Without Saying Goodbye

I didn't sign up to be your alarm clock.

But if you are just going to go back to sleep, I'll wake you up.

So you can either get out of bed on your own, or I can drag you out.

What's it going to be?

...Okay then, if that's how you want to do this.

Have it your way.

I'll just have to drag you out of bed and strip off your pajamas.

Did I mention it's cold enough that you can see your breath right now?

So, what's it going to be?

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Yes?

...Yes, it is.

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Don't worry. I was already planning to do just that.

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Hm?

It's nothing. I've done my share of escort missions.

Besides, if anything happened to her, that might damage your performance.

I know we haven't even formed a temporary contract, but I don't want that to happen.

Don't worry. I'll do my job.

...Hey.

Are you aware that when you sleep, you always...

... ...

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...

...Never mind. It's probably not my place to say anything.

See you.

I hope you like French toast!

Because I just made some!

Hehe. Sorry if that was a little loud.

My sister used to love it. I think you did too, at least when you were little.

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I didn't always like it the way my sister did. Even as a child, I never liked anything quite that sweet.

But now, I get it.

Sweets are great. I used to think they were an unnecessary extravagance, but I was wrong.

There's nothing like sweets to pick you up, especially after a hard day's work...

Sleeping like a log, then waking up to a delicious French toast breakfast... It's fantastic.

It's almost like...you can feel yourself absorbing energy from it.

Hehe. But I guess you're still too young to know what I'm talking about.

Well, just remember: when you're really tired, sweets can be a big help.

That's not to say you should go overboard, of course, but

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Hm?

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Where'd that come from?

Well, I can't say I mind. Wherever it came from, you're very welcome.

... ...

Hm? Hold still for a second.

Let me get a good look at you... Hm.

Well I'll be. You've really become a strapping young man, haven't you?

You seem so much more mature today.

It feels like just the other day, you were still my adorable little nephew.

I see...

You really have grown up since I last saw you.

... ...

...Anyway, make sure to finish your French toast. Got that?

...Morning.

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Nn.

So, uh, did you get any sleep?

I didn't ask how you were doing. I asked if you got some sleep.

...Well, I guess you do look like you're doing well. And I'm getting plenty of magical energy from you, so.

Good.

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...All right, let's get to school, yeah?

I can't say I'm surprised Gorgon didn't stick around...but I wish at least Hessian and Lobo had.

It'd make things so much easier, especially if we have to deal with another outdoor fight.

Then again, I guess they wouldn't be much help if we had to fight indoors.

Lobo CAN run on walls though... Oh, but he's also really big...

...I wonder where Dantès could be.

Oh, not the shadow one. The masked one.

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Yeah. I agree.

... ...

I can't say for sure...

...but I have a hunch we're gonna hear that last trumpet before tomorrow's over.

Ghh. I-I want to talk to him, but I don't know what to say!

I managed okay last time, but now that it's been a whole day, I don't even know where to begin...

I wanna say I have no idea what you're talking about, but...

...honestly, I feel the same way. It's like I get all self-conscious, and that makes things awkward, and...

Ah!

That's...a ukulele!

I know how you feel. It's only been a day or so...

...and yet, you have no idea what to say, which just makes everything more awkward.

It's just like running into other kids the same age as you in the rural neighborhood where you visit your grandparents during summer break!

Amatsuka-senpai!

Uh, actually, all my grandparents live here in Tokyo too, so...

Mine do, too...

No way! Well then, I suppose I have no more to say!

...That was a joke, of course.

What I'm trying to say is, there's nothing to worry about! You're getting yourselves worked up over nothing.

Deep in your heart, you care for your friend. What else could matter?

Nothing, that's what.

So if you want to talk to him, don't think twice about it. Or do! Follow your hearts, wherever they may lead!

Even if, say, we're no more than shadows cast by someone else altogether or just a transient dream...

...whatever he sees, that's his reality.

And that's just as true for all of us.

...I have no idea what you're talking about.

I...think I kind of get it.

You're saying we should just stop worrying, summon up our courage, and go for it, right!?

Right! I'll do my best! Come on, Ricardo! Let's go!

Hm?

Check it out, Master. I was wondering why we didn't see them on the way here.

Looks like Himeko and Ricardo got to school before us today.

Oh! M-m-m-mo-morning...

Well, that sure didn't last! But I get it, Himeko. I do. Don't worry, I'll take it from here!

Uh... Mornin', Fujimaru. Mornin', Oruta.

Morning. Uh, is Himeko okay?

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Ehehehe... Thank goodness my sacrifice wasn't for nothing...

I-I'm fine, thanks. Good morning...

... ...

...Huh? Are you feeling better today, Fujimaru? You look...good.

