arms crossed, tilting her head.
Her face was full of genuine confusion, her eyes wide with bewilderment, as if she hadn’t expected this argument over dancing to escalate so much.
Beside her, Fairy Knight Gawain—Barghest—appeared exceptionally calm.
She had her arms crossed and her back straight, with no extra expression on her face, as if the surrounding noise had nothing to do with her.
But only she knew that ripples had already formed in her heart.
Her fingertips curled secretly as she thought to herself: ‘Mm, dancing, how wonderful.
If only Master could dance one dance with me, even just one would be fine.’
The Fairy Queen Morgan leaned against a nearby pillar, her magnificent robes trailing down.
A hint of displeasure settled between her brows, and her red lips twitched slightly.
Her tone carried a mix of reproach and proud awkwardness: “Tch, my husband’s charm is truly great.”
She paused for a moment, a calculation flashing in her eyes, and her tone became certain.
“Let’s build a hotel in a singularity some other day.
I want to go on a vacation with my husband for some peace and quiet.”
To the side, the Boar Princess Artoria Caster was secretly hiding behind the control console, her ears perked up to eavesdrop on Morgan’s declaration.
Upon hearing this, her cheeks puffed out slightly and her head drooped.
She couldn’t stop grumbling in her heart:’She actually wants to go on vacation with Ritsuka?
Hmph, don’t even think about it.
I’m definitely going to get ahead of her and make a promise with Master first.’
“No, you guys…
is it really okay to talk about dancing right in front of the person involved?” Jeanne Alter stood on the outskirts of the crowd, watching the group of female Servants in a mess.
Her mouth twitched, her face full of speechlessness.
She raised a hand to her forehead and sighed helplessly.
But as her gaze swept over the light screen nearby, which was looping the footage, her cheeks instantly turned bright red, and her previous composure vanished.
She suddenly grabbed her head with both hands, her body curling up slightly, as she let out a frustrated cry of embarrassment and helplessness.
“Damn it, this light screen actually exposed what I did and my feelings for Master.
What’s the difference between this and a public execution?
Ah—” Her distressed appearance was a far cry from her usual arrogance.
Miss Avalon, Merlyn, leaned against a distant control console, playing with a translucent crystal ball.
A smile that said she enjoyed watching the chaos hung on the corners of her mouth.
Her eyes were curved, and her tone was teasing and provocative.
“Oh my, now this is a good show.
A Shuraba, eh?
Keep it up, keep it up.” But in her heart, she was making her own little plan, secretly thinking that she must sneak into Master’s dream tonight and have a quiet dance with him.
Little Da Vinci and Sion stood side by side, holding drinks.
Their faces showed unmasked amusement as their gazes shifted back and forth among the chaotic crowd, occasionally making eye contact to exchange knowing looks.
Inside the control room, Gordolf Musik, Nemo, Munir, and the other staff members, seeing that things were going south, had already slipped toward the door.
Taking advantage of the argument, they vanished in a flash, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire of this senseless storm.
Seeing that the female Servants’ argument was growing more intense, their voices getting higher and higher, and the situation threatening to spiral out of control, the atmosphere in the control room had reached a breaking point.
Fujimaru Ritsuka took a deep breath.
A sudden aura of determination flared around him as he activated his unique skill—Iron Will EX.
He took a step forward and stood firm, raising his hand and shouting to everyone in a voice of unquestionable resolve: “Stop arguing!
Everyone gets a turn, no one will be left out!
Now!
Let’s continue watching the light screen!
Look, a new story has already begun!”
His words were hurried, and he deliberately emphasized his tone.
As he spoke, he pointed toward the shimmering light screen, using all his strength to divert everyone’s attention, hoping only to calm the chaos before him.
The words on the light screen slowly lit up, clearly reflected in everyone’s eyes—[A Parting Date in Tokyo].