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Oh, I'm glad to hear that.

You see, Himeko? This is why you really oughta stop skipping breakfast yourself. I heard it actually makes you gain weight.

Ahaha, yeah, I know...

Whoa, wait. Did you just call me fat!?

H-huh!? N-no, I didn't! I mean, I guess I might've implied you could end up that way, but I didn't mean it like that!

Hey, c'mon, don't bring your phone into this! You're scaring me!

Don't worry. I'm just gonna vent to my twenty thousand subscribers around the country.

They don't know who I am. I keep all my info private, and I use an avatar I made myself.

It'll be fiiine...

You live stream!? And you have that many subscribers!?

...Well, guess you know what you're doing when you graduate.

Huh?

Oh, you mean my ideal career path? Hmm, I-I don't know. I actually have a lot of different interests.

Sure, I like live streaming and doing doujin stuff, but I'm totally open to going to college, too.

What's a doujin? Me, I'm just gonna get a job right out of high school.

Well, I'll probably end up taking over the family business. My parents have been on my case about going to college, though...

But these days, how much does it even matter, you know?

Career path... Oh, right. I just remembered.

They gave us that survey last week. We're supposed to turn it in tomorrow, right?

That's right. Did you figure out what you were putting on yours, Oruta?

Hm? Uh, yeah, I came up with something.

(I've got Oruta's memories, so I can see her top choice was culinary school...)

(...but I'm guessing she's keeping the fact that she likes to cook a secret from these guys.)

(...So, she likes to cook, huh.)

How about you, Fujimaru? Did you come up with something for yours?

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Huh.

So, um, once you've gotten there...what then?

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Gotcha. Well, I don't really know what you're talking about, but whatever it is, you should go for it.

Like it or not, tomorrow's coming. Only so many times you can put this off between now and then, yeah?

Wait... Are you talking about deadlines...?

As in...the deadline for the draft I'm supposed to submit...?

No? Come on, you still haven't even told me what a doujin is.

Never mind! Just forget I said anything! It never happened, okay!?

Good morning, Fujimaru.

In my capacity as an ordinary human from this world, rather than a Heroic Spirit fighting for humanity...

...I have a little something I managed to get my hands on for you.

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It belonged to her.

I'm quite sure that's you in her wallpaper.

For whatever it's worth, I think she would have wanted you to have this.

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...Kyrie, yes? She was a lovely girl.

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... ...

...His father's study, huh.

Something's not right here. His wife and daughter are dead but he still hasn't so much as shown his face.

And no one seems to think anything strange about that, either. Now that's quite a trick.

No, wait. I guess he has shown his face, hasn't he?

Hey there, Count of Monte Cristo. Long time no see.

There we go.

So, another day of school ends and still no sign of him.

He could've at least blown that last trumpet to get us out of trash duty.

Also, why isn't the school's incinerator working?

This is burnable trash, right? So why not just burn it already? Freakin' laws, man. Such a pain.

...Yeah, that's it. That would work out great.

If the incinerator was working, we could just blame any mess we ended up making on it going nuts or something.

That way...

...I could just burn your ass at full power and not have to worry.

You've got guts. I'll give you that much.

But you're really underestimating me. I'm plenty strong on my own.

...Hehe.

Something funny about that?

Forgive me. Kagekiyo said something similar. I just couldn't help myself.

Huh?

(Does that mean he already beat Kagekiyo? ...No, that can't be right. He couldn't take Kagekiyo alone without a scratch.)

(Is he just making stuff up here? But...I've never known this punk to be a liar...)

(I don't get it. This is creeping me out. What's going on?)

(Why is he letting me see his face now?)

... ...

I've already met with Kagekiyo and Salieri.

You're the last one, Jeanne d'Arc Alter of Chaldea.

I'm finally ready to tell you, all of you, the whole truth.

...I will not say much. There is no need.

I asked Salieri to do so as well, but please give Master my regards.

Screw you.

You wanna bail before the battle's over, you can tell Master yourself.

That's not the kind of message you get someone else to pass on.

Yes. I know.

You are right, of course. But, I have my reasons.

I have made my decision. As has Salieri.

There is nothing more we can... Ugh, curses. This is frustrating beyond words!

To think that I, of all people, would run from a battlefield.

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Goodbye. ...I truly hate that I must do this.

...No kidding, huh?

I hate that you're doing this, too.

Hi. Um, sorry for calling so late. My name's Oruta.

Could I speak to MasI mean, Fujimaru, please?

Yes. That's right.

...Uh-huh. We're in the same class.

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...Yeah. I know.

So they told you about it too, huh. Guess that makes sense.

But I'm guessing they didn't actually bother explaining anything to you either, yeah?

Guessing you've been trying to reach out telepathically, but they aren't responding.

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That tracks. Okay. Guess we should talk in person then.

But I'm not liking the vibe at school right now, so...

... ...

...Hey, you went on a date with Marie once, right? You went to Odaiba, I think?

Yeah, let's go with that, then. 'Sides, I'm still a little pissed she got one over on me there.

Anyway, you're gonna play hooky tomorrow, got it?

Don't "huh" me.

Y-you get what I'm saying, right? You'd better.

Come on, you know.

I-I'm saying we should do the s-same thing.

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Anyway, don't be late or I'll light you on fire.

...Well, okay, I won't do that, but I WILL be pissed. Got it?

...You hear me? I said, "Got it?"

Hm?

Oh, you're here, Master. Good timing. I just got here myself.

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Oh, right. Kagekiyo gave me a message for you.

Something about how there wasn't much to say...and to give you their regards.

Told them to tell you themself, but obviously that didn't matter much. Ugh.

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...Yeah. It is sudden, isn't it? Way too sudden.

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...Uh, good question. I don't know for sure, either.

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I see.

Well, if that's what he said, then there's gotta be something to it.

...Man, I must sound like an idiot now.

Okay, I don't want to let you down, so I'm just gonna say this. I don't think I'll be able to give you any good answers.

I'm not telling you not to ask me anything.

I just mean that whether I can give you any good answers depends on the question.

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Well, yeah. They affect all of us.

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Okay, that's enough. Stop right there.

I-it's not fair if you're the only one asking the questions here, right? So...so you gotta let me ask some too.

So, uh...

...This is where you came before, right?

You know, when you went on that date with Marie.

I was keeping an eye on you from a distance then, but we didn't know she was an enemy yet...

...so I was so focused on keeping watch that I didn't really get to take in any of the sights.

How about you? Did you, uh...enjoy the date?

If that had been the real Marie, it'd probably have been pretty fun.

But since she was an Alter AND a phony, you were probably on pins and needles the whole time, right?

...Right?

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...Yeah? Yeah, that tracks.

Okay then, here's an idea.

Since we're here now, and this place feels like home to you...

...how 'bout we act your age for once...

...and just have a date that really is for fun? ...Nothing wrong with that, right?

I mean, personally...

...I-I could go either way...

B-but, um, well...Oruta...

...might not like it...right?

...At least, that's what I think.

...So, um...

If you, you know, insist...I guess I could bring myself...

... ...

...I guess I could go on a date with you, if you want!

S-so...what do you think?

...Yeah?

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Whoooa! So this is what it looks like on the inside!

So, they made what looks like a whole European town in here.

Huh, there's even a fake sky! What a weird idea! Do modern people like that kinda stuff? That's so silly!

Huh? That's not very nice? I mean, I wasn't mocking them or anything...

Oh, but I guess it might've sounded that way, huh. Well, I didn't mean it like that, okay?

Oh, look! Gelato! We've gotta get some gelato!

So, how's your gelato? Good?

...Mine? I-it's okay, I guess. It's pretty sweet.

And cold, but, you know, mostly sweet?

It's already evening?

That doesn't seem right.

I swear we only just got here.

Guess time really does fly when you're having fun, huh?

Hey. You remember Shinjuku?

Specifically, uh... You know...

When we, uh, danced before you went back to Chaldea?

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Me too. Partly because I sometimes look at the record of that, but...

...also because Avengers never forget anything.

Still, when I'm not wearing that dress, it kinda feels like it was all a dream.

So...

Well, I guess that's just an excuse. Ahaha...

I do feel kinda bad stealing a march on the others...

...but a little won't hurt, will it?

Master. Would you dance with me again?

...You lead, of course.

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...Wow.

I think you've gotten better at this.

Yeah, you definitely have.

Who else have you been dancing with?

...Relax. I'm just kidding.

I-I've gotten used to it too, you know. I can get in close without my heart pounding and everything.

And see how much better my steps are? I've been practicing.

Huh?

Does that mean my heart was pounding last time? O-of course it wasn't, you big jerk.

...Jerk.

... ...

...(Sigh) You know...

...until just now, I used to think Cinderella was incredibly strong.

After a life of servitude, she finally finds a charming prince to dance with, then even marries him.

But, the thing about the ball is...it can only go on for so long.

Now I'm living it, and I can finally see how hard it is.

'Cause you know that no matter how much fun you're having now...it has to end.

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Master...I'm sorry.

I have to go too. I can't help you anymore.

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If I had to give some kind of answer, I'd say it's because of our Spirit Origins.

Or maybe...our souls?

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...Huh. You can tell?

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...Yeah. Pretty much.

After hearing what he had to say, we...

Well...

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... ...

...I'm sorry